This DCN chat is for men only – in heterosexual couples, considering, undertaking treatment or dads through sperm donation.
This Chat will be facilitated by Chris, dad to two children, conceived with sperm donation.
DCN Chats offer a space for members to come together to talk about shared issues. This is a peer support online get-together.
All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, and hosting the chat as individuals. This is not a professionally led or educational event.
Join us for a friendly non-judgemental space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further support, please dont hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org
Single women - Double or embryo donation - Prospective parent
Chat
Member event
Online
Prospective parent
Single woman
This is a DCN chat for single women considering or in treatment to become solo mums, considering or using double or embryo donation. This chat offers a space for discussion and peer support.
This chat will be facilitated by Kerry who is a solo mum, to a child born in 2017, conceived with embryo donation in Spain.
All our facilitators are solo mums in the Network. This is not a professionally led or educational event with set objectives, rather this is a space for sharing and meeting others at the same or a similar stage of the journey.
Join us for a supportive space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further more professional support, please don’t hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org
North/Central London young families' group (children born 2023-2026)
Heterosexual couple
In person
Local meetup
Member event
Parent
Same sex female couple
Same sex male couple
Single man
Single woman
Come and join the other members of the new North/Central London famlies’ group for meetups in Primrose Hill every month. The group is aiming to grow the community of children who are growing up together with other donor conceived children .
Dates for the coming year:
September 12th
October 10th
November 14th
December 12th
Ireland – West – “Playground/Petfarm” Family meetup
Everyone is invited to this casual family meetup, suitable for all ages.
It’s a wonderful opportunity for parent(s) to connect, share experiences and have fun! While the children play and make their own little friendships!
Date: Sunday, October 11th
Location: Turoe Petfarm, Loughrea, Co Galway, H62 A432
Time: 2.00pm – 4.00pm approx
If you would like to join, email Dermot your name and who will be coming along, contact email dcn.galway@gmail.com
Previous meetup attendees have commented, “how much they can relate to other parents at the meetup”, “how nice it is not to feel alone on this journey” and “what a great time their children had at meetup!”
Anonymous donation - for parents who used anonymous donation to have their children
Chat
Heterosexual couple
Member event
Online
Parent
Prospective parent
Same sex female couple
Same sex male couple
Single man
Single woman
This DCN Chat is aimed at discussing anonymous donation and how that is experienced for parents trhough anonymous donation. The chat will be facilitated by Valentina, DCN member, and mum through egg donation to two children through anonymous donation.
Please be aware that the Anonymous donation chat’s purpose is to understand the meaning that is given to the anonymous donation and how it is managed by those who are already parents.
This DCN Chat is to offer a space to talk about experiences. This is not an educational event and rather, is offered as a peer-support opportunity.
This DCN Chat is aimed at prospective parents (solo or couple) who are navigating the decision between UK clinics and clinics outside the UK. The space is being offered as an opportunity to talk through the options, become informed on the differences and benefit from peer support.
The chat will be facilitated by Gemma, mum to one child through embryo donation.
Solo parents to children in primary school (approximately 6-12 years old)
Chat
Member event
Online
Parent
Single man
Single woman
This is a DCN chat for solo mums or dads with children at primary school ages.
DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Stefanie, solo mum to one child. All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, and hosting the chat as individuals. This is not a professionally led or educational event.
Join us for a supportive space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further more professional support, please don’t hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org
This DCN Chat is aimed at discussing the pros and cons of taking steps to identify genetic siblings. We will offer a space to deliberate about the merits and pitfalls of this and what possible implications doing so/or not do so might have on you and your child. The chat will be facilitated by Adrienne, who is a solo mum with a child born in 2020. This forum is for discussing the topic, rather than a ‘how to’.
** Becuase of the nature of the conversation we ask that participants are particularly careful not to share identifying details of their donor.
Workshop: Telling & Talking (solo mum and two-mum families)
Members and non-members
Online
Parent
Same sex female couple
Single woman
TT
Workshop
This workshop is for parents of donor-conceived children aged 0-7 years.
Not sure how to begin a conversation with your child about their donor conception story? Maybe you’re unsure about whether telling is the right thing to do? Or perhaps you’re concerned about who to tell and not tell in your life? Our Telling & Talking workshop is designed specifically with your needs and questions in mind. It provides a safe and confidential space for you to explore the benefits of telling and how to get started.
This workshop is equally appropriate whether you had treatment in the UK or abroad, with a known, identifiable or anonymous donor or if your treatment involved surrogacy. You may be wondering how to start talking to your child about their donor-conceived origins, or you may have already begun this process and would like to explore what may come up in the future.
As a single or lesbian woman, we recognise that your experiences are different from the time your pregnancy becomes public knowledge, and that attending our workshop even before your baby is born might be helpful for you. All of our single women and lesbian couples’ workshops have a small number of places for pregnant women.
Join us for our 2026 online members’ conference!
Building on the success of our London conference in the spring, we’ll be looking again at the theme of telling and talking about donor conception – not just with children, but with family, friends and the wider world. We’re looking forward to an informative day of expert talks, personal stories and practical guidance.
As an online event, it’s easier than ever to fit the conference around your schedule. Tickets start from just £35 and, if you can’t attend live, you’ll receive a watch-again link so you can catch up in your own time.
**Our fantastic programme includes:**
* Parent Panel – Anita, Colum and Jane will be sharing their experiences of telling their children and talking with others about donor conception
* Donor Conceived Perspective – DC triplet Rebecca Coxon will be talking about her complex story of family secrets and the impact of late telling
* Telling and Talking Challenges – Astrid Indekeu and Jane Ellis explore some of the more difficult scenarios parents can find themselves in with regard to telling and talking (e.g. SEN children, divorce)
* Elaborative Reminiscing – Javiera Navarro-Marshall will be presenting recent research on how sharing the family story (telling and talking) can help build autobiographical memories and identity development in children
The event will be a webinar so attendees won’t be visible to each other and it will be hosted by Mark, one of our Telling & Talking workshop facilitators and parent through donor conception.
**How much does it cost?**
Early bird tickets for the online conference start at £35 for members. If you’re not a member, we have a special ticket for you which includes 6 months’ of DCN membership and this ticket costs £75. After 17 September, tickets will cost £45 and £85 for members and non-members respectively.
**When and where is the conference?**
The conference is on Saturday 17th October and is being held in the afternoon to make it more accessible to those outside the UK and those who have activities on a Saturday morning. The webinar runs from 2-5.30pm with an optional bonus Meet & Connect session from 5.30-6pm for those who’d like to turn cameras on and meet others.
It’ll take place online via Zoom but we know that life gets busy so we’re also offering a watch-again link for two weeks if you can’t join us on the day. Please note that the Meet & Connect session won’t be recorded.
**Who is it for?**
It’s appropriate whether you’re at the early stages of considering donor conception or have children already. It will also be useful for professionals working in a field connected to donor conception who would like to better understand this way of building a family.
**Not had children yet?**
If you haven’t had children yet, you might also want to consider our in-person event in London aimed at prospective parents [Getting Started 21 November 2026](https://bookwhen.com/dcn-events/e/ev-sa984-20261121110000).
**Media at our conferences**
It’s really important to us that our conferences and events provide a safe, confidential space for us to discuss what can be very personal matters. We therefore do not allow journalists or media to attend unless they are joining in a personal capacity as a parent or prospective parent via donor conception or are a donor conceived adult. Everything discussed within our events is confidential and may not be reported or shared outside of the event.