Amma Birth Companions

What Amma Birth Companions does

Amma Birth Companions is a Glasgow-based charity registered in Scotland (SC049280), founded in May 2019 to ensure that no woman or birthing person faces pregnancy, birth, or early parenthood alone. The organisation serves a beneficiary base of women and birthing people facing structural barriers — including poverty, social isolation, language barriers, insecure immigration status, asylum/refugee status, trafficking, and gender-based violence — with 365 women supported across all services in 2024-25, drawn from 49 countries of origin and 29 languages (62% newly arrived in Glasgow, 76% without nearby friends or family). Its integrated service portfolio comprises Birth & Postnatal Companionship (trauma-skilled volunteer support from third trimester through early postpartum), Amma Family Peer Support Programme (weekly groups for parents from 20 weeks gestation until child age two), midwife-led Antenatal Education, Advocacy & Research (including an Experts by Experience advisory group), and the Nurture Together infant feeding support programme co-produced with the University of Edinburgh.

The organisation operates with no proprietary technology platform; its service model is delivered through a combination of in-person support across Greater Glasgow, online peer groups, and a small online merchandise shop. Delivery is powered by nearly 20 staff and over 100 volunteers, with 60+ new volunteers onboarded in 2024-25 alone, all of whom complete 40-50 hours of mandatory training in trauma-informed, culturally safe care. The business model is that of a registered charity: services are provided entirely free of charge to clients, and revenue is generated through a diversified mix of grants (National Lottery Community Fund, Scottish Government PIMH Fund, AB Charitable Trust, Bromley Trust, Corra, Henry Smith Charity, Robertson Trust, The King's Fund, King Charles III Charitable Foundation, and others), individual donations, corporate Charity-of-Year partnerships (WBG, Aspen People), fundraising events (Kiltwalks, marathons, Big Give matched appeals), and merchandise sales. The go-to-market motion is community-led: 61% of referrals come from 37 different agencies and NHS specialisms, while 39% come from self-referrals or word-of-mouth within Glasgow's migrant and refugee community.

Amma holds significant institutional positioning within Scotland's maternal health ecosystem, including Scotland's first Maternity Service of Sanctuary status (2022), 2024 GSK IMPACT Award recognition, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Women & Children's Volunteer of the Year (2026), and Scottish Charity Awards Charity of the Year Large (2026). It co-chairs the Scottish Government's Short Life Working Group on Racialised Health Inequalities in Maternity Care and holds research collaborations with the University of Edinburgh and Durham University. Operating geography is currently restricted to Glasgow.

Name

Amma Birth Companions

Legal name

Amma Birth Companions

Website

https://ammabirthcompanions.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Amma Birth Companions is a Glasgow-based Scottish charity providing free, trauma-informed perinatal companionship, peer support, antenatal education, and infant feeding support to women and birthing people facing barriers such as asylum-seeking, poverty, and isolation, delivered by ~20 staff and 100+ trained volunteers across 49 countries of origin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Perinatal and Maternity Support Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Lactation, Postpartum & Perinatal Support Services (HLAFAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Newborn/Infant Mother’s Helper Support (HSAAAGAB), Postpartum Newborn Care & Parent Education (NCS) (HSAAACAA), Postpartum Overnight Support (Parent Rest Support) (HSAAADAF)

Keywords

• Perinatal support services
• Maternity companionship
• Antenatal education
• Infant feeding support
• Refugee maternal care

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Amma receives donations from individual donors, corporate supporters, and participates in fundraising events including Kiltwalks, marathon running, firewalks, zipslides, and Big Give campaigns. The organization also sells merchandise through its online shop.
2. Grant Funding: Funded by a diverse range of grant-making organizations including AB Charitable Trust, Bromley Trust, Cash for Kids, Cattanach, Corra, Henry Smith Charity, National Lottery Community Fund, Scottish Government PIMH Fund, Robertson Trust, Rosa, Women's Fund for Scotland, and others. Major institutional funders include The King's Fund, Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, and King Charles III Charitable Foundation.
3. Merchandise Sales: Operates an online shop selling hoodies and tote bags created in collaboration with local artist Alice Dansey-Wright, with 100% of proceeds supporting the charity's work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Amma Birth Companions is a Glasgow-based charity providing free, trauma-informed perinatal support services to women and birthing people facing barriers such as poverty, isolation, language challenges, and insecure immigration status. Its core offering consists of birth and postnatal companionship, peer support, antenatal education, infant feeding support, and advocacy, delivered by trained volunteers alongside a small professional perinatal staff team from the third trimester through early parenthood.

Product overview

Amma Birth Companions is a Glasgow charity offering a suite of integrated perinatal support services rather than a single product. The core portfolio includes Birth & Postnatal Companionship (trauma-skilled volunteer support during pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood), the Amma Family Peer Support Programme (community-building weekly groups), Antenatal Education delivered through midwife-led Pregnancy Groups, Advocacy & Research initiatives, and the Nurture Together Infant Feeding Support programme. Services are designed to work together holistically, with volunteers and staff providing coordinated care from the third trimester through the first two years of parenthood. The organisation also runs a comprehensive volunteer programme with multiple engagement pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Birth & Postnatal Companionship Trauma-skilled, culturally safe care provided by volunteer companions from the third trimester of pregnancy, during birth, and for the first few weeks postpartum. Highly trained volunteers work in small teams alongside perinatal staff to provide continuous practical and emotional support.
• Amma Family (Peer Support Programme)

