Practical tools when support is missing.
When life expects you to have help and you don’t.
Practical books, guides and resources for people navigating life without enough support.
No Village is a practical support project for people navigating life without enough safe, reliable or accessible support.It begins with When You Don’t Have a Village, a practical guide to surviving, organising and keeping going when life expects you to have support and you don’t.
Kindle, paperback & hardback available
Who this is for
No Village is for people who are navigating life without enough support, including parents, carers, disabled and chronically ill people, people facing financial pressure, and anyone managing housing, healthcare or other complex systems largely on their own.It is not about becoming endlessly independent. It is about building practical scaffolding when the village is missing.
Why "No Village"?
Many people are told that "it takes a village" or encouraged to "ask your village" when life becomes difficult.But not everyone has one.For some people, support is limited, unreliable, unsafe or simply unavailable. Illness, disability, financial pressure, parenting, housing, work and everyday life do not pause while people wait for the support they need.No Village exists to acknowledge that reality. Through practical books, plain-English guides and downloadable resources, it helps reduce the mental load and make life a little easier while support is missing. Because people deserve practical help, not assumptions that everyone has a village.Not ready for the book? Start somewhere practical. The free No Village Support Map helps you see what support you actually have, where the gaps are, and where practical scaffolding could help.
Books from No Village explore what happens when life expects support to exist and provide practical ways to reduce the mental load when it doesn't.
The book
When You Don’t Have a Village is for people who are tired of being told to “just ask for help” when the help is not simple, safe or there.Inside, you’ll find practical tools for naming the support gap, organising daily life, asking for specific help, using formal and community support without shame, keeping records, navigating systems and building routines that reduce decision fatigue.It is not a lecture about positive thinking. It is not a parenting manual, although parents will find much here. It is a guide to building scaffolding when the village is missing.Kindle, Paperback & Hardcover copies now available on Amazon.This is the first in a growing collection of No Village books, practical guides and downloadable resources designed to make life easier when support is missing.
Inside the book
• Name the support gap without blaming yourself
• Build a minimum viable life
• Ask for specific, bounded help
• Identify safe people and refuse wrong help
• Navigate services, records and escalation
• Build routines that reduce avoidable collapse
No Village resources are designed to help people organise information, navigate difficult systems and build practical scaffolding when support is missing.
Practical resources when support is missing
When You Don’t Have a Village explains why life can feel so overwhelming when support is missing.No Village resources help you move from recognition to practical action through books, workbooks, guides and everyday tools designed to reduce the mental load.Choose the resource that best matches the pressure you are carrying now.This is practical scaffolding: simple structures that reduce the mental load when everything depends on you.
The No Village Scaffolding Kit
The broad companion workbook to When You Don’t Have a Village.An 84-page printable workbook with practical prompts, planning pages, scripts, checklists and everyday tools for people living without enough reliable support.It helps you move important information out of your head and build simple systems around emergencies, household pressure, money, health, appointments and difficult conversations.The book names the reality.The Scaffolding Kit helps you build structure around it.
The No Village SEN Parent Scaffolding Kit
An 84-page printable workbook for parents and carers navigating special educational needs without enough reliable support.Organise concerns, prepare for SENCO meetings and appointments, record patterns, track referrals, gather evidence and use ready-to-adapt scripts when too much is relying on your memory, energy and capacity.Start with the page that matches the pressure in front of you. Use what helps. Leave what does not.
Coming next: the No Village SEND Guidance Library
No Village is building a growing library of plain-English guides for parents and carers navigating SEND without enough support.The first guides will cover EHCPs, school support, children who cannot attend school, waiting for assessment, DLA and financial support, working while raising a SEND child, choosing a school and preparing for adulthood.They’re not all available yet, but they’re on the way.
Start with the free Support Map
Not sure which resource you need first? Start with the free Support Map.That's why the first No Village resource is free.The No Village Support Map is a simple one-page tool that helps you identify:what support you already have
what support is missing
who is safe for what
and what small piece of practical scaffolding to build next.If you find it helpful, you can continue building your practical toolkit with companion workbooks and resources designed to support you as your needs grow.Start with the free Support Map.Build your practical toolkit from there.
Want to know when the first guides are released?
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About No Village
Our Mission
No Village exists to challenge the assumption that everyone has a village.Much of modern life is designed around the belief that everyone has someone to call, someone to help, someone to step in and someone to carry part of the load.Millions of people do not.Yet services, workplaces and systems often continue to behave as though that support exists. When it does not, people can be judged as disorganised, difficult, non-compliant or failing, when the reality is that they are carrying a life designed for more than one person.No Village exists to change that.We create practical scaffolding for people living without enough safe, reliable or accessible support, and we encourage organisations to build better systems that do not rely on an invisible village being there.
