An ambitious mum is preparing to launch a new childcare matching service in Chesterfield after her own experience of trying to find trusted childcare inspired her to create a more personal approach for families.

Borrow A Village, which is set to run a small pilot in Chesterfield in early October, aims to make it easier for families to connect with babysitters, nannies and childcare professionals through a carefully matched service.

Founder Jen Bell came up with the idea after moving back to Derbyshire from New Zealand during the Covid pandemic with a three-month-old baby and a two-year-old son.

Jen, 43, who lives in Great Longstone, near Bakewell, said: “We quickly discovered how difficult it could be to find childcare. It wasn't just about availability - it was having the confidence that the person looking after your children was experienced, thoroughly vetted and the right fit for your family.

placeholder image — Jen Bell and her eldest son.

"As I started looking into it, I found that many of the existing platforms put the burden on parents to search through hundreds of profiles, often with varying levels of verification, while childcare professionals can find themselves competing against dozens of others for every booking. That's where the idea for Borrow A Village came from.”

Borrow A Village will introduce families to suitable childcare professionals based on their individual requirements, helping parents spend less time searching and more time feeling confident in their choice.

Every childcare professional accepted onto the platform will complete an enhanced DBS check, identity verification, reference checks and a video interview before joining the community, giving parents reassurance from the very beginning.

The service is still in its early stages, but Jen has already had 25 childcare professionals register their interest, including nursery managers, nannies and teaching assistants.

She said: “That response has been incredibly encouraging and has convinced me there's a real appetite for this kind of service locally.”

Borrow A Village is currently inviting both parents and experienced childcare professionals (including babysitters, nannies, teachers and teaching assistants, childcare students and day care employees) to register their interest ahead of launch.

For more information or to register your interest, visit www.borrowavillage.co.uk .