English Heritage has today announced plans to tackle the growing issue of parental isolation, by developing a range of initiatives at its castles and historic houses to help new parents develop their support networks. The charity is introducing “bonding benches” to all its properties to help visitors start up conversations, launching communal activities for young families, and hosting NCT (National Childbirth Trust) volunteer-led sling and buggy walks at selected sites.

New research from the NCT* shows that 62% of new parents feel lonely or isolated at least some of the time, and 87% feel overwhelmed. Almost a quarter (23%) of new parents said that they didn’t have a strong support network around them. With families representing 35% of all English Heritage visits, and over 400 sites in its care right across England, the charity is uniquely placed to help support and bring like-minded parents together in a fun, informal setting.

With this in mind, English Heritage is installing “bonding benches” at its historic sites across the country ahead of the half-term holidays. Located in areas where families tend to gravitate, such as near playgrounds or open grassland, the benches will feature sliders which can be moved between ‘up for a chat’ and ‘craving quiet’, depending on your mood. The charity hopes that this will help parents take the first step to starting up conversations with new people and making new connections whilst their children play.

Leading parenting charity the NCT will also bring their popular NCT Walk and Talks to selected English Heritage sites. Suitable for buggies, slings and little legs, these free, volunteer-led walks enable new, pre-school and expectant parents to meet up in the fresh air and share experiences, building a community and supporting each other through early parenthood. These walks will be held at Audley End in Essex, Kenwood in North London, Marble Hill in South West London, Wrest Park in Bedfordshire, Beeston Castle in Cheshire and Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire, with more volunteers being sought to lead walks at other English Heritage sites.

Emma Fernandes Lopes, Assistant Operations Director at English Heritage, said, “As parents, we are hardwired to prioritise our children’s wellbeing. We bring them out to wonderful places like English Heritage sites to explore the outdoors and expand their horizons. But we often forget that the key to children’s wellbeing is actually found in whether their parents feel happy and supported.

Modern parenthood can be a really isolating experience. Many parents live a long way away from their extended families and have no support network to lean back on, and it’s often a real challenge to make friends who hold the same values and interests. With families making up more than a third of all English Heritage visits, we want to use our sites to help parents make those essential connections.”

Family visitors to English Heritage sites can also pick up an Adventurer’s Checklist, full of fun things for young children to do. The list of 25 tasks, which include finding signs of animal life, splashing in puddles and making silly sounds in echoey places, have been designed by the charity to encourage interaction between different families. Other activities vary by site but include playgroups, chatty cafés and children's crafting.

English Heritage’s plans have been informed by the government’s Five Ways to Mental Wellbeing guidance, which encourages people to connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give.

To find out more or to discover your nearest English Heritage site, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/inspire-me

To volunteer as an NCT Walk & Talk leader at your local English Heritage site, visit www.nct.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/nct-walk-talk-volunteer or email press@english-heritage.org.uk