How MotherFolk Can Support Mums Across The North East
MotherFolk's doula care, writing circles and seasonal retreats are becoming more and more popular amongst North East mums
Bethan is a writer, doula and mother-of-two based in Newcastle. Before founding MotherFolk, she spent more than a decade working as a writer, director, and producer in the North East’s cultural sector, including most recently at Northern Stage. ‘That experience nurtured a passionate belief in the power of storytelling to connect, heal and create change,’ she says.
The turning point for her work came with the birth of her first child. ‘My first birth was a traumatic, disempowering experience,’ she says. ‘I was shamed and dismissed throughout pregnancy and postnatal care, and I entered motherhood full of doubt – about my body, my baby, and myself. By the time my daughter was two, my anxiety was so severe I could barely leave the house. Writing became my lifeline. It helped me process what I’d been through, reconnect with myself, and take up space in a world that often asks mothers to disappear.
‘By the time I had my second baby, the system hadn’t changed – but I had. This time, I came to my perinatal journey armed with knowledge, the ability to advocate for myself, and the confidence that I knew my body and my baby best. That birth was wonderful, and it showed me what was possible when I felt supported, informed and in control of my own story. This is the seed upon which what we now call MotherFolk grew.’
MotherFolk offers mother and baby writing circles, day retreats and doula services across the North East. ‘All these offerings are rooted in the power of storytelling to help us navigate the world as mothers, process our experiences, heal and build community, in a world that often does not want us to be seen, to connect or be powerful,’ says Bethan.
MotherFolk grew organically. ‘Inspired by the role writing had played in my survival and self-confidence as a first-time mum, and exhausted by the idea of attending yet more baby groups where nobody knew me by my actual name, I decided to start running writing circles for mothers and their babies,’ Bethan says, ‘and it quickly became clear how needed these spaces are, as a gentle shift towards a completely different culture for mothers. I decided to broaden my offer to support mothers one-on-one, from pregnancy, right through their journeys into motherhood. So I trained as a doula with Nurturing Birth, crafting a business that blended my experience as a professional writer with the values of a doula – to hold space for mothers to be powerful, nourished and communal.’
The MotherFolk Writing Circle is a weekly mother and baby group centred around mums. ‘It isn’t a writing class,’ says Bethan, ‘but a place to use writing as a tool to process experiences, navigate our positioning in the world, and rewrite the story of motherhood for ourselves. We meet in beautiful settings, where mothering folk can spend an hour a week releasing, reconnecting and recharging.’
Due to popular demand, these groups now run at The Bound bookshop in Whitley Bay, Jesmond Library and at 1b Books in Heaton, and Bethan also hosts seasonal Birth Stories Retreat Days four times a year for people to gently unpack their birth stories as transformational experiences with guided writing, deep discussion and rituals. Babies are welcome too.
‘Becoming a mother is one of the most profound life transitions – physically, emotionally, and socially,’ says Bethan, ‘and yet, there’s so little space in our culture for mothers to really reflect on what that means, nor are mothers given the nourishment they deserve as they undergo this transition. The focus so often shifts immediately to the baby, while the mother is left to quietly navigate a huge personal transformation with minimal support. Even well-meaning spaces like baby groups tend to centre the child, offering few real opportunities for mothers to connect with one another in a meaningful way, or to explore how motherhood is changing them. The result can be a deep sense of isolation. When we’re cut off from each other, all we’re left surrounded by are cultural stories that tell us – in quiet, damaging ways – that no matter how we do motherhood, we’re probably failing. That silence breeds shame.’
Bethan’s aim was therefore to create spaces where mothers can speak honestly about their experiences, without fear of judgement. A doula offers emotional, practical and informational support throughout your perinatal journey and Bethan can help mums explore decisions, understand their rights and stay connected. ‘I currently offer antenatal, postnatal and a full spectrum (antenatal, birth, postnatal) packages, all of which can be tailored to suit your circumstances,’ she explains.
‘In a world that’s increasingly digital, fast-paced, and AI-driven, choosing to sit in a room with others – really listening, really seeing each other – feels quietly radical. It reminds me what truly matters, not just in my work but in how I show up in everyday life with my own family.’
The MotherFolk Writing Circle continues to grow and the Birth Stories Retreat will take place again this autumn (tickets go on sale this July). ‘I’m currently exploring the potential for MotherFolk to have a presence at local and national festivals,’ says Bethan. ‘Like the best festivals, Motherfolk invites people to step outside of societal expectations, and into a kinder, more present, and freer type of existence. It makes sense for these two worlds to come together, so watch this space for that! I’m also working on a big writing project that will engage with the real stories of birthing on a postnatal ward.’
