Spotlight on: Parents at UoM staff network group
06 Jul 2021
This month we highlight our staff network support group for parents
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 launched this network in 2020.
To enable our large parenting community to connect with each other, and to familiarise new parenting colleagues to Manchester, we 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. Whilst the group was available on a drop-in basis every month, throughout the pandemic we have moved it to a Yammer Group:
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 also has a webpage with many resources:
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.
About our staff networks
Our staff network groups are co-ordinated by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team, and they are a fantastic way to network with people from all over the University, build contacts, share experiences, arrange events and socialise. Many of the groups also offer confidential support and advisory services from their members to any member of staff.
- Find out more about our staff network groups