The Jean Ball Award for compassionate maternity practice: 2027 Applications open Dec 1st, 2026
As one of the original founders of Birthrate Plus, Jean Ball was endlessly driven in showing the importance of compassionate midwifery care. Her legacy reminds us that emotional safety, inclusion, and humanity are fundamental to high‑quality maternity services.
Funding is available for midwifery-based projects and plans that will lead to improvements in care through practice, education, research or management studies. Each application is judged on its individual merits.
About the Jean Ball Award
- Applications will support midwifery and multidisciplinary leadership that restores compassion, connection, and shared learning to everyday maternity care
- First award will be made in June 2027
- Awarded annually
- Available to NMC registered midwives
- Maximum award available £1,000
- Midwives of Black or Asian ethnicity can apply for a Dora Opoku Midwives Diversity and Equity Award at the same time
Is your project eligible?
You are invited to apply for this award to support midwifery and multidisciplinary leadership that restores compassion, connection, and shared learning to everyday maternity care, through practice development, study days, or research; enhancing care, confidence, and connection for birthing women and people, families, and staff.
Your application will consider:
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How the work strengthens emotional safety, inclusion, and support for service users and staff
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Collaboration across professions and with families
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Reflection of Jean Ball’s ethos: care that responds to the whole person, not only the clinical need
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Evidence of measurable improvement, workforce learning, or culture change within interdisciplinary teams
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Person-centred care, compassion, continuity (relationship building) and trust
See What do we fund? for more information.
Applications are made online. Please read the Application Guidance (link will be available before Dec 1st, or see our general video guidance) and our Privacy Policy carefully before applying.
