'Parenthood can be costly and lonely - a free walking group can be vital'

"When you walking, you're talking and what's been very lonely becomes a shared experience. It really is the only thing in the week we do that's actually for me, rather than my little girl," says Daisy MacDermott.

When her child, now 17 months old, was a newborn, Daisy found herself feeling "desperately lonely".

"Especially at my time of life, anyone I knew who wanted kids had already had them and they're teenagers or young adults," the 45-year-old explains.

"Being a parent to a young child is a totally different life experience to what you were previously doing."

According to a 2026 study by UK parental charity NCT, 62% of new parents reported feeling lonely or isolated "at least some of the time".

One in 10 of those surveyed said they "always" felt lonely after having a baby.

For Daisy and others, parenthood also comes with an unexpected financial burden which can exacerbate feeling isolated.

Baby and toddler groups often require booking blocks in advance and can be costly, she explains, at a time when it can be hard to make time commitments.

"Accessing anything for free is really difficult - most people are surviving on a much lower income at this stage," she says.

"One person's not working and maternity leave pay is often lower than what they would be getting paid otherwise."

After looking for parent groups in York to join, Daisy found free walking club Ready Steady Mums, which regularly meets at Millennium Bridge near Fulford.

Inspired by the group but needing something closer to home, she set up her own group in Acomb last June.

"That first week, I was the only one who turned up. But I was like 'don't lose hope', it's just a matter of getting the word out.

"Now we regularly have 12 to 14 every week."

Meet-ups take place all year round, and the walk lasts around an hour, finishing at a local cafe.

The group has "made a world of difference" to her own mental health, Daisy adds, helping parents in the group to form "genuine friendships".

In the future, she hopes more groups can form across York, so that new parents can easily access a free resource connecting them with others.

"Ideally, it's something they can walk to. That's the barrier to getting to something, especially in those early days when everything seems like a mammoth task and you're trying to help this little tiny thing survive," she says.

"You can just turn up or not turn up, there's no pressure to it," she says.

"Many people say that it's been such a lifeline for them."

It's not just loneliness that new parents report struggling with.

According to government statistics, around 55% of UK adults do not meet the recommended NHS guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.

In West Yorkshire, Leeds Dads - a voluntary organisation that offers support and holds social event for fathers - regularly hosts "Dads & Kids" park walks.

Walk leader Ron Baptiste says the fresh air can offer a range of physical and mental health benefits - but that the combination of company and activity is key.

"A walk can be more than just a physical activity - it can be an outlet, and can become something quite meaningful," he explains.

"It creates a real community atmosphere."

Being able to offer free events in the current climate was also "very important" he adds, particularly when families struggle with the cost of living.

Steven Partridge, 44, has a four-year-old son and has been a Leeds Dads member for the last three years.

He regularly attends the park walks and through new friendships made with other fathers, now plays for Leeds Dads weekly football team.

The walks especially offer a "win-win" for parents and children, he says.

"Everybody's there for similar sort of reason - we have a chat about things and try and help each other out.

"It's good for kids as well, they're having a good playtime, good fresh air, good exercise."

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