Creating space for families to breathe
For many families, the first thing they need is not a formal service. It is somewhere warm, welcoming and calm.
That is what Gaia and her team have created at the Cardinal Hume Centre.
‘Really, it is just a nice place to come,’ says Gaia. ‘You have a cup of tea, the children play, and we begin there.’
Gaia leads the Centre’s family services, supporting parents and children facing homelessness, poor housing and instability. Some families arrive through different services at the Centre. Others are referred by schools, social workers or local partners. Some simply hear about the Centre from another parent.
However they arrive, the aim is the same – to create a space where families feel safe, supported and able to settle.
‘A lot of the families we work with are living in overcrowded housing or temporary accommodation,’ says Gaia. ‘They might be in just one room with several children. Being here gives them space. It gives children room to play and parents room to breathe.’
The family services team runs drop-in sessions, homework support, holiday activities and family Saturdays, alongside practical help with school forms, uniforms, food, and everyday challenges. For families new to the UK, the team also helps them understand local services and feel more confident in daily life.
But Gaia says other work often happens quietly, in between the sessions.
‘Families might need help with school applications, bills, finding the right support, or just understanding what is available to them. By the time people ask, we usually know them well enough to understand who to refer to, or we work together with them on how best to find the right support’
The team focuses overall on family but always starts with the child.
All family services staff are qualified childcare practitioners, and play is central to how they work. It is through play, conversation, and routine that trust begins to grow.
‘By focusing on the child, you support the family. Children feel comfortable here, and when children feel comfortable, parents do too.’
That is what this service is. It is noticing what is missing and supporting parents to fill the gap.
Gaia, family services managerThat approach is especially important for families who have experienced trauma, displacement or isolation.
Gaia says children often arrive having not had a space to play, access to routine, or room to be children. For some, simply walking into a bright room full of toys, books and choice can be overwhelming.
Sometimes the impact is found in small moments.
One young girl who visited the Centre had school homework to build a castle. Her mother didn’t have the money, materials or English to manage it alone. A member of staff identified and understood this and quickly helped the girl make it at the Centre instead.
Later, her mother sent in a photo of her standing outside school, proudly holding the finished castle.
For Gaia and the team, that is what family services is about – helping make everyday life more manageable so families can keep moving forward.