What we do
Challenge assumptionsWe raise awareness of the hidden load carried by unsupported households and ask a better question:What assumptions are we making about the support this person has?Build practical scaffoldingWe create books, workbooks, scripts, templates and tools that help people organise information, navigate systems and reduce the amount of life that depends entirely on memory, energy and luck.Support better systemsWe work towards services, workplaces and organisations that recognise the difference between someone’s ability and the support actually available to them.
Our belief
Support should not depend on whether someone has family nearby, a partner, healthy parents, reliable friends or people they can call in a crisis.Until systems fully recognise that reality, No Village will keep naming the gap, reducing the mental load and building practical scaffolding.We challenge the assumption.
We build the scaffolding.
We help create better systems.
About Abigail
No Village was founded by Abigail Daniels, author of When You Don’t Have a Village.For more than twenty years, Abigail has worked alongside people navigating poverty, housing insecurity, disability, long-term illness, financial hardship, homelessness and complex public services.Throughout her career, one pattern kept appearing: people were often expected to cope with lives designed around support they simply did not have.No Village brings together Abigail’s professional experience, lived experience and practical approach to reducing the mental load when safe, reliable or accessible support is missing.
Our Approach
We challenge the assumption that everyone has a village..
Much of modern life is designed around the belief that everyone has someone to help, step in, explain, collect, drive, advocate or carry part of the load.Millions of people do not.No Village exists to challenge that assumption, create practical scaffolding for people living without enough safe, reliable or accessible support, and encourage better systems that recognise the reality of unsupported life.
We challenge assumptions. We build practical scaffolding. We help create better systems.
1. Challenge
We raise awareness of the hidden load carried by people without reliable support.We question the assumptions built into services, workplaces and everyday systems.We ask:What support is this person being assumed to have?
2. Scaffolding
We create books, workbooks, scripts, trackers, guides and practical tools that reduce the number of things relying entirely on someone’s memory, energy and capacity.These tools do not replace people.They help hold things up where there are not enough hands available.
3. Better systems
We encourage organisations to design services around real life rather than an ideal person with time, money, transport, confidence, internet access, family support and spare capacity.We believe good systems recognise the difference between someone’s ability and the support actually available to them.
We don't tell people to "just ask for help."
Many people can't.
Some don't have safe family.
Some have lost their support network.
Some have caring responsibilities themselves.
Some have disabilities or chronic illness.
Some have experienced trauma or controlling relationships.
Others simply live in systems where practical support is difficult to access.
The advice people are often given assumes support already exists.
Our work starts where that assumption ends.
We believe in practical scaffolding.
A village cannot always be built.
But life can often be made a little easier through structure.
Sometimes that means checklists, scripts, planners, trackers, reminders, evidence logs and decision tools.These aren't replacements for people.They're scaffolding.Temporary structures that help hold things up when there aren't enough hands available.
We believe systems should work for real life.
Many public services, workplaces and organisations are designed around an "ideal" person.
Someone with:
• time
• energy
• confidence
• transport
• internet access
• family support
• spare capacity
Many people don't have those things.
No Village creates resources that recognise real life rather than ideal circumstances.
We believe small changes matter.
Sometimes the next step isn't solving everything.
It's remembering one appointment.
Writing one email.
Preparing one conversation.
Understanding one benefit.
Finding one organisation.
Making one decision.
Small pieces of practical support reduce mental load.
Reduced mental load creates capacity.
Capacity creates options.
We believe lived experience and professional experience belong together.
No Village is built on more than twenty years of professional work across financial inclusion, housing, homelessness, welfare rights, community support and public services.
It is also shaped by lived experience of navigating life without enough reliable support.
Neither perspective is enough on its own.
Together they create resources that are practical, compassionate and grounded in real life.
We are building a practical library.
The book is only the beginning.
Over time, No Village will become a growing collection of books, guides, workbooks, planners and practical tools covering topics including:
• health
• SEN
• benefits
• housing
• parenting
• work
• difficult systems
• everyday life
Everything is designed with one aim:Everything we create has one purpose: to make life more manageable when support is missing.We do that by challenging assumptions, building practical scaffolding and helping create better systems.
Legal Information
Disclaimer
No Village provides general information, practical tools, educational content and reflective resources. It is not legal, financial, medical, safeguarding, therapeutic or crisis advice.
Copyright & Licensing
Unless otherwise stated, all content on this website, including text, graphics, branding, downloadable resources, worksheets, workbooks, guides and other materials, is the copyright of Abigail Daniels trading as No Village.All rights reserved.No content may be reproduced, redistributed, shared, republished or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission, except where expressly permitted under the applicable licence.Digital resources purchased from No Village are licensed, not sold. Unless otherwise stated at the point of purchase, they are provided for personal use only. Personal use includes downloading, printing and completing the resource for your own individual use.You may not:• Share digital files with others.• Upload resources to websites, cloud storage or shared drives.• Sell, reproduce or redistribute any No Village resource.• Remove copyright notices or branding.
