As with all successful grassroots organizations, the Goodwin Volunteer Doula Service in Hull was motivated by a small group of local women who wished to do something positive for pregnant women in the face of difficult personal, social and economic conditions. Goodwin Development Trust, as part of the local Sure Start programme, identified a gap in provision of support for women form disadvantaged communities around childbirth, and in September 2005 the Goodwin Volunteer Doula Service was piloted. Since then we have trained 55 volunteers and supported over 150 women. Over the past three years the project has developed and now offers support from, and to, women all over Hull and is currently joint funded by Hull Teaching PCT and Hull City Council via the Early Years fund.
In conjunction with Hull & East Riding Maternity Services we have recently won the 2008 All Party Parliamentary Group Maternity Awards for services for isolated communities. If you are interested in developing such a service in your area of the country, we have now developed a replication package for such organisations. Please visit How to Replicate to find out more…
