Welcome to PAFS

Parent and Family Support (PAFs) is a community of university wide student parents that currently has 100 registered members from the University of Exeter, with individuals choosing to attend inclusive events that best fit their schedules and family responsibilities.

Initially proposed in 2023 and developed with a Research Culture Activity Award (RCA), the initiative was developed to address the isolation often experienced by student-parent PGRs, balancing academic work with family life. Now the group is co-supported by a wonderful body of students and grown into a pro-bono initiative, relying on the generosity of volunteers’ time, small funding pockets, and resources. The group has expanded to support a wider community, as well as ‘mature-mature’ students with or without children, and postdoctoral researchers, at the University of Exeter who were drawn to our inclusive community.

PAFS, a peer-led programme offers meet-ups and events throughout the academic year, including guest lectures, informal coffee mornings, and family-centred activities held on campus. It also offers regular support and social space, where students and researchers can connect and share experiences. By fostering a sense of belonging and advocating for inclusive-family-friendly spaces, PAFS contributes to a more supportive and equitable higher education environment at the University of Exeter.

Our Journey: PAFs Events Since Launch in 2023

Since its creation, PAFS has hosted a wide range of events to support and connect student parents, caregivers, and their families across the university community. What began as a small support space for postgraduate researchers has grown into a strong vibrant and inclusive network open to all student parents by 2025.

PAFs Events and Initiatives

• Informal Coffee Mornings – Regular drop-in sessions held on campus to foster connection, peer support, and informal discussions about the challenges and joys of balancing study with family life. These events remain a core part of the network, providing a welcoming space to meet others with similar experiences.
• Wellness Programme – PAFs offers a wellness-focused programme that includes free yoga and mindfulness sessions across Streatham and St Luke’s campuses. These sessions provide student parents with dedicated time for relaxation, self-care, and stress management. Led by experienced practitioners, they are designed to be accessible, inclusive, and supportive of both mental and physical wellbeing.
• Guest Talks– We have hosted speakers from across the university and beyond to lead sessions on key topics such as parental wellbeing, time management, international parenting experiences, and navigating university systems as a student parent.
• Family-Friendly Campus Events – Seasonal and themed activities designed to include children and partners, fostering a sense of belonging for the whole family. Examples include on-campus picnics, arts and crafts afternoons, and holiday-themed celebrations.
• Online and In-Person Forums – PAFs facilitates online discussion spaces and in-person forums, allowing student parents to connect, share experiences, and seek advice from peers. These forums provide opportunities to discuss challenges, access university resources, and offer mutual support in navigating academic and family responsibilities.
• Community Building and Advocacy – As the network has grown, PAFs has created spaces for collective advocacy, enabling student parents and caregivers to contribute to university-wide conversations on inclusion and support. Feedback from these events has informed policy discussions within the institution.
• Collaborative Partnerships – PAFs has liaised with the Doctoral College, Students’ Guild, and external research networks to raise awareness of the student parent experience and promote long-term, inclusive practice.

These events reflect the heart of PAFS’ mission: to create a welcoming, supportive, and sustainable community for all student parents, ‘mature-mature’ students, and postdocs. We are proud of the journey so far and excited about what comes next.

Please get in touch if you have an event, talk, or programme proposal to support our group.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks go to all the PGRs at Exeter who support and facilitate events and to students across all levels who have reached out to and helped grow PAFS to what it is today. Also to thank, Prof Stacey Hind (later Dr Johnathan Doney) and Rachel Dyllan for their invaluable support through the RCA fund during the group’s inaugural year. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to the Students’ Guild for funding several social events, as well as to individuals such as Jacqui Doyle and Astrid Schrader, who have generously dedicated their time to leading wellness sessions across Streatham and St Luke’s campuses. We also acknowledge Emma Norman, Peer Support Lead and Ramona Nash from the chaplaincy team for providing essential resources and connections that have helped the group thrive.