Who are the Donor Conception Network?

DC Network is a charity offering information, support and community to donor conception families and prospective families. It was started in 1993 by five families with children conceived with the help of sperm donation. They decided, against the advice of the day, to be honest with their children about how they were conceived. They wanted to come together to break the isolation felt by so many using donor conception and support each other in their decision to be open.

Since those early days the charity now welcomes those using egg, double or embryo donation, sometimes also involving surrogacy.  We have always been inclusive and have books, workshops and groups specifically aimed at same-sex couples, single people and heterosexual couples, as well as general events and services suitable for all family types.

As children have grown up within the Network we have developed resources and services for them, as well as continuing to support the parents of older children. We focus on openness as this is one of the most challenging topics for many people, but we welcome families who are just exploring whether or not openness with their children and others is right for them as well as those who have already made this decision.

Drawing on our experiences and relevant research, we aim to support and guide would-be and current parents in the issues they face and the feelings they may have about making and raising a family created in this way.

• How do children feel about being donor conceived?
   
• Will I bond with a child that is not genetically connected to me?
   
• How can I go about exploring whether 'telling' is right for our family?
   
• When should I start telling my child about his or her origins and how do I go about it?
   
• Do I need to 'tell' other people outside our family?

We offer a membership subscription model to access some of our services. We are governed by a group of trustees formally elected annually at the AGM. Our office is located in London in the UK and we have a large number of volunteers based around the UK and beyond.