During what can be one of the most joyful yet isolating periods of life, how can community-led spaces transform the experience of early parenthood? This episode explores Parent Village - a free, welcoming drop-in space in West Berkshire designed to tackle loneliness, improve postpartum mental health, and help new parents and carers build confidence and lasting connections.

To unpack the vital role of this project, host Jamie Adam is joined by Subia Azmat, Parent Village Project Manager, Dr Wenjin Dai, Senior Lecturer at the Open University, and service user Patricia. Together, they share personal and professional insights into the power of grassroots family support.

In this episode, we explore:

• How Parent Village provides free, flexible practical and emotional support for new parents
• Why accessible community spaces are vital in tackling loneliness and isolation after birth
• The value of peer support and expert-led sessions, from breastfeeding to sleep advice
• How volunteering and skill-sharing strengthen nonprofit organisations and local communities
• The financial pressures of early parenthood and how free community projects reduce barriers
• How Parent Village inspired academic research into motherhood, work, and inequality
• The development of toolkits for parents and employers supporting return-to-work transitions

Service user Patricia shares how discovering Parent Village shortly after giving birth helped her feel calm, reassured, and welcomed, leading her to give back by volunteering her research and data analysis skills to support Educafe’s funding and impact evaluation.

Subia and Wenjin reflect on what makes Parent Village unique: its warmth, inclusivity, flexibility, and the simple power of creating a space where parents can walk in, ask questions, build friendships, and feel part of a community.

If you are inspired by what you hear you can find out more about Educafe and how you can set one up in your area using our Toolkit or How to Support Us. If you’re feeling generous, you can buy us a coffee.

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Credits:

Presenter: Jamie Adam, Research Podcasts

Guests: Subia Azmat, Educafe and Dr Wenjin Dai, Open University

Producer: Jamie Adam, Research Podcasts

You can read a transcript of this conversation here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.