The Sisterhood – LONDON – The Sisterhood – for the daughters and families of absent mothers in London

Find your Sisters!

We're a not-for-profit social start up in London on a mission to strengthen the community around the early loss of mothering and to provide girls, their siblings and families with the peer support they need to flourish.

Building a network in London

We have the lived-experience of growing up without our mums and we know that one of the biggest problems which negates outcomes for girls is the early stigma and isolation they experience, the defences they build around it and the loss of unconditional nurture and support.

Whether it happens by death or in other ways it isn’t something to hide, it’s something to share with the people who understand it. If you’re growing up without your mum supporting you, know that there are dozens of local friends you can make in your area who get it; friends your age and older friends who have already walked that path and could guide you. You just need to find them.

We been hosting gatherings across London for adult motherless daughters for years. Since winning a small grant in 2024 we’re now building a peer network in north London to connect and support younger motherless daughters as well as their siblings and families.

Join us and help us build the network! The loss of mothering is easier to deal with in community.

MEET YOUR PEERS

If you’re under 18, live in north London and haven’t got your mum in your life, sign up to local events (coming soon) connecting you with other girls who get it. Join our waitlist today! Learn more.

Network with other motherless daughters who experienced the loss of mothering (in childhood or adolescence). Make friends, share your experiences and advice or help us host events in London for younger motherless daughters and families. HERE

If you’re a father or guardian of motherless children, or if you’re the son of a motherless family, we know the experience can be overwhelming but you’re not alone. Join our network to attend local networking events where you can meet others in the same boat. HERE

WHY IT MATTERS

The early loss of mothering is still taboo even though every 22 minutes a young person loses a parent in the UK. That’s 111 children every day, around 40 in every school.

– Childhood Bereavement Network UK

The number of children and adolescents without mothering is rising across the UK because the underlying causes, such as poverty, maternal death rates and mental health problems are growing.

– various sources

'..diverse lines of enquiry suggest it may not actually be the wide spectrum of childhood adversity that drives poor outcomes, but the degree to which that adversity drives shame, guilt, anger, alienation and degree of social isolation..'

- A.Garner (2021) Preventing Childhood Toxic Stress

Maternally bereaved girls appear more affected than bereaved boys and show significantly higher anxiety scores.

- Abdelnoor (2003) The Effect of Childhood Bereavement on Secondary School Performance

The number of children in care in England continue to increase with around one child in every 140 going into care. Neglect is the number one reason.

Department for Education UK

WRITING & ARTICLES

Raise Up Finchley; Our First Community Outreach Event

Raise Up Finchley Our first Community Outreach Event Photini June 9, 2024 A 25 year-old gazing at our stand who had lost her mum only a week earlier after a...

READ

Creating an Identity for Early Motherloss

The idea of building a visual identity for a community I'd rather not have the privilege to join, is an interesting task.