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. Over time, demand for the service rose, which could not be met by Doula UK’s funding resources.
In October 2017 the Membership of Doula UK voted to create an Access Fund Charity. As such it is our hope that the Fund will receive the support necessary, through grant funding and corporate giving streams, to ensure that our vision that we ‘turn no woman away’ becomes a reality.
Many families will be supported in the early months of 2018 under the Doula UK project, but it has now been wound up, and is closed to applications, enabling the team to focus on creating the standalone charity. We aim to have the charity partially operational by summer 2018, so that we can open to applications towards the end of the year. Under the charity, doula services will be provided for free to approved clients – so the charity will offer a comparable service as was offered under the Doula UK umbrella. Doula UK registered doulas who complete appropriate training will be eligible to apply to become Doula Access Fund charity doulas.
If you would like to be involved in the Charity as a trustee, patron or adviser, or would like to be be on a mailing list to hear about important updates, please email chairperson@doulaaccessfund.org.uk
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 Charity
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 charity 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 charity by Doula UK under the gift aid scheme, once the Doula Access Fund charity is able to accept donations.
If you are interested in supporting the Charity through corporate giving or a regular Gift Aided donation 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
