Always on
This project successfully funded on 12th November 2024, you can still support them with a donation.
Prevent Vulnerable Women from Birthing Alone
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Aim: Donate to prevent mentally vulnerable women from birthing alone after fleeing war, trafficking and domestic violence.
Neighbourhood Doulas: A Lifeline for New Mothers
A doula is a birth companion trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical, advocacy, and educational support. Neighbourhood Doulas are a maternal health charity described as a 'life-saving service' that has helped new mothers in London since 2019. We are a community-led organisation available 365 days a year.
Our Mission
We provide free of charge, wrap-around care for some of our most at-risk individuals in society during their most vulnerable times. They are growing, birthing, and becoming parents, often isolated and alone.
- 90% of our service users have poor mental health.
- 97% come from low-income families (exacerbated by the cost of living crisis).
- 47% are asylum seekers.
- 36% are survivors of trauma, including torture, rape, trafficking, and domestic violence.
- 74% experience housing issues.
- 60% reside in the most deprived parts of London
Our vulnerable and at-risk service users often fall into multiple categories. We are constantly over-referred, oversubscribed, and people are desperately waiting to receive essential support.
Current Challenges
Having recently transitioned from CIC status (Community Interest Company) to CIO status (Charitable Incorporated Organisation), we are currently in-between funding. Despite trying all avenues to continue our work, we have been left with no other option than to turn to our community for help.
Our Service Users
Our service users are made up of:
- Low-income families struggling to make ends meet in the cost of living crisis.
- Displaced people who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, violence, and terror, facing birthing alone.
- Survivors of domestic abuse: Research shows that violence often begins or escalates in pregnancy; 1 in 3 pregnant women experience domestic abuse. Those who have escaped or survived domestic abuse face the prospect of bringing another human into the world without anyone to support them.
- Teenagers who find themselves pregnant at a young age, facing the terrifying prospect of giving birth alone, preparing for birth alone, and having no support once their baby arrives.
These are all unthinkable situations. Neighbourhood Doulas are here to fill in the gaps.
Our Services
We ensure that women and birthing people who are referred to us without a birth partner are prepared for birth and supported during labour and birth. Once the babies arrive, we help new mothers as they enter parenthood with invaluable community doula support such as:
- Newborn baby care
- Feeding options
- Mental health and wellbeing care
- Providing baby-essential items
- Accompanying them to connect with local community organisations
The Need for Your Help
98% of referrals come through NHS midwives to Neighbourhood Doulas. However, due to the current financial crisis and funding cut backs, referrals come in good faith but without any funding. Midwives often stress the need for our services and are disappointed when they hear we are at capacity. The situation is dire.
Our Goal
We are a tiny team with a big reach and even bigger ripple effects, from the babies to mothers and their communities. We are having to turn away mothers that desperately need the support we can provide if we have the funding. With your kindness, compassion, and generosity, we hope to raise £30,000 to enable us to keep supporting mothers and their new babies.
Why Your Donation Matters
Our doulas undergo extensive training offered by the best programmes in the UK, enabling them to support expectant mothers and birthing people. They are also trained in cultural sensitivity, understanding the devastating statistics of medical racism, Black women being 3.8 times, and Asian women being 1.8 times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts.
"‘As a black woman I was scared. I heard the news of another mother dying in childbirth and I was petrified. I had worries and anxiety but the midwives were too busy or just ignored me, I felt so neglected. When I met Tricia she was a real blessing. I finally had someone that would listen. My first birth was very difficult but Tricia spent time listening and supporting me. I felt a lot more confident and safe to birth and the aftercare was amazing, thank you’ A.M"
Neighbourhood Doulas exist for these purposes. We do not want to stop providing our life-changing care to those that need it, but we need your help. There is no slowing down nature; these babies are on their way, and they and their mothers need vital support.
How Your Donation Will Help
Every donation we receive contributes to providing full doula support for a vulnerable mother/birthing person. With your help, achieving our target of £30,000, we will be able to support mothers and babies, providing wrap-around care which includes:
- Antenatal education, including knowledge of birth options and human rights
- Newborn baby care and feeding choices
- Culturally sensitive care
- Interpretation as needed
- Labour and birth support
- Digital technology support to prevent isolation
- Discharge from hospital
- Food shop and hot meal provided
- Postnatal support: wellbeing and mental health support
- Companionship to link with community organisations
- Coordinator costs
Your donation will help us reach our goal. Please share with your family, friends, and colleagues. We deeply appreciate anything you can give.
With love and heartfelt thanks,
Neighbourhood Doulas