We are a faith-based Irish charity. Our faith in God informs how we care for and support you, but it does not place any expectation on your beliefs or choices. We are a non-directive service, which means that we honour your decision-making autonomy. We are trained volunteers, not professionals. We believe that anyone can learn to listen well. We are passionate about signposting to professional individuals and services whenever needs arise. We do not refer for terminations but do not direct or stop those who choose that path.

In 2014 Katy heard a story of one friend helping another through an unplanned pregnancy. It’s always refreshing to hear a story like that in a society that can feel so discouraging for women wanting to continue a pregnancy that’s unplanned or shameful to her community (or both). After much conversation, in 2018, we officially united as a group of women and men committed to listening to others, dismantling toxic shame culture and improving the environment for women who find themselves in unplanned pregnancy.

Our “why” is the intersection of our experience and the church’s response. We all have the need to be cared for in tough situations. Our founder, Katy, experienced a traumatic miscarriage in 2015, through which she and her husband were instantly cared for by people in their community. They named that baby Zoe, the Greek word for “life.” We believe that one of the keys to women experiencing good quality of life is a strong community full of empathy and encouragement. Zoe Community was founded from a direct experience of trauma and the Christian community’s unreserved compassionate response.