24th International Labour and Birth Research Conference
This interdisciplinary conference is being organised by the Research in Childbirth and Health (REACH) Group, University of Central Lancashire.
The theme for the 2025 conference is:
Making Birth Better: Bringing together evidence, knowledge and experience
The multi-disciplinary UK Conference Committee has planned the content of the conference to be wide-ranging in terms of research methodology and subject matter.
While the science around physiological labour and birth remains the focus, the conference encompasses international empirical research and care quality initiatives, and debate across the range of pregnancy, labour, birth, and postpartum experiences and outcomes, from a UK and international perspective.
Academics, clinicians and others involved in maternity care from around the world will be coming to the UK to disseminate and discuss their study findings.
The 2025 conference will share research and evidence on ways to improve women’s experiences of birth, optimising safe labour and birth outcomes and enhancing personalisation in maternity care. It includes practice-based evidence and debate on how to ensure that all those working in maternity care are enabled to provide safe, personalised care, in mutually respectful collaboration within and between staff groups, and with women and birthing people, their partners and loved ones. This includes the timely recognition of, and appropriate response to, emerging problems in labour and birth and the early postnatal period. We are also keen to share knowledge on improving working lives, supporting flourishing in the workplace and improving retention of staff in maternity care.
The overarching aim of the conference series is to enable women and birthing people to access the latest evidence for optimising birth, and to ensure that they are supported by competent, caring staff who can work seamlessly together to provide respectful care and safe outcomes (clinically, psychologically, emotionally and culturally), wherever they are based, around the world.
Poster and oral presentation prizes
Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare journal, published by Elsevier, is sponsoring the Best Poster Award at the conference. The outstanding poster award recognizes excellence in research, poster design and presentation. The awardee will be recognized publicly during closing session and will receive a certificate and a monetary prize. Find out more about the journal here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/sexual-and-reproductive-healthcare
This year, for the first time, Midwifery journal, also published by Elsevier, is sponsoring a best Oral Presentation Award at the conference, which all presenters (except keynote speakers) will be eligible for.
The outstanding presentation award recognizes excellence in research communication. The awardee will be recognized publicly during closing session and will receive a certificate and a prize. The awardee and co-authors will be invited to submit their manuscript for publication in Midwifery.
Event information
The call for abstracts is now open. Abstract submission will be open until 14th February 2025 at 18.00 UK time.
Early bird full 3 day conference: £410 (First 100 bookings or until 2 May 2025)
Full 3 day conference: £460
One day attendance: £155
All bookings include refreshments and lunch on each day, access to the Keynote Speaker Sessions and Concurrent Sessions plus delegate documentation.
Accommodation is not included in the conference fee and must be booked and paid for separately. A range of accommodation options are available, both onsite and nearby, including shared cottages and hotel rooms.
There are three accommodation options available on site.
Accommodation at the venue must be booked via the conference booking form by 31 May 2025. Accommodation may be available on site after this date; however, you will be required to book this directly with Ribby Hall Village and pricing is likely to increase.
Payment for the cottages at Ribby Hall Village is possible via card on the online conference booking form only.
Scroll or swipe on small screens to see all table columns
Full cottage – 3 bedroom - £240 per cottage per night |
---|
Room options include 1 room with a double bed, 2 rooms with twin beds. Can accommodate up to 6 people (three pairs sharing rooms). Facilities:
Please note:
Before booking this option, please speak with your colleagues and agree who will be staying in the cottage, and who will stay in each room. Cottage T&C's can be found here: Short Breaks & Holidays Terms and Conditions | Ribby Hall Village |
Scroll or swipe on small screens to see all table columns
Room in a cottage – double or twin - £120 per room per night |
---|
Room options include 1 room with a double bed, 2 rooms with twin beds. Only two rooms in the cottage will be booked out. You will be sharing the cottage with another delegate who you may not know. Rooms offer dual occupancy at no additional cost. If this is relevant, please ensure you provide the name of the person staying with you on the booking form. Facilities:
Please note:
Cottage T&C's can be found here: Short Breaks & Holidays Terms and Conditions | Ribby Hall Village |
Scroll or swipe on small screens to see all table columns
Ribby Hall Spa Hotel |
---|
Prices range from £190 per room, per night to £401.00 per room, per night Bookings should be made directly with the Spa Hotel by calling 0800 085 1717. When booking quote the conference name to receive a 10% discount. |
Alternative accommodation nearby includes:
Scroll or swipe on small screens to see all table columns
The Villa Wrea Green |
---|
|
Scroll or swipe on small screens to see all table columns
The Hotel at Mill Farm (AFC Fylde Football Club) |
---|
|
Scroll or swipe on small screens to see all table columns
AirBnB |
---|
If looking for an AirBnB in the area – Look at the following areas:
|
The University of Central Lancashire does not recommend any particular accommodation provider and we suggest doing your own research into the options available.
