Family Support
Family Support: Supporting Families to Thrive
Our dedicated Family Support team provides a warm, practical and hands-on approach to helping families build stronger foundations and thrive. We offer a wide range of support including emotional wellbeing, one-to-one guidance, peer connection, and tailored activities designed around the needs of each family.
Our support is inclusive of the whole family, creating spaces for mums, dads, carers, and extended family members to connect, share experiences, build confidence and access the support they need.
Alongside our direct family support, we are a trusted local distribution hub for surplus food and essential items, helping families access vital resources and reducing the pressure of financial hardship when support is needed most.
Family Support Engagement
[2024–25]
187
families supported
392
children supported
122
mothers supported
96
fathers supported
65%
of children aged 0–5
86%
single-parent households
System Change For Families
Our approach has been shaped by insights from our Family Support Report (2022), which captures the experiences, challenges and aspirations of the families we work alongside. The report sets out our Family Support Recommendations (2022–2027), guiding our commitment to improving services, strengthening relationships and creating lasting change. This work has positioned us well as a credible partner and most recently we have taken over as partnership lead in an Impact on Urban Health funded collaboration with Milk Honey Bees and ParentSkills2Go to engage in participatory help systems for Black mental health in Lambeth and Southwark supported by learning partner Word on the Curb.
Beyond individual support, we are contributing to wider systems change by sharing lived experiences, raising awareness, campaigning and advocating for improvements that address the root causes affecting families. Through storytelling, partnership working and collective action, we aim to influence change that benefits families now and in the future.
“ You care and take care of all of us. I know we are ok because you are here. ”
“ For this moment all my worries are gone, and I feel happy. ”
“ We live in a two-bedroom flat with no garden — the big space outside caught my eye. It’s a really great outdoor space and I love it, all my children do. ”
Enhanced activities
Alongside community partners, we deliver our own programme of Stay and Play sessions including a monthly Dads Club and Coffee Mornings. Our evolving schedule brings together a mix of holistic, creative and community-led sessions through partnerships with fantastic local organisations.
Check in with us to find out our current programme.
Dad’s Time
A safe space for fathers and male carers to play with their children and network with other local fathers. First Saturday of every month.
Flying Seagull Project
The Flying Seagull Project a long-standing partner who helped kick off our annual children’s festival, bringing laughter, creativity, and confidence through music, art, circus skills, and dance at various points throughout the year.
Happy Drums
Rooted in Wellbeing & Care, Connection, Joy, and Celebration, Happy Drums sessions uses music, drumming, singing, and movement to bring together families of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. Family-centred workshops support early musical development and boost confidence.
Coffee Mornings
Our monthly coffee morning sessions is an open, informal space centre on wellbeing, connection and safety for parents. Sessions are themed based upon parent’s interests and motivations this has included International Women’s Day Celebration and Baby Brunch.
Money Champions
Peer to peer support initiative with Money Advice | Rooted Finance for parents to increase confidence in debt and money management for increase financial resilience.
Cycling Club
Children and parents have access to Bikeability and bike maintenance workshops delivered by our partners including Cycling UK and Upcycle.
Little Growers & Gardening
Weekly outdoor play and learning to improve family health and wellbeing. Supported by Natural Thinkers, Incredible Edible Lambeth, Farm Urban, Myatt’s Fields Park and Progress.
Literacy Partners
Our collective of literacy partners include: Doorstep Library | London Book Charity, Lambeth Libraries, Book Love and National Literacy Trust : This year we are celebrating the Year of Reading; special literacy events will be taking place at the centre and around the community.
Our impact beyond the centre
Campaigns and wider work we’ve contributed to across the system.
- New project to lead fight against poverty in Black communities – Voice Online
- Reflections on the Black Systemic Safety Fund: Candice James BEM – The Ubele Initiative
- Investigating the impact of green space on children’s mental health and wellbeing
- Adventure Play: for the community, by the community (2023-2024) – London Play