Media and PR page

World Childless Week began when Stephanie Joy Phillips had an idea for a global awareness week. She mentioned her idea to several childless friends who encouraged her to pursue her idea. Inspired by their enthusiasm, she spoke to the childless not by choice community who rallied round and stepped forward to offer their support and participation.

Stephanie Joy Phillips, founder of World Childless Week

Stephanie Joy Phillips

Founder of World Childless Week.

Stephanie spent a large part of her twenties in an abusive relationship so took the contraceptive pill to prevent a children being born into that situation. In her early thirties she met her husband to be but they didn't try to conceive until nearing forty. At the age of 39 she was told by an unsympathetic doctor "if he manages to get you pregnant it is highly unlikely you'll carry full term". She knew in that moment, she would never be a mum.

In 2016 Stephanie Joy Phillips founded three childless support groups on Facebook. All three groups are free to join and welcome anyone who is childless by circumstance, infertility, chance or tough choices; Childless Path To Acceptance focuses on support for those past trying to conceive, Childless Chit Chat is a trigger free zone and Childless Perks!! is all about laughter and finding the positives of being childless, without a parent saying 'I told you so'.

In 2017 after realising there was no national recognition of the childless community Stephanie founded World Childless Week. Seven days that enable the childless community to have a platform where they can find their voice and share their stories with confidence.

Stephanie lives in Worcestershire with her husband and two rescue cats, Storm and Tea-Cup. She enjoys gardening, arts and crafts, a good book, dining out and relaxing in front of the television with a puzzle book and one of her two cats snuggled up beside her.

Winner of the BBC Hereford and Worcester Make A Difference ‘Together’ Award , September 2023

Shortlisted for Most Inspirational Woman award, Inspirational awards for women, December 2020

BBC Midlands Today, January 2024: Stephanie speaking out about the impact of receiving the ‘Together’ Make A Difference Award from BBC Hereford and Worcester, in 2023

World Childless Week Media

World Childless Week Ambassadors

If you are interested in knowing more about an individual Ambassador, you can click through to their websites below: