Why I Created Your Village: A Cheltenham Community Helping Mums Return to Work After Maternity Leave

When I returned to work after having both of my children, I quickly realised how little support there was for mums going through this huge transition. I’d spent months adapting to life as a parent of one and then again as a parent of two (whole different ball game) …then suddenly I was expected to step straight back into a career, as though nothing had changed. The truth is, everything has changed. Priorities, energy, confidence… and sometimes even career ambitions.

That’s why I founded Your Village here in Cheltenham. I wanted to create the programme I wish I’d had: one that combined practical coaching with a community of supportive mums who truly understand what it’s like to return to work after maternity leave.

More Than Maternity Coaching: Building a Local Community

There are coaching programmes out there, and online groups where you can find advice. But what was missing for me (and for so many women I spoke to), was a local, face-to-face community. A space where you could share experiences, build confidence, and leave with a new network of working mums in Cheltenham who will still be there months or even years later.

That’s the unique part of Your Village: it isn’t just coaching, it’s connection. It’s a group of women who become your sounding board, your cheerleaders, and hopefully your new friends. Learn more about how the programme works here.

Rebuilding Confidence After Maternity Leave

One of the biggest challenges I experienced, and hear echoed so often, is the loss of confidence that can follow maternity leave. Whether it’s self-doubt, juggling the logistics of work and parenting, or wondering if your old job still fits the person you’ve become, the shift is real.

Your Village is designed to rebuild that confidence step by step, giving you practical tools and the reassurance that you’re not alone. And because the programme is in Cheltenham, it’s grounded in the real-life community around you, not a faceless webinar or one-size-fits-all course.

Why the Journey Back to Work Lasts Beyond Month One

Returning to work isn’t a single moment. Research shows that 36% of women leave their jobs within two years of coming back from maternity leave (ONS report). Many do so in search of roles that better fit their new reality. That means mums are not just navigating the logistics of maternity leave, but also facing interviews, new roles, and sometimes whole new career paths.

Your Village is built with this in mind. Whether you’re nine months into maternity leave, or already back at work and considering a change, the programme offers coaching for every stage of the journey. From confidence-building to interview preparation, the sessions give you the tools to adapt, grow, and thrive.

A Supportive Network of Working Mums in Cheltenham

The name isn’t accidental. Your Village is exactly that: a village of supportive mums in Cheltenham, helping each other through one of the most challenging, but also most rewarding phases of life. When you leave the programme, you don’t just leave with notes and action plans. You leave with people and community - with a network that walks beside you, long after the coaching ends.

That’s why I created Your Village. Because no mum should feel like they’re doing this alone!