Support Fair Funding for Future Midwives

Fund Future Midwives UK is a grassroots campaign advocating for fair funding, sustainable training, and secure employment pathways for student midwives across the United Kingdom. Founded by student midwives and supporters of maternity services, the campaign highlights the financial and structural barriers that threaten the future of the midwifery workforce.

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Unpaid Clinical Training and Tuition Fees

Fund Future Midwives UK are fighting for fair bursaries, funded tuition and job opportunities for student midwives, and debt forgiveness for midwives who qualified after 2017. The aim is to transform their training and working conditions across the UK.

Student midwives are required to complete a minimum of 2,300 clinical practice hours throughout their degree while also paying full university tuition fees. Unlike many healthcare training routes, these hours are unpaid, despite students working alongside qualified staff and providing essential care within maternity services.

The Cost of Living and Inadequate Bursaries

At the same time, many students rely on limited bursaries that do not reflect the rising cost of living, leaving many struggling to afford housing, travel to placements, and basic living expenses.

Tuition Fee Relief

Campaigning to reduce financial barriers and tuition fees so aspiring midwives can focus on their education without overwhelming debt.

Guaranteed Job Placement

Securing commitments that new midwives receive guaranteed employment to start their vital careers confidently.

Addressing Bursary Issues

Highlighting the issue of unpaid clinical hours and pushing for fair bursaries.

Amplifying Student Voices

Sharing real stories from student midwives to raise awareness and inspire community action for change.

Uncertain Job Prospects After Graduation

As students approach the end of their training, another major challenge emerges: the lack of clear and consistent job opportunities within the NHS. Despite well-documented shortages in the midwifery workforce, newly qualified midwives in some regions face uncertainty about employment after graduation.

Our Campaign and Call for Change

Fund Future Midwives UK campaigns to address these issues through public advocacy, petitions, and peaceful protest. The campaign calls for fair financial support for student midwives, funded clinical training that recognises the work students contribute, and guaranteed employment pathways into the NHS after qualification.

Protecting the Future of Midwifery

By amplifying the voices of student midwives and engaging MP’s, policymakers, healthcare organisations, and the public, Fund Future Midwives UK aims to secure a sustainable future for midwifery education and to protect the future of safe, high-quality maternity care across the UK.

Building a Stronger Future for Midwifery

On 3 March 2026 at 4pm, Fund Future Midwives UK held a rally and protest in Parliament Square in London, directly opposite the gates of the UK Parliament. The turnout was incredibly successful, with a large number of student midwives, qualified midwives, friends, families, and allies coming together to stand up for the future of the profession. The atmosphere was immense, powerful, supportive, and energising -and it felt good to stand together and make our voices heard.

We were honoured to be joined by Sheena Byrom, as well as midwives from Radical Midwives and Birthrights to name a few. Members of Parliament Maya Ellis and Theo Clarke also attended to show their support and hear directly from student midwives about the challenges facing midwifery education.

The impact of the protest was immediate, with the issues raised by Fund Future Midwives UK being discussed in Parliament the following day -an important step in bringing the voices of student midwives into the national conversation.