Vlada Bell

Vlada Bell, Founder and CEO of MEplace

Vlada Bell is the Founder and CEO of MEplace, a London-based early years nursery group promoting both physical and mental health in children. She founded the company in 2020 with the mission to empower parents to raise happier, healthier children through a holistic approach to early education.123

Bell's entry into motherhood coincided with her journey through therapy, which helped her realize the profound impact childhood experiences have on beliefs and habits. When she couldn't find a nursery that focused on both the mental and physical well-being of children, she decided to create her own.3

Informed by scientific research into paediatric neuroscience, child development psychology, learning sciences and language development, MEplace's bespoke curriculum nurtures a concept of self through six key pillars: Mind, Body, Life, Planet, Fun and People. Children take part in daily mindfulness sessions, yoga, park visits, music and play therapy, and eat healthy, mostly organic plant-based food.12

Since its first two sites opened in Hackney Wick in 2020 and 2022, MEplace has been praised by parents, with an NPS +90 and both nurseries over subscribed. The company is also in the early stages of rolling out the MEplace app to help educate parents on how to raise happy and healthy children from a psychological perspective.12

In March 2023, MEplace raised £1.2 million in seed funding led by Active Partners, a consumer-focused investment firm from London. The new funds will be used to open more sites across the UK capital and strengthen their education offering for parents.12