Skip to content

Parents 1st UK

An open-access platform empowering perinatal peer support across the UK.

Supporting pregnancy, birth and beyond through community-powered peer support.

Parents 1st UK is a charity with more than 25 years of experience delivering impactful peer support during pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.

The organisation has long championed the value of lived experience and community support, but faced challenges in scaling its model and securing sustainable funding.

In 2018, the Parents 1st UK Board partnered with Made Open to explore how a digital platform could help realise their vision on a national scale. The goal: to create an open-source, community-led network that could make perinatal peer support more accessible, effective and widespread.

The challenge: scaling a proven model in a fragmented system

While the Parents 1st model had proven effective locally, spreading this success nationally required a bold, new approach. The charity needed a way to share best practice, engage peer supporters and enable others to replicate their approach; without losing the authenticity and quality that set it apart.

Our approach: a co-designed platform for community sharing

We began by facilitating two key strategy workshops with the Parents 1st Board:

  • February 2018: A 'theory of change' workshop to explore how open-source principles could support their mission.
  • October 2018: A second workshop to define how a digital platform could sustain this model long-term.

The outcome was a clear strategy and roadmap. Supported by a successful funding bid, Parents 1st UK commissioned Made Open to build a bespoke platform to bring this vision to life.

The solution: a national resource for perinatal peer support

The Parents 1st UK platform is now a thriving online community for everyone involved in developing, delivering or receiving peer support. Key features include:

Free resource library

Free resource library
Hundreds of downloadable tools, guides and templates freely shared across the community.

Peer networks

Professional and peer networks
750+ members exchanging knowledge, experiences and best practices.

Open-source ethos

Open source ethos
Empowers organisations to adopt and adapt the Parents 1st model in their own communities.

A catalyst for change

The platform has transformed how Parents 1st operates. What was once a locally-led model is now being used by practitioners and volunteers nationwide.

By embracing open-source technology and peer-led values, Parents 1st UK has created a scalable, sustainable solution that empowers others to deliver high-quality support in their own communities - at no cost.

 

We want perinatal peer support to flourish, and the awesome Made Open platform is helping us to make that happen.

Celia Suppiah, Former CEO (now retired), Parents 1st UK

Looking ahead

The Parents 1st UK platform continues to grow as a trusted source of inspiration, collaboration and support. As more communities join the network, the ripple effect of shared knowledge and lived experience is helping to improve outcomes for parents and babies across the country.

The partnership between Parents 1st UK and Made Open is a model for how community organisations can scale their impact through the power of digital collaboration.

Visit: parents1st.org.uk

Are you ready for a Made Open platform?

Please take our two minute survey to help us understand your requirements.

Add new activity

Start a challenge

Ask members for their ideas.

Start a conversation

Start a discussion with all members.

Add an event

Promote and manage your one-off, daily or weekly events.

Add a poll

Gather feedback from members.

Get in touch

Would you like to save your progress?


Note: Saving as a draft means your activity will be available for you to edit in your dashboard.​

Selecting delete marks your activity as deleted in your dashboard.​

Please sign in or register

Sign in Register

Delete my account

Selecting this option will permanently delete your account data. You will no longer have access to your account or any associated information.

If you want to request a copy of your data, please wait until you receive your data before selecting this option.

Delete my account

Connect with __XXX__

Search Made Open

Activities

Find activities and services from members in your community.

Search activities

Members

Find people and organisations who are using Made Open

Search members

Guides

Find information in the Made Open guides.

Search guides

X hours given for:
Title

What best describes your community?

Select relevant option(s)

How big is your online community likely to be?

Select to the nearest match...

Do you need assistance managing your platform?

Select to the nearest match...

What features are you most interested in?

Please visit the features page for more information.

For the lowest price, choose only one feature, as more features will increase the cost.

Select relevant option(s)

How ready are you?


Do you have a budget set aside for an online platform?
Are you involved in the buying decision?
Will a platform address a key challenge within your community or organisation?
  
Do you need to address this challenge quickly?

Please add your details

Your readiness report will be generated next.

Please add your details so we can send you the report via email and reach out for further discussion. There's no commitment involved and we won't use your details for any other purpose.

Rest assured, we won't use your information for anything else. You can find more details in our privacy policy.

Based on your answers, we think you are...

56% ready

for a Made Open platform.

If you are looking to harness the strengths of your community or network, we can help get this figure closer to 100%.

What best describes your community?

You selected: A community of place

Our community software empowers a diverse range of public and voluntary sector partnerships. We've designed it with a deep understanding of what holds communities back and how leaders can make them thrive.

Unfortunately, communities often go unnoticed, despite their potential to make a difference. Yet, in every community, there's a treasure trove of untapped knowledge and compassion. The secret is to embrace each member's unique contributions. Our software shifts the focus away from problems and challenges to the boundless value they bring.

Each platform connects members to the skills, knowledge, support and resources within their community - propelling them towards a brighter future.

You selected: A community of practice

In the quest for excellence, individuals and groups often struggle to access expertise when they need it most. What they may not realise is that a wealth of untapped skills and knowledge is readily available to help them.

Our software serves as the key to unlocking the full potential of your network or workforce. We believe that success, whether for individuals or groups, hinges on the effortless exchange of skills and knowledge.

Each platform allows members to share their ideas, skills and talents within their network - propelling everyone towards excellence.

You selected: A bit of both

Whether it’s nurturing a local community or a community of professionals, our software understands what holds people back and what tools are needed to help them make a difference.

In every community or network lies an abundance of skills, wisdom and compassion. The secret is to embrace each member’s distinctive contributions and empower them as drivers of change, not mere bystanders of it.

