Friday Mums
A supportive and holistic space for new mums at The Bridge
We host a variety of classes and events for new mums including our Me&Baby dance class. Register for free on our Eventbrite page.
The first year after giving birth is a time of profound change. It can be intense, exhausting and overwhelming but it can also be joyful, funny, surprising and deeply meaningful. Support for new mothers usually focuses on babies or on crisis points, leaving little space to celebrate mothers themselves or to enjoy this transformative time together.
At The Bridge, we believe mothers deserve care, connection, movement and moments of celebration.
Friday Mums is a new mum-centred, holistic wellbeing project designed to support women through their first year of motherhood in all its complexity, challenges, growth and joy.
Mums are welcome to spend time in our soft play area for babies, every Friday in our café The Bridge Social! Drop in for a coffee and chat with other mums anytime between 10:00-16:00.
Building on our experience delivering inclusive, community-led projects, this initiative offers a welcoming, supportive space where mums can drop in, connect with other mums, move, learn and be themselves.
This project runs every Friday at The Bridge Social (our café space), dedicated solely to mums and babies during these sessions.
It’s a drop-in, flexible space so come for a short visit or stay as long as you like.
Each Friday offers a varied programme focused on maternal wellbeing, delivered in partnership with specialist practitioners and organisations. Activities include perinatal mental health peer support, educational health and wellbeing talks, gentle movement-based activities, shared conversations and time to simply sit, chat and connect with other mums.
who?
All new mums and babies (0-12 months) are welcome to take part in this project.
Our talks and workshops will also be open to more groups of women, especially those who are planning on becoming a mum or have the experience of being a mum.
where?
At The Bridge Social café.
73-81 Southwark Bridge Road, SE1 0NQ. Find us here.
when?
This project runs every Friday in our café from 10:00 - 16:00, dedicated solely to mums during these sessions.
cost?
This project is completely free to take part.
further details…
who can take part in the project?
All new mums (with babies 0-12 months old) are welcome to take part in this project. Our talks and workshops will also be open to more groups of women, especially those who are planning on becoming a mum or have the experience of being a mum.
who is funding this project?
This project is being funded by the National Lottery.
what will the project include?
This project will include a free welcome drink (tea or coffee), access to our café open exclusively for mums, a small play area for babies, and movement activities in our women-only gym and studio.
how do I book a session or register?
There is no requirement to register for drop-ins, but if you are attending a class, talk or workshop, then you'll have to register on Eventbrite.
why are you running this project?
Postpartum support is often medicalised, short-term, and baby-focused. Many mums are left navigating exhaustion, emotional overwhelm, identity shifts, and isolation on their own—without guidance on what’s normal, what to expect, or where to turn.
We know from research and lived experience that early motherhood can bring:
- Physical and emotional recovery challenges that extend far beyond the six-week check
- Shifts in identity, confidence, and sense of self (often called matrescence)
- Increased risk of anxiety, low mood, and emotional dysregulation
- Changes in relationships with partners, family, and friends
- Loneliness and lack of meaningful community
- Pressure from unrealistic social and cultural expectations
Alongside these challenges, there are also moments of pride, pleasure, humour, connection and joy and we hope to provide a welcoming space to explore all of it.
what we're offering
Each Friday offers a varied programme focused on maternal wellbeing, delivered in partnership with specialist practitioners and organisations, and includes:
- Perinatal mental health peer support
- Health literacy sessions on recovery, emotional wellbeing, and early motherhood (including things like nutrition for mums and babies etc.)
- Gentle movement and body-based activities, supporting physical recovery, relaxation, and reconnection with the body
- Creative, reflective, and celebratory activities that make space for pleasure, play, and self-expression
- Shared conversations about identity, relationships, boundaries, and self-care
- Co-produced sessions, shaped by what mums want — from practical topics to joyful ones
- Time to simply to sit, chat and enjoy being with others who understand the experience of being a new mum
what mums can expect
Wellbeing, Movement & Emotional Support
- Reduced isolation through meaningful peer connection
- Validation of the full emotional range of early motherhood
- A better understanding of postpartum physical, emotional and relational changes
- Increased confidence in gentle movement and body awareness
Knowledge, Confidence & Agency
- Increased health literacy around mental health, physical recovery and adjustment
- Practical strategies& tools to support wellbeing in everyday life
- Greater confidence navigating the first year of motherhood
Connection, Joy & Community
- Meaningful and supportive peer relationships
- Inclusive, culturally diverse spaces reflecting real maternal experiences
- Safe, non-judgemental opportunities to share challenges, celebrations, laughter and pride
If you want to find out more about this project or have any questions, email us at projects@thebridge-uk.org. Sign up below to receive weekly updates on the Friday Mums Project and other activities at The Bridge.