Doula UK

The non-profit association of doulas in the UK

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Join Doula UK

By becoming a member of Doula UK, you support the work we do whilst receiving a number of benefits.

There are five categories of Doula UK membership:

  1. Recognised Doula Members
  2. Mentored Doula Members
  3. Friends of Doula UK
  4. Overseas Affiliate Member
  5. Lifetime Honorary Member

Members of Doula UK are by association also members of the European Doula Network, of which Doula UK is an active part.

For more details of the different categories of membership, including what benefits they come with, please see the Membership Rates page.

Friends

To join as a friend please sign up here

Doulas

There are two routes to entry if you want to join Doula UK.

Route A

You will have completed a Doula UK approved preparation course within the last three years. Once you have ‘graduated’, your course provider will notify Doula UK and you will receive an email with the link to use to join as a full member. If you have any questions about joining Doula UK please talk to your course provider or email membership@doula.org.uk

Route B

This route into becoming a Doula UK member is for experienced doulas. By experienced we mean:

  • Experienced* doulas from overseas moving to the UK,
  • Experienced* UK doulas who have never been a member of Doula UK, and
  • Experienced doulas who have attended an initial preparation doula course which is not approved by Doula UK can apply to join Doula UK via Route B.
  • Previous Doula UK members returning after time out from the membership.

(*by experienced we mean having attended over 15 births or if you are a postnatal doula ONLY you must have minimum of 300 hours postnatal work. Evidence will need to be shown)

What is involved?

Please make contact with infrastructure@doula.org.uk and we will;

  • Send you an application form
  • Once we have received the application form we will arrange for you to have a 1-2-1 face to face consultation (in person or via Skype) to discuss your application
  • From this 1-2-1 we will mutually agree a plan of action for you to become a member of Doula UK – this may include some mentoring.

Each application will be looked at on its own merit.  Each doula who joins via Route B will have varying experience of being a doula and supporting women and their families.

If you would like to discuss the requirements before completing an application please contact us.

What is the cost of Route B?

The cost of the Route B entry consultation is £60 + Annual Membership of Doula UK at £7.50 per month by direct debit

(This excludes the cost of any activity undertaken as part of the agreed action plan).

Please email infrastructure@doula.org.uk  if you wish to be considered for Route B entry.

Why Join Doula UK?

As a Doula UK doula

The Hertfordshire Doulas at a meeting

So you’ve finished your doula course? This is just the beginning!  What are your choices now?

We do hope that you will consider joining Doula UK. Our organisation exists to promote life-changing support from skilled doulas for women & families in the childbearing year, to nurture the doula community, mentoring and supporting our members and giving confidence to parents and professionals, and to advocate for better support for UK families. We will support you so that you can better support women, birthing people, parents & families.

The benefits of becoming a member of Doula UK are:

  • Membership of the established association of over 700 doulas in the UK, Republic of Ireland and Channel Islands, founded in 2001
  • Know you are supporting the work of Doula UK, including the promotion of life-changing support for women and birthing people regardless of circumstances
  • ‘The Doula’ magazine (at least twice a year) and our monthly e-News; and regular updates– keeping you up to date with Doula UK news and giving you a wider perspective of what’s going on in the birth and postnatal world
  • Discounted access to the Doula UK conference and other events
  • A relationship with your Doula Mentor – she is YOUR doula and provides emotional and practical support through your first few jobs, as well as always being there for you if needed
  • Listing on the Find a Doula directory pages of the Doula UK website – this is how most of our clients find us and it is only available to Doula UK members. Doula UK is NOT an agency and this is a service we provide for free to parents to enable them to find the right doula for them
  • Access to the members only website forum and Facebook group
  • Local support and introductions to colleagues through your Rep and…
  • opportunities for on-going learning through study days and meetings in your local area – you will join a thriving community, rich in knowledge and experience
  • Being eligible to work for the Doula Access Fund Charity  supporting families in emotional or financial hardship
  • Being able to be paid using Doula UK Vouchers
  • All the advantages of the support and friendship of our many doula colleagues around the country
  • Help with practical things such as contracts, leaflets etc as well as our Philosophy, Code of Conduct and other guidance documents to help guide your work
  • A chance to get involved and volunteer for Doula UK – it’s fun and you don’t have to be an experienced doula to offer a little of your time to help the organisation run smoothly!

As a Friend of Doula UK

Join Doula UK as a Friend and you will be supporting the work of Doula UK, as well as ensuring you stay updated with doulaing in the UK and get benefits for yourself.

The benefits of becoming a Friend of Doula UK are:

  • Knowing that you are supporting the work of Doula UK, an organisation which promotes of life-changing support for women and families, regardless of circumstances
  • ‘The Doula’ magazine (at least twice a year)
  • Discounted access to Doula UK events
  • Regular news and updates.

Membership Rates

Benefits to you of the different membership categories:

Member benefit Recognised
doula		 Mentored
doula		 Friend & Overseas Affiliate Member
‘The Doula’ Magazine X X X
Discounted access to Doula UK events X X X
Regular Doula UK email news/updates X X X
Profile page details on the ‘Find a Doula’ section of our website X X
Access to Members’  area and downloads from our website X X
Membership of regional group nearest you X X
Access to secret Facebook Doula UK Members’ Group X X X
“Recognised” status will show on “Find a doula” section of website X

If you’re not sure which category of membership you want, the following will help:

A Recognised Doula:

  1. Has completed a Doula UK approved course/s
  2. Has read and signed to say that they agree with Doula UK’s Philosophy, Code of Conduct and other Policies/Procedures
  3. Has undergone Doula UK’s Recognition process with a Doula Mentor, and has been “recognised” as having attained a particular level of learned skills and experience.
  4. Works in the UK and meets the HMRC definition of having UK residence.
  5. As of January 2016 Doula UK also accepts members from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and from October 2016 Doula UK accepts members from the Republic of Ireland; providing criteria 1-3 above are met.

Membership is paid by direct debit at £7.50 per month.

A Mentored Doula:

  1. Has completed a Doula UK approved course/s
  2. Has read and signed to say that they agree with Doula UK’s Philosophy, Code of Conduct and other Policies/Procedures
  3. Is willing to engage in Doula UK’s mentoring process in order to become a recognised doula.
  4. Will only be able to be listed on the Doula UK “Find a doula” pages once she has a Doula Mentor.
  5. Will advertise herself as a Doula UK mentored doula, offering doula services at a reduced fee (to be discussed and agreed with her mentor) until she has fulfilled the necessary criteria for recognition.
  6. Works in the UK and meets the HMRC definition of having UK residence.
  7. As of January 2016 Doula UK also accepts members from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and from October 2016 Doula UK accepts members from the Republic of Ireland; providing criteria 1-5 above are met.

On joining Doula UK the membership cost is £25 joining fee followed by monthly payments of £7.50 to be paid by direct debit.

Mentoring fees are additional.

Overseas Affiliate Member of Doula UK:

  • Has completed a Doula UK approved course/s
  • Has previously worked as a doula in the UK as a member of Doula UK
  • Would like to remain a part of their Doula UK community.

Membership fee is £40 per annum.

Please email info@doula.org.uk if you would like to become an Overseas Affiliate Member.

A Friend of Doula UK:

  • Wants to support Doula UK and learn more about doulaing
  • Doesn’t fulfil the requirements for other Membership categories.

Membership fee is £25 per annum.

You can become a Friend of Doula UK straight away here.