Overdue: 48 days
Public benefits
Birthwise provides direct benefit to its service users in Northern Ireland by connecting, empowering, informing, and supporting pregnant women and new parents. By providing accurate and evidence-based information, one direct benefit is that pregnant women and new parents have greater knowledge and therefore feel empowered to make informed choices
about matters such as their care during pregnancy and their plans for the birth and feeding of their baby. This contributes to the health and well-being of the beneficiaries as pregnant women and new parents as they feel better informed and more in control during this hugely important moment in their family lives. Being better informed can also lead to a reduction in the stress and anxiety women and new parents experience and can lead to more positive experience of the birth. In cases where a pregnant woman has no-one else, the Birthwise doula-support programme has a significant direct benefit to that individual, ensuring the woman is supported practically and emotionally, and ensuring she is not alone during the birth. Birthwise also advances the health and well-being of pregnant women and new parents by creating, supporting and strengthening community networks, such as local social and community activities. The direct benefit of this purpose is that social isolation is reduced and connections are built so that pregnant women and new parents have a community of their peers to support them in their lives as parents and parents-to-be. The benefits of providing accurate information to pregnant women and new parents can be demonstrated by the fact that individual women and new parents have greater knowledge about the process of birth, feel more in control and less afraid, and are able to make more informed choices about the birth and feeding. The benefits of the doula support programme can be demonstrated by the fact that a woman who would otherwise have had no support as a birth companion, has a trained doula to support them through the whole experience of giving birth. The benefits of establishing and supporting community groups and social networks are demonstrated by the fact that new parents and pregnant women have access to a community of people going through the same experience as themselves. This peer support network can be a huge positive feature in the lives of pregnant women and new parents, providing connection, information, friendship and support. There is no harm arising from any of these purposes. The main beneficiaries of Birthwise’s purposes and activities are pregnant women and new parents from all sections of the community in Northern Ireland. Birthwise has no employees and is run entirely by volunteers. The only private benefit flowing from our purposes currently is the payments made to doulas under our funded programme of doula support. There are no other private benefits.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
Birthwise curates and shares evidence on matters relevant to pregnancy, birth, infant feeding and attachment. Birthwise provides accurate, evidence-based information to enable women/parents to make the choices that are right for them. Birthwise also provides information to increase the knowledge and confidence of women and new parents in the
community, challenging myths, fears and misconceptions. Birthwise provides accurate information to challenge non-evidence based beliefs in the community about pregnancy, birth, feeding, early parenting and maternity services. Birthwise supports women and parents on a one-to one basis through our antenatal and postnatal advocacy work, providing information and support to increase their knowledge and confidence and help them to make informed choices. Birthwise also has a funded programme which provides specially trained birth companions, known as doulas, to women who don’t have anyone else. Birthwise also creates and strengthens community networks in order to reduce isolation and build connections, supporting women and those around them to design, create, and deliver appropriate services in their local community. For example, Birthwise runs breastfeeding peer support networks and groups – and organises social activities and local meet-ups for pregnant women and new parents. Birthwise works with elected representatives, policymakers and HSC leaders both at local level and NI-wide in the co-design and co-production of service changes, guidelines and the development of policy. Birthwise volunteers actively participate in Maternity Services Liaison Committees as well as working groups and task & finish groups within HSC trusts. Birthwise contributes to consultations and takes part in NI-wide work led by DoH, RQIA, HSCB, and PHA. It also acts as secretariat to the Stormont All-Party Group on Women’s Health.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of health or the saving of lives
Who the charity helps
- Parents
- Women
- Youth (14-25 year olds)
How the charity works
- Advice/advocacy/information
- Education/training