Yesterday I received this message from a Twitter friend called Zoe
@pracperfectmums hello! Hope you’re well. Do you know of any groups for Mum’s new to Portishead? Finding all a little ‘clicky’ at the mo…
Do you ever feel isolated? Like all the other parents know each other, while you are on the outside looking in?
I remember feeling like this when I first moved from central Bristol to Portishead. Although I only moved a short distance, Portishead was a whole new community and I knew no other local Mums. In those days the Health Visitors hosted ‘Welcome to the area’ meetings, but it was quite a few months before I received an invite to one. Of course Practically Perfect Mums didn’t exist then either, so I phoned round to seek out some groups to join. I started attending the NCT group and found some friendly faces but at the end of each week’s session my 1 year old and I were on our own again. After a few weeks one friendly Mum invited my son and I round for a play and from there I was eased into a whole new community. But those few weeks of solitude were really tough.
If you ever find yourself feeling lonely, help may be at hand from local Mum Zoe Chalk. This is her story
We moved to Portishead at the end of the summer when our daughter, Martha, was nearly one. We felt that Portishead offered a great deal to families and that we could achieve a good lifestyle here. We’d moved from Central Bristol, not far in distance, but far enough to feel a bit isolated.
As soon as we settled in my daughter and I started to explore the local area in search of parks, other than the Lake Grounds, and other places we could walk to and explore. It proved rather tricky to find any information at all. The Library provided a cycling routes map and a couple of classes, but nothing else. I stumbled upon the youth centre completely by chance and saw a leaflet for the Practically Perfect Mums’ website – Hurrah, at last I was able to find out information about what was going on.
We started a couple of classes and these are great. We have a chat about the children and share what they do in the class, but asking another Mum for a coffee feels a little like asking to go out on a first date! On top of that a lot of Mum’s seem to know each other already whether through their ante natal or their older children at pre- school or school. I realised that I was missing the ‘baby’ friends I’d made in Bristol at my ante natal classes and at NCT, the sort of friends that you could bump into in the coffee shop or Waitrose and have a natter. In fact, when I go to Costa it seems packed full of Mums and babies who know each other and seem to be having a great time. When Martha and I fancy a quick walk round the harbour-side it would be great to have someone to call and go with. I miss just stopping on the High Street and saying hello to some familiar faces.
Jane had already helped me find a babysitter through Practically Perfect Mums, so I contacted her again in my search for a ‘New to Portishead Group’. She mentioned the Health Visitors get togethers which she had attended, but we soon discovered that due to the huge expansion of newcomers to Portishead it had become impossible for them to keep the meetings going.
A few minutes later, another message arrived from Zoe
@Pracperfectmums maybe I could set one up? X
So yesterday after batting some ideas back and forth Zoe decided to start ‘Portishead New Faces’. I really liked the idea and suggested opening the group up to any local parents feeling a bit isolated and in need of meeting some new people, perhaps when a second child comes along. Zoe will certainly have the support of Practically Perfect Mums.
The plan is to have a monthly coffee morning on the first Friday of each month where people can just pop in. The first meeting will be held at Portishead Youth Centre on Friday 1st Feb from 10.30am. The Youth Centre think it’s a brilliant idea and would also like to work together with us in hosting the coffee mornings. They are planning to section off an area for us and the café staff will be prepared for the event with homemade cake!
For now, anyone who is interested can post onto our Facebook page. Dates, times and venues will also be confirmed here on our Portishead calendar of events. Zoe eventually aims to have an email contact list too, so that everyone can keep in touch and arrange walks, activities, play dates, coffee, wine, cake, whatever.
What do you think of this idea – would it be helpful? Would you like to join in with a meet up? Do you have any other suggestions?
Please let us know in the comments section below, over on Facebook or email Zoe on zoechalk@hotmail.com
Hello, just wondering if nannies are free to attend or if there are any nanny/childminder similar groups? Thanks
Hi Imogen
Yes nannies are certainly welcome to attend. If you go over to the weekly planner there’s a child minders’ group listed on a Wednesday so you might like to check that out too.
https://practicallyperfectmums.co.uk/category/whats-on/
Jane
Hi Jane yes I will be there on the 1st how will I find you all?
Many thanks.
Stacey
Hi Stacey
You head straight into the Youth Centre, through the double doors and we’ll be in the room in front of you.
See you there!
Jane
Hi Jane I’ve changed my password so hopefully be ok now thank you.
Brilliant. Are you coming to the New Faces on Fri 1st?
Hi I recently registered but have not heard anything, I’m fairly new to the area and would love to make new friends, I have a 3rd old daughter and 1yr old son.
