Spotlight on: Parents at UoM Peer Support Group
29 Jun 2020
Continuing our monthly spotlight on our staff network groups we focus on Parenting.
Parenting can be an ever-changing experience full of amazing moments and challenging times. We recognise it can also be an isolating experience, particularly for parents who do not have other parents in their social or professional networks which is why we recently launched this network.
To enable our large parenting community to connect with each other, and to familiarise new parenting colleagues to Manchester, we have created a peer support group for staff who have caring responsibilities for children. The ‘Parents at UoM Peer Support Group’ replaces the previous 'Peer Support Group for Staff Returning from Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave' as we appreciate how parenting can be challenging, whatever the age of the child.
The group aims to provide valuable support for all working parents at the University and includes colleagues in same sex relationships, parents who welcomed their baby via surrogacy and foster parents. The group is available on a drop-in basis every month.
Our physical meet-ups have currently been paused whilst on-campus activities are suspended, but new members are very welcome to join when we recommence. The group aims to provide the opportunity for colleagues to meet other parents and:
- Hear about what has worked for others;
- Offer peer support;
- Discuss issues related to the balancing of work and caring responsibilities.
We also welcome prospective parents who want to find out more about the parenting journey, particularly balancing parenting with work.
The peer support group requires sufficient numbers to run. If you would like to join the group and be notified of upcoming meet-ups and relevant information, please email:
You can attend as many or as few meetings as you need.
If you would like to suggest recommendations on how you would like the group to better support you or any changes you would like to see, regardless of whether you have attended in the past or not, please contact Sarah Mohammad-Qureshi: