What we do

We support each other and help our colleagues to:

• Make the transition into parenthood, or to adapt to a new addition to their family.
• Support colleagues who are balancing new or ongoing caring responsibilities with work.
• Balance caring for an ill, elderly or disabled family member, partner or friend with work commitments.
• Meet and talk to others who are in the same or similar situation.

We host (currently online) monthly forums where we facilitate opportunities to meet other parents and carers working at the University and discuss a different theme each month. Previous topics have included: entertaining the kids over Christmas, home-schooling, and providing feedback on the draft HR family friendly policies.

The committee meets every two months to discuss how we can support parents and carers across the University (not just those in the network), arrange socials, share and co-ordinate information-sharing opportunities (mostly via our Viva Engage, formerly Yammer, group), signpost guidance to staff and work to ensure that University policies and procedures represent the network.

How do I join?

If you would like to get involved, then please join the Parents and Carers Network for updates, upcoming events and helpful conversations. 

How to contact us

You can contact the network by emailing grp-parentsnetwork@groups.bristol.ac.uk.

Committee Members

• Chair - Myma Baptist (she/her) – Divisional Development and Service Manager, parent to one school-age child and one young child.
• Ames Mosley (she/they) - EDI and Swan Officer, parent to one school-age child and one young child.
• Jessica Vance (she/her) – Health and Safety Adviser, parent to two school-age children and parent-carer of a child with a disability.
• Paul Jones Parry (he/him) - Deputy School Manager on a maternity leave cover, parent to two school-age children and one young child.
• Justyna Hinchcliffe (she/her) - Research Associate, parent to one school-age child and one young child.
• Tim Tomkinson (he/him) - Teaching Technician, parent to two school-age children.
• Valentina Mosienko (she/her) - Research Fellow & Lecturer, parent to a one year old, and a carer.  

If you are interested in joining the committee or would like to know more, please email us at grp-parentsnetwork@groups.bristol.ac.uk.