The role:

As the Advocacy & Community Engagement Manager, you will play a vital role in leading Amma Birth Companions' advocacy work and driving community engagement initiatives.

This new role will lead and manage our Experts by Experience group, comprised of individuals supported by Amma who have firsthand experience of migration and the maternity care system. The postholder will also advocate for policy changes and improved services by developing strategies, coordinating research, collaborating with stakeholders, and participating in community events.

Building relationships with key stakeholders and supporting staff, volunteers, and service users in advocacy and community outreach activities are essential components of this role. View the full role description for more details.

More information:

As an organisation, we value fairness, equity, diversity and inclusion and aim to ensure every member of our team feels welcome and is supported. We are actively striving to ensure that we have diversity across our staff, board and volunteer group.

We provide a comprehensive induction, training and onboarding process for each new role at Amma. We also offer opportunities for reflection and ongoing learning, supported by both line management and as part of group sessions facilitated by a mental health professional.

We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experience of the UK migration system. We recognise that lived experience can be just as valuable in many areas as professional experience. We are not solely focused on academic qualifications or professional experience and are interested to know what knowledge and skills you have gained through lived experience that are aligned to this role.

In your application, please give examples of the skills and experience outlined in the person Specification, either from your professional or personal life.

We strive to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to everyone. Please email amanda@ammabirthcompanions.org if you require any reasonable adjustments to support you to access this recruitment opportunity.

Please also feel free to contact amanda@ammabirthcompanions.org if you have any questions about the role, your application form, or require any assistance to apply. You can also let us know if you would like to submit your application in a different format such as voice or video recording.

This role will be subject to references and a Protection of Vulnerable Groups check.

About Amma:

Amma Birth Companions is a Glasgow charity that supports pregnant people and new parents facing significant adversity on their journey to parenthood. Our mission is to create a supportive space where individuals feel seen, informed, and empowered in all aspects of their birth experience.

We provide volunteer companions, peer support activities and antenatal education to those who are facing pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood with limited support. This includes, but is not limited to, those who are refugees and in the asylum process.

Through advocacy and research, we aim to tackle disparities in perinatal care and speak out on the issues that negatively impact the individuals we serve.

Amma Birth Companions is a Glasgow charity that supports women and birthing people who are facing significant adversity on their journey to parenthood. Our mission is to create a supportive space where individuals feel seen, informed, and empowered in all aspects of their birth experience.

We provide volunteer companions, peer support activities and antenatal education to those who are facing pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood with limited support. This includes, but is not limited to, those who are refugees and in the asylum process.

Our companions offer one-to-one emotional and practical support throughout the perinatal phase and our ‘Amma Family’ programme facilitates opportunities for our participants to connect with one another and their communities.

Role

This new post will manage and further develop the Amma Family programme. This peer support programme currently consists of activities including parent and baby groups, exercise class, garden activities, and workshops.

Main duties:

• Managing the small Amma Family staff team
• Managing the weekly programme of activities
• Developing the programme in line with the needs, wants, knowledge and skills of the participants and adopting the principles of peer support and co-production
• Ensuring that peer supporters, Amma Family volunteers and placement students are recruited, trained, nurtured, managed, and supported
• Risk assessing activities and ensuring safe working
• Managing an active WhatsApp group which enables information sharing and connection between parents
• Working with senior management to tailor the Amma Family programme to the needs of new participant groups
• Supporting and encouraging new participants to engage with activities, finding ways to overcome barriers to participation
• Facilitating groups, ensuring participants feel engaged and included
• Sensitively dealing with issues arising within groups
• Collaborating with others (internal and external) to run a series of social events, workshops, and other opportunities for participants throughout the year
• Working in partnership with community gardening organisations to develop outdoor opportunities throughout the summer
• Oversee administration for the groups including organising catering, expenses, travel as well as room preparation and tidy up
• Ensuring participants with unmet needs are referred or signposted for support
• Keeping thorough records of attendance and participation using our participant database
• Monitoring and evaluating activities
• Responding to safeguarding concerns in line with Amma’s policies and procedures

More details:

Amma believes in fairness, equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognise the importance of an inclusive and diverse workforce, and we strive to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to everyone. Please tell us if there are any reasonable adjustments we can offer to support you to access this recruitment opportunity.