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% reported increased knowledge of rights and choices around childbirth
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Durham University Infancy & Sleep CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborated on research documenting the challenges faced by families raising babies in temporary asylum accommodation. Study exposed substandard housing and called for reforms. Published in Wellbeing, Space and Society Journal.
• University of EdinburghcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with anthropologists Dr Lucy Lowe and Dr Anna Beesley from University of Edinburgh's Infancy & Sleep Centre to create Nurture Together infant feeding programme. The project was co-produced with 10 mothers with lived experience of migration and the asylum system, creating culturally sensitive breastfeeding resources and an online peer support group. Also collaborated on breastfeeding research project.
• Scottish GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmma co-chaired the Scottish Government's Short Life Working Group on Racialised Health Inequalities in Maternity Care. Work culminated in release of Best Practice Toolkit on interpreter use and a five-year Action Plan to address racialised maternal health inequalities across Scotland. Also received funding from Scottish Government PIMH Fund.
• Public Health ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive collaboration on projects improving policies and systems impacting pregnancy, birth, and parenting experiences of individuals from migrant backgrounds. Amma completed training videos for Public Health Scotland focusing on experiences of those with 'No Recourse to Public Funds' in accessing healthcare.
• NHS Greater Glasgow & ClydecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration including formal response and action plan following Birth Outcomes Report. Regular meetings with Director of Midwifery to exchange feedback, highlight areas of concern, and collaborate on creating equitable maternity care. Contributed to MBRRACE-UK report response with Sands baby loss charity. Participated in NHS annual review process.
• Scottish Children and Young People's CommissionermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed to reports on use of hotel accommodation for children and families and children's rights violations in Home Office-run mother & baby unit in Glasgow.
• Scottish Poverty & Inequality CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged in projects aiming to improve policies impacting pregnancy, birth, and parenting experiences of underserved groups. Experts by Experience group fed into Poverty & Inequality Commission report on reducing child poverty.
• PEEK (Possibilities, Engagement, Enablement for Kids)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for weekly gardening sessions at Washhouse Garden in Tollcross for families. Also partnered on Amma's Little Graduates programme - a six-week transition programme for parents and toddlers approaching age two.
• EngenderminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboratively produced policy brief as part of Nurture Together project with experts by experience.
• Acacia CoachesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided free coach transport for beach trip to Troon Beach for families.
• The FerretminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJournalistic partner for investigation into conditions mothers and babies are living in across Scotland's temporary and asylum accommodation.
• Al Gilani FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind donor providing food for holiday party and events.
• Open AyeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided festive photoshoot for holiday party.
• WBG (Woman's Budget Group)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity of the Year partnership with fundraising, gifts in kind and volunteering support.
• Aspen PeopleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity of the Year partnership with representative participating in Zipslide the Clyde. Provided fundraising, gifts in kind and volunteering support.
• Beauty BanksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegular deliveries of toiletries, cosmetics and feminine hygiene products donated to clients.
• Hey GirlsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegular deliveries of feminine hygiene products donated to clients.
• Merry Go RoundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership allowing clients to receive clothes and other essentials through their support package programmes.
• Apparel XchangeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership allowing clients to receive clothes and other essentials through their support package programmes.
• Mighty Mama CoachminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided postnatal fitness classes for families.
• NatWestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStaff from Greenock office visited Amma office to blend and pack herbal products for online shop.
• Ashurst LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlasgow office marked Black History Month by raising money through bake sale.
• NHS Race and Health ObservatorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted visit from Prof Habib Naqvi MBE, Chief Executive, as part of his tour of Scotland to meet with organizations working to tackle health inequities.
• Sands (baby loss charity)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to ensure voices of women from migrant backgrounds were shared in response to MBRRACE-UK report.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Home-Start UK: UK-wide family support charity using trained volunteers to visit families with young children at home. Comparable volunteer-led, peer-based support model for vulnerable families during the perinatal period.
• Positive Birth Movement: UK-based grassroots network of free, informal antenatal and postnatal discussion groups. Comparable peer-support and community-building approach, though without Amma's specialisation in refugee/migrant populations.
• Maternity Action: UK charity specialising in the rights of pregnant women, new mothers, and babies, with particular focus on asylum-seeking and migrant women. Overlaps Amma's advocacy, rights education, and migrant-specific support work.
• Birth Companions: UK charity providing doula and birth companionship support to women facing multiple disadvantage in pregnancy, including those in detention and asylum. Closest direct peer to Amma in mission, service model, and target population.

Emerging players

• Best Beginnings: UK charity focused on reducing inequalities in child health from pregnancy through early childhood, with co-produced digital and in-person resources. Comparable mission around perinatal equity and partnership with NHS.

Broad incumbents

• Refugee Council: Large UK charity supporting refugees and asylum seekers across multiple needs (legal, housing, health). Overlaps Amma's migrant client base at a broader level and could be a system partner or funder.
• Doula UK: UK-wide membership body for doulas providing birth and postnatal support. Overlaps Amma's companionship offering but serves the general population rather than specialising in refugees or migrants.
• NCT (National Childbirth Trust): Large established UK charity providing antenatal education, peer support, and postnatal services. Comparable service lines (antenatal education, peer groups) but serves the general population rather than refugees or women facing barriers.

Regional players

• Scottish Refugee Council: Scotland's national refugee charity providing holistic support to asylum seekers and refugees. Overlaps in the asylum-seeker support space and is referenced as an Amma partner through staff member Christelle Boten's volunteering background.

Others

• Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society): UK baby loss charity and Amma's direct partner on MBRRACE-UK response work. Comparable perinatal focus but operates in an adjacent (loss-related) thematic area rather than competing in companionship or peer support.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ammabirth
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ammabirthcompanions758
• Facebookfacebook.com/ammabirth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ammabirth
• Instagraminstagram.com/ammabirth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Amma Birth Companions