Award winning networking group Freelance Mum launches new hub in Dartington

Freelance Mum which is more than just a networking group has launched a brand-new hub in South Devon.

The hub is run by two local business leaders and mums, Ingrid Wolpert who is Food Freedom and Body Confidence Coach (Ingrid Wolpert Coaching) and Jess Wynn-Jones, a BBC journalist and musician both based in South Devon.

The group meets once a month on a Thursday to ‘Netwalk’ around Dartington, South Devon, for fresh air and focus questions and enables mums in business to network and (crucially) bring their children. Not only does Freelance Mum offer networking, but the connections made offer invaluable support to many women who juggle running their own business and parenting. The also group offers an active online community of support and cheerleaders for women in business, with weekly online coffee mornings and member led sessions where all hub members across the country can come together and connect.

The idea of ‘baby-strapping’, was created by founder, Faye Dicker in 2013, after her own need juggling motherhood around her voiceover work. There wasn’t a network that supported parents in business, so she created Freelance Mum.
The South Devon Hub Leaders and Freelance Mums Ingrid and Jess, set up the hub after Ingrid moved to South Devon with her family during the pandemic, at the same time as starting up her business online as a Food Freedom and Body Confidence Coach. This meant feeling quite lonely a lot of the time as a budding entrepreneur and mum having to home school and learning how to build a business.

Ingrid comments… “I thought I can’t be the only one struggling with this. So I looked online to find a community of mums who are also business owners, and happened to find FM online! From the first online coffee morning I felt so welcome and like I had found a great group of mums who help each other through the challenges of parenting plus entrepreneurship. However, I also craved some ‘real life’ meet ups and so setting up a hub in South Devon seemed a no-brainer.”

“Local knowledge is so helpful in terms of juggling all things mum and business, and I was lucky to team up with Jess who grew up in Devon to set up the first South Devon hub. Something that makes FM unique in my opinion (I’ve been to lots of networking groups for women) is the fact that members can bring their children along to the netwalks – I haven’t found another networking group that caters to this unique need of mothers. In addition, the weekly coffee mornings on Zoom create strong personal relationships and a great community, plus of course the Facebook group, which is really active, headed by the wonderful FM founder Faye. Be it a parenting or a business question, you can ask it in the FB group and you will get tons of useful advice. I wouldn’t be without FM mums!”

Jess Wynn-Jones adds “I’ve known Faye since we worked together in radio – way before we had kids! When she launched Freelance Mum in Bristol, I went along to lots of her events. They’re always a brilliant way of meeting mums attempting the familiar family/career juggle. So when I moved back to Devon and was approached to lead the South Devon hub, it felt like fate. I’ve been amazed at the diversity and scale of female-run businesses here. The brilliant thing is, despite all working in different industries, we all have the same challenges. Freelance Mum is a super supportive network and I can’t wait to see it grow in South Devon.”

The netwalks are carefully designed to support mums in business and are structured in a way that allows them to make connections and bring their children.
“The fresh air and focus questions are an important part of Freelance Mum, it’s well recognised the importance of connecting with nature for our well-being and clarity. In a world where everything can feel fast paced, it’s even more important to take some time out and connect with fellow business owners who are on the same page. The focus questions keep conversation on track and help members get the most from the sessions.” Says Faye Dicker, Founder of Freelance Mum.

The hubs across the country, all follow the same format, so members know what to expect, whichever hub they visit. However, each hub has its own signature features – the South Devon netwalk has introduced the ‘Deer Selfie’, which is a great moment in the netwalk. It allows the attendees to stop for a moment and take a photo, they can later share on social media. It’s little moments like that, that help add personality to the walks and with plans to launch more hubs across the region and support more mums in business. Faye is keen to keep growing the network across the country and attract new members to the South Devon hub. For only £25 per month the group gives so much and members comment how beneficial being part of Freelance Mum is, not only for their business but for their mental health and well-being.