We welcome and actively encourage applications from people with a diverse range of experiences, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We also welcome and encourage applications from people with lived experience of our participant group.

This role will be subject to references and a Protection of Vulnerable Groups check.

We’re looking for a proactive Communications Officer with at least two years’ experience of creating and delivering multi-channel communications. In this role, you will utilise skills in traditional media, digital and social communications to raise awareness of Amma’s work and communicate our impact to external audiences. You will also help to deliver engaging awareness and fundraising campaigns.

Main duties:

• Work with the Head of Development to develop and manage a multi-channel communications strategy covering all aspects of Amma’s work
• Develop and deliver communications plans to support fundraising and community engagement activities
• Utilise creative storytelling to communicate the impact of our work
• Support the Fundraising Manager with fundraising communications including small grant applications
• Develop and manage social media content to grow our online audience and engage followers
• Create compelling content for digital channels, including website, social media, and newsletters
• Design creative content using programmes such as Canva or through briefing external producers and designers
• Monitor responses and engage with content from Amma’s online community
• Coordinate the Amma monthly email newsletter and manage e-mail subscriber lists
• Produce testimonials and case studies for the Amma website
• Regularly monitor digital analytics to monitor and increase engagement
• Set up and monitor social and Google ads to increase supporter engagement
• Support the creation of strategic publications including the annual report
• Attending occasional out-of-hours events
• Support the wider team to proofread and edit written communications and ensure brand guidelines are followed

More details:

Amma believes in fairness, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise the importance of an inclusive and diverse workforce, and we strive to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to everyone.

We welcome and actively encourage applications from people with a diverse range of experiences, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We also welcome and encourage applications from people with lived experience of our client group.

This role will be subject to references and a Protection of Vulnerable Groups check.

Amma Birth Companions (Amma) is a Glasgow charity that provides information, care, and advocacy to those who face barriers to support during pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. Our services include birth and postnatal companionship, peer support, and education.

Amma believes that everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or socioeconomic circumstances, should be supported to birth and parent with confidence.

Having recently recruited a new Chief Executive, we are now looking to identify a new Chair of the Board who will provide inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees as well as supporting and, where appropriate, challenging the Chief Executive to ensure the achievement of agreed strategic priorities and objectives. Overseeing the process to develop and embed a new strategic vision for the charity, you will develop a more robust approach to governance, ultimately ensuring the long-term sustainability of the charity. This includes the ongoing evolution of our fundraising strategy and continued diversification of revenue streams to support our future growth

With direct experience of charity governance having worked with or as part of a Board of Trustees, ideally at Chair level, the successful candidate will have demonstrable interpersonal and relationship-building abilities and a strong commitment to the aims and objectives of Amma. With strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate staff and volunteers alike, you will bring a clear understanding of managing the performance and effectiveness of an organisation to ensure it meets its operational, business, and financial goals, coupled with significant experience of building effective networks, relationships and partnerships to further organisational objectives.

About Amma:

Amma Birth Companions supports people at a critical time. We don’t think that anyone should go through pregnancy, birth and parenthood alone.

That’s why we support parents in need of additional care, information, or advocacy throughout the perinatal period.

We also offer pregnancy, birth, and postnatal companionship, along with antenatal education and peer support activities.

You can read more about our work with individuals here and more about our campaigning work here.

The Trustee Role

Joining our board of trustees is an extraordinary opportunity to add value to a brave and growing organisation that’s delivering cutting edge support. Being a trustee is a unique responsibility and we think that you could really make a difference with Amma.

As a trustee you will be responsible for the strategic direction of the organisation, stewardship of public and charitably given funds, supporting and adding value to the work of Amma’s staff team.

