They say it takes a village to raise a child. Now, thanks to Umhlanga mom and entrepreneur, Bron Veale, there is a beautiful, friendly village ready and waiting to welcome you and your little one.
Having a baby is by far one of the most magical and life-altering things any woman will experience. It can also be quite daunting and a little bit lonely at times. Enter The Village.
Established by well-known North Coast professional photographer and mother-of-two Bron Veale, The Village is a welcoming, judgement-free space that supports moms and local businesses.
Situated in Sunningdale Centre, it is a place where moms of babies (from newborns to two-year-olds) can come and breathe, connect and take a moment for themselves.
It was while she was pregnant with her second child, Bron says, that she realised there was a gap in the market for a space where mothers could come together and truly connect and bond.
“After I had my son I felt quite lonely. I realised during my maternity leave that we needed somewhere for mothers with small babies to go, where they could enjoy a hot cup of coffee and a chat while someone helped care for their little one.
“Maternity leave is a wonderful time, but being alone at home with your baby all day can lead to cabin fever. Women’s mental wellness is so important, and I wanted to create a place where mothers could feel comfortable, enjoy workshops and talks about the different stages of motherhood, or just enjoy a cup of coffee or meal in a beautiful, calm setting with friendly faces around.”
Baby classes, while lovely, are generally only once a week for an hour, and it’s often more about the babies than the mothers. The Village is an open space where you can come whenever it works for you and your baby’s routine and there are highly-qualified and experienced child minders available to care for your little one.
The Village is about forming bonds and creating a community, Bron says, which is why she decided to run it on a membership basis.
“We definitely aren’t trying to be ‘exclusive’. We simply want moms to know that the people around them are not here to judge and are also coming in regularly, looking to form real relationships. The R500 monthly membership fee includes our minders, free Wi-Fi, access to (and discounts on) workshops and talks and our weekly support group or ‘breakfast club’. You can join on a month-to-month basis or even just for a few months (for example, the duration of your maternity leave). There are no tie-ins or contracts.”
Having also seen the need for a retail space to showcase the many local, beautiful baby items on the market usually only available online and often with hefty delivery charges, Bron added a bespoke baby boutique (which is open to the public) at the entrance of The Village.
The café is a very important element, she says, and Bron wanted the food to be healthy, while still being comforting and delicious. It had to be food that moms actually want to eat (carbs, please!) and things that are easy to eat with one hand if needed!
“We outsource some items because our kitchen space is small, but most of the food is made here. “We also stock the new Delish Sisters Baby range, which includes finger food and purées for babies.”
Bron underwent training with top Durban baby specialist Jenny Johnson to upskill herself in the areas of maternal support, baby stimulation, routines, sleep training and milestones. While grannies and child-minders are welcome as well, The Village is a ‘women-only’ zone.
“We felt it was important to keep it women-only so that our moms could feel as comfortable as possible. We want you to be able to come here in your pyjamas if it’s that kind of day, with or without make-up, and relax while you’re breastfeeding or talking openly about something personal.”
Having only been open for a couple of months, Bron says the space is evolving all the time. There is a meeting room (which can be booked for workshops, talks or meetings) and an outdoor play area for older children coming soon.
Details: The Village, Shop 101 Sunningdale Centre, @thevillageza
