It Takes A Village, Crystal Palace, London (2026)

28/09/2026

Feeling stressed, frazzled or overwhelmed in early motherhood? 🥀

You’re not alone 🫂

After reaching out to ask our community what they currently need support with most, this was the resounding topic many agreed feels so present right now 🫠

And when our community speaks, we listen…

Whether you’re:
🫶getting to grips with your journey into matrecense,

🫶feeling overwhelmed from welcoming a newborn into the family,

🫶or buckling under the pressure of juggling
family life with work & relationships

…having an experienced outside eye (and listening ear) can create the space you need to find real, actionable strategies that will ease the strain 🙏

That’s why we’re so delighted to welcome a special guest speaker next week, local mum and certified Life Coach Meenu Mathew ✨

Meenu Matthews is a Life & Workplace Success Coach, former HR professional, and mum of two who understands firsthand the challenges of balancing personal well-being & ambitions with motherhood.

🤩With an MBA in HR, a Diploma in Life Coaching, plus years of professional & lived experience, Meenu empowers mothers to overcome overwhelm, rebuild confidence, manage workplace stress, and navigate those big life transitions with clarity.

Through her personalised 1:1 coaching, Meenu is dedicated to helping parents like you set healthy boundaries, manage competing demands, and create a fulfilling life without sacrificing your well-being or personal goals. Meenu strongly believes “you deserve to feel confident, fulfilled, and like YOU again!” 💪

Join us St Hugh's Community Centre on ✨Tues 6th Oct✨in this relaxed session where Meenu will guide you to finding better clarity & confidence in motherhood, and achieving more of the balance we so desperately need.

Ready to make yourself a priority? 🤗

Bring your baby & grab a free spot via happity at our link in bio now 👆
We’ll see you in the circle! ☕️🤱🏽💞

23/09/2026

💕Babies + Brunch + Portraits = core memories made!

Due to popular demand our gorgeous Babies & Brunch event Spinach Crystal Palace Restaurant & Community Hub is BACK 🙌 with the infinitely talented Carys Wright here to capture your oh-so-special mum & baby moments in time ✍️ 🤱🏽💜

☀️Take a morning to nourish yourself & celebrate your tiny humans with good food, great company and the friendliest mum & baby community in Crystal Palace!

🎟️ Your ticket to join us on Weds 7th Oct includes:

💫 Any hot barista coffee or tea ☕️ upon arrival

💫A delicious fresh OJ 🍊 for that much needed morning boost

💫Your choice from a mouthwatering menu such as homemade granola & berries, avo & sourdough, eggs & sumac, scrambled tofu, cheesey leeks on toast or a Ras El Hanout & pomegranate marinated chicken wrap 🤤

💫 PLUS a live, professional hand-drawn sketch of you & your baby from award winning local artist, illustrator and mama, Carys Wright 💝

🙏 And not only will you enjoy this chance to connect with other local parents & fill your cup, but all proceeds from your ticket will go straight back into running It Takes A Village Crystal Palace CIC, our vital non-profit social enterprise supporting local families in need 💞

Our chosen space, the indie, mum-lead gem of SE19 Spinach Crystal Palace Restaurant & Community Hub is an intimate venue, so tickets are strictly limited!

👀 Grab your place at the baby-friendly table by heading over to our link in bio now for your ticket - they’re selling like hot cakes! 👆

We cannot wait to brunch with you soon 🤗

04/09/2026

September is the season for change! 🍂

As we say farewell (for now!) to some wonderful families as they move onto new adventures, returning to work, beginning new childcare settings or starting school 🥲, it’s also time to listen to our community, and reflect on why our village exists…

And of course, to welcome in some new arrivals too! 🤱🏼🤱🏾🤱🏻

If you’re new around here and have had a baby recently, this is might just be your sign to join us at It Takes A Village, Crystal Palace 🤗

🌻We’ve grown this grassroots community not just for you but WITH you over the past 5 years. And it’s families like you who guide us in our mission to provide real connection & support when parents need it most.

Weekly peer support, expert infant feeding advice Eleanor Campbell & a growing community of mothers who just….get it. 🙏

Don’t just take our word for it - the reviews they’ve shared here really speak for themselves! 🥰

🗓️We return to St Hugh's Community Centre on Tues 8th Sept. Whether you’re new or a returning villager, we can’t wait to see you!

👆Grab your pay what you can spot via our link in bio and we’ll see you, cuppa in hand ☕️ back in the circle 💕

❤️

23/08/2026

Aaand relax….🌤️

After 6 weeks of fabulous peer support & guest speaker summer sessions, it’s time to take a short break to soak up the end of season vibes with our own family & loved ones.

🗓️ ITAV will be back with our regular weekly Tuesday meet ups resuming at St Hugh's Community Centre from the 8th Sept.

