VOLUNTEER AS A MOTHER COMPANION

Volunteers offer emotional and practical support to migrant mamas from their last trimester of pregnancy until their baby is 8 weeks old. Our trained Mother Companions are also on call to act as trusted birth partners for women who would otherwise give birth alone.

When you join the Project MAMA village, you become part of a nurturing community standing in solidarity with families facing marginalisation.

No previous birth experience is required — we’ll train and support you every step of the way.

Next application deadline:  July 31st 2026 

What support do volunteer mother companions provide?

You’ll work in small teams with other Project MAMA volunteers and staff to provide a mama with person-focused support. You’ll visit her approximately every other week, in her home, from her third trimester of pregnancy until her babe is 8 weeks. With your team, you’ll also be part of an on-call rota to be her birth partner. Your support could include:

  • Accompanying a mama to some midwife appointments

  • Helping her create a personalised birth plans

  • Advocating for her birth rights and choices

  • Providing emotional support during labour and birth (including inductions and caesarean births)

  • Offering companionship and being a calm, reassuring presence throughout the perinatal period

  • Supporting with infant feeding

  • Supporting a mama postnatally as she adjusts to her new role, e.g. watching the baby while she showers or naps.

  • Accompanying a mama to attend local parent & baby groups

  • Assisting a mama to register her birth/ the baby with the GP

  • Keeping concise but thorough notes on your support

Is this role right for you?

If you are passionate about supporting refugee and migrant mamas and babies facing complex challenges, we would love to hear from you.

No previous experience in birth work is needed. We provide full training and ongoing support.

We particularly encourage applications from people who have professional experience in the refugee sector, or lived experience of migration or other issues relevant to the communities we support.

We are also especially keen to hear from people who speak multiple languages.

Before applying, please consider whether you:

  • Live within, or can easily commute to, Bristol

  • Have time to be on-call twice a year and attend a birth, which may happen during the day or night

  • Can commit to supporting two mamas a year, over a 16 week period.

  • Are reliable, compassionate and able to work well in a team

  • Are committed to social justice, anti-racism and inclusion

  • Feel able to support women who may have experienced trauma, with supervision and team support in place

  • Are willing to complete a DBS check

  • Can commit to at least one year of volunteering

Please also ensure you make our Mother Companion training dates: