The North West solo mums’ group is up and running again and looking forward to welcoming members from across the region.
Solo mums or mums-to-be are invited to all activities
Jenny and Kate will be there to welcome you to join their in person meetups for support and community.
The meet ups planned for 2026:
19th April- Walton Hall gardens Warrington or Wigan Haigh hall
12th July – Calderstones park/Warrington
11th October – Knutsford/Chester/Delemere
Exact location will be decided on approximately 4 weeks before the event, when they have an idea of who is coming and ensuring sufficient numbners to run meetups.
Tickets are on sale for our annual DCN members’ conference in North London on Sunday 19 April 2026.
The event is a wonderful opportunity to connect with others and to hear from knowledgeable and inspiring speakers.
We have a full day planned and the focus this year is exploring scenarios around Telling and Talking, what we can learn from the current research and how to manage some of the more tricky issues that can come up for donor conception families.
* Parent panel – Anita, Colum and Jane will be sharing their experiences of Telling and Talking
* Donor conceived person – Rebecca Coxon will be talking about her complex story of family secrets and the impact of late telling
* Professional discussion – Astrid Indekeu and Nina Barnsley witll be doing a session exploring some of the more difficult scenarios parents can find themselves in with regard to explaining things to their children (eg SEN kids, separation or divorce)
* Research – Dr Leah Gilman will be presenting on the learning from research around known donation
As well as the main presentations, you’ll also have the option to join a small group to focus discussion on specific topics, which also provides an opportunity to meet and connect with others.
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.
[View the programme here](https://dcnetwork.org/app/uploads/2026/03/Programme-DCN-London-Conference-April-2026.pdf)
𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁?
* Parents of donor conceived children: If you’ve 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 13 to make it possible for you all to attend the day.
* DC teens – we’re offering a teen activity in the morning for children aged 13-16
* DC adults 17+: this is an opportunity to join us for the day and meet with others.
* Professionals in the field: this is an informative and thought-provoking day that will help inform your practice and provides a chance to connect with the DCN team.
𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝘁?
If you haven’t had children yet, you’re welcome to join us at this conference but do be aware that the content is aimed mostly at parents. You might prefer to book onto our event aimed at prospective parents [Getting Started 21 November 2026](https://bookwhen.com/dcn-events/e/ev-sa984-20261121110000)
If you do decide to book, we’ll make sure we connect you with any other prospective parents who are there on the day, but do be aware that there will be babies and children present.
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼
You can find more details about the conference in the following documents:
* [Information summary](https://dcnetwork.org/app/uploads/2026/01/General-Information-2026.pdf)
* [Childcare and activities for children](https://dcnetwork.org/app/uploads/2026/01/Babies-and-children-2026.pdf)
* Childcare and children’s activity places are LIMITED so book soon
* Booking deadline for adult places is 14 April
* Booking deadline for childcare is 8 April
* Cancellations before 31 March will be refunded in full but we aren’t able to refund after that date
𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗗𝗖𝗡 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿?
This event is for DCN members and is one of the many benefits of membership. You can join us for just £8 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).
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.
Choose your option for the 12-1pm slot on the conference programme
**Small group or research presentation choice**
For the one hour session at midday, before lunch, we are offering EITHER a small group OR to hear the research presentation.
The research presentation will be in the main hall and is open to everyone.
The small groups are peer-led discussions for parents and/or prospective parents, with roughly 7-12 people, held in one of the classrooms. These are opportunities for sharing experiences and offering mutual support, rather than workshops or educational sessions. You can sign up to “Meet & Connect” to be put in a group with other people in a similar situation to you (e.g. solo mums together, lesbian couples together) or you can choose one of the specific topics on offer.
If you are a professional, please book the research presentation.
Miscarriage or other significant challenges during treatment with donor gametes
Chat
Heterosexual couple
Member event
Online
Parent
Prospective parent
Same sex female couple
Same sex male couple
Single man
Single woman
This DCN chat specifically for members who have experienced miscarriage following donor conception or have come up against other significant challenges which have resulted in multiple failed DC attempts.
In recognition of the particularly sensitive nature of this topic, the chat/group will be facilitated by Julie, one of our DCN Professional Members, who is a counsellor experienced in working with fertility issues and donor conception. However, like other DCN chats, it is intended to offer an opportunity to share experiences, feelings and challenges with a view to creating a mutually supportive space.
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
This is a DCN chat for women in same-sex couples, prospective and parents alike.
DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Emily, herself mum through sperm donation in a two-mum family.
Couples - Double or embryo donation - Prospective parents
Chat
Heterosexual couple
Member event
Online
Prospective parent
Same sex female couple
Same sex male couple
This is a DCN chat for heterosexual or same-sex couples who are prospective parents considering or undertaking treatment through double or embryo donation.
DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This chat will be facilitated by Hugh and Hannah, parents to two donor conceived children.
All our Chat facilitators are members themselves, and hosting the chat as individuals. This is not a professionally led or educational event.
Solo mums with children conceived through double or embryo donation
Chat
Member event
Online
Parent
Single woman
This is a DCN chat for solo mums through double or embryo donation- with children of all ages.
Join this chat if you are pregnant/have children through double or embryo donation.
If you are a thinker/tryer there is a DCN chat available for that stage.
DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This chat will be facilitated by Lucia, solo mum to twins through embryo donation. All our Chat facilitators are members themselves, and hosting the chat as individuals. This is not a professionally led or educational event.
Men Only Get-Together: Dads or intended dads through sperm Donation
Heterosexual couple
In person
Local meetup
Member event
Parent
Prospective parent
Same sex male couple
Single man
Join an in-person meetup for men only, and specifically for those considering, in treatment, or dads through sperm donation.
Do join us for this event — we would love to see you there! Chris will be there to welcome you and help everyone have a great evening.
We know it can feel awkward to join meetups where you don’t know people, especially around a sensitive topic like this, but we never fail to hear excellent feedback about these events and how valuable they are.
Heterosexual couples -Chat for those undergoing treatment with egg donation
Chat
Heterosexual couple
Member event
Online
Prospective parent
A space for members who are in the process of undertaking treatment with egg donation, to come together to talk about shared issues.
DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Anna.
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 support, please dont hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org