We recognise that systemic racism creates profound inequities in maternity outcomes, and we are committed to being part of the solution.

• In Practice: We do not believe a "one size fits all" approach is sufficient. We proactively identify and challenge racial disparities in home birth access and care. We amplify the voices and protect the physical and emotional safety of Global Majority families in Cheshire and ensure our resources, imagery, and advocacy are inclusive and representative. We commit to continuous learning and actively work to hold ourselves and our partners accountable for creating a safe, equitable culture wherever Global Majority families are present. We do not rely on our Global Majority sisters to do this work, but we will listen and act when they tell us we need to do things differently.

We celebrate all family structures and gender identities, and we believe that every path to parenthood deserves visible, respectful, and affirming care.

• In Practice: We use gender-affirming, inclusive language across all our communications, resources, and meetings, while respecting how all individuals describe themselves and their own experiences . We actively work to make CHBA a safe space where same-sex parents, trans, non-binary, and queer families do not have to hide or explain their identity. We advocate alongside NHS trusts to ensure that local home birth services are culturally safe and that the unique experiences of LGBTQIA+ parents are respected by birth workers across Cheshire.

Birth is a feminist issue 

• In Practice: We actively challenge the patriarchal structures and institutional paternalism that undermine a woman or birthing person's agency, intuition, and right to self-determination. We center the needs, voices, and rights of the woman or birthing person in all maternal health discussions, ensuring they are the primary decision-maker in their care. 
• We value and lift up the profession of midwifery, historically a gendered and undervalued field of healthcare, and advocate for the rights, safety, and respect of birth workers alongside the families they serve. We believe that true reproductive justice means liberating birth from unnecessary control and returning power directly to the person giving birth.

Home birth should not be a privilege; it should be a real choice for everyone in Cheshire.

• In Practice: We actively work to identify and then dismantle barriers to access to Home Birth, whether they are geographic, socio-economic,, cultural or neurodevelopmental. We are committed to ensuring our resources reach every corner of Cheshire, from rural villages to urban centres like Warrington and Crewe.

Our passion is fuelled by facts.

• In Practice: We ground our work in the latest evidence.  By marrying robust evidence with the lived experiences of Cheshire families (including data on racialised outcomes), we provide a credible voice that maternity system partners can trust.
• We recognise safety as both a clinical and experiential priority and we advocate for services that support safe, sustainable home birth provision.
• We believe that the Home Birth offer should be moved from the “choice” agenda to the Safety agenda.

We grow through openness.

• In Practice: We operate with "open books" and open minds. We share our successes, our challenges, and our finances clearly. We approach differences in experience, perspective, and practice with curiosity rather than assumption, creating space for honest dialogue and shared understanding.
• We do not rely on marginalised communities to teach us, but we will listen when we are told without defensiveness.

We acknowledge that every journey carries a history.

• In Practice: We recognise that past experiences, both personal and systemic, shape how people approach birth. We prioritise psychological safety, trust, and compassion, acknowledging that for many, systemic racism and medical bias are themselves sources of trauma.

We are stronger together.

• In Practice: We bridge the gap between homes and  and  maternity care decision makers. By working alongside NHS Trusts, MNVPs, and local authorities, we turn "us and them" into a unified "we" for the benefit of all Cheshire families.
• The Alliance is not a clinical decision-making body but works to influence, support, and advocate for equitable access to home birth services.

When we make mistakes or omissions we will own them and make reparation.

• In Practice: We know that we cannot be expert in everything. When mistakes are made whether by direct action or inaction we will reflect on them using the experiential learning cycle (among other models). We will review and reflect on these values regularly to ensure they remain active, relevant and embedded in our work.