Borrow A Village
Trust & Safety
Your family's safety comes first.
Borrow A Village was created to help families find trusted childcare with confidence. We know that inviting someone to care for your children is a big decision, which is why trust, transparency and safeguarding sit at the heart of everything we do.
Unlike a directory where you simply browse profiles and make contact yourself, we get to know the childcare providers in our network and carry out checks before they can be matched with families.
Our approval process
We meet every provider
Every childcare provider has an introductory video call with Borrow A Village before joining our active network. It gives us an opportunity to get to know them, understand their childcare experience and talk about the types of families and bookings they are best suited to.
Identity and DBS checks
We verify providers’ identity and review their DBS status and documentation. Where a provider has an Enhanced DBS, we check the certificate and whether it is registered with the DBS Update Service where applicable.
We’ll always be transparent with families about the checks and information we hold for the provider we are proposing to match with them.
Experience and references
Our providers come from a wide range of childcare backgrounds, including nannies, babysitters, teachers, teaching assistants, nursery practitioners, childminders and other experienced childcare professionals.
We ask about relevant childcare experience and obtain references as part of our approval process.
Qualifications and training
We record relevant childcare qualifications and training, including paediatric first aid, safeguarding training and experience supporting children with additional needs or disabilities.
Not every booking requires the same experience or qualifications, so we use this information when deciding who may be suitable for a particular family.
More than a profile and a postcode
Finding good childcare isn't simply about choosing the person who lives closest.
When you send us a request, we look at your children's ages, the type of care you need, location, timings, experience required and anything else you've told us about your family.
If your child has additional needs, medical requirements or would benefit from meeting a provider beforehand, please tell us. We can take this into account when looking for a suitable match.
You’re always in control
A match is an introduction, not an obligation.
We'll send you details of the childcare provider we think could be a good fit. You can review the information and ask questions before deciding whether you'd like to go ahead.
For some families and bookings, a phone call, video chat or meeting with the provider beforehand may also be appropriate.
If you don't feel comfortable with a proposed match, tell us. We want both families and providers to feel confident about the arrangement.
Safeguarding doesn’t stop at the first booking
Trust and safety aren't just part of joining Borrow A Village.
We want families and providers to tell us if something doesn't feel right. Feedback after bookings helps us maintain the quality of our network, and any safeguarding concern will always be taken seriously.
If you ever have a concern about a Borrow A Village provider or booking, please contact us as soon as possible.
Safeguarding doesn’t stop at the first booking
Trust and safety aren't just part of joining Borrow A Village.
We want families and providers to tell us if something doesn't feel right. Feedback after bookings helps us maintain the quality of our network, and any safeguarding concern will always be taken seriously.
If you ever have a concern about a Borrow A Village provider or booking, please contact us as soon as possible.
A village you can feel good about
Borrow A Village exists because finding childcare shouldn't mean scrolling through hundreds of profiles and hoping for the best.
We're building a local network of experienced childcare providers and combining careful checks with a genuinely personal matching service - so finding someone to help care for your children feels a little less daunting.
Ready to find your village?
Request childcare →
A partnership built on trust
Borrow A Village is built around three simple principles.
Families
deserve childcare they can trust.
Childcare providers
deserve to be treated fairly and professionally.
Communities
are stronger when people support one another.
Have a question?
If you'd like to know more about our approval process, safeguarding or how Borrow A Village works, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@borrowavillage.co.uk or message us via the live website chat.