Partner with Us to Amplify Women’s Voices in Maternity Care

Whether you’ve joined as a Community Leader or as a participant, you’re helping us bridge the gap between research and real life, creating change that honours women’s voices, especially those too often left unheard.

Together, we’re building a movement of healing, inclusion, and empowerment.

“We’re working with trusted community leaders to recruit women and birthing people from underserved backgrounds into important maternity research.

As a Community Leader, your role is vital in ensuring authentic voices are represented."

- Gemma Poole, CEO

Follow this guide to see how the process works, what support is available, and how you’ll be recognised for your contribution.

Awareness

Purpose of the haPPIE Affiliated Programme

The haPPIE Affiliated Programme for Community Leaders exists to recognise, support, and reward the vital role community leaders play in connecting underrepresented groups with opportunities that improve health, wellbeing, and equity.

By joining the programme, leaders gain:

A trusted partnership framework to share meaningful opportunities with their networks.

Financial recognition for the time, effort, and influence they contribute.

Access to training, resources, and ongoing support to build their own skills and community capacity.

At its core, the programme is designed to turn community influence into impact, ensuring that underserved voices are heard and that leaders are not left carrying the burden alone.

Inclusion Criteria for Participants

Women/birthing people from:

Underserved Communities

Minoritised Ethnic Background

Migrant/Refugee

Traveller Commmunity

Neuro-Diversity

Living in Complex Deprivation

Living in Rural/Remote Communities.

Must be available to attend a 1-hour focus group (online or in-person).

Must give informed consent

Affiliate Scheme

  • Payment rate: Up to £50 per eligible participant recruited who attends and participates.

  • No cap on number of referrals, but each focus group capped at ~10 participants, first-come-first-serve.

  • Payment timing: after completion of focus groups (to ensure active participation).

  • No payment if the participant:

    • does not register,

    • withdraws before attending, or

    • drops out.

    • Is not human, i.e is a bot (this is happening a lot)

  • Recruitment window: announced in advance; all leaders notified equally.

Fairness commitment: additional support and training offered to smaller organisations.

Participant Payments

All women/birthing people receive £25 per hour for the focus group, plus travel reimbursement if in-person.

Safeguarding, Ethics & Compliance

  • Written or verbal informed consent required.

  • Trauma-informed distress protocol in place.

  • Interpreters and translated materials provided if required.

  • Confidentiality & privacy: NDA signed by Community Leaders; participants reminded of confidentiality in focus groups.

Community Leaders must complete the community leaders/ collaborator process (haPPIE Collaboration Form, NDA, collaboration agreement, safeguarding briefing).

You can find all of these in the haPPIE Affliated Programme Hub.

Recruitment Process for Community Leaders

Communications Toolkit

Approved recruitment messages for social media & posters.

Flyer template with QR code to EoI form.

FAQs for participants (based on Participant Information Sheet & Consent Form).

Community Leader checklist (confirming understanding before referring participants).

Training & Support

  • Short induction on:

    • recruitment ethics,

    • safeguarding,

    • distress protocol,

    • use of materials,

    • tracking & payment claims.

    • Ongoing support from TEBC/haPPIE team.

Optional access to haPPIE SHE Cares monthly sessions (benefit for recruited participants).

Legal & Financial Documents

NDA

Collaboration Agreement

Payment process guidance

Contact Information

Community Engagement Lead: Gemma Poole (TEBC Ltd).

Project Email: [email protected]