Doing It For The Kids Meetup: 2020 here we come!

New year. New decade. New meetup. Let's do this.

Yep, it's that time again. Self-employed parents from across the land are assembling once more for hugs, tea and chat. Whether you're a freelancing newbie, business-owning veteran or are thinking about going it alone since having kids — then come on down.

There'll be informative chatter, inevitable over-sharing and tip-top advice from some brilliant self-employed parents from the Doing It For The Kids community, followed by plenty of time for mingling and getting-to-know-you fun.

These brilliant DIFKTers have agreed to talk to us for a bit. Between them they'll be covering some damn useful stuff including working from home, coping with big life changes, podcasting and moving things forward in your business.

*drum roll please*

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Yvadney Davis

Yvadney is a freelance fashion stylist and mum of two. She's also founder of #MumsThatSlay and the co-founder of Mums That Rave — networking, brunch and rave events for mums. I mean, what more do you want?!

Ingrid Fernandez

Ingrid is a freelance lawyer who helps startups and small businesses achieve the confidence of being legally compliant. She also runs All The Business Bits — a facebook community and podcast helping demystify all the 'less sexy' bits of running a business.

Steve Folland

Steve is a video and audio producer, dad of two and serial podcaster. He's been running the super popular Being Freelance podcast for over 5 years and now co-hosts the considerably less popular DIFTK Podcast with, well, me.

Holly June Smith

Holly is a life coach who helps people find their sweet spot between productivity and presence, because we all want to get more done, but can't forget to live in the moment. She's also a wedding celebrant and mum of two girls.

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What's, Where's, When's

Location: The Auditorium, Huckletree West, 191 Wood Lane, White City Place, MediaWorks, London W12 7FP. You basically walk in the building past reception and we're in the big space on the left-hand side.

Nearest tube is White City (on the super-speedy Central Line), or Wood Lane (Circle, Hammersmith & City). It's also a ten minute walk from Shepherd's Bush on the London Overground. There isn't any parking available on site but you can park in the Westfield car park about a 10 minute walk away.

Timings: Feel free to arrive from 10.30am. Short talks will properly kick off at 11am and there'll then be chat and mingling from 12pm until 1pm.

Kids: Babes in arms are very welcome, as are pre-schoolers if you can't sort childcare for the morning. Please bring drinks, snacks, toys, tablets, the kitchen sink (you know the drill) — whatever you need to do to get the most out of the morning!

The auditorium is super open and informal, so feel free to bounce and feed your kids wherever and whenever you need to. It's also on the ground floor so very buggy friendly but there isn't a changing station in the toilets so please bring your portable changing mats!

Photos: Photographer Jeremy Freedman will be capturing some images of the morning to use on the website and on social media to promote DIFTK and future events. If you — or your child — do not want to be photographed please let Jeremy know.

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About Doing It For The Kids

Doing It For The Kids is an online (and increasingly offline) community by and for freelance parents trying to make flexible working work. Whether it’s high fives for securing a new client, commiserations for yet another bout of chickenpox, or collaborating with one another on new projects, products and events — through the collaborative blog, Instagram page, Facebook Group, weekly podcast and meetups, DIFTK is proving that all sorts of good shit can happen when freelance parents are given the opportunity to connect.

About Huckletree West

Huckletree West is a child-friendly workspace, located in the heart of White City's creative campus. This is the first Huckletree location with a membership specifically designed for entrepreneurs who are growing their business whilst raising children. Childminder let you down? We get it — it happens. Our membership offers working parents flexibility to use our shared workspace when flying solo, and our Kids Studio when your little one is in tow.