FAQs

Who does The Birth Partner Project help?

The Birth Partner Project provides trained volunteer birth partners to offer companionship and practical support to refugee and asylum seeker women in Cardiff throughout the latter stages of pregnancy, labour, birth and the first few weeks postnatally.

Why does this support matter?

Research has shown that experiencing continuity of care throughout pregnancy drastically improves outcomes for pregnant women. Women seeking sanctuary in the UK often are not able to access care in this way; many are moved to different areas one or more times during their pregnancy -often without warning - preventing maternity teams from being able to transfer information to midwives in the new location. In addition, these women also experience many other challenges including language barriers, an unfamiliar healthcare system, financial difficulties and mental health issues as well as living with the effects of trauma, loneliness and isolation. The intersection of multiple and severe disadvantages all contribute to the barriers women seeking sanctuary face in being able to enjoy a healthy pregnancy. The research also shows that having the presence of a trustworthy, compassionate companion during pregnancy, labour and birth has an incredibly positive effect on both mum and baby. Our volunteer birth partners are there to provide this support to the women who use our service; enabling them to make informed decisions about their birth, advocating for their choices when necessary and providing a safe, consistent network of support and friendship.

What does ‘seeking sanctuary’ mean?

We use the term ‘seeking sanctuary’ to refer to both asylum-seekers and refugees. An asylum seeker is someone who arrived in the UK and requested protection from persecution and serious human rights violations in another country. Additionally, people who have arrived in the UK as a result of human trafficking (the exploitation of vulnerable people for illegal purposes such as the sex trade or modern slavery), can make an application for asylum. Any person who claims asylum is referred to as an ‘asylum seeker’ until a decision is made on the application. If a person’s claim for asylum is accepted, their status changes from ‘asylum seeker’ to ‘refugee’.

What services does The Birth Partner Project provide?

Our volunteer birth partners provide information, guidance and companionship to pregnant women seeking sanctuary from 34 weeks onwards, throughout labour and birth and during the first 8 weeks postnatally.

How can I support The Birth Partner Project?

There are lots of ways you can support The Birth Partner Project. Make a one-off or regular monthly donation, organise a fundraiser, become a volunteer or simply connect with us on social media and spread the word about what we do! You can also donate your skills in other ways - from sewing reusable breast pads for new mums or collecting items for a new baby. Get in touch with us for more details.

Do I need to have any particular skills or experience to become a volunteer birth partner?

Our volunteer birth partners come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds, skills and life experiences. The one thing they all share in common is a desire to make a difference in the lives of women seeking sanctuary through solidarity, companionship and support. You don’t need any special skills or experience to become a volunteer birth partner, as we provide comprehensive training and ongoing support to help you carry out your role.

What is the time commitment required to be a volunteer birth partner?

Typically, most volunteers will support 1-3 women a year depending on their availability. Anyone who would like to become a volunteer birth partner must commit to engaging with our training sessions and commit to volunteering for at least 18 months. When a woman is referred to our service, information about the woman and her expected due date is shared with the volunteers and a small team of three volunteers is created to support her. The team meet with the woman during the weeks leading up to birth and 8 weeks postnatally, and a rota is created to cover the time surrounding the expected due date, where each volunteer signs up for an 8 hour shift during each 24 hour period.

How do I make a referral?

You can make a referral by contacting us through the website, sending an email to info@birthpartnerproject.org or calling 07871 911415. If you are contacting us via the website or email, please do not include any sensitive information about the woman you are referring, simply send us your phone number and we will contact you to complete a referral form over the phone.

Does The Birth Partner Project operate in other areas of the UK?

Currently, we only offer our services in Cardiff, Wales. However, we’ve got exciting plans to expand in the future! Sign up for our newsletter below to receive updates.

How do I find out about job vacancies?

We are a small but growing organisation. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter and keep an eye on our job vacancies to find out when we’re recruiting new team members.