Villagehood: The App Bringing Back the Village for Modern Mums

Motherhood has always been described as a season that “takes a village,” yet so many mums today are navigating it without one. Between distance from family, mismatched friendship seasons and the pressures of modern parenting, connection has quietly become one of the rarest parts of raising children. But for Brittany Bloomer, Founder of Villagehood, it wasn’t a concept — it was lived reality. And that reality is now becoming a movement.

The Moment That Sparked a Movement

Villagehood was born from Brittany’s first year of motherhood, spent overseas in Tallinn, Estonia — pregnant, isolated and far from everything familiar. She says, “I was living in Tallinn, Estonia, a country with a different native language and long, dark winters. During my pregnancy, I felt incredibly vulnerable and scared. I had no other mums to connect with and I was desperate for friendships and connection.” Her solution? She began messaging mums she found online, even cold-DMing women with babies in their profile pictures. Eventually, she gathered eight mums for coffee — a meet-up that changed the course of her motherhood experience. “Before walking into that café I felt low energy, alone and vulnerable. And when I left… I felt supported, joyful, and genuinely excited about my motherhood journey.”

From One Coffee Catch-Up to a Global Village

Those early catch-ups grew quickly, turning into three meet-ups a week and eventually 400 mums in Estonia alone. When Brittany moved back to Australia and tested the idea again in the Southern Highlands, the group surged to 1,400 members — before the app even existed. “It was lovely to see, as it further demonstrated just how much mums are craving community,” she says. That craving is what shaped Villagehood into what it is today: a soft place to land, built with kindness, warmth and real connection at its core.

What “It Takes a Village” Really Means

For Brittany, the phrase is less about numbers and more about presence. “To me, ‘it takes a village’ isn’t about having dozens of people around you, it’s about having even one person who makes motherhood feel lighter. It’s the mum who texts you back at 2am, the friend who drops off bone broth, the group that welcomes you without needing your whole backstory.” It’s connection without pressure, and support without judgment — something most mums admit they’re missing.

Why Villagehood Resonates So Deeply with Mums

Villagehood stands out because it isn’t just a parenting group — it’s a movement built on shared values of warmth, safety and friendship. “I created a simple space where women could show up exactly as they were, even if they were anxious, tired, messy or overwhelmed. We held space for each other in one of the most vulnerable times in our lives.” That values-driven foundation has been intentionally woven into the app’s design, community rules and hosts across Australia. “When a community is built on genuine intention, growth doesn’t dilute the authenticity. It just gives more mums the chance to experience it.”

The Picnic Bringing Mums Together

One of Villagehood’s most loved traditions is its free community picnics, already popping up across NSW. Inspired by her early Tallinn picnics, Brittany wanted mums to have a place to breathe, connect and feel human again. “The simple act of laying down a picnic rug and sitting in nature did wonders for both us mums and the bubs.” At a recent picnic, a mum with a six-week-old began to cry when asked how she was going. Another mum moved beside her, comforted her, and reminded her she wasn’t alone. “Those moments are what it’s all about,” Brittany says.

Advice for Mums Feeling Alone Right Now

Brittany knows the vulnerability of those early months all too well. Her advice is simple: start small. “Motherhood can feel incredibly overwhelming or lonely, but it also opens the door to the most beautiful friendships if you let yourself take that first step. Go for one walk, join one meet-up, message one mum. It will change the trajectory of your whole motherhood experience.”

How Motherhood Changed Her Approach to Leadership

Villagehood is built on emotional intelligence as much as technology. “Motherhood has deepened everything. It’s helped me understand women on a whole new level, and I now lead with that understanding.” When she sees mums showing up bravely — whether at a picnic or launching their own small business — it reminds her why Villagehood exists. “Women are truly incredible.”

What’s Next for Villagehood

The future of Villagehood is as big as the need behind it. “We’re building a network of Villagehood Hosts across Australia — mums who want to help bring back the village.” The app’s waitlist already reflects huge demand, and Brittany hopes to see Villagehood become a nationwide safety net. “Villagehood isn’t just an app, it’s the return of the village.” One mum, one connection, and one picnic rug at a time.

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