Where can I meet families like ours

[Matt18]

Hi,so we moved to Guildford from South Africa. I have a 7 and 5 year old.Oh and a 5month old.I am looking for places where I can meet other like families so my children get to see people who look like them.My daughter was placed in one of the village schools that has only 1 other child that looks like her.So id like to go to places on weekends that will have people of colour .Thanks

Can't offer any advice but bumping for traffic for you .

Smaller places tend to have less diversity so head to larger cities perhaps? I've got a couple of friends who are from an African background in my small town, they say that they got used to it (both have moved from a nearby city) and never experienced issues. So basically as long as everyone is friendly, remember we all look the same on the inside

Hopefully we will get used to it as well.

Difficult to suggest places without knowing where you live. For a start you could Google ethnic shops, religious gatherings, leisure centres etc.

The obvious answer is come up to London. Croydon, tooting or brixton are probably the closest places you'll find significant numbers of black people.

As it goes the only person I know who lives in Guildford is from SA.

Other than that try https://smef.org.uk/

Our community is great honestly it has been welcoming. An example,there are no ethnic saloons,no shops that sell hair products,so if I knew families that have our type of hair I would know where to find that things.It has nothing to do with not being happy or peaceful but trying to be comfortable in a new place.

I hope I get used to eating different dishes from the ones I have been eating decades,I hope I get used to not having my hairdresser around the corner,I hope I get used to the new church I am attending.I hope I get used to the cold, I hope I get used to the new community i am in.I am hoping I get used to the new type of life.I did specify I am from Africa so there is s lot I hope my family gets used to.

If you’re Christian just find a church. Lots of Nigerian (if you’re not abut-Nigerian) churches in Surrey/south london.

I live near Peckham and Walworth. Loads of African owned businesses there, a few churches, lots of Africans in the Area, but admittedly mostly west African rather than south.

Because it matters to OP? that's what we have "BlackMumsnetters" for, so if you don't get why what people look like matters, perhaps stay away from here.

"perhaps stay away from here"

That's a dickish thing to say. No topic or thread on this site is exclusive

"This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful"

I would politely refer your attention to this notice posted at the top of this board.

If you post irrelevant stuff in this part of MN then expect to be taken to task.

The OP asked a question and is being given responses that are useful to her.

For example you likely don't have afro hair therefore you don't know that only specific salons, barbers and shops deal with/sell products for afro hair and they aren't in Guildford.

did you not appreciate this about rural areas op? A city would be much more diverse.

I used to work in Bristol and its very ethically diverse. I worked with lots of Sudanese, Ethiopian, Somali, Nigerian and many more.

The OP not long moved over from South Africa.

Look up The Motherhood Group, they do brunches and other events for black mums/families. They have an Instagram.

I hope you settle in well at your new location.

You could try local Facebook groups to ask for recommendations of say hair salons or sellers? That may give you a few contacts who answer your questions.

Why did you choose Guildford op? You'd get much more diversity in London

I understand that but I would have thought a little research / logic

Honestly I don’t why people are such fucking arseholes on MN sometimes.
why did you move to Guildford?
didn’t you think about that before you came over
maybe you should have thought of that and moved to a city
why don’t you just get used to where you are now.

like seriously this is the BLACK MN board and someone has asked for help from fellow like minded people not a bunch of dicks with snarky comments.

Hate to state the obvious, but wondering why you didn't think of diversity BEFORE moving. London is incredibly diverse, I live in SE London, boroughs like Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth, Croydon all incredibly culturally diverse, to name a few.

Have a google of museums and family events on those areas, like Horniman for example. Peckham rye is a lovely park and has a nice playground, ditto Greenwich. Museum AND park with lovely playground.

You have picked a very middle class, heritage location that is very white. We moved two weeks ago from a similar posh town. My husband is black and it was always a struggle for 21 years. My son doesn't have any black childhood friends however my DD does as she went to a diverse six form with 44 nationalities in our next large town. She insisted. The same for her university. I found for hair products we had to do mail order. Salons didn't exist and my daughter was frequently in tears. It is a cultural thing and it is also social. White people might view the experience differently. Tbh I wish I had brought my children up with a more integrated environment.

Well I only asked about Guildford because I was wondering if the op had actively chosen it or if they had to be there for work or some other reason? If you're stuck there, you're stuck and will have to travel to other places to find what you're looking for. If the op has the ability to move to a different location in the UK, then there will be many more options and places we can recommend I'm sure.