Donor conception, difference and decision making. A workshop for heterosexual couples thinking about using an egg, sperm or embryo donor (potentially also with surrogacy).

**A transformative, in-depth workshop to help you understand what donor conception would mean for you and your family and decide if this path is right for you.**

The Destination Parenthood workshop from DCN offers a transformative experience by providing a supportive community, firsthand experiences, ongoing peer support, comprehensive information, and emotional relief. A unique opportunity to gain valuable insights and make informed decisions about your family-building journey.

**Why join this workshop:**
* An intimate, personalised space in which you can work through your feelings.
* Understand your – and your partner’s – emotions, motivations, hopes and fears
* A guided programme from which you’ll come out with a clearer idea of the next steps for you on your fertility journey

**Don’t miss:**
* Includes a male facilitator and dedicated opportunity for men to talk separately from their partners
* Bonus session with a donor conceived adult where you can ask questions and hear their perspective

**After the workshop, you will:**
* Have a better understanding of your own emotions about taking this route, as well as those of your partner
* Feel more confident about the next steps, whatever they might be for you
* Feel less alone by meeting others on the same journey as you
* Have heard real-life experiences from parents via donor conception who have older children
* Gain valuable insights into how donor conceived people feel about their origins, through a Q&A session with a DC adult and post-event resources pack
* Benefit from ongoing support after the workshop thanks to a WhatsApp group of fellow delegates for peer support
* Receive comprehensive written information in our delegate pack to help you navigate the process post-event

**Tailored to the needs of prospective parents:**
The workshop facilitators are parents via donor conception themselves and their personal experiences and insights can provide valuable guidance and support throughout the process. We run these workshops with small groups – a maximum of 8 couples – to ensure there’s plenty of time for you to devote to your own needs. This ensures we can create a comfortable and confidential space to explore your options without judgment or pressure.

**This one day online workshop is for you if you are:**
* A heterosexual couple thinking about whether donor conception is the right way forward to create or expand your family
* Thinking about having fertility treatment in the UK or abroad
* Considering an anonymous donor or a donor who is identifiable or known to you personally
* Unsure about donor conception and would like to know more about the long term implications
* Wondering if you need time out to evaluate where you have got to on your fertility journey and what your options may be for the future

Our experience is that in order to get the most from the workshop, couples need to attend together if possible.

This workshop is for those who have not yet conceived through donor conception (though you may already have children who are not donor-conceived).

The focus is on the social and emotional aspects, and medical questions around donor conception are not covered in this workshop.

**Please note that there is a 1 hour session on the Friday night 7.30-8.30pm for introductions and Zoom familiarisation and a 1 hour session on Saturday night 7.30-8.30pm to meet a donor conceived young person and ask them questions.**

The workshop will be delivered on Zoom, supported by a WhatsApp group but it is interactive and we make it as ‘human’ an environment as possible. You will need a laptop, tablet or PC with audiovisual capabilities and space in your home to work quietly. For some small group work (if there are two of you) you will require an additional device (a smart phone is fine) and space in your home to work individually. Please contact Jo at events@dcnetwork.org if you wish to discuss this further.

In order to get the most from the workshop on the Saturday, we will be asking you to complete some brief preparation prior to the workshop;

a) Complete a short survey to allow us to understand what you’d like to gain from the workshop to help us tailor the content to your needs
b) Watch a presentation from a parent of donor conceived children and make brief notes so we can discuss on Saturday
c) Attend a welcome session on Friday evening to meet the facilitators and your fellow delegates and to ensure your technology is working for a prompt start on Saturday. This is an integral part of the workshop and helps us make the most of the time we have on Saturday
d) Join a closed WhatsApp group (specific to the workshop) so we can send material for use during the day and give you access to facilitators and fellow delegates.

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More upcoming events

Member event

Online

Jan

Mixed families

You are invited to join us for a conversation for members who are either intending or have ‘mixed’ families – our term for those with a naturally conceived child (or adopted) and a donor conceived child, to talk about shared issues. DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Laura, mum to two – the oldest naturally conceived and the youngest conceive through egg donation. All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, volunteers, 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 support, please don’t hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org

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More upcoming events

Mixed families

Single women - Double or embryo donation - Prospective parent

Men only - discussion group

Hertfordshire - meetup

‘Reflections’ - Parents of DC Adults

Couples (including separated couples): talking with children ages approx. 8-13

Single women - Sperm donation - Prospective parent

Solo mums with children conceived through double or embryo donation

Solo parents to children aged 5 and under

Heterosexual couples - Egg donation - Prospective parent

Cambridge - Solo parent meetup

Dorset - Family meetup

Thames Valley - Solo Mums' meetup

Miscarriage and other challenges in the donor conception journey

Couples (including separated couples) with children ages 0-3

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