The Story behind The Parenthood Space
Why I launched The Parenthood Space: because finding your village matters
When I became a parent, I quickly realised something that I don’t think you can fully understand until you experience it yourself — having a baby changes your whole world.
My daughter Lily was born in June 2022, and once we felt ready to start getting out and about, I was really keen to meet other parents and start building our village.
But the timing wasn’t exactly on my side.
It was the summer holidays, and lots of groups and activities were closed or taking a break. I was at home with a tiny baby, trying to navigate this completely new chapter of my life, while also dealing with the challenges that come with becoming a parent — including struggles with feeding, the huge adjustment of life with a newborn and figuring out who I was now that I was someone’s mum.
I remember feeling like I wanted to get out, meet people and find others who understood… but knowing where to start felt really difficult.
That feeling has stayed with me.
Over the last four years of being a parent, I have been lucky enough to attend different groups, meet some amazing people and build friendships that I truly value.
What started as simply meeting other parents has grown into something much more. These are people I now consider close friends. We have supported each other through the challenging moments, celebrated the lovely moments and been there for each other through things that aren’t even related to our children.
Now, as our children prepare to start school in September, it has been really special to see how those friendships continue to support us through every new stage.
Because that’s the thing about finding your village — it’s not just about having someone to meet for a coffee.
It’s having people you can message and ask:
“Is this normal?”
“Did you experience this?”
“What worked for you?”
It’s having people who understand without needing a huge explanation.
Sometimes you don’t need someone to solve a problem. Sometimes you just need someone to say, “Yes, me too.”
That is why I wanted to create The Parenthood Space.
I wanted to create somewhere that parents and parents-to-be can come together, meet others and start building their own village.
A place where people can connect, share experiences, have honest conversations and feel supported through the different stages of parenthood.
My own experiences after having my second child also showed me how important it is to have spaces that support our wellbeing.
I found that I struggled more with my mental health during that time, and I realised there aren’t always many places where parents can go that feel calm, welcoming and mindful.
Not every space needs to be about fixing something. Not every conversation needs to be about a problem.
Sometimes we just need somewhere to pause, breathe, talk and be around people who understand.
The Parenthood Space has been created with that in mind.
A community for parents and parents-to-be.
A place to connect, share and support one another.
Because parenthood can feel like a lot sometimes — and having people around you who understand can make all the difference.
And if you’re still looking for your village, I hope The Parenthood Space can be a place where you begin to find it.
Bringing The Parenthood Space to life
When I first had the idea for The Parenthood Space, I was so passionate about creating something like this that I was planning to launch it in January and fund it myself.
I felt strongly that there was a need for a welcoming space where parents could come together, connect and find their village. It was something that mattered to me personally, and I was prepared to invest my own time and money to make it happen.
Then I saw that the Good Life Fund was open for applications, and I decided to put my plans on hold while I applied. I was incredibly grateful to find out that my application had been successful, which means I can now use that funding to help run The Parenthood Space for as long as possible and make it sustainable.
I am also incredibly grateful to Cross Keys Homes for supporting this project by allowing us to use the venue at no cost. This support makes such a difference, as it means the funding can go directly towards creating and developing the group and making sure it can continue for the community.
It has also been so exciting to see the response from the birth, baby and parent support community around me. So many local professionals and businesses have been enthusiastic about The Parenthood Space and can see the value of creating somewhere for parents to connect.
I’m hoping that, over time, we will be able to welcome guest speakers, local organisations and businesses who can share what they offer, introduce parents to different sources of support and give people the opportunity to try new things in a relaxed environment.
One of the things I love most about The Parenthood Space is that it isn’t set in stone.
The community will help shape it.
The conversations we have, the people who come through the door and the things that matter to the parents in the room will help us decide what the space becomes. I’m really excited to see it grow and evolve alongside the people it is here to support.
Why an evening space?
One of the things that was really important to me when creating The Parenthood Space was making sure it was accessible to all parents — not just those who are at home during the day.
As much as I have loved baby groups and the connections I have made through them, I also remember the feeling of returning to work and suddenly missing that regular interaction with other parents.
I had a bit of FOMO!
I missed those conversations you only really have with other parents. The conversations where you can say:
“Is your baby doing this too?”
“How are you coping with the lack of sleep?”
“Did anyone else find this stage really hard?”
Because while I love the people I work with, it’s not quite the same as talking to another parent who completely understands what it feels like to be surviving on broken sleep, or chatting to another dad about how uncomfortable those hospital chairs really are after a long night with a newborn.
And, let’s be honest, there are only so many baby photos you can show your colleagues before they start politely smiling and wondering when you’re going to stop!
Parenthood doesn’t stop when you go back to work, and the need for connection doesn’t disappear either.
That’s why creating an evening space was so important to me. I wanted The Parenthood Space to be somewhere that all parents could access — whether they are on parental leave, working full-time, working part-time, a stay-at-home parent, a grandparent, a foster carer, an adoptive parent, or anyone with a parenting role.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to find their village.
If you’re looking for parent support in Peterborough, local parent groups, antenatal support or a welcoming community during pregnancy and parenthood, The Parenthood Space is here for you. Whether you’re expecting a baby, a new parent, a returning-to-work parent, a grandparent, foster carer, adoptive parent or simply looking to connect with other families locally, this is a space to meet others, share experiences and build your village. Alongside my antenatal and Hypnobirthing classes in Peterborough, I’m passionate about helping parents feel informed, supported and connected throughout their parenting journey.
