About end of life doula UK

 End of Life Doula UK was established in 2018 as the membership association for end of life doulas (certified and those in training) in the UK

“Our ultimate goal, after all, is not a good death but a good life to the very end. You may not control life’s circumstances, but getting to be the author of your life means getting to control what you do with them.  And in stories endings matter.”

Atul Gawande,  Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

At End of Life Doula UK, we are dedicated to ensuring that every individual receives compassionate, person-centred, holistic support at the end of life. We understand that dying, death, and bereavement are profound experiences, not only for the person at the end of life but also for those important to them. Our role is to guide, accompany, and assist individuals, along with their family and friends, during this journey, offering a combination of emotional, practical, and spiritual support tailored to the person’s wishes. We also aim to support death literacy and competency development by providing spaces and opportunities within our communities for people to build their knowledge and confidence around death and dying to enable them to care for their own.

Who We Are
We are the membership association for end of life doulas and end of life doulas in training in the UK. We provide a network for our members to connect over a shared belief in our mission, continue their development, and share their learning. We also provide information about end of life doulas to the public, the media, and other health and social care organisations.

What We Do
Our approach is rooted in the ethos of building Compassionate Communities—where individuals, families, friends, and neighbours come together to support one another through dying, death, and bereavement. We work with individuals and those important to them, ensuring they feel empowered, informed, and supported at the end of life.

We work collaboratively alongside medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, and carers. While our role is non-medical, we bridge the gaps where services and resources may be stretched or unavailable, ensuring that people receive continuous and compassionate care when they need it most.

Training and Standards
All members of End of Life Doula UK have completed the Living Well Dying Well Training foundation training and many are completing their diploma training —a rigorous, externally quality-assured programme. Our membership network supports doulas (who are either self-employed or have their own businesses or not-for-profit organisations) through operational standards, policies and guidelines, regional and national group networks, continuing professional development opportunities, and a wealth of resources to deepen their knowledge and experience. Our practising members follow our Code of Practice, are DBS/Disclosure Scotland checked, hold appropriate insurance, and are mentored.

How to Connect with Us
If you would like to learn more about our work or discuss how we may be able to support you or those important to you, we would be happy to have an initial conversation. Please complete our contact form, and we will get in touch.

We are also available to speak to groups about our work and approach. If you are interested in arranging a talk, please fill in our Speakers Request Form and email it to operations@eol-doula.uk. We kindly ask for travel expenses to be covered and a small voluntary donation to support our work.

Our Training
At End of Life Doula UK, we are committed to ensuring that our members receive the highest quality training to provide compassionate and professional support at the end of life. We work closely with Living Well Dying Well, a recognised and respected organisation that has established a leading programme for end of life doula training in the UK.

Becoming a Member
To become a member of End of Life Doula UK, individuals must have completed the Foundation Training with Living Well Dying Well and received their certification. Membership provides access to a network of peers, continued professional development opportunities, mentorship, and essential resources to support their work as a doula.

“Let’s behave as though death is part of life. As though it is going to happen to all of us. As though like the sunset, we expect it will happen. And then let’s move on to something else. We don’t spend all day waiting for the sunset; we just need to know where the light switches are.”