The Doula Access Fund (originally the Hardship Fund) was created in 2008 to cover the expenses of Doula UK doulas volunteering to work with local clients in emotional, practical or financial hardship.
The Fund was financed out of Doula UK’s Membership income and from modest donations. Many families were supported by the Doula UK Access Fund between 2008 and 2018 but over time, demand for the service rose, which could not be met by Doula UK’s limited funding resources.
In October 2017 the Membership of Doula UK voted to create a standalone Doula Access Fund Charity with the hope of gaining grant funding and attracting corporate giving streams thereby meeting the demand and ensuring that all women, regardless of circumstance could have the support of a doula. The Access Fund took the decision to close for applications in early 2018 to fully focus on creating a standalone Charity.
Unfortunately in May 2019 the Charities Commissions declined the application from the Trustees of the Doula Access Fund and gave recommendations of changes the Trustees would need to make in order to submit a new application. News and updates will be on our website when available.
In the meantime, if you would like to be involved in the set up of Doula Access Fund as a Trustee, Patron or Adviser, or would like to be be on a mailing list to hear about important updates, please email secretary@doulaaccessfund.org.uk
If you are looking for support during pregnancy or postnatally, we encourage you to visit this page, to see if any of the wonderful projects and organisations listed there can help.
History of the Doula Access Fund
The Doula UK Access Fund started life as the Hardship Fund, first supporting women in 2004. Later it became the Access Fund, supporting the belief that everyone who needs a doula should be able to access one. The project paid the expenses of Doula UK registered doulas who volunteered to offer doula support.
The Fund was made available to those on low incomes in receipt of means-tested benefits, those who had been referred by a health professional, and women referred by a charitable partner, such as those providing services to women without income, to refugees, or to women escaping domestic abuse.
Supporting the Doula Access Fund
Perhaps you are a doula who agrees that a doula should be an option for every woman who wants one? Perhaps you hired a doula yourself and would like to help others get the benefits you enjoyed?
The Doula Access Fund will focus on providing doula support to as many families as possible, offering inclusive doula care to those in financial, practical or emotional hardship, who would otherwise be alone through pregnancy, childbirth and postnatally.
If you would like to make a donation please donate online here.
Any money received will be given to the Doula Access Fund by Doula UK.
If you are interested in finding out more about donating to the Doula Access Fund please email treasurer@doulaaccessfund.org.uk
Our amazing members, Priscilla Ferreira and Ana Cardetas, raised £1130
for the Doula UK Access Fund, running in the Wimbledon Half Marathon in May 2017
