We were so excited last month to be able to share the news, that after weeks of hard work and waiting (lots of waiting!!!), we are officially a community interest company (CIC)! We received our certificate of incorporation for Greater Manchester Doulas Community Interest Company, our not-for-profit social enterprise.
A CIC is a special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders. As a CIC, we are regulated by the CIC regulator to ensure that our activities fulfil a community purpose and that all assets are used for this community purpose.
What does this mean?
Becoming a CIC won’t really change how we work with women in the short term. We have always aimed to support women across the North West throughout their reproductive experiences, and this won’t change. What we hope will change over the coming months is how accessible our services are to women, and to create stronger connections with communities.
We have always been aware that finances and other circumstances are often a barrier for those seeking out doula support, in particular women who have vulnerabilities. Being a social enterprise gives us a better foundation and infrastructure so we can work on bridging this gap.
With funding and donations we are able to offer our services for free or at a reduced rate to women with vulnerabilities and / or experiencing financial hardship. Through being accessible to all women, regardless of their circumstances, we are addressing the need for bespoke support to complex clients and offering support that may not otherwise be available to them.
We also hope to create community peer support groups, creating opportunities for women in the community to come together and establish positive social networks with like minded individuals. After all, what is more powerful than women supporting other women?
How can I help?
As a startup social enterprise, we rely heavily on support from people like you. Any support you can offer is so very much appreciated! Here are just a couple of the ways you can support us currently:
- Like, share and engage with our posts on social media to help spread the word about what we do.
- Make a donation, no matter how small, every little helps!
Donations can be made in cash if you fancy meeting up for a brew, through PayPal, or by bank transfer (get in touch for details).
We are so excited about the future for Greater Manchester Doulas CIC and we hope you continue to follow us on our journey!
Much love
Lauren, Elle & Christine x
