Doula UK

The non-profit association of doulas in the UK

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Join Doula UK

Doula UK is the leading organisation of doulas and is a not for profit community interest company with over 700 Doula UK members and friends. 

Now in its 20th year, Doula UK aims to:

  • Promote life-changing support for women and birthing people in the childbearing year, regardless of circumstance
  • Nurture the doula community; protecting parents and health professionals
  • Advocate for better support for UK families

What are the benefits of joining Doula UK?

  • You will be part of the leading doula organisation in the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands.
  • You can create a professional Doula UK profile page on our website where you can list your experience, ambitions and training, and can be found using a postcode search of doulas in our Find a Doula directory.
  • Join a thriving community of doulas at local and national social gatherings as well as invitation to events and conferences often with discounts for Doula UK members.
  • Access to members pages, resources, sample contracts and guidelines.
  • An invitation to our private facebook group and local area facebook group.
  • Automatic membership of the European Doula Network.
  • Receive a monthly newsletter and a copy of The Doula magazine twice a year.
  • Access to Doula UK event materials for marketing.
  • Option to be paid using Doula UK Vouchers
  • The opportunity to volunteer for a variety of roles within Doula UK. 
  • Exclusive Doula UK membership discounts for CPD training courses, conferences and events
  • Find individual support from a Doula UK mentor who will guide you through your first experiences as a doula.
  • You can volunteer to give doula support to those most in need through the Doula Access Fund

If you would like to find out more about becoming a doula you can book a place on our Doula UK Introductory Workshop.

Membership cost

Doula UK membership is priced at £25 joining fee followed by monthly membership fee of £7.50 per month.

Doula UK mentoring costs £225 for birth doula recognition and £225 for postnatal doula recognition. If you choose to do both the cost is £450.

Membership of Doula UK

All doulas who attend a Doula UK Approved Doula Preparation Course are invited to join Doula UK.

Doula UK Approved courses must follow the Doula UK core curriculum.  All courses are led by experienced doulas and are regularly assessed. We encourage you to visit the individual course provider websites and explore their approaches to help you decide which course is right for you.  Find out more about Doula UK Approved Courses.

Alternative Routes to Membership

Doula UK strives to be an inclusive and open organisation.  Membership is also available to people for whom the Doula UK Approved doula preparation courses is not the right route for them. The Fast Track route is open to birth professionals, expereinced doulas or those who have completed comprehensive doula training elsewhere. There is a requirement that you attend a Doula UK Fast Track workshop and that you undertake mentoring. 

If you would like to apply for Doula UK Fast Track membership you can apply here 

Doula UK Fast Track workshops take place online and last half a day. The fee for each of these is £75 with two places per workshop free of charge to people from marginalised or underrepresented groups.

Birth Professionals Fast Track:

  • For experienced birth professionals
  • Suitable for antenatal teachers, midwives etc, people who understand the anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, birth, newborns and infant feeding
  • Fast track workshop to include:
    • How to be impartial
    • Objectivity
    • What doulas do and what they don’t do
    • Signposting
    • The Doula UK CoC
  • Mentoring recommendation: minimum of 4  births/PN jobs

Experienced Doulas Fast Track:

  • For experienced doulas with or without formal training
  • Fast track workshop to include:
    • Refresher on anatomy and physiology
    • What doulas do and what they don’t do
    • The Doula UK CoC
  • Mentoring recommendation: minimum of 4 births/PN jobs

New Doulas Fast Track:

  • For newer doulas who have completed comprehensive training with non Doula UK approved doula preparation CPs.  Please check with training@doula.org.uk to check the eligibility of the course. (Disance Learning courses are not included)
  • Fast track workshop to include:
    • The Doula UK CoC
    • What doulas do and what they don’t do
    • Contracts & Business
    • Debriefing personal journeys
    • Infant feeding
  • Mentoring recommendation: minimum of 4 births/PN jobs

Doula UK Friends and Affiliates

Overseas Affiliate Member of Doula UK:

Membership fee is £40 per annum. Please email training@doula.org.uk to find out more.

A Friend of Doula UK:

Membership fee is £25 per annum.  You can become a Friend of Doula UK straight away here.

We look forward to welcoming you to Doula UK!