A day to reconnect, be heard and grow stronger together

Our Parent & Child Retreat Days were born from something I personally needed when my own son was younger.

I remember feeling that there was nowhere to turn — nowhere that offered a safe, relaxed space where both parent and child could simply stop, breathe, talk and feel heard together. I wanted somewhere that wasn’t about judgement, labels or feeling like you had to have all the answers. I wanted a space where a parent and child could be nurtured, supported and given practical tools to help them navigate life’s challenges together.

So we created the space I wished had been available to us.

Our retreat days are warm, friendly and completely non-judgemental. They give parents and children the opportunity to step away from the pressures of everyday life and spend meaningful time together, while learning simple tools that can support emotional wellbeing, communication and resilience.

What happens during the day?

Our days are designed to feel more like a nurturing experience than a traditional workshop. We create a calm environment where you and your child can relax, connect and take part at your own pace.

Throughout the day, we explore:

• Mindfulness and calming techniques that can be used at home, at school or whenever emotions feel overwhelming.

• Emotional wellbeing — helping children understand and express how they are feeling and helping parents understand how best to support them.

• Building resilience — developing confidence, coping strategies and the ability to manage life’s ups and downs.

• Parent and child communication — creating opportunities to listen to one another without pressure or judgement.

• Connection and quality time — putting phones, routines and everyday stresses aside and simply enjoying being together.

• Creative activities that encourage self-expression and give you something positive to create together.

• Practical tools and advice that you can take away and use long after the retreat has finished.

• Time to talk — because sometimes having somebody listen can make a huge difference.

There is no pressure to share anything you don’t want to. Our aim is simply to create a space where you both feel safe, valued and supported.

Evidence behind our work

Our approach has already been trialled within a local high school. The families who continued through the full process reported positive changes, with parents and children developing greater resilience and feeling better emotionally.

Through The Kindness Company Norfolk CIC, we also work directly with local schools, supporting children’s emotional wellbeing through our programmes.

We are proud to have received a letter of support from a local headteacher praising the work we have delivered and describing a massive change in the children who took part. The school reported improved attendance and that children were requiring less pastoral support.

For us, this is why the work matters.

We aren’t trying to create another programme that tells parents what they should be doing. We want to walk alongside families.

A day for you and your child

Whether your child is struggling with confidence, emotions, friendships, school pressures or simply needs more connection with you, our retreat days provide time and space to pause.

You don’t need to arrive with a problem to solve.

You can simply come as you are.

Together, we will create, breathe, talk, laugh, learn and reconnect — leaving with practical mindfulness and wellbeing tools, new ideas and hopefully a stronger sense that you don’t have to navigate everything alone.

Because sometimes, what a parent and child need most isn’t another appointment or another person telling them what to do.

Sometimes they just need a safe place to be heard, understood and reminded of their own strengths.

That’s what our Parent & Child Retreat Days are here for.

Creating connection before challenges become crisis

At The Kindness Company Norfolk CIC, we believe that supporting the relationship between a parent and child can make a real difference to family wellbeing.

Our Parent & Child Days were created to give families something that can sometimes be missing in everyday life: time to slow down, reconnect, listen to each other and enjoy being together without the pressures of school, work and daily life.

There is a real need in Norfolk

The challenges facing children and families are becoming increasingly visible within our schools.

In Norfolk, the latest published school performance data shows an overall absence rate of 9.7% for state-funded secondary schools, compared with 8.9% nationally. Most significantly, 28.3% of Norfolk secondary pupils were persistently absent, compared with 25.6% across England. At primary level, Norfolk’s persistent absence rate was 15.1%, compared with 14.6% nationally. (Compare School Performance)

Nationally, the latest Department for Education figures show that 18.14% of pupils were persistently absent in 2024/25, meaning they missed at least 10% of their possible school sessions. This remains considerably higher than the pre-pandemic figure of 10.86% in 2018/19. (Explore Education Statistics)

Anxiety is also closely connected to attendance difficulties. In a 2025 government survey, 26% of secondary-school parents whose child had not attended every day in the previous two weeks said anxiety or mental health problems were a reason. Among pupils themselves, anxiety or mental health problems were reported by 20% of Key Stage 3 pupils and 29% of Key Stage 4 pupils who had not attended every day. (GOV.UK)

Norfolk’s own Educational Psychology Service recognises emotionally based school non-attendance, describing how stress, anxiety and feeling overwhelmed can make attending school difficult and can lead to prolonged absence. (norfolkepss.org.uk)

These figures are not just statistics.

Behind every number is a child, a parent and a family who may be struggling.

Why I created these days

I understand this need not only through my professional experience, but personally as a parent.

I have experienced the challenges of trying to support my own son through the school system. I know what it feels like as a parent to want to help your child, but sometimes not know what to say, what to do or where to turn.

Looking back, I know how valuable a day focused simply on connection, understanding, wellbeing and spending positive time together would have been for us.

It is from that place of lived experience that I created these days.

I don’t believe parents should have to wait until a child reaches crisis point before they receive support.

My professional experience

Alongside being a parent, I work as a mindful wellbeing coach within an Alternative Provision school.

This has given me first-hand experience of working with children who may struggle with anxiety, emotional regulation, confidence, attendance and their relationship with education.

It has reinforced my belief that sometimes the most powerful starting point is not another intervention, but creating a safe space where a child feels heard, accepted and connected to the adult supporting them.

What happens on our Parent & Child Days?

Our days combine:

• Mindfulness and relaxation
• Creative activities and upcycling
• Communication and connection exercises
• Time for parents and children to talk
• Emotional wellbeing activities
• Confidence-building
• Shared experiences and laughter
• Practical tools families can take home
• Time away from everyday pressures

There is no pressure for families to be perfect.

There is simply an opportunity to pause, reconnect and enjoy each other.

Our Framlingham Earl pilot

We have already seen encouraging results through our pilot work with Framlingham Earl High School.

The pilot demonstrated the value of giving children and parents dedicated time to explore wellbeing, mindfulness and connection together.

Our next step is to build on what we have learned and make Parent & Child Days available to more families across Norfolk.

We want to work with schools, community organisations and local partners to reach families who may benefit most.

Why this matters

We believe that connection is preventative.

A