Introducing our newest Community Partner, Tooting-based Kate Wilson of Hello Mums, who provide complete childcare solutions across south west London...

We set up Hello Mums in 2014 as we wanted to bring a real element of trust into professional childcare – we couldn’t see anywhere local that was doing what we thought should be done. 

Trust is paramount when asking a stranger to look after your most precious possessions – your children. So we set to work! 

We meet all our childcare professionals and vet them personally. After all, if we don’t trust them, how can we expect our clients to? Hello Mums is run by parents, so we know how important it is to have someone trusted to look after your children, and of course, your home. 

As well as personally knowing all our childcare professionals, they also go through an enhanced police check and are all trained in paediatric first aid. We’ve never had an emergency, but are prepared in the eventuality.

We also select people who have chosen childcare as a profession – not as a job on the side – so we work with maternity nurses, midwives, teachers... all professions related to childcare. 

I set up the team with Jeremy and Edina, whom I’ve known since 2009. I’ve worked with children for 17 years, have a Masters in English and Spanish, am a qualified teacher, a qualified maternity nurse and a mum of a very enthusiastic toddler. I’ve worked with children from newborn to 18, in both the public and private sector.
 

Edina is in charge of all of our candidates and active professionals. She’s worked with children for nearly 20 years, so she knows what parents look for in a trustworthy babysitter, making her the perfect person to interview all our babysitters face to face.

Jeremy is an IT guru, so was the obvious choice to run everything technical, including the look and feel of our website and mobile phone apps (available on Android and iOS). He’s made them as user-friendly as possible, so you can book your sitter in a matter of seconds! 

Reviews are vital. We’re constantly checking that we’re providing a first-class service, so we’re always asking parents to leave feedback. We also have excellent reviews on Google.
 

We love Tooting and south-west London, and are heavily involved with the local community. I’m co-founder of the Clapham Pregnancy and Baby Show – we held our fourth event this year with over 300 expectant parents. We also work with local nurseries and NCT groups. We’re one of the very few agencies who work with newborns and babies.

When I do have a moment to spare, I try to go anywhere and everywhere in Tooting! I visit the common every day and feel so lucky to have such a fantastic green space so close to home. Despite being here for 5 years, my family and I have only explored 10% of Tooting, so I’m constantly looking forward to what’s next. We’ve been to (and love) Mirch Masala, Spice Village, Lahore Karahi, Tangia, Plot, Hill Station, the Tapas Room and Unwined. The Little Taperia was a truly wonderful surprise and is a favourite, as is the Wheatsheaf and the Trafalgar.

We love how the markets have changed and that there’s always something different, whilst keeping the market feel. We’re also very fond of the wine club in our street as it really brings the neighbourhood together (and the wine is, of course, a bonus)! There’s a great community feeling in Tooting and it’s so nice to see people coming together. I don’t think I’ve seen such positivity anywhere else in London – I’m so proud and happy to live here!

Hello Mums is an award-winning childcare provider and one of our valued Community Partners. Find out more on their website, and follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Find out more about our Community Partners here.