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Our journey
Amma was created to address the unmet needs of parents in Scotland facing childbirth alone.
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How Amma began
The idea for Amma was born in 2017, when our co-founder, Sarah Zadik, was working at the Red Cross managing a service for pregnant individuals navigating the asylum process in Glasgow.
Witnessing the challenges faced by these women, including language barriers and lack of support during childbirth, Sarah sought to integrate volunteer doulas into the service. The impact of this was evidently profound, but the model wasn't sustainable.
Eventually, Sarah partnered with an experienced doula, Helen MacDonald, to create a separate project, Amma Birth Companions, which would have the support and infrastructure in place to enable birth companionship on a much bigger scale.
With support from the local specialist midwifery team and other third sector organisations, the concept for Amma quickly gained momentum, attracting passionate volunteers and evolving into a registered charity in May 2019.
Witnessing the challenges faced by these women, including language barriers and lack of support during childbirth, Sarah sought to integrate volunteer doulas into the service. The impact of this was evidently profound, but the model wasn't sustainable.
Eventually, Sarah partnered with an experienced doula, Helen MacDonald, to create a separate project, Amma Birth Companions, which would have the support and infrastructure in place to enable birth companionship on a much bigger scale.
With support from the local specialist midwifery team and other third sector organisations, the concept for Amma quickly gained momentum, attracting passionate volunteers and evolving into a registered charity in May 2019.
Our milestones
From our humble beginnings as a small project, Amma has rapidly evolved into a vital support network for hundreds of parents. Through strategic partnerships, passionate volunteerism, and a commitment to excellence, we've achieved several key milestones over the years.
Our roots
Initial idea for Amma is born
From concept to reality
October 2018: Amma becomes an unincorporated association
Becoming operational
May 2019: Amma registers as an official charity
August 2019: Birth companions are trained
September 2019: Amma starts accepting referrals
September 2019: We support our first birth
August 2019: Birth companions are trained
September 2019: Amma starts accepting referrals
September 2019: We support our first birth
Cultivating community
March 2020: Set up Amma Family online peer support group to help reduce isolation during lockdown
June 2020: The postnatal volunteer companion role is introduced
June 2020: The postnatal volunteer companion role is introduced
Focusing on growth
July 2021: Amma Family programme of activities is expanded and clients begin meeting in-person
August 2021: First three-year strategic plan is developed, focusing on growing the organisation and deepening our impact
October 2021: Move into our first two-room office in Glasgow city centre
November 2021: Begin offering group antenatal education classes
November 2021: Receive 'Tacking Health Inequalities Award', Scottish Health Awards
August 2021: First three-year strategic plan is developed, focusing on growing the organisation and deepening our impact
October 2021: Move into our first two-room office in Glasgow city centre
November 2021: Begin offering group antenatal education classes
November 2021: Receive 'Tacking Health Inequalities Award', Scottish Health Awards
Expanding our team
March 2022: Following the success of the #FreedomtoCrawl campaign, Amma is named a key contributor to a CYCPS report that led to the closure of the Mears-run mother and baby unit
April 2022: Hire our inaugural CEO
June 2022: Welcome three Perinatal Team Leaders into this newly created role, enabling us to support more clients, improve service delivery, and reduce pressure on volunteer capacity
June 2022: Receive 'Maternity Service of Sanctuary' status by City of Sanctuary Award
July 2022: Introduce new volunteer roles (Parent Supporter, Language Supporter, and Volunteer Driver)
April 2022: Hire our inaugural CEO
June 2022: Welcome three Perinatal Team Leaders into this newly created role, enabling us to support more clients, improve service delivery, and reduce pressure on volunteer capacity
June 2022: Receive 'Maternity Service of Sanctuary' status by City of Sanctuary Award
July 2022: Introduce new volunteer roles (Parent Supporter, Language Supporter, and Volunteer Driver)
Moving up
March 2023: Launch online shop
May 2023: Move into new and much bigger office space, still in Glasgow city centre
June 2023: Vongayi Mufara is named Trustee of the Year, Scottish Charity Awards
July 2023: Volunteer team grows to 100 individuals and staff team expands to 18 people
September 2023: Receive Scotland's Champions 'Community Project of the Year' award
November 2023: Receive 'Tacking Health Inequalities Award', Scottish Health Awards
May 2023: Move into new and much bigger office space, still in Glasgow city centre
June 2023: Vongayi Mufara is named Trustee of the Year, Scottish Charity Awards
July 2023: Volunteer team grows to 100 individuals and staff team expands to 18 people
September 2023: Receive Scotland's Champions 'Community Project of the Year' award
November 2023: Receive 'Tacking Health Inequalities Award', Scottish Health Awards
Deepening our impact
January 2024: Hire Advocacy & Community Engagement Manager and launch Experts by Experience Group
March 2024: Publish ‘Birth Outcomes & Experiences Report’
March 2024: Receive GSK Impact Award
May 2024: Receive our 500th referral
March 2024: Publish ‘Birth Outcomes & Experiences Report’
March 2024: Receive GSK Impact Award
May 2024: Receive our 500th referral
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