More information about volunteering with AIMS can be found here and there will be an opportunity for you to help in some way regardless of your skills and experience, and the amount of time you have to volunteer.
We are particularly keen to recruit volunteers with the following skills
AIMS (Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services) is a volunteer run charity and our mission statement is: We support all maternity service users to navigate the system as it exists, and campaign for a system which truly meets the needs of all.
Since the 1960s we have campaigned for improvements to the UK's maternity services, as well as helping individual maternity service users, their families and other supporters directly through our Helpline, and by sharing evidence-based information through our respected range of books, our Journal and website resources.
AIMS is seeking to recruit additional Trustees to help us to develop a robust structure and a clear vision for the future. In line with our Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity statement we are keen to increase the diversity of the Trustee group, to ensure that our strategy and organisation take account of the needs of all maternity service users. Ideally, we would also like to include representatives from all four nations in the UK, to help us to understand and respond to the different issues in each country.
AIMS Trustees set the strategy, policy and financial framework for AIMS. The general duties and responsibilities of a Charity Trustee are set out in the
Charities Commission document, The essential trustee, what you need to know and what you need to know
AIMS is a lay-run organisation, and the constitution says that a Trustees may not be “a qualified member of any medical profession including as a doctor, midwife, nurse or health visitor”.
The normal term for a Trustee is 3 years, but retiring Trustees are eligible for reappointment at an AGM.
For further information or an application pack please contact enquiries@aims.org.uk
The Helpline group is a small group of volunteers who respond to email and phone queries from individual maternity service users and their supporters. They do not offer medical advice but provide evidence-based information and suggestions for navigating the maternity service. We are seeking new Volunteers to help us with this valuable work.
Volunteers need to be lay people (i.e. not current or former healthcare professionals) who have a good knowledge of maternity issues and who have had training and experience in supporting mothers, for example as a doula, antenatal teacher or breastfeeding counsellor. Training and mentoring is given and Volunteers will be supported every step of the way. For further information please contact enquiries@aims.org.uk
AIMS is looking for authors to write new AIMS Guides on a variety of subjects. We are able to offer payment for this writing work. We would be very happy to consider a pair of writers who would like to work together on a book.
Ideally, authors will have previously written articles or web pages, either for AIMS or for other publications, or will have already published a book(s). It is important to be able to write in an easily accessible way, giving evidence based information where available and drawing attention to the limitations of the evidence where appropriate. The ability to understand and critique clinical evidence is an essential skill.
AIMS has a well-defined, collaborative and successful production process; you will be the principal author(s) and the book will be fully peer reviewed and edited before release.
To declare an interest in working with us, please send a CV, example(s) of your writing, and your subject of interest to shane.ridley@aims.org.uk