The annual event – this year taking place on Saturday, 23 September and Sunday, 24 September – is aimed at all those who are childless for whatever reason, including those who are childfree by choice.
Now in its third year the events give those involved the chance to explore living without children, to build community, share stories, make connections and raise awareness. Storyhouse Childless 2023 will feature a series of talks, panel discussions, performances and a live podcast.
The weekend opens with a welcome and introduction from Dr Dawn Llewellyn, Associate Professor in Religion and Gender at the University of Chester, who worked with Storyhouse and the city’s branch of Lighthouse Women – the support network for childless women – to first bring the event to Hunter Street in 2019.
It will be followed by a talk titled Pursuing Purpose: a life without children is not a life without meaning, involving Caroline Stafford, founder and owner of innovative bakery the Kitsch Hen, The Hollow Sea author Annie Kirby, Irish-based writer Nicole Louie, and meditation, writer, and life coach Bindi Shah.
This year’s keynote speaker is award-winning author, arts producer and adventure activist Jessica Hepburn who will talk about The Power of Adventure to Change Your Life for the Better. Jessica is one of the UK’s leading voices on fertility and family as well as endurance sport and has become a pioneer in inspiring people to live big and bravely when life doesn’t go to plan, championing the benefits of adventures - no matter how big or small - to improve your physical and mental health.
There will also be panels on Finding a Community in Elderhood; Men, Childlessness and Creativity; The F Words – Friends and Family as well as Childlessness in the Workplace.
Among this year’s guest speakers are Jody Day, often called the ‘founder of the childless movement’ with Gateway Women; researcher and writer Dr Robin Hadley; Andy Harrod, co-founder of the Community of Childless Men; founder of World Childless Week, Steph Phillips; singer-songwriter Bransby; Ali Hall, blogger and the face behind the Childfree-by-Choice Twitter account; Kirstie Higgins, host of the Chester Lighthouse Women group, and Katy Schnitzler, founder and lead training consultant of MIST Workshops, which supports organisations working on pregnancy loss, infertility and childlessness.
The weekend also features Calm After the Storm – an immersive musical story of Involuntary Childlessness from Childless Voices, a performance from Singer/Songwriter Bransby in The Kitchen, and a live recording of the Full Stop Community Podcast.
Nicola Haigh, Storyhouse’s Community Manager, says: “One out of every five adults remains childless, and research suggests of those, 60% feel uncomfortable discussing that they need more support.
“This is why programmes like Storyhouse Childless are so important, and why Storyhouse is pleased and proud to be able to present the annual event, now in its third year.
“For 2023 we have drawn together a brilliant line-up of guest speakers and experts to talk about a wide range of issues and experiences around being childless and how that affects people, whether that be in terms of family, work or just in living their everyday lives.
“I know anyone who is thinking of attending will find it a rewarding weekend in the company of others – a chance to talk, make new connections, and share experiences.”
Storyhouse Childless is on Saturday, 23 September and Sunday, 24 September.
There are a number of funded tickets for people who would like to attend with a supportive friend.
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