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Autumn conference

Join us in Bristol!

Join a welcoming community of donor conception families in the West of England and Wales at our unique, members-only Bristol conference on 4 October 2025. Hear families’ lived experiences and connect with others in a similar family situation. Book early and save £10.

Find out more and book

‘Getting Started’

Thinking about using a donor?

If you’re thinking about using donor conception, we know you’ll have lots of questions. Our ‘Getting Started’ event is the perfect place to start finding answers. Speakers include a donor conceived person and parents via donor conception plus an extended session with an embryologist so you can ask medical questions.

Next event – 15 Nov 2025, London

Find out more

Hear from the egg donors

Discover the EDNA Films – eight free-to-watch films in which egg donors share their motivations, experiences, and advice. Produced by the team at De Montfort University, the films offer unique insight into the realities and complexities of egg donation today.

 

New content kindly provided by the Centre for Reproduction Research at De Montfort University. 

Watch now
TALKING ABOUT DONOR CONCEPTION

Telling your family story 

Build confidence in your family story and get guidance on the best way to ‘tell’ with our one-day workshop for donor conception families. Early booking discounts available now for autumn 2025 bookings. 

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Membership only £7 per month – join us! 

We have a huge range of resources and services that we provide through a membership subscription.

We keep our fees low to ensure we’re accessible to all donor conception families and whatever your circumstances we look forward to welcoming you into our community!

Find out about DCN membership

We are the Donor Conception Network

Parent-led and child-focused, we have been supporting donor conception families for over 30 years.

We’re a supportive charity network providing information, support and community for those building, or thinking about building, their family through donor conception.

Find out more

Considering egg, sperm, double or embryo donation?

Looking for information or support? Feeling alone?

If you’re thinking about using donor conception or are already having treatment, whether in the UK or abroad, we’re here to offer support, information and a community of families in a similar situation. We can help you think through your questions and concerns; just click on the section below that fits your family type to get details aimed more specifically at you and your family.

Already a parent?

Looking for help with telling your child about their conception?

We know it can be daunting to tell your child that they are donor conceived. We believe that openness is best for the child and for the whole family and have 30 years’ experience helping families to think through how and when to share their family’s story. We have books, workshops and online chats to help you navigate these conversations. We also have specific guidance for people with older children who haven’t been told yet, as well as opportunities for children to meet others made ‘just like them’. Choose your family type from the options below to find out more.

Featured events

Featured

Our Story

One of our bestsellers, ‘Our Story’ is a range of books aimed at young children aged 3-6.  They provide a simple introduction to donor conception in age-appropriate language. We have nearly 40 different versions covering a wide range of families. We even have books for donors to help them explain to their own children.

View all books

Upcoming events

Jul

16

Solo parents to children aged 5 and under

This is a DCN chat for solo mums and dads who have children ages 5 and under. DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Adrienne, solo mum to a child born 2017. 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

Jul

16

Connect & Reflect – Volunteer session

This session is offered as a space to connect and reflect on the challenges and solutions which may arise in your DCN volunteer role. Some of the things we may talk about are: basic listening skills, managing a group and our own triggers. We are also inviting you to submit general questions of your own. This will be an opportunity for us to ‘put our heads together’ to work out some great strategies for our roles and beyond…

Jul

17

Ethnicity in donor conception

This DCN chat is an opportunity to come together to talk about the issue of ethnicity in donor conception. This may be relevant if you are undertaking treatment with a donor of a different ethnicity, where ethnicity shows up in your donor decision-making process or where your child’s external appearance differs significantly to you (or you and your partner). This DCN Chat is open to all, but please note that the intention of this discussion is to hold a space for people who are experiencing challenges and successes within this realm and to offer the opportunity to share these in a peer-support forum. There is no right or wrong and we would ask that anyone who joins does so with the intention of being extremely respectful with this somewhat sensitive issue. DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Mariam and/or Ruihua. All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, and hosting the chat as individuals, there to contribute from their personal perspective and to ensure the group runs to its best possible potential. 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 dcngroups@dcnetwork.org

Jul

20

Nottinghamshire and East Midlands DCN local group meet up

Members in Nottinghamshire and the surrounding area and invited to a meetup on |Sunday 20th July 12.15, Rushcliffe Country Park Everyone is welcome – those with children, thinkers and tryers along with family/support.

Jul

20

East Anglia members’ get-together

Join members in East Anglia for a get together for members in all family situations and at all stages – Come along for a fun informal afternoon together: Date: Sunday 20th July Location: Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds

Find exclusive content in our Members’ area

DCN members enjoy access to a dedicated area packed with tailored resources – videos, guides, magazines, research insights, and more – all specially selected with our members in mind.

Take a look

About the Donor Conception Network

They say it takes a village to raise children. Well, sometimes it takes a village to help you even contemplate that journey.

We’re a supportive charity network of over 2,200, mainly UK-based, families with children conceived with donated sperm, eggs or embryos, those thinking about or undergoing donor conception procedures and donor conceived people. We provide support, information and a community of families in a similar situation.

Find out more

♡ Donate today

We are a small charity and are funded by membership fees and by donations. If you would like to support us, your donation would be greatly appreciated and will help us support the next generation of donor conception families.

Donate now

Sign up to our mailing list

If you’re interested in donor conception issues, whether personally or professionally, do sign up to our mailing list.

If you are a donor conceived adult this is also the way to connect with us and access the support we offer you.

Sign up now
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