Why We’re Called Gathered

Gathered was a covid baby: conceived somewhere around that weird summer when we were eating out to help out, and born just before that Christmas when everything was cancelled. Three of us East Dulwich mums were sat around, thanks to whatever new ‘rule of 6’ type thing was currently permitted, surrounded by small children and chaos, trying to work out how to make something, anything, a bit better for ourselves and all the other local mums we knew.

No one had been allowed to gather for what felt like forever. Mums had been giving birth in isolation. Support was mostly on screens. And the idea of sitting in a room with a whole group of other mums, indoors with coffee, even two metres apart and wearing masks, felt like actual heaven.

When “mum and baby support groups” were finally allowed to meet again (in real life!), we commandeered the East Dulwich community centre, shipped in coffees from Spinach and brought together the new mums of South East London. Awkwardly distanced, faces half covered, with foggy glasses and babies wriggling on 2m distanced mats, or in tiny island-spaced playpens so they didn’t crawl into each other. We gathered. And it was everything we all needed.

Five years on, Here’s why the name still means so much to us.

To come together in one place

At its heart, to gather means to come together. That’s what our weekly circles are all about. Mums of babies under one meeting in the same room to talk about how motherhood actually is for us, without pretense and, thankfully now, without masks of any kind.

No one minds if you’re late. No one cares if your baby needs feeding mid-sentence and you entirely forget what you were saying. Everyone gets it.

To collect, slowly and gently

Gathering can also mean collecting things: not just baby grows and muslins, but thoughts, stories and fragments of who you are.

In a season of our lives that often feels disjointed and never quite finished, our circles are where you can collect your thoughts, gather your feelings, and start to make sense of this wild transformation into motherhood.

Sometimes we share laughter, sometimes tears. Often both in the same hour.

To draw things in close

There’s something wonderful about the idea of drawing something in and creating a space that holds us.

That’s the energy of our gatherings: A space where everyone is welcome, and everything you’re feeling is valid.

Babies often love it too. They s enjoy the rhythm and familiarity as they listen to the chatter of a group of mums around them and are often surprisingly calm, or when they can, crawl over to sit on the facilitator’s lap.

To pause and take a breath

We also love the idea of “gathering yourself.” Because early motherhood can leave you feeling completely scattered. Many days just leaving the house is a major achievement.

Our circles offer a moment of connection and calm. A chance to reflect, be witnessed, and maybe even drink a hot cup of tea.

They’re not about advice. They’re about feeling seen.

The art of gathering

We were also inspired by the writer Priya Parker, whose book The Art of Gathering reminds us that how we come together matters just as much as why. Our circles aren’t just about being in the same room, they’re about creating a sense of belonging, meaning and connection, even in the small details.

So, why Gathered?

Because we come together.
Because we collect what matters.
Because we hold space for each other.
And because this journey into motherhood isn’t meant to be done alone.

And if you’re a new mum in SE22, SE27 or SE15, there’s a gathering here for you.