Tea Groups

Tea Groups in Southwark & Lambeth

What is a tea group?

Have you ever wondered what exactly goes on at a tea group either because you’re about to start attending one or because you think you might be interested in hosting one?

Tea groups are informal meetings; their main function is to provide an opportunity for parents to meet one another in a local setting. What hopefully will ensue is a support network for those parents.

How do they work?

Tea groups usually meet weekly for a couple of hours either in someone’s house or an agreed-upon public space. You can arrive and leave when you wish and the main event of the gathering is a chance for you to chat with other parents about a whole host of things. For many, the tea group is one of their only avenues to openly discuss the state of their baby’s nappies, the erratic sleep patterns their little one has or their joys and frustrations of parenthood, to name a few. Conversation, of course, doesn’t stop there. Tea groups are good places to pick up tips on local events and to simply chat with other adults about anything of interest.

The size of your tea group depends on how many new parents in your local area are interested in joining. Tea groups are open to all, regardless of membership with the NCT.

In some areas, tea group members have babies who span a year or more in age. These rolling groups continually welcome parents with newborns. Typically these groups meet in a public space, such as a church hall. In other areas, you not only have babies of various ages but bumps too. Perhaps the meeting is on a weekend day so families can meet up. Elsewhere, the tea group members all have babies born at a similar time.

Second-time-mums tea groups

The second-time groups were set up in response to several members who found it hard to attend the original tea group format when their second baby, or even third, was born. Each second-time-mums tea group is hosted by a mother with a toddler. This means that as well as having age-appropriate toys, houses are generally toddler-proofed with stairgates or valuables out of reach. Crucially for many there are also potties and an understanding of toddler behaviour.

For the mothers it helps to find out how others are dealing with the logistics of two children — coordinating tea, getting both to bed, sibling rivalry and giving quality time to both children. It’s also a great way to meet new friends and to socialise with other adults. If you join a second-time-mums tea group, you will be expected to host sessions in your home.

Please note that you are still very welcome to attend the original tea groups in your area.

Become a tea host

Please consider volunteering as a tea host. It’s an excellent way to get to meet new people in your area and the service you provide will be greatly appreciated by new parents. Tea hosts are always needed in all postcodes for both first and second time groups. So, if you have a few hours to spare over a period of months, and you can provide a warm welcome in your own home, then please get in touch.

Contact tea.groups@southlondonnct.org or second.baby.tea.groups@southlondonnct.org for more information or to volunteer as a host.