Modern Motherhood Needs a Rethink — and The Working Mums Club Is Leading the Way

This October marks the opening of the UK’s first co-working and childcare hub designed exclusively for mothers. Based in South East London, The Working Mums Club is reimagining what it means for women to return to work — and offering a much-needed alternative to the relentless juggle.

Opening on Monday 6 October, the space has been created as a sanctuary where mums can work productively, connect with others, and simply exhale. Every detail has been built with real family life in mind: from flexible memberships and high-quality nursery provision to nutritious meals that support energy, mood and recovery in the postnatal years. It’s a model designed not just for productivity, but for genuine wellbeing.

And the support goes beyond the traditional nine-to-five. With weekend childcare for parents whose careers demand different hours — or for those who just need time to recharge — The Working Mums Club reflects the reality of modern families. Provision for older children through breakfast, after school, and holiday clubs means parents with multiple kids are supported too, making focus and balance more achievable than ever.

Why Now? Because the Current System Isn’t Working

Across the UK, fewer than three-quarters of women return to full-time roles after maternity leave. Many who do end up leaving again, often pushed out by rigid childcare structures, inadequate support, or sheer exhaustion. Since 2010, more than a thousand children’s centres have closed, further reducing options for parents who are already stretched thin.

The Working Mums Club was created in direct response to these challenges. Founded by women who have experienced the pressures first-hand, it’s more than a venue — it’s a movement. The aim is clear: to build a practical, empowering, and judgment-free environment that works the way modern life does.

At its heart is founder Jennifer Sutcliffe, a communications professional and mother of two under four. Having struggled to manage the competing demands of career and parenthood, she decided to create the kind of space she couldn’t find anywhere else: one where professional ambition and family life aren’t in conflict.

“After my second maternity leave, I realised the issue wasn’t with me — it was with the system. Childcare was unaffordable, inflexible, and incompatible with real mum life. So I set out to build the solution I needed: a space where women can succeed at both parenting and work without compromise,” Jennifer explains.

Deptford Is Just the Start

The South East London launch is just the first step in a wider vision to bring The Working Mums Club to towns and cities across the country. Partnerships are already being explored, and conversations with local councils are underway. The goal is simple: to make genuine support for working mothers available everywhere, not just in pockets.

Because when mothers are given the space, care, and flexibility they need — they don’t just return to work. They flourish.

Address:
60-66 Crossfield Street, London, SE8 3PH

Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8am - 5pm
Saturday - Sunday: 9am - 3pm

Website
www.theworkingmumsclub.co.uk