We think that we will get some great applications and have the opportunity to appoint more than one new trustee. We want this to be a process where you get to explore whether Amma would be the right fit for you as well. That’s why you don’t see a list of essential and desirable criteria.

We’re looking for people who always keep one eye on the bigger picture, people who can make sound and clear judgements and people who can encourage creative solutions. It’s important that you are able to offer and receive challenge and put the needs of the organisation ahead of your own where uncertainty arises.

There are some technical skills that are important for every trustee to have or to learn - you’ll be receiving reports and thinking about what they mean for our strategy, approving and monitoring finances and will be involved in conversations about managing risk.

There are also some specific skills that we are looking to add to the board, so we would especially like to hear from you if you have strong experience in:

· Monitoring, evaluation and quality improvement

· Child protection and safeguarding

· Human Resources

· Finance and accounts

· Fundraising

· Obstetrics

We have made good progress on equality, diversity and inclusion on our board and we want to go even further. We believe a board that is more representative of our society leads to better decisions - that’s why we are encouraging you to apply if you are from a minoritised background.

What’s most important to us if you are thinking about whether to apply is that you have empathy for everyone’s journey and operate in a non-judgemental way that meets the people who need our services where they are.

This new post will support the smooth and effective running of the Amma office and will support Amma’s growing staff team. The postholder will manage the smooth and efficient day-to-day running of the Amma office and will oversee all administration and finance tasks and processes.

Main duties:

Office management

• Ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the office
• Act as main point of contact for people contacting Amma by phone, email or via the website
• Oversee office-based health & safety checks and issues
• Maintain Amma’s policy review schedule and governance calendar, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation
• Manage equipment sign out sheet and conduct weekly check of equipment and arrange returns
• Conduct purchasing for services, equipment, office supplies, marketing, and fundraising activities
• Liaise with contractors to book in repairs and maintenance
• Set up and attend staff and board meetings as required, write and share agendas and meeting minutes

Administration & finance

• Oversee financial administration, including acting as a banking signatory
• Oversee and support with all team and office administration
• Streamline and ensure consistency in procedures and systems
• Collate and analyse reports to facilitate monitoring and evaluation, funding applications and reports
• Oversee IT systems and filing systems, ensuring data security and GDPR compliance
• Manage administrative duties for Amma’s groups and clients, including bookings and supplies
• Oversee administration and preparations for events and training, including logistics, AV and IT, and venue layout

Staff and volunteer management

• Line manage and support the Administrator
• Support with the recruitment of staff and volunteers
• Ensure HR systems, policies and procedures are administered effectively, including staff hours, leave and rotas
• Support with volunteer recruitment and administration
• Manage phones and on call rotas

More details:

Amma believes in fairness, equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognise the importance of an inclusive and diverse workforce and we strive to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to everyone.

We welcome and actively encourage applications from people with a diverse range of experiences, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We also welcome and encourage applications from people with lived experience of our client group.

This role will be subject to references and a Protection of Vulnerable Groups check.

The post holder will manage a caseload of clients, ensuring that safe, appropriate and trauma informed support is provided from 3rd trimester of pregnancy until approximately three weeks after the baby is born. This role combines coordinating teams of volunteer companions and providing support directly to our clients.

Clients will often be assigned a small team of companion volunteers according to their individual needs and preferences. The Perinatal Team Leader will lead each team, ensuring continuous support is provided throughout the perinatal period. Support should be person-centred depending on individual needs. Support is offered in clients’ homes, at hospital or other appointments, and during birth.