👆Reserve your spot now via our link in bio for your regular dose of mindfulness, expert infant feeding advice & peer support from your village this September!

We can’t wait to see again soon 💕🙏💕

&babygroup

❤️

14/08/2026

Need some release from this looong hot summer? 🫠

Space to pause, breathe, reconnect? 🙏

Let us welcome you with fresh air and open arms to our final outdoor summer session on Tuesday 18th Aug with a Singing Mamas Guest Speaker Special! 🎶

🌳 Join us under the cooling shade of the trees in Crystal Palace park for this beautiful, heart opening session led by the wonderful Harriet • Singing Mamas South East London

👀 Local mum of two Harriet is a familiar face to many families in our community, as an ITAV alumni & volunteer, and now leader of her own increasingly popular Singing Mamas classes in Anerley & Beckenham 👏

Harriet leads her weekly community singing groups for mothers, babies & toddlers as a space to show up exactly as you are, no experience needed, no performance required 💜You’ll learn simple, beautiful songs you can take home and sing to your little one all week 🤱🏻

“We sing together because singing together does something that’s hard to explain until you’ve felt it. It lifts the room. It settles babies. It reminds you that you’re not doing this alone” 🫂

And recent research by the Royal College of Music & Imperial College London with postpartum mothers shows regular group singing can significantly reduce symptoms of Postnatal Depression, as well as reducing stress, and improving connection and bonding with our little ones too 👶🏾

Former charity worker turned primary school teacher Harriet has a long standing passion for music, education and community 🤝

She says “I’ve seen first hand the power of singing to support mental health and emotional wellbeing…I care deeply about inclusion, connection and supporting others to thrive. I’ve faced my own mental health challenges and have found healing through community, music and shared experiences”.

Harriet will be giving us this special taster session ahead of her classes resuming St Hugh's Community Centre in September, so if you’re curious, take this as your sign to give it a go!

Just head to our link in bio to reserve your free spot! 👆

Let’s serenade your babies & the final weeks of summer, together 🥰

08/07/2026

☀️ It was so good to kick off our Summer Sessions in Crystal Palace Park this week!

We’re keeping the good times rolling as we introduce our next guest speaker for Tue 14th July 🥁

Jane Knight is the Founder of the brilliant, award-winning SUCCESSFUL MUMS CAREER ACADEMY providing fully funded career advice and back-to-work training programmes for over a decade 🤩

This unique, locally based organisation has helped over 12,000 women returners & mums to rebuild their confidence, gain new skills are provide links to flexible family employers.

💁‍♀️After experiencing the challenges of returning to work as a mother herself, Jane founded Successful Mums to help women realise their value in the workplace and access meaningful careers 💪

Through funded face-to-face & online learning, SUCCESSFUL MUMS CAREER ACADEMY support women at every stage of their journey. From confidence and career planning to digital skills, self-employment & sector-specific training, the academy prepares women for the flexible, sustainable & fulfilling careers we all need! 🙏

An award-winning entrepreneur, speaker & careers expert, Jane is passionate about ensuring the transferable skills gained through parenting are recognised (and valued) by employers. At the heart of Successful Mums is a simple but powerful ethos, one which we share here at ITAV: Mums Supporting Mums 🤝

We can’t wait to have her share with us:

💫 How they can help you embrace the change on your journey back to (paid) work

💫 Where the 100s of flexible & part time roles are hiding

💫 7 ideas for new careers

💫 The forward-thinking flexible employers who value women returners

💫 How transferable skills/lived experience counts

💫 A 3 step action plan to get started!

Don’t miss out, grab your baby & a picnic rug and nab your free spot via our link in bio now! 👆🌳🤱🏾💜

06/07/2026

☀️ Need some confidence wearing your new baby out and about this summer?

🤱🏽Wondering how to embrace the precious hands free time in a way that’s safe and comfy for you both?

👶 Wanting some tips and tricks for carrying your older baby or toddler over the holidays?

Well you’re in the right place, as the fabulous Bethan from South London Sling Library joins us next Tuesday 7th July for the first in our outdoor summer guest speaker sessions in Crystal Palace Park! 🙌

Regular ITAVers already have a soft spot for brilliant Bethan who often generously shares her support and wisdom over in our community what’s app group… as an experienced Babywearing Consultant and sling library director, we know who to turn to for all things sling! 🥰

💜 So bring your little ones and your carriers (if you already have one) and learn all about the benefits of Summer Babywearing - from supporting bonding & breastfeeding to accessing this game changing parenting tool that can provide a calmer, more confident postpartum experience 💆‍♀️

There will be a chance for 1-2-1 chats and quick fit checks with Bethan, as well as space to demo a range of makes and models from South London Sling Library extensive hire library too 👀

Whether you’re hiking with your baby, heading to the beach or simply strolling in the park, Bethan has you covered! 💪

