Who are we?

Led by full spectrum doulas Lori & Elle, Greater Manchester Doulas CIC is an organisation run by, for & with women. We believe in elevating others through grassroots social change. Our vision is a world where all women birth & live in power, free from violence and oppression.

Our aim is to provide holistic support to improve outcomes for women and their wider communities by; defending women’s human rights in pregnancy and birth, providing comprehensive antenatal education, building networks and strengthening connections between women and remaining a completely women-focused organisation.

What do we do?

BIRTH EDUCATION - We offer women comprehensive antenatal education that will give them the tools to prepare for pregnancy, birth, and parenting, with secure knowledge of their human rights. We want to give women the opportunity to explore their human rights and how to apply them to maternity systems which are currently leaving women with alarming rates of PTSD, and scarce follow up support.

HOLDING SPACE - Holding Space is our service which offers women the opportunity to talk to skilled doulas who will listen, hold space and offer support that is right for them and their needs. It can also be known as short term doulaing, bringing the practical and emotional support of doulas beyond the usual birth doula relationship. We spend up to 1.5 hours with each woman individually, offering physical, emotional and educational support. Afterwards we email a follow-up with a summary of what we discussed, any useful resources and next steps to further support women on their journey.

BIRTH DOULA SUPPORT - We support women birth doulas, providing continuous support for women and their families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the early days with their newborn. We offer women unlimited antenatal support and practical and emotional support during her labour and birth.

COMMUNITY GROUPS - We facilitate a variety of community groups across Manchester each week. They are all free to attend and are great opportunities for women to build solidarity with one another and meet like-minded women in their community.

Why do we need your help?

The reason we set up our organisation and became a community interest company was to ensure that our support remained accessible to all women who wanted it. Whilst many of our services are chargeable, we use donations and grants to ensure that every woman can access our support, regardless of her circumstances.

In order to continue to do this, we need your help. Every donation made goes directly to helping a woman to access the support she wants and deserves. You are helping woman to have positive, powerful birth experiences, to heal and recover from trauma, and to access a woman-centred and supportive community.

Please help local women to defend their human rights, to access holistic support and accessible education, and community with other women, so they can birth and live in power.