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The facilitators are wonderful! “Thank you all so much for being so open, considerate and supportive throughout the day. You’ve made a potentially scary day so welcoming, supportive and encouraging.”
Participant at recent Destination Parenthood workshop
Our facilitators play a really important role at DCN. For our online chats and our workshops, our facilitators help manage the space and act as host, ensuring that our activities are professionally run and keep a clear focus. More than this though, they help support people at what can often be a very vulnerable time in their lives, especially for those who are just beginning to consider using donor conception. We know this can be a challenging role and may involve managing complex emotions, so we make sure our facilitators are well supported and have the training they need.
Our online chat facilitators are all volunteers and don’t receive payment for the time they give up, and our workshop facilitators are busy professionals who go beyond the call of duty to help support donor conception families and prospective parents. We are, as always, so grateful for the support they all provide.
Meet our facilitators
Sandra
Sandra is a solo mum to an adult daughter conceived by donor embryo, the donors being anonymous. Sandra is an accredited fertility counsellor working with fertility clinics and private clients.
Danny
Danny is a proud father to two adult sons through donated sperm. He co-parents with his ex-wife. He works mainly as an actor, writer and facilitator.
Yael
Yael is mum to one daughter, who was conceived through egg donation with her ex partner. She works in the DCN office looking after new members and supports DCN volunteers. She also co-ordinates research projects being carried out with the membership.
Rachel
Rachel and her husband have one son via egg donation. Rachel is a psychotherapist and lecturer having previously been a teacher. They have a crazy cocker spaniel and all love spending time at the beach.
Sharon
Sharon and her husband live on a farm on the Belfast hills with their two children. Their eldest child was conceived via anonymous embryo donation and their second child via overseas adoption. Sharon has a background in Human Resources and has also worked as a Regional Coordinator for Fertility Network.
Lucia
Lucia is a solo mum to twins via embryo donation, who are now teenagers. Lucia contributes to many aspects of DCN, including organising our presence at exhibitions and shows.
Laura
Laura is a solo mum with two teenage children via sperm donation. She works in the Arts, Theatre and Heritage fields and also offers mentoring and facilitation. They have a cat and a dog and enjoy wild swimming in Devon rivers and the sea (although the cat prefers to stay dry at home!)
Mary Blair
Mary Blair, known as MB, lives in Norway. She and her husband have two children via egg donation. As a family, they are often found exploring the forests around Oslo, either on foot, bike or skis. MB is a professional coach for families with donor-conceived children in Norway.
Mark
Mark and his partner have two children, one through egg donation and one naturally-conceived child. Mark is an actor and also runs workshops for businesses and community groups.
Tim
Tim and his wife have three children, including twins, using a known sperm donor. Tim is a college lecturer.
Sarah
Sarah and her partner have two children via sperm donation. Sarah is a paediatric nurse and has experience of teaching and running groups.
Albyn
Albyn and her partner Bill have one daughter conceived via double donation. Albyn began her DCN journey as a single woman, and now facilitates workshops for both single women and heterosexual couples, as well the North London meeting several times a year. Albyn is a writer and psychotherapist.
Helen
Helen and her husband have two adult sons by anonymous sperm donation. Helen works with Jane on the DCN workshop programme and is also an NCT postnatal practitioner working with mums and babies. She loves holidays and being outdoors.
Jane
Jane and her husband have two adult sons through anonymous sperm donation. Jane’s background is in counselling and fostering and adoption social work. She and Helen head the workshop programme together.