New Peer Support Group for Separating Parents in Stamford

Separation can change the shape of everyday life very quickly. School runs, weekends, family traditions, finances, communication, and time alone can all feel different, sometimes all at once.

On Saturday morning, I had the pleasure of chatting with Rob Persani on The Breakfast Show on Rutland and Stamford Sound about a new peer support group we are running at MindSpace Stamford for separating and separated parents.

The group has a simple purpose: to offer a calm, welcoming space where parents can meet others who understand what this stage of life can feel like. It is a place to share experiences, talk things through, listen, and feel a little less alone along the way.

We are really looking forward to welcoming parents to our first meetup next Monday, 28th September.

Why peer support matters during separation

Every separation is different. Some parents are at the very start of the process. Others have been separated for months or years and are still finding their feet. Some are co-parenting. Some are parenting largely on their own. Some are managing practical arrangements while also dealing with grief, anger, guilt, relief, uncertainty, or all of these at different times.

Friends and family can be kind and caring, but they may not always know what to say. They may have strong opinions. They may want to fix things. At times, that can feel like another pressure.

Peer support offers something different. It brings together people who may not have the same story, but who are walking the same but different paths.

For many parents, that kind of separation support can be one of the things that helps life feel more manageable. It was for me when I was going through family separation; meeting friendly faces every few weeks gave me some sense of stability and 'safety' when my life felt so alien to me.

What the group is for

The peer support group is for parents who are separating or already separated. It is not about judgement, blame, or taking sides. It is about giving people a place to speak openly and be heard.

You might come along if you are:

• Adjusting to a new parenting routine

• Finding communication with a former partner difficult

• Feeling isolated since separation

• Worried about how children are coping

• Trying to rebuild confidence

• Looking for others who understand the ups and downs

• Living with uncertainty about what comes next

• Just want to see some friendly faces

  
  

There is no need to have the right words ready. Some people may want to talk. Others may prefer to listen at first. Both are welcome.

What to expect at the first meetup

Coming to a new group can feel like a big step, especially when the subject is personal. The aim is to keep the first meetup welcoming and freindly.

It may help to know that peer support is different from counselling, legal advice, or mediation. Those services can be useful, and at times they may be the right next step. A family mediator, for example, may help separated parents work through arrangements in a structured way, this is what I do with my 'work hat' on. But this group is something differnt to that, it is a chance to connect with others who are living through separation or life after separation.

The focus will be on shared experience, kindness, and practical emotional support.

Why Stamford needs spaces like this

Separation can be lonely even when people are surrounded by others. That loneliness can be especially strong in smaller communities, where daily life often overlaps with school, work, local shops, clubs, and mutual friends.

Parents may worry about being seen, being talked about, or being asked questions they are not ready to answer, or perhaps aren't sure how to answer. They may also feel pressure to appear as though they are coping well when life feels harder than it ever has.

A local group can help reduce that sense of isolation. It gives people somewhere to go where they do not have to explain the basics because they can be met with understanding from the start – that and a cup fo tea and biscuit!

MindSpace Stamford offers a familiar local setting for conversations that many parents need but may not know where to have. The hope is that this group becomes a welcoming and friendly space for those navigating the changes that come with separation.

You do not have to have everything sorted

One of the hardest parts of separation is the feeling that everyone expects a plan. Where will everyone live? What happens at weekends? How will holidays work? What do the children need? What happens if communication breaks down?

These questions matter, but no one has to arrive at a support group with everything sorted.

It is enough to come as you are.

Some weeks may feel steady. Others may feel messy and uncertain. Parents often carry a great deal while trying to keep life feeling normal for their children. Having a place to put some of that down, even briefly, can make a real difference.

The group is also a reminder that separation is not only a legal or practical process. It is an emotional one. It affects routines, identity, friendships, family roles, and the future people thought they were building.

Being able to say that out loud, in a room with others who understand, can be a relief.

How to book a space

If you are navigating separation or life after separation, we would love to see you at the first meetup next Monday.

Spaces can be booked here: book your place for the separating parents peer support group.

Taking the first step into a new room can feel daunting. But you do not need to arrive with a polished story, a clear plan, or the right answers. You only need to bring yourself.

This group is here so that separating and separated parents in and around Stamford have somewhere to talk, listen, and feel less alone.