Professional & Organisation Use
If you are using No Village resources as part of your professional role, additional licences are available.These include licences for:• Individual practitioners• Charities• Housing providers• NHS services• Local authorities• Educational settings• Community organisations• Employers and wellbeing teamsAvailable licences• Personal Licence - For individual purchasers.• Professional Licence - For a single practitioner using No Village resources in their professional work.• Organisation Licence - For charities, public services, employers and organisations wishing to use No Village resources across multiple staff members or teams.Some licences also permit the printing of resources for service users or clients.
Organisation licences allow resources to be used legally across teams or with service users, depending on the licence purchased.For information about organisation licensing, bulk book orders or bespoke resource packages, please contact:[email protected]Bulk Book Orders
When You Don't Have a Village is available through Amazon.If your organisation would like to purchase multiple copies for staff, volunteers, clients or events, we are happy to discuss bulk orders alongside accompanying resources or support materials.Permissions
If you are unsure whether your intended use is covered by your licence, please contact us before copying or distributing any material.We are happy to discuss permissions for:• Conferences• Training• Staff development• Workshops• Client resources• Academic use• Community projects
Terms of Use
By using this website, you agree to these terms.
The information provided by No Village is intended for general information, education and practical support only. It should not be relied upon as legal, financial, medical, safeguarding, therapeutic or crisis advice.
While every effort is made to keep information accurate and up to date, No Village cannot guarantee that all information will remain current or apply to every individual circumstance.
You are responsible for deciding whether any information or resource is suitable for your own situation.
External websites linked from No Village are provided for convenience only. No Village is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of third-party websites.
No Village reserves the right to update these terms and website content without notice.
Accessibility
No Village exists because support is not equally accessible for everyone.Accessibility is central to No Village. We know that practical support is only useful if people can actually access it.Where practical, our resources are designed using:
• clear language
• accessible layouts
• readable typography
• printable formats
• high colour contrast where appropriateAccessibility is an ongoing process rather than a finished project.If you experience any accessibility barriers or require information in another format, please contact us and we will do our best to help.
Cookie Policy
No Village uses cookies to help improve the website and understand how visitors use it.
These may include:
• essential cookies required for the website to function
• analytics cookies that help us understand website usage through Google Analytics
Analytics information is collected in an aggregated and anonymised form wherever possible and is used solely to improve the website and its resources.
You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time.
If additional analytics or advertising technologies are introduced in the future, this policy will be updated accordingly.
We believe practical support should be easier to find, easier to understand and easier to use. These policies exist to protect both the people who use No Village and the integrity of the resources we create.
Privacy Notice
Last updated: 12 July 2026
Who we are
No Village is operated by Abigail Daniels. No Village creates books, printable tools and practical resources for people navigating life without enough safe, reliable or accessible support.For data-protection enquiries, contact:Email: [email protected]
Website: www.novillage.co.uk
Information we collect
We may collect personal information that you choose to provide, including:• your name and email address when you join the No Village mailing list;
• information you provide when you contact No Village;
• order and transaction information relating to purchases made through Payhip;
• basic website usage information where analytics are enabled.
How we use your information
We may use your information to:• send emails you have requested or consented to receive;
• provide updates about books, resources and No Village;
• respond to enquiries;
• fulfil or support purchases;
• maintain appropriate business and financial records;
• understand how the website and resources are being used.
Mailing list
The No Village mailing list is managed using MailerLite.When you subscribe, your name and email address may be processed by MailerLite on behalf of No Village. You can unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link included in emails.
Purchases
Digital products are sold through Payhip.Payhip and the relevant payment provider, such as Stripe or PayPal, process payment and transaction information. No Village does not directly receive or store your full payment-card details.
Cookies and analytics
This website may use essential cookies required for the site to function. Where analytics or other non-essential tracking tools are used, information may be collected about how visitors use the website.
Sharing your information
Your personal information is not sold.It may be shared only where reasonably necessary with service providers used to operate No Village, such as Carrd, MailerLite, Payhip, Stripe or PayPal, or where disclosure is required by law.
How long information is kept
Personal information is kept only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including any legal, tax, accounting and business-record requirements.
Your rights
Under UK data-protection law, you may have rights relating to your personal information, including the right to:• ask for access to your information;
• ask for inaccurate information to be corrected;
• ask for information to be deleted in some circumstances;
• object to or restrict some uses of your information;
• withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.To exercise any of these rights, contact No Village using the email address above.
Complaints
You may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office if you are concerned about how your personal information has been handled.
Changes to this notice
This Privacy Notice may be updated from time to time. The latest version will be published on this website.