Community Space Case Study 2024/25
Who: The community of Splott, Adamsdown, Tremorfa,
refugees + asylum seekers + people in supported housing.
Where: NoFit State, Adamsdown, Cardiff
Background
This is the third Autumn/Winter that NFS has run a Community Space over the colder months. Ran by welcoming hosts the space provides company, support, warm food, arts and craft and circus sessions. Our area in East Cardiff is a super output area for economic and social disadvantage and with the current cost of living crisis a community warm space like this is a much-needed resource.
The Sessions
25 sessions from Sept 24-March 2025, x 2 sessions a day, every Tuesday
Attendances:- Adults 383 Kids 511 Teens 10
Each week the space provided a free warm lunch, tea, coffee and refreshments, access to reading materials, arts and crafts, family circus workshops and support and signposting from the community space hosts.
During December an exciting new partnership with the local play workers began. They work outside in local parks through the Winter and through our community partnership the Square Mile, we invited the Play workers to join the space after school. They agreed and brought with them a group of young people who were on part time timetables and were struggling with mainstream school attendance. Some of these families were from the local Gypsy and Traveller community and they really valued the time they spent in the space and the support offered to their children. Seren supported the young people to plan and run arts and craft activities in the weeks up to Christmas and other families in the space really enjoyed joining in.
After Christmas with extra funding from the Welsh Arts Council we ran ‘Art with Angharad’ sessions in the space. Angharad is a Welsh language artist and she ran 10 weeks of creative activities for children and their parents, introducing the Welsh language. These sessions were again supported by Seren in the Community who continued to bring new community children with them.
Summary of feedback from the sessions
What Worked Well:
Children enjoyed the variety of activities, including soft play areas, obstacle courses, and games like musical statues. For instance, toddlers participated in building and knocking down diablo towers, and others had fun with activities like the rope swing and aerial silks.
Parents and children liked the balance between structured and free play. For example, the flexibility to switch between activities was appreciated, and the variety in stations kept the kids engaged.
Inclusivity and Support:
The space was described as being “welcoming and supportive for families of diverse backgrounds”. A parent mentioned how their neurodivergent child felt safe and recognised, which was very important for the family.
The sessions catered to various age groups, with kids from different backgrounds interacting positively. A parent noted her shy child opened up and paired up with someone other than their mum.
Social and Emotional Benefits:
Parents appreciated the relaxed atmosphere, allowing children to interact and build social skills. There were mentions of children becoming more confident and better at spatial awareness.
Several parents shared that their children were able to integrate better socially, which was particularly noted by one regular attendee.
Community Feel:
A strong sense of community was emphasized, with parents expressing how they felt welcome and valued. One parent mentioned that they felt the sessions were as much for the adults as for the children, with some discussing mental health and personal issues with the hosts and other parents.
Positive Parent Feedback:
Many parents talked about how much their children enjoyed the sessions, with some commenting on the fun and engaging nature of the activities. One parent mentioned that their child wouldn't typically engage at school but did so in the session.
Variety of Experiences:
There was a consistent mention of the variety of experiences available, such as arts and crafts, circus activities, and games. One parent appreciated the opportunity to be creative themselves, and another mentioned how her child enjoyed new activities like hula-hooping and circus play.