The conference venue is Ribby Hall Village in Lancashire which is situated in beautiful surroundings, close to the Blackpool and the Fylde coast. For further details visit their website.
Keynote Speakers will be confirmed shortly.
The programme will be confirmed shortly.
To register your interest please email the Events Team.
If you'd like to book an exhibition space please email the Events Team with details of the request to obtain a price.
1. About UCLan
a. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is a Higher Education Corporation in England and Wales with its main address at Fylde Road, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2HE. Our Vat number is 677 3793 76.
b. UCLan may amend these terms and conditions (Terms) from time to time. Every time you place a booking with UCLan, the Terms in force at the time of your order will apply to the contract between you and us.
c. Where expressly stated, some of these Terms only apply to ‘consumers’. For this purpose, ‘consumer’ means any individual delegate who is attending for purposes that are wholly or mainly outside that individual’s trade, business, craft or profession
2. Registration and Contract
a. Our delegate booking form (Form) will guide you through the steps you need to take to place an order with us to attend the meeting referred to on the Form (Event). Our order process allows you to check and amend any errors before submitting your form to us. Please take the time to read and check your Form at each stage of the order process. By returning this form you are requesting a firm booking.
b. Please note that your booking acknowledgement will be automatically sent once the Form has been received. Formal joining instructions will be sent to you via email approximately two weeks before the start of the meeting, using email address supplied.
c. Please note that your place at the meeting is subject to confirmation from UCLan in writing that your application is accepted. UCLan reserves the right in our absolute discretion to refuse your application to attend the meeting and only when UCLan confirms acceptance of your application in writing will a binding contract come into existence.
d. All bookings must be received by the 17 September 2024 Bookings will be accepted and confirmed only when full payment or invoicing instructions have been received. Bookings will not be accepted unless they are made using the official online form.
e. In the event UCLan do not accept your application we will refund any booking fee (Fee) you may have already paid to UCLan. Payment sent independently of this booking form must state details of the delegate and the meeting. If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail of your booking within two weeks of the meeting, please contact the Events Team.
3. Your Obligations
By submitting the Form to us for attending the Event you agree that:
a. If you are not a consumer, you have authority to bind the business on whose behalf you submit the Form;
b. You are at least 18 years old;
c. You will comply with all health and safety regulations and other premises rules expressly brought to your attention at the Event;
d. You must not behave in an abusive, threatening, anti-social or intoxicated manner at the event or carry any offensive, illegal or prohibited substances or materials (failure to comply with this obligation may result in you being refused admission or ejected from the Event);
e. You will not make any audio or visual recordings of or during the Event without our prior written consent (failure to comply with this obligation may result in you being refused admission or ejected from the Event);
f. UCLan or its authorised licensees may record, film or photograph the Event and the resulting materials may contain your image and/or voice. If you object to this please raise your concerns to UCLan in advance of the Event; and
4. Accommodation
Where you have requested accommodation at Ribby Hall Village for the Event in the Form, you agree that:
a. UCLan is authorised to act as your agent to arrange for you to make a booking with W&G Harrison Limited, trading as Ribby Hall Village (company number 01032929) whose registered office is at Ribby Hall Village, Ribby Road, Wrea Green, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 2PR (“Ribby Hall Village”).
b. you have read and agree to Ribby Hall Village’s terms and conditions available at Short Breaks & Holidays Terms and Conditions | Ribby Hall Village;
c. accommodation is at all times subject to availability;
d. you are responsible for payment of the price for the accommodation (including any deposits), and for any loss or damage caused by you to the accommodation and any associated charges;
e. as agent, UCLan accepts no responsibility for the acts or omissions of Ribby Hall Village or for the accommodation provided by Ribby Hall Village. Our responsibility is limited to making the booking in accordance with your instructions. We accept no responsibility for any information about the arrangements that we pass on to you in good faith. However, if we are found liable to you on any basis whatsoever, the terms of clause 7 shall apply; and
f. Clauses 6(a) and (b) do not apply to the booking of accommodation.
5. Fee and Payment
a. The Fee will be as quoted on the Form and as noted on our website at the time you submit it to us. Payment of the Fee is in advance at the time you submit your Form.
b. Prices for attending our events may change from time to time, but changes will not affect any order you have already placed.
c. You can only pay the Fee using a debit card or credit card through our Online Store via the conference webpage or for UK delegates, (if we have agreed) by return payment of invoice issued by us. We accept most major cards.
d. Prices for accommodation (including any deposits) are as set out in the Form and subject to Ribby Hall Village’s terms and conditions referred to at clause 4(b) above.