Skip on over to our link in bio now to grab your place!
And we’ll see you, and your tiny humans, under the shade of the trees next Tuesday 7th July! 😎

28/06/2026

Five years of It Takes A Village! 🥳

Last weekend saw us celebrate our village in the best way we know how - we threw a party! 🎈

From live music and cold lollies, to games and giggling babies on the lawn, we absolutely loved seeing the families of ITAV past and present come together to share in the joy of connection, and to reflect on how our little community has grown 🥰

Huge thanks to:

P.E.C.A for the gorgeous venue & gardens 🌷

Lucy Gray | Singer & Busker for the incredible singing 🎵

Mair Garland Celebrant for kindly sponsoring our Toddler Rollercoasters 🎢

Carys Wright providing the beautiful live family portraits ✍️

Jenny on Facepaints 🎨

Sara on our Impact stand 📋

🌟 And our incredible ITAV alumni volunteers:

Helen, Anna, Bex, Roy, Sophia, Leah, Ellen, Shaha, & Gabi for providing us with delicious home baked goods, sourcing amazing raffle prizes, running the stalls, bar, arts and crafts and general hosting on the day.

And of course to the one and only Harriet • Singing Mamas South East London who volunteered hours of her time to help us project manage the entire event, making our dreams of hosting a community day a reality - and fundraising over £1500 in process!
We can’t thank you enough! 🙏

Same again next year?! 💜

❤️

12/06/2026

…And we are so thankful! 🥰

As part of our upcoming 5 year celebration & Family Fun Day on the 21st of June 🥳 we’re holding a fundraiser raffle to help us continue our vital work in supporting local families 🙏

A team of incredible ITAV mums & volunteers 💪have been reaching out to local organisations and businesses for raffle prize donations and OMG, they did not disappoint!🤩

So this is a huge THANK YOU from all of us at ITAV to those who have gifted tickets, vouchers and more as prizes for our wonderful community! We can’t thank you enough for your generosity in supporting our fundraising efforts and for being part of our mission to sustain this ever growing social enterprise. It takes a village to support the village! 💞

🎟️ The incredible prizes to be won include generous vouchers & gifts from:

🍻🍲The Best Family & Baby Friendly Pubs Stuffed Walrus Pub The Faber Fox Perry hill The Faber Fox

☕️ 🥐 Our Fave indie cafes Oori Kynd London

🤸‍♀️ Family adventures & kids sessions at Substation Brixton My Aerial Home Trainmaster Medway, North Kent and South London BOCKETTS FARM PARK

🤝💜Date nights BFI Film Academy East Dulwich Picturehouse Contrast Anerley

💸Gifts galore LE LABO Fragrances .thegardener Amy English

🍧😋Tasty Treats Oddono’s Gelati Lina Stores COOK Greggs

This raffle is exclusively for our ITAV community and 100% of proceeds raised go back into our running costs to keep going.

📅 Raffle tickets are on sale until 21st June so if you’re one of our local ITAV families, get over to our link in bio quick to grab yours!

💝 Prize winners will be drawn at our Family Fun Day and will be contacted by email to claim their prizes after the event. Good luck! 🤞

17/05/2026

🎉 FIVE years of It Takes a Village! 🎉

We can’t quite believe it! Our fabulous community of local families is turning 5, and we want to celebrate with all of you! 🥳

📅 Sunday 21st June
🕑 1.30pm – 4.30pm
📍 Penge East Community Centre .community.centre

Join us for a Family Fun Day packed with something for everyone, indoors AND outdoors (yes, we’ve got gazebos if the British weather has other ideas! ⛺😄)

Here’s a taste of what’s in store...

🎵 Music

🎪 Village fete-style garden games

🎨 Arts & crafts

🖌️ Face Painting

👶 Baby area with cosy rugs and toys

🫧 Bubbles (because obviously!)

🍰 Refreshments — tea, coffee, cake and baby/toddler-friendly snacks

🎟️ Raffle with some INCREDIBLE prizes from local businesses up for grabs! (More to come on those soon 🤩)

And because it’s also Father’s Day 👨‍👧‍👦, we’ve got extra special treats for the dads, grandads or anyone who needs an bit of TLC on this day too, including

🍺 Ice cold beers to sip in the garden

💫 AND the chance to have your baby/child or family portrait sketched by the award winning as a truly one-of-a-kind gift! 💝🎨

This day is for every one of you wonderful families who make this community so special. Five years of showing up for each other and raising the next generation we can be proud of - let’s celebrate together! 💜🌳

🎟️ Tickets live on Happity now (see link in bio) but selling out fast so don’t miss out! ✨

It Takes A Village, Crystal Palace

28/09/2026

23/09/2026

04/09/2026

23/08/2026

14/08/2026

08/07/2026

06/07/2026

28/06/2026

12/06/2026

17/05/2026

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