The Birth Equity Fund
No one should face
birth alone.
The Birth Equity Fund provides free, professional doula support to women and birthing people who face pregnancy and birth without adequate care, advocacy, or emotional support. Because holding humanity shouldn't be a privilege.
£300
Funds one birth - antenatal session(s), birth support right through to a postpartum debrief
100%
Of our supported births are provided free of charge to the families who need it most
WHO WE ARE
Born from three years of
training, community & care
The Birth Equity Fund is an initiative of The Doula Training Foundation, an organisation dedicated to training compassionate, skilled doulas who make a real difference to families at one of the most significant moments of their lives.
After three years of building a community of extraordinary birth workers, we recognised something important: the families who need doula support most are often the ones least able to access it. The Birth Equity Fund exists to change that.
We believe that respectful, informed, and nurturing birth support is not a luxury. It is something every person deserves, regardless of their financial circumstances, their background, or the complexity of their situation.
This fund is grounded not in charity, but in equity. In dignity. In the understanding that structural inequality shapes birth outcomes, and that consistent, relational support can change them.
Dignity & respect
Every person we support is treated with full dignity, their choices honoured, their voice centred.
Cultural humility
All care is delivered in a way that respects identity, pronouns, culture, faith and lived experience.
Trauma-informed practice
Our doulas are trained to hold space for people navigating fear, grief, uncertainty and complexity.
Gender inclusivity
We support all women and birthing people, including trans and non-binary individuals, without exception.
WHAT WE DO
Full, continuous support
from first meeting to after the birth
Every person supported through the Birth Equity Fund receives the same level of care we would want for our own families. Not a reduced service. Not a compromise. The full thing.
STEP 1
🤝
Antenatal Sessions
One to two sessions with your primary doula in person or virtually (and one with your back-up doula if applicable) so that your birth preferences, fears, and individual needs are all met with care.
STEP 2
🌙
On-Call Support
Your doula is on call from ten days before your due date until 42 weeks. A steady, consistent presence, available when labour begins, whenever that may be.
STEP 3
🤱
Birth Attendance
Continuous, uninterrupted support throughout labour and birth. Research consistently shows that people supported by a doula are more likely to feel satisfied with their birth experience and less likely to experience unnecessary intervention.
STEP 4
🌸
Postnatal Debrief
A dedicated session after the birth to process the experience, support early feeding, check in on emotional well-being, and signpost to any community or specialist services that may help.
WHO WE SUPPORT
For those who need it
most
The Birth Equity Fund prioritises women and birthing people who are experiencing financial hardship alongside additional vulnerability or systemic disadvantage.
Displaced, seeking asylum, or in temporary accommodation
LGBTQ+ individuals, including trans and non-binary birthing people
Fleeing domestic abuse or gender-based violence
From ethnically minoritised communities experiencing racism or cultural marginalisation
Survivors of human trafficking or exploitation
Anyone identified as vulnerable or at increased risk of inequitable maternity care
Young or isolated parents navigating pregnancy without support
Those living on low income or in receipt of benefits
All care is inclusive and anti-discriminatory. The Birth Equity Fund is committed to supporting people of all genders, backgrounds, cultures and faiths. Every referral is considered with care and compassion. If you are unsure whether someone would be eligible, please get in touch, we would rather speak with you than have someone go unsupported.
STORIES OF IMPACT
Behind every funded birth
is a real person
These are not statistics. These are people who walked into one of the most significant moments of their lives carrying far more than they should have had to carry alone.
Research consistently shows that people supported by a doula are more likely to feel positive about their birth experience, less likely to experience medical interventions such as caesarean or epidural, and more likely to experience improved emotional well-being. For those in vulnerable or disadvantaged circumstances, doula support is particularly powerful; offering protective social support, reducing anxiety and stress, and helping to improve outcomes and equity in maternity care.
A Story of Loss & New Beginnings
"When she went into labour, she wasn't alone."
She had recently arrived in the UK from Africa. In her first weeks here, her husband died tragically in a workplace accident. Overnight, she found herself grieving, alone in a new country, and preparing to give birth without a single familiar face around her.
She attended appointments alone. She navigated an unfamiliar system while carrying unimaginable loss. There was no one to sit beside her afterwards and help her make sense of it all.
"Her doula became that person. A steady, consistent presence. Someone who checked in, who listened, who showed up."
When she went into labour, she wasn't alone. She had someone beside her who knew her story and could support her through every moment.
A Story of Choice & Voice
"She now had someone to help her understand her options."
She was young, vulnerable, and navigating a pregnancy that was not her choice. Facing pressure, uncertainty, and a system that didn't centre her voice, she was at risk of moving through the entire experience without ever feeling like her choices mattered.
Her doula made sure she knew she had choices. That she could accept or decline NHS offers. That her voice mattered, and that someone was there to help her use it.
"Someone to quietly remind her that she had rights. Someone to create a sense of calm and safety in what could otherwise have been overwhelming."
Continuous, trusted support made the difference between a birth that happened to her, and one she was part of.
£300
funds one complete birth
£600
supports two families
£3
per month makes a difference
0
families should face birth alone
SUPPORT THE FUND
Every contribution
changes a birth
Whether you give once or monthly, as an individual or a company, your support directly funds professional doula care for a family who needs it.
Corporate & Organisational Giving
We welcome partnerships with companies who want to use their CSR commitments to make a tangible difference to birth outcomes for vulnerable families. From one-off sponsorship to ongoing support, we'd love to talk about how your organisation could be part of this.
MAKE A REFERRAL
Know someone who
needs this support?
Referrals are welcome from midwives, social workers, health visitors, domestic abuse services, asylum support organisations, and anyone else who supports vulnerable pregnant people. Self-referrals are also warmly welcomed.
1 Check eligibility
The person should be experiencing financial hardship alongside additional vulnerability. If you're unsure, please reach out, we'd rather have the conversation.
2 Complete the referral form
Our simple online form takes around 10 minutes. You'll need basic details about the person's situation and pregnancy timeline.
3 We'll be in touch
Our coordination team will review the referral and match the person with an appropriate doula, taking into account language, culture, and individual needs.
4 Support begins
The doula will make contact, antenatal sessions are arranged, and continuous support begins before the birth.
Ready to refer
someone?
Our referral form is straightforward and confidential. All information shared is handled in accordance with GDPR and strict confidentiality standards.
ELIGIBILITY AT A GLANCE
Experiencing financial hardship / on low income
Facing additional vulnerability or systemic disadvantage
Pregnant or recently bereaved of a pregnancy
Based within our coverage area
Not already receiving equivalent funded support
Complete the Referral Form