Events

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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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 ‘Making it Real’ 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. “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘡𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰!” “𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.” 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. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 * Friday 9 May 2025 * 9:15am – 4:45pm * Zoom – Online * £130 or early bird price £100 if booked before 1 March * [Programme](https://dcnetwork.org/app/uploads/2025/04/Making-It-Real-April-2025-Programme-overview.pdf) 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱: 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 Network’s long view of life for donor conception families 5. Feel better supported in your role in the fast changing world of donor conception. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱: * 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 – what’s 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. 𝗔𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱? 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 don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 020 7278 2608 or at enquiries@dcnetwork.org.

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May

10

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.

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May

10

Bristol - local group meetup

Heterosexual couple

In person

Local meetup

Member event

Parent

Prospective parent

Same sex female couple

Same sex male couple

Single man

Single woman

Come along to join this well-established group for in-person meetups scheduled across the year: 10th May, 10-3pm, Blaise Castle 21st June, 10-3pm, Ashton Court 27th July, 10-3pm, Clifton Observatory 6th September, 10-2pm, Old Library, Muller Road BS7

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