Last year, we provided funding to establish a Parents Network in HMS Collingwood, giving service parents and expecting parents a chance to share their experiences, learn from one another, and support each other. Now, a few months since their first meeting, founder of the group, Lt Cdr Marie Whitehouse, shares an update:
The group meets each Tuesday lunchtime in the chaplaincy, with ‘coffee, cake and chat’, where parents can chat about anything from how to manage forthcoming deployments, how to navigate childcare when returning to work, how to manage the transition from nursery to school, whilst equally just having an opportunity to chat to people in similar situations without any judgement.
It was important from the start that this was not just for female personnel, but for all serving parents. I am proud that we have been able to offer a safe place for people to open up, chat and share parenting tips with each other and give emotional support when it has been most needed.
The group is open to all serving parents including expectant parents, those returning to work post maternity, paternity or adoption leave, and those who have children and whose partner is also serving.