Support may include:

• Emotional & practical support
• Advocacy
• Providing information about birth choices, rights and processes
• Birth preparation
• Postnatal support

The post holder will:

• Provide support, supervision, guidance and shadowing opportunities to volunteers
• Provide support directly to clients to ensure a continuous service is provide
• Be the primary companion when specialist support is needed for clients facing particularly complex or difficult situations
• Keep thorough records using our client database and ensuring volunteers do the same
• Track work progress using Microsoft Excel
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with partner agencies, making onward referrals to ensure clients’ needs are met by the most appropriate agency
• Ensure the service adheres to adult safeguarding and child protection procedures and manage any associated risks
• Engage in regular case file reviews with members of the staff team
• Work with the Volunteer Manager to deal with any disciplinary and practice issues that arise
• Create and deliver volunteer training
• Deliver birth preparation sessions either one-to-one, with partners, or with groups

Note: We are recruiting three people to these roles, one of whom will have a focus on working with young people. This is a new area of development and may entail a higher proportion of group work and birth preparation.

Hours and On Call Requirement

As births can happen at any time of the day or night, Amma operates an on-call system to ensure that support is provided 24/7. Perinatal Team Leaders will receive a full-time salary (equivalent to 35 hours per week) and will work a 30-hour standard week. In addition to this, they will be on call one week in every four. The on-call period entails:

• Being a back-up to attend births and emergency appointments
• Answering the emergency phone in the evening and at the weekend
• Addressing any urgent issues arising
• Monitoring Whatsapp groups involving volunteer companions who are on call for a birth

When attending births, hours of work may be long. Time will be given for rest and recuperation afterwards.

Weekly hours can be flexible but team members must be available to attend staff meetings, including on-call and handover meetings.

More details

Amma believes in fairness, equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognise the importance of an inclusive and diverse workforce and we strive to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to everyone.

We welcome and actively encourage applications from people with a diverse range of experiences, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We also welcome and encourage applications from people with lived experience of our client group.

This role will be subject to references and a Protection of Vulnerable Groups check.

This new post will coordinate and further develop the Amma Family programme. This peer support programme currently consists of several activities each week including parent and baby groups, yoga, garden activities, and workshops.

The programme takes a person-centred approach and is developed in line with the needs, wants, knowledge and skills of the participants. All peer support and learning activities relate to our organisational aims of reducing isolation, building confidence, and empowering people with information about pregnancy, birth, and parenting.

Main duties:

• Work with the Head of Services to run the Amma Family Programme
• Work with the Volunteer Manager to recruit and train peer support volunteers and a placement student
• Create a monthly rota for Amma Family volunteers
• Manage an active WhatsApp group which enables information sharing and connection between parents
• Work with senior management to tailor the Amma Family Programme to the needs of new client groups
• Support and encourage new clients to engage with activities, finding ways to overcome barriers
• Host groups, ensuring clients feel engaged and included
• Sensitively deal with issues arising within groups
• Collaborate with others to run a series of social events and workshops for service users throughout the year
• Undertake administration for the groups including organising catering, expenses, travel as well as room preparation and tidy up

Other duties include:

• Keeping thorough records of attendance and participation using our client database
• Risk assessing activities and ensuring safe working
• Monitoring and evaluating activities
• Responding to safeguarding concerns in line with Amma’s policies and procedures
• Working with the Head of Services to signpost and refer participants to support with any needs arising.

More details

Amma believes in fairness, equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognise the importance of an inclusive and diverse workforce and we strive to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to everyone.

We welcome and actively encourage applications from people with a diverse range of experiences, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We also welcome and encourage applications from people with lived experience of our client group.

This role will be subject to references and a Protection of Vulnerable Groups check.

Amma Birth Companions is a registered Scottish charity that supports birthing people experiencing significant adversity on their journey to parenthood. Our aim is to create a supportive space where all birthing people feel seen, informed, and empowered in all aspects of their birth experience.

We are currently seeking a volunteer Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees. This role requires a commitment of approximately 4-6 hours per month. The outgoing Treasurer will provide an extensive handover for the role.

Amma Birth Companions is funded by a range of funders and grant providers, including the Scottish Government and National Lottery, and is on course to record £200,000+ of income this year.

Key Duties of Treasurer

The overall role of the Treasurer is to maintain an overview of the organisation's financial affairs, ensure its financial viability and ensure that proper financial records and procedures are maintained.

Please download the Role Description below to find out more about the role.