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Upcoming events
April
Apr
27
DCN Spring Conference 2025
Conference
Heterosexual couple
In person
Member event
Parent
Professional
Same sex female couple
Same sex male couple
Single man
Single woman
We’re really excited to announce that tickets are on sale for our annual DCN members’ conference in North London on Sunday 27 April 2025.
The event is a wonderful opportunity to connect with others and to hear from knowledgeable and inspiring speakers.
__Programme for the day__
[Conference programme](https://dcnetwork.org/app/uploads/2025/03/Programme-to-share-ahead-of-the-day.pdf)
We have a full day planned, as you’ll see from the programme attached (and linked above). You’ll hear from parents and donor conceived adults sharing their experiences. A sperm donor and a young man from a solo mum family will be speaking about meeting and their developing relationship. We have invited Debbie Kennett to talk about home DNA testing. Debbie is an expert and author on genetic genealogy. She’ll explain about what home DNA testing is, how people are using it and the impact and implications for donor conception families.
We’re very pleased to have Dr Vasanti Jadva from University of London presenting a selection of research, aiming to shed light on the complexity of searching for donor connections and the different feelings that people can have towards those they are connected to. Alternatively, instead of the research session, you’ll have the option to join a small group to focus discussion on specific topics. More details will be sent out after you book, but you can see the [options here](https://bookwhen.com/dcn-national-conferences/e/ev-sq3s-20250427120000).
The breaks and final hour will provide some relaxed time for conversations and connections with other members, making the day social as well as informative and supportive.
๐ช๐ต๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐?
* Parents of donor conceived children: If youโve had children this is a chance to meet other parents, to share experiences and get support. This is a family event so we provide childcare and activities for children up to 12 to make it possible for you all to attend the day.
* DC teens and adults: this is an opportunity for children 13-17 and DC adults 18+ to join us for the day and meet with others.
* Professionals in the field: Please do join us for an informative and thought-provoking event.
๐ก๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐?
If you haven’t had children yet, youโre welcome to join us at this conference but do be aware that the content is aimed mostly at parents. Also, we’d like you to be aware that there will be babies and children present. If you do decide to book, we’ll make sure we connect you with any other prospective parents who are there on the day.
๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ
You can find more details about the conference in the following documents:
* [Information summary](https://www.dcnetwork.org/app/uploads/2025/01/General-Information-London-conference-2025.pdf)
* [Childcare and activities for children](https://www.dcnetwork.org/app/uploads/2025/01/Babies-Children-Teens-London-conference-2025.pdf)
* [Programme for the day](https://dcnetwork.org/app/uploads/2025/03/Programme-to-share-ahead-of-the-day.pdf)
* Childcare and children’s activity places are LIMITED so book soon
* Booking deadline is 22 April
* Cancellations befor 11 April will be refunded in full but we aren’t able to refund after that date
๐ก๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ก ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ?
This event is for DCN members and is one of the many benefits of membership. You can join us for just ยฃ7 per month (less if you are a lower income household) and as a member, in addition to being able to book tickets for the conference, you’ll also get access to online chats, WhatsApp groups, exclusive events, and much more. [Join here](https://www.dcnetwork.org/civicrm/contribute/transact/?reset=1&id=7).
๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐: 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.
Apr
27
Small group or research presentation bookings - DCN Conference 2025
**Choose your option for the 12-1pm slot on the conference programme**
At midday, before lunch, we are offering EITHER a small discussion group OR to hear the research presentations in the main theatre.
The small groups are all facilitated and will include roughly 7-12 people.
You can sign up to a “Meet & Connect” general discussion to be put in a group with other people in a similar situation to you. Alternatively, you can choose one of the specific topics.
Apr
28
Single women - Sperm 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. This chat is open for those using sperm donation or considering double donation and offers a space for discussion and peer support.
This chat will be facilitated by Anna. Anna is a solo mum in the Network who kindly volunteers to support others.
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
Apr
29
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
Apr
30
Couples (including separated couples) with children ages 4-7
Chat
Heterosexual couple
Member event
Online
Parent
Same sex female couple
Same sex male couple
You are invited to join us for a conversation for members who are parents to children aged 4-7 years old.
DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Mary-Blair, mum through egg donation to two children. 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
May
May
3
Thames Valley- General group
Thames Vally group coordinators Emily and Katy, would like to invite members to a get-together in the park.
Date: Saturday May 3rd
Location: Florence Park, Oxford
Time: 11-2pm.
May
3
Virtual Meetup for members in North America
Chat
Heterosexual couple
Member event
Online
Parent
Prospective parent
Same sex female couple
Same sex male couple
Single man
Single woman
Please join us to meet other DCN members living in the United States and Canada on May 3rd, 6pm EST.
This is an informal opportunity to get to know others in North America, chat about all things donor conception, and form some new connections.
DCN volunteer, Joumana, will be facilitating the Chat.
May
6
Couples (including separated couples): talking with children ages approx. 8-12
Chat
Heterosexual couple
Member event
Online
Parent
Same sex female couple
Same sex male couple
You are invited to join us for a conversation for members parents to children children ages approx. 8-12 approx
DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Fran, mum to two, conceived with 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
May
7
Chat for men only - those considering or who are dads through sperm donation
Chat
Heterosexual couple
Member event
Online
Parent
Prospective parent
Same sex male couple
Single man
This DCN chat is for men only – in heterosexual couples, consideirng, undergoing 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
May
9
Making It Real
Members and non-members
Online
Professional
Workshop
Workshop for professionals working with donor conception families and prospective parents.
Do you work with donor conception families or with patients using donor eggs, sperm or embryos? Our โMaking it Realโ workshop is specially designed for you, to enhance your knowledge and understanding of this route to parenthood and help you offer families the support they need.
This is an interactive and experiential workshop and we always get fantastic feedback.
“๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต๐ญ๐บ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต ๐ช๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ฆ ๐ก๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฐ!”
“๐ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ง๐ช๐ฏ๐ช๐ต๐ฆ๐ญ๐บ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐บ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ง๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ด ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ข๐ฏ๐บ ๐ง๐ช๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ญ๐ข๐ฑ๐ด ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ.”
This workshop will deepen your own understanding of the ways in which creating a child using eggs, sperm or embryos from a third party, including with surrogacy, is different from standard fertility treatments. We look at how to help prospective parents consider the lifetime implications of this route for the child and the family. We also look at how to support families as children grow up and circumstances (and interest levels) change.
๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐
* Friday 9 May 2025
* 9:15am – 4:45pm
* Zoom – Online
* ยฃ130 or early bird price ยฃ100 if booked before 1 March
* [Programme](https://dcnetwork.org/app/uploads/2025/04/Making-It-Real-April-2025-Programme-overview.pdf)
๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ:
1. Hear the experiences of parents and donor conceived adults – how do these families fare in the long term?
2. Consider the place of the donor, the donor’s family and any genetic siblings or half-siblings in donor conception families (especially important post-2023).
3. Learn how DNA testing is revolutionising the making of genetic connections and the implications for families.
4. Listen to DC Networkโs long view of life for donor conception families
5. Feel better supported in your role in the fast changing world of donor conception.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฝ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ:
* The support needed by donor conception families before, during and after treatment, especially as choices are being made about clinics and countries.
* The popularity of genetic testing companies and the impact of the removal of anonymity in the UK – whatโs changed now that the donor register has opened?
* The services and resources offered by DC Network – and how these complement and build on information provided and counselling undertaken in clinics and elsewhere
* The social and emotional issues of using donated gametes
* The implications of the use of DNA and genetic testing websites
* The experiences of patients and clients in greater depth.
๐๐น๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ?
Please note that the content of this workshop will be very similar to those run in previous years. If you attended before, you are welcome to attend the day again or you may like to take this opportunity to recommend it to colleagues so they can experience it for themselves.
Attendance at this workshop will inform your policy and practice in helping you support your clients and patients in making decisions that are right for their future. If you have any questions, please donโt hesitate to get in touch with us on 020 7278 2608 or at enquiries@dcnetwork.org.