The Parent Hood of Harlow CIC
The Parent Hood of Harlow CIC provides a welcoming venue for women‑led businesses and low‑cost or free classes that support families with children under five. Its mission is to improve early years outcomes, support maternal mental wellbeing and champion women‑led enterprises in Harlow.
What will the Kao SEED Fund support?
The Secure Buggy Storage project responds to the organisation’s move into a smaller new home by ensuring families can still attend comfortably and safely, even with prams and pushchairs. By adding practical infrastructure at the entrance, the project will help maintain easy access for parents with babies, protect buggies from the weather and keep shared spaces clear. This small but important improvement will reinforce the venue’s role as an inclusive, accessible hub for local families at a key moment of transition.
Who is the project helping support?
The project primarily supports the approximately 1,000 service users The Parent Hood engages each year, most of whom are parents and carers of pre‑walking babies living in Harlow. Many already walk to the venue, and secure buggy storage will make this easier, safer and more appealing, especially for those managing more than one child or long journeys on foot. The wider community also gains: the sheds will support use of the nearby sports field and playground, and encourage visits to the independent café on site, helping local social connections and a small business. Overall, the project removes a practical barrier that can disproportionately affect new parents and carers.
Impact of the project
Secure buggy storage will keep entrances and internal spaces clear, making the venue safer and more accessible for everyone, including families with multiple children, people using mobility aids and staff. By providing dedicated, weather‑protected storage, the project aims to encourage more families to walk rather than drive, supporting physical wellbeing, reducing congestion and promoting more sustainable travel habits.
Impact will be monitored through photos, comparing shed usage with attendance figures, and gathering user feedback about ease of access and travel choices. Success will be reflected in high utilisation of the sheds, more parents arriving on foot and improved post‑session engagement.