Many thanks
Stacey
Hi Stacey
There was an error on one of my email settings recently, which has now ben fixed, but it meant that some of the automated responses didn’t get sent. If you could try logging in with your user name and request a new password I think that should resolve it as I can see that you are registered. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Could you let me know if that works for you please?
Thanks
Jane
hello,still wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a mum at uni most days but not all, with two small children a girl nearly six and a boy nearly eight at school,who does do some after school activities for them as well but is still find it difficult to meet friends greatful grandma susan
Hi Susan
From a personal point of view, I have made most of my friends locally through my children’s friends. As her children are of school age, does she have their friends round for tea/playdates? Maybe she could encourage this and then it’s not such a big step to invite the Mum in for a coffee.
I take it she is not available to meet up at the next new faces meeting on the 1st? Obviously she would be very welcome.
Jane
Hi Susan. I just had another idea. We now have a Facebook Group for Portishead New Faces. There are social outings/coffee mornings being arranged as we speak. If your daughter is on Facebook please forward her the link
https://www.facebook.com/groups/205111822965751
thanks jane
been ill ,only just seen your message,sounds great will pass on info,thanks again
This is an excellent idea! Also new in Portishead, and will definitely be aiming to be there on the next Friday you meet up.
Eloise
Thanks neeloise and welcome to Portishead. Looking forward to meeting you.
Hi there,
I just find your website, missed the 1st meeting but hope to make it to the next. Would love to meet up and make friends. Esp as I am lucky enough to be at home full time with my 1yr old son. I registered but haven’t received a confirming email either checked spam too. I will keep and eye out!
Hi Natalie
I think I have resolved it. I will email you with more details.
Regards
Jane
hello,
my daughter moved here with her two children three years ago,and is still finding it difficult to break through the clicky barrier.her two children are now in school and herself most days uni,any suggestions please.[she takes them to after school activities as she is still trying that avenue] thanks a disapointed grandmother [as i encouraged them to move here]
I would love to meet other mums in Portishead as I have a one year old daughter. Unfortunately, I can’t make the first meeting, but would love to come to the next one if I can be added to the mailing list please?
Hi Julie
Yes we’ll make sure you are informed.
Jane
Great! Thanks Jane. Hope Friday goes well and everyone has a great time.
Would like to make some friends in Portishead. Have been to the children’s centre for a few weeks now and was hoping to have met some mums with approx 1 year olds to invite to my little girls 1st birthday party tomorrow but don’t seem to be very successful at the moment.
Hi Rachel
We look forward to seeing you there if you can make it next Friday and hopefully there will be some play mates for your little girl. Make sure you come and say hello and we can all sing her Happy Birthday if you like.
Jane
Hi Jane thanks for your kind reply. I look forward to tomorrow. I have registered last Friday but still don’t seem to have recieved an email yet?
Hi Rachel
The system is automated so you should have had a reply almost instantly. . . .
. . . I’ve just checked this end and you ARE registered. Looks like the confirmation mail has gone into your junk or spam folder. They sometimes end up there first time round, but not to worry, you’re on the system. If you could add us to your safe list you should receive future communications. Any problems email me jane@practicallyperfectmums.co.uk.
Jane
This sounds fantastic! We moved to Portishead last weekend and desperate to make some mummy friends! Looking forward to 1st Feb! Jody x
Hi Jody
Glad you found the site so quickly. Hope you are settling into Portishead. We look forward to meeting you at the Youth Centre.
Jane
I live over in pill but would be really interested in this group as I have 2 little boys and want to get out and about to meet people in the local area. Again e mail has come at the perfect time. Look forward to hearing more about this group. 🙂
That’s great. You would of course be very welcome Mads
Hi! Me, my husband and our little girl Lucy (just turned 1) are moving to Portishead this Saturday so your email about this new mum group has come at the perfect time! I would be interested in hearing more and probably coming along to the group. Sounds great!
Hi Alex
I’m glad we’ve timed it well! Good luck with the move and it will be great to see you at the first (coffee and cake) meeting in February.
Jane
Don’t forget, the Children’s Centre has a comprehensive list of baby/pre-school activities in the town, as well as other services available for children and carers, and we always welcome new Mums to the centre – at Stay and Play on a Wednesday afternoon for all ages, or Cafe Mamma on a Tuesday and Bumps and Babies on a Friday morning if your little ones are younger. Stay and Play in particular gets new members joining most weeks – Mums, Dads, childminders and Grandparents, and all of the carers and children are lovely! 😉