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With a lengthy background in working in management for charities in Hull, notably Barnado's, Janet has always gravitated towards the charity and voluntary sector.

Although her early years of marriage to an officer in the Merchant Navy took her to some far off places ranging from the former USSR to Norway. With the birth of her daughter her life changed and she no longer accompanied her husband on his lengthy trips away. It wasn't too long however before Janet got itchy feet and was on the move working for a variety of charities.

Currently she's working with the Goodwin Volunteer Doula Project. Although her job is more in the management side of the project which has 44 volunteers, she decided that she needed some hands on experience of what a volunteer is expected to do.

Janet's main picture is of the young mum in Hull who's an asylum seeker who needed help during her pregnancy and birth. Janet says although only starting her role in March of this year, she's finding it a rewarding experience both for her and the young mothers she comes into contact with.

'Doula' is Greek in origin and has come to mean a trained and experienced partner who accompanies a woman through pregnancy and childbirth for the first few weeks of life. Full training is given to volunteers which consists of an eight week course and two day active birth training. Volunteers come from all walks of life and are all ages. Many of the younger volunteers see acting as a Doula as a stepping stone to gaining experience before moving on to train as a mid-wife.

Janet says there seems to be no shortage of volunteers and at a recent event many women expressed an interest to become involved. The role of a 'doula' volunteer required great commitment as the training is rigorous and throughout the latter stages of a mother's pregnancy they are on call 24 hours a day should the mother they're charged with goes into labour.

You can find out more about the Doula project in Hull by visiting the link at the top right hand side of the page.