6. Cancellation Policy
a. Cooling-Off Period: If you are a ‘consumer’ (i.e. attending the Event for purposes wholly or mainly outside your profession, trade or business) you have a legal right to change your mind within 14 days after the day we email you to confirm we accept your booking. UCLan will reimburse any Fees you have already paid using the same means of payment as you used. To exercise the right to cancel in this period, you must inform UCLan of your decision to cancel by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the model cancellation form provided [on our website] or otherwise contact our Conferencing and Event team. Please note that if the Event takes place prior to expiry of the cooling off period you cannot change your mind once it is finished, even if the period is still running. This right does not apply to delegates who are not consumers for the purpose of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013,
b. No Cooling Off Period of After It Has Expired: Any cancellations received by UCLan up to and including 1 September 2025 will be given a refund less 10% administration charge. For cancellations received after this date, a refund will not be given. Cancellations must be made in writing to events@uclan.ac.uk. Verbal cancellations will not be accepted. Please note you do not have a statutory right to cancel your contract with us under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (regulation 28(1)(h)).
c. Cancellation, Rescheduling or Material Alteration by UCLan: Occasionally, an Event is cancelled, rescheduled or materially altered for a variety of reasons, for example, if the speaker is unable to attend on late notice or if there is an incident at the premises. If an Event is cancelled (and not rescheduled), you will be offered a full refund of the Fee. If an Event is rescheduled or materially altered, you will be offered a place at the rescheduled or altered event (subject to availability) or a full refund of the Fee. Any refund will be paid by the same method of payment you used to pay the Fee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prices paid for accommodation (including any deposits) are subject to Ribby Hall Village’s terms and conditions referred to at clause 4(b) above. Whilst UCLan will try to assist, we cannot guarantee that Ribby Hall Village will permit cancellations or amendments to your booking or offer refunds.
7. Substitutions Policy – You must not allow your booking for attendance at the Event to be sold or transferred to any third party without our prior permission. Requests for named substitutions (subject to our right of refusal) are accepted up to 8 September 2025 and should be made in writing to events@uclan.ac.uk. Verbal substitutions will not be accepted. Packages cannot be shared under any circumstances.
8. Liability
a. Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes UCLan’s liability for: death or personal injury caused by our negligence; fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or any other liability which cannot be lawfully excluded.
b. IF you are NOT a consumer, then subject to clause 7.a:
i. UCLan will under no circumstances whatever be liable to you, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, arising under or in connection with the contract for any loss of profits, sales, business, or revenue; loss or corruption of data, information or software; loss of business opportunity; or any other indirect or consequential loss; and
ii. Subject to clause 7.a, UCLan’s total liability to you in respect of all losses arising under or in connection with this contract, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, shall in no circumstances exceed the Fee of the Products].
c. If you ARE a consumer then, subject to clause 7.a, if UCLan fails to comply with these Terms, UCLan is responsible only for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breach of these Terms or our negligence. Loss or damage is foreseeable if it is an obvious consequence of our breach or if it was contemplated by you and us at the time we entered into this contract.
d. We only supply the Products for domestic and private use. You agree not to use the product for any commercial, business or resale purposes, and we have no liability to you for any loss of profit, loss of business, business interruption, or loss of business opportunity.
9. Events Outside UCLan’s Control
a. UCLan will not be liable or responsible for any failure to perform, or delay in performance of, any of our obligations under this contract that is caused by an event outside our reasonable control (for example, industrial action by third parties, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack, war, fire, explosion, storm, flood, earthquake, subsidence, epidemic or other natural disaster, or failure of public or private telecommunications networks).
b. If such an event occurs that affects the performance of our obligations under these Terms UCLan will contact you as soon as reasonably possible to notify you and you may cancel this contract.
10. Data Protection
UCLan will use the personal information you provide to administer and organise the meeting at which you have requested a place. Where you have requested accommodation via the Form then we will use the personal information you provide to arrange for you to book this accommodation, including by sharing your personal information with Ribby Hall Village. UCLan will only use the details on your booking form to inform you about future events we organise, if you have indicated this on the form.
UCLan complies with the GDPR whenever it processes data. To see how we comply with the GDPR please read UCLan’s Data Protection Policy at www.uclan.ac.uk.
11. General
a. If any provision of these Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder shall not be affected. Any waiver by us of any breach by you is not a waiver of any other or subsequent breach. These Conditions and the contract between us do not create, confer or purport to confer any benefit or right enforceable by any person not a party to it.
b. UCLan may transfer its rights and obligations under this contract to another organisation, but this will not affect your rights or our obligations under these Terms. We will always notify you if this happens. You may only transfer your rights or your obligations under these Terms to another person if UCLan agrees in writing.
c. This contract is between you and UCLan. No other person shall have any rights to enforce any of its terms
d. Each of the paragraphs of these Terms operates separately. If any court or relevant authority decides that any of them are unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining paragraphs will remain in full force and effect.
12. English Law
These Conditions and the contract between us are subject to English law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. If you live outside of England or Wales you may have legal rights to pursue proceedings in your local jurisdiction and should seek further independent advice.