A Kingsbridge mother and baby group that began with a handful of volunteers in a church marquee seven years ago is opening its own premises in the town centre.

MotherBorn Collective CIC will open at 63 Fore Street, offering feeding support, groups, classes and a welcoming space for parents and families from pregnancy through their children's early years.

The new premises will officially open on Saturday with an open day, giving local families, grandparents and professionals the opportunity to look around, meet the team and learn more about the support available.

The organisation hopes to address the isolation experienced by some new parents in the South Hams, where traditional support networks of family, neighbours and local services are not always readily available.

MotherBorn Collective aims to provide a sense of community for families who may otherwise struggle to access support during pregnancy and the early years of parenthood.

Steph Pope, Breastfeeding Counsellor, Director and co-founder of MotherBorn Collective said: “When we started MotherBorn, we could only dream that one day we’d have our own place on the high street.

“It's taken a lot of hard work, community support and plenty of making do along the way.

“Having our own home means we can offer so much more to local families, and create somewhere people know they can turn to for practical support, reassurance and a bit of company.

“We want it to be somewhere people feel comfortable coming through the door, whether they need help with feeding or just fancy a chat.”

MotherBorn Collective is a community interest company run nearly entirely by volunteers.

It was founded by Steph Pope, a breastfeeding counsellor and mum of two who struggled to find skilled feeding support herself and trained to offer it, and Caroline Bright, who spent eight years running Pop-In and Play at Kingsbridge Family Church.

They are joined by fellow director Laura, a cardiac intensive care nurse, who trained as a Breastfeeding Peer Supporter not long after attending the online version of Nurslings with her then newborn daughter during the covid-19 lockdowns

What began in the marquee moved 18 months ago into the old children's centre at Kingsbridge Primary School, a shared space that was never quite fit for purpose.

The new home is the first space the team can call their own, and it has been made possible by a community crowdfunder that raised £5,000 alongside other donations from organisations and individuals.

Around 60 families come through the doors every month on average, and most come back again and again. Groups are either low cost, or run on donations, so that cost is never a barrier to coming through the door.

MotherBorn is open to mothers, parents and families in Kingsbridge and the surrounding villages, from pregnancy through the early years.

The premises cost around £1,500 a month in rent and utilities alone.

MotherBorn's income comes from private feeding sessions, shop sales, room and office hire, and donations. The team is also welcoming local businesses who would like to sponsor MotherBorn.

The launch event is on Saturday, November 14, 10am to 2.30pm at 63 Fore Street, Kingsbridge.