Cake Club - Parenting Support & Solidarity

17/06/2026

A date for your diaries - allies welcome as well as LGBTQ+ families 😍🏳️‍🌈

Pride Fringe Week – Q***r Families & Rainbow Roots Picnic 🏳️‍🌈

Bring your blankets, snacks and sunshine — we’re hosting a joyful Pride Picnic with Q***r Families & Rainbow Roots!
You bring the picnic, we’ll bring the fun, connection and community vibes ✨️

Expect a relaxed afternoon of play, chats, support and celebration for LGBTQ+ families, parents, carers, kids and allies.

📅 Sunday 12th July
⏰ 12PM – 4PM
📍 Between 40 & 42 Dunster Ave, Westcliff, SS0 0HQ

Allies welcome. This is a free, inclusive event — come as you are.

15/06/2026

Do you know about the Priority Services Register? 🧐

If you're pregnant or have children under 5, or you have health, communication, or safety needs, you could be eligible for free extra support from utility companies. 🥳 This includes energy suppliers and the electricity, gas and water networks. 💡

To find out if you are eligible to register, visit cadentgas.com/PSR or have a chat with one of the team at Cake Club. Jo is our resident expert on all this and can be found at SEND Club every week as well as popping up at other sessions, including our monthly collab with - the next one is tomorrow! 🤩

14/06/2026

"When you become a parent, after all the rush calms down, after the visitors stop coming, after the quietness hits. You feel it. That moment of loneliness. That, 'Oh god. Who am I?'

Volunteering saved me. In a way it saves so many of us. First you nervously walk through the door at Cake Club; You get your hot drink and a piece of cake, you sit down, take a breath. And then you look up. And instead of cliques and awkwardness, you are met with smiles. Black and gold sparkly tops and offers of support, questions of ‘how are things going’.

So you keep coming back. And then you offer to help. And then you’re there first, setting up the toys, making the tea, wearing your own black and gold sparkly top.

And there it is. A purpose. An escape from the loneliness. A play date for your little one. A reason to leave the house.

Volunteering saved me."

~LK

14/06/2026

🌟The Cake Club Crew - Spotlight on Leah, Cake Club Volunteer since January 2026🌟

"Hi, I’m Leah - mum to 9 year old Ronni and 1 year old Florence. I’ve been volunteering for Cake Club since January after attending the Shoebury group since Florence was a few months old.

Volunteering felt like a natural progression for me, having being welcomed so warmly by the team and wanting to pass on to others the support I’ve received.
Volunteering for me is helping to set up and clear away activities, make sure anyone who wants a nice hot cuppa gets one, providing a listening ear and chatting to other parents and carers about all sorts of topics. More recently I have attended sling training and hope to join the carrying support team soon. 💗

There is always a role for anyone interested in volunteering with Cake Club. I have just gone back to work full time but have found a weekend Cake Club session I can continue to attend and help with. I would encourage anyone who might be interested to pop the group a message and find out more… It’s an incredibly supportive and friendly group with lots of opportunities to learn and share experiences."

Thank you, Leah, for all that you do to support families at Cake Club. 😍

📸Featuring a new addition to the stock, the fabulous Adventure carrier in limited edition leopard print. 🤩

14/06/2026

You'll find us here on Tuesday! 😍

Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) and the SEND Local Offer Team are thrilled to invite you to our 2nd Southend SEND Information Day!

Whether you’re a parent carer or a professional, this is the place to be on 16 June. We’re bringing together local support services, expert teams, and a lineup of informative talks, all under one roof.

We know how vital it is to have clear, accessible information. That’s why we’ve organised a packed day full of:
• Direct access to local support services.
• Informative talks on key topics.
• A space to connect with other parent carers and professionals.

