Rebuilding the Village: Why Parenting Support Matters More Than Ever
- Her Story & Co.
- Oct 15
- 3 min read
There was a time when parenting came with a village.
You’d have neighbours who’d pop the kettle on, grandparents nearby, and a community who looked out for one another.
Fast forward to today — and for so many parents, that village has quietly disappeared.
The quiet crisis no one talks about
Over the last decade, we’ve seen huge cuts to early years and family services.
Sure Start centres have closed, postnatal support is limited, and health visitors are stretched thinner than ever.
Parents are doing the hardest job in the world — often with very little support.
Many families live far from their relatives, partners work long hours, and even a simple trip out with a new baby can feel like climbing a mountain.
Meanwhile, social media tells us we should be grateful, thriving, and “making memories”… even when we’re just trying to make it through the day.
No wonder so many parents feel isolated, anxious, and unsure where to turn for reassurance.
Why community matters
Connection isn’t a luxury — it’s a lifeline.
Having a space where you can show up exactly as you are, without pretending everything’s fine, can completely change how you experience parenthood.
It’s where the tears can mix with laughter, where you can share a coffee instead of scrolling for answers, and where you can realise:
“It’s not just me.”
That’s the power of community — it helps us breathe again.
My “why”
I’ve spent years supporting families — as a Family Support Worker, Parenting Coach, Birth Coach, Infant Massage Instructor, and Early Years Practitioner — and as a mum myself.
I’ve seen firsthand how much pressure parents are under and how little support is available when you need it most.
I’ve sat with mums in tears who thought they were “failing” because their baby wouldn’t sleep.
I’ve listened to dads who felt invisible.
And I’ve felt that same overwhelm myself — the juggling, the guilt, the exhaustion that no one really prepares you for.
That’s why I started Our Story & Co.
Because no parent should feel like asking for help is embarrassing. It’s not a weakness — it’s one of the bravest, strongest things you can do for your family.
Rebuilding the village
Our Story & Co. is a not-for-profit family support organisation based in Reading, built on one simple belief:
Every family deserves to feel held, heard and supported.
We offer calm, connection and practical support through every stage:
🌙 Bump & Breathe – a gentle pregnancy relaxation class to help expectant mums find calm and confidence.
👶 Bump & Baby – a free, welcoming meet-up for parents and babies under one.
🌼 Little Buds – our toddler development programme blending play, emotional literacy and parenting support.
💬 Parenting Workshops – short, evidence-based sessions on topics like toddler emotions, toilet readiness, school prep and more.
🌿 Seedlings – a nurturing postnatal course focusing on wellbeing and adjusting to life after birth.
🏡 Mumease Home Support – practical and emotional help at home for families who need an extra pair of hands (and a listening ear).
Every group, course and conversation has the same goal — to rebuild that missing village, one family at a time.
The truth is…
Parents don’t need more pressure to be perfect.They need safe, understanding spaces where they can just be.
Where it’s okay to admit you’re tired, to ask for help, to say “today was hard.”
At Our Story & Co., that’s exactly what we’re creating.
Because when parents feel supported, families thrive — and when families thrive, communities grow stronger too. 💛
💛 Find your space with us:
📍 Reading | Tilehurst | Calcot | Pangbourne | Berkshire
About the Author
Hayley Brazil is the Founder of Our Story & Co. CIC — a community-based family support organisation in Berkshire dedicated to rebuilding the village for parents.
A mum of four and experienced Family Support Worker, Early Years Practitioner, Parenting Coach, Birth Coach, and Infant Massage Instructor, Hayley has supported hundreds of families through pregnancy, birth, babyhood, and beyond.
After years of seeing how isolated many parents felt — and how few services remained available — Hayley founded Our Story & Co. to offer genuine, local, evidence-based support that’s both affordable and heart-led.
“I believe every parent deserves to feel held, heard, and supported — without having to pretend they’ve got it all together.”
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