Goodwin Volunteer Doula Project and Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust have been honoured with an award at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Maternity (APPGM) summer reception. The awards acknowledged several maternity units’ inspiring work in improving local maternity services.
Picture L-R – Heather Barnes, Doula Project Manager for Goodwin Development Trust; Sallie Ward, Community Midwife; Anne Keen, MP; Karen Thirsk, Head of Midwifery for Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust; Emily Thornberry, Chair of the APPGM, Zoe Ashton-Worsnop, Volunteer Doula
Based on four key themes, the Goodwin Volunteer Doula Project and Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust received their award for developing inclusive services for disadvantaged groups and communities. ‘Heather Barnes, Project Manager for The Goodwin Volunteer Doula Project said “The day was a great celebration for the volunteers and staff who have been involved in the development of this innovative project across Hull. The award recognizes the effort put in by all the volunteer doulas over the past three years, as well as the great team work across the city by all agencies, ensuring isolated pregnant women get the support they need throughout their pregnancy and birth” . The Goodwin Volunteer Doula project, developed by Goodwin Development Trust, focuses on listening to the needs of local women from disadvantaged communities to ensure their needs are being met. This pioneering project recruits, trains and matches up volunteer Doulas with pregnant women who need support at what can be a lonely and difficult time. A Doula is a trained and experienced partner who accompanies a woman through pregnancy and childbirth and the first few weeks of family life. The volunteers are trained in child protection, domestic violence awareness, hospital tours, antenatal and postnatal roles, health and safety and breastfeeding.