Save the date: 16 June from 9.30 to 2.30pm
Venue: Southend Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6ER
Read more and pre-register for the event: www.livewellsouthend.com/SENDInformationDay

ID: Graphic banner promoting the "Southend SEND Information Day," an event for parent carers and professionals. On the left, the event details are listed next to pink icons:
Date & Time: Tuesday 16 June 2026, 9.30am to 2.30pm
Location: Southend Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, SS2 6ER

The bottom left corner features logos for Southend SEND Local Offer, Southend SEND Independent Forum, and Southend-on-Sea City Council. The right side of the banner features a stylised, colourful illustration of a diverse group of people standing in a line, framed by a sweeping pink arc.

14/06/2026

This is where you’ll find us this coming week at Cake Club.

We will be at Westcliff Cake Club on Monday, Southchurch Cake Club on Wednesday and both Cake Club Shoebury and SEND Club in Prittlewell on Thursday, and Twin Club on Saturday 👶🏼👶🏼 (this group is for all families with multiples, not just twins).

You can also find us on Tuesday at our monthly pop up with Southend Supports Breastfeeding at the Hangout in Southend.

Lots of support is available at our sessions, whether you need to chat to someone about sleep, feeding, behaviour or you need sling support. We also have an IBCLC clinic on Wednesday at Southchurch for anyone who needs specialist infant feeding support (these appointments are bookable online).

Looking forward to seeing you all this week. 💛

13/06/2026

🌟The Cake Club Crew - Spotlight on Natalie, Cake Club Volunteer since 2025🌟

"Hi 👋 I’m Natalie and I started volunteering with Cake Club in October 2025.

After having my second child, I experienced feeding challenges and postnatal depression. During that time, I received so much support from Cake Club and The Milk Hub, which played a huge part in helping me through a difficult period. Simply saying “thank you” never felt quite enough, so when I found myself in a better place, becoming a volunteer felt like the most natural way to give something back.

I wanted to support other parents and children while helping the staff and volunteers who make these incredible groups possible.

During sessions, you’ll usually find me making drinks for families as they arrive and get settled. I help signpost parents to staff and volunteers who can offer support with feeding, slings and sleep…and I’m always happy to be a listening ear during the emotional rollercoaster that is parenthood. Most of all, though, I bring a little extra chaos to the sessions with my two energetic boys in tow!

Whether you’ve attended a session before or not, if volunteering is something you’ve been considering, Cake Club is a truly wonderful organisation to be part of. 🧡"

Thank you, Natalie, for all that you do to support families at Cake Club. 🥰

12/06/2026

🌟The Cake Club Crew - Spotlight on Sally, Cake Club Volunteer since 2024🌟

"I’m Sally (on the far left in the leopard print wrap) and I’ve been a volunteer since 2024. You can find me at Hockley on Fridays, usually trying to chip in with coffees, slings and feeding between chasing my two small people round. I’m also a trustee in the background, helping the team by lending professional skills.

I attended Cake Club with my eldest to try and make some friends and for some sling and feeding advice. I stopped coming for a while when I returned to work, but the Hockley sessions started just as I went on mat leave with my second and I think I’ve probably only missed a handful since.

When the team did a shoutout for volunteers it just made sense for me. I’m attending anyway, and I’ve got so much from Cake Club, including support with tandem feeding, it made sense for me to give back.

Since joining I’ve completed sling, feeding and sleep peer supporter training, giving me the confidence and skills to support families with a range of questions in the early days. I’ve also upped my defensive skills keeping the mini Cake Club crew away from the snacks. 😉

Cake Club is truly my village and I’m so glad we have this incredible resource locally. If you are on the fence about volunteering, just chat to one of the team about making some coffees or getting stuck in at clean up. We won’t say no and you won’t look back!"

Thank you, Sally, for all that you do to support families at Cake Club and your commitment to your trustee role since joining the board last year. 💛

If anyone wants to chat about the different volunteering roles available at Cake Club, slide into our DMs or drop us an email at [email protected] - or just grab one of us at a session and get stuck straight in!