Our software connects members to the wealth of skills, knowledge, support and resources residing within their online community.

How big is your online community likely to be?

You selected: Less than 100 members.

Why not dip your toes into the water with our 'Entry' platform? This starter-level solution is perfect for smaller communities or pilot projects, offering the most budget-friendly licensing option available.

You selected: Less than 1,000 members.

This is normal. Why not choose our ‘Creator’ pricing model? It accommodates up to 1,200 members while keeping your costs at a minimum as you establish your online community. You can easily add more features, services and members at a later stage.

You selected: 1,000 to 10,000 members.

The choice of many thriving communities, our 'Innovator' pricing model is designed to propel your success. Supporting up to 3,000 members and with many extra features coming as standard, our account team can help you manage queries and requests from your expanding user base.

You selected: More than 10,000 members.

For large communities with high expectations, our 'Enterprise' pricing model is the perfect fit. It's ideal for scale-up communities seeking top-tier products and services from Made Open, with the added flexibility to collaborate with partners and request enhancements as needed.

You selected: I don't know.

That’s fine. Fledgling communities often have big dreams but lack the specifics to make them happen on day 1. Consider starting small with our 'Creator' pricing model and scale up as you achieve certain milestones. You could also buy extra time from our team who specialise in growing online communities.

Do you need assistance managing your platform?

You selected: We can manage this platform ourselves.

The good news is that this is the most affordable choice. Our ‘Entry’ and ‘Creator’ models are like do-it-yourself options. But if you need help along the way, help is still at hand. We provide many guides, webinars and group training sessions that you can be part of.

Do you need assistance managing your platform?

You selected: We could use some assistance getting started.

Except for our Entry model, where it's more self-service, our dedicated team will be with you every step of the way. You'll receive a tailored Welcome Pack, help with setting up your platform and personalised training to get you started. In a nutshell, we’ve got you covered!

Do you need assistance managing your platform?

You selected: We’re likely to need help growing this community.

Many of our clients appreciate both our service and our platform's features. With our token system, you have full control to customise your dream platform. If you require ongoing support from us, you can easily add this to your plan.

Do you need assistance managing your platform?

You selected: We want to outsource platform management.

Some of our clients often have a budget for a platform but lack the resources to manage it. That's okay; we can be your complete outsourcing solution if you need assistance. Our account team specialises in community growth!

Do you need assistance managing your platform?

You selected: I don’t know

No worries! You might find our 'People Power' plan useful. It offers a clear roadmap for leaders like you to create a successful online community. If necessary, we can help you shape the big vision for your platform and offer practical day-to-day support.

What features are you most interested in?

Here are the features that are most important to you right now:

Timebanking ✔  
Listings ✔ 
Volunteering ✔ 
Events ✔ 
Idea sharing ✔ 
Discussions ✔ 
Polls ✔ 
Teams ✔ 
Campaigns ✔ 
Guides ✔ 
Goals ✔ 

It’s tempting to begin with all the features you desire, but starting small and expanding slowly is often a wiser choice. This approach ensures you platform begins life clear and focused.

Our recommendation would be to select the key features that align best with your community’s current needs and remain agile as these needs evolve.

Keep in mind that opting for just one feature initially offers the most budget-friendly option, as adding more features will also increase costs.

You have indicated the following:

  • You do have a budget for an online platform.
  • You might have a budget for an online platform.

    Things for you to consider:
    What is the funding strategy for this platform?
    Is investing in an online platform a priority worth budgeting for?
    Could you share the cost of licensing a platform with other organisations?

  • You do not have a budget for an online platform.

    Things to consider:
    Are there grants available for your project?
    If you represent a marginalized community, you may be eligible for a free starter platform.
    Are there local sponsors who might support your cause?

  • You are involved in the buying decision.
  • You are not involved in the buying decision.

    Things to consider:
    Who is on board and how can you (or we) engage them effectively?
    Could Made Open send any literature to support your business case?
    What objections might you encounter and what’s the best way to handle them?

  • You might be involved in the buying decision

    Things for you to consider:
    What’s the best way to engage other stakeholders in this project?
    Can Made Open assist you in engaging others through demos or discussions?
    Would beginning with a small-scale approach allow you to start and involve others later on?

  • A platform will address a key challenge within your community or organisation.
  • A platform won’t address a key challenge within your community or organisation.

    Things to consider:
    What is the key challenge you want to solve?
    What got you thinking about using technology in the first place?
    Is the current solution for this challenge fit for purpose?

  • A platform might address a key challenge within your community or organisation.

    Things for you to consider:
    What happens if you take no action?
    Can you gain insights from other Made Open platforms facing similar challenges?
    Would a small-scale trial or proof-of-concept be a valuable exercise?

  • You do need to address this challenge quickly.
  • You don’t need to address this challenge quickly.

    Things to consider:
    What are your timescales?
    How long do you need to prepare for them?
    Are there any events that might alter your deadlines?

  • You might need to address this challenge quickly.

    Things for you to consider:
    What will make this a pressing issue that needs immediate attention?
    How probable and imminent is this threat?
    Do you want to prepare in advance or are you okay with waiting?

These factors are key to rating your readiness for licensing our software but, whatever your level of readiness, we’re more than happy to help you explore next steps.

Thank you for completing this survey and we hope it was useful. We will be in touch to see if we can help further.

Let's build a better community.

Regards, the Made Open team


Cookies on Made Open

We use cookies to give you the best online experience.

Select 'Accept all' to agree to all cookies.

Some cookies are essential. Others can be controlled in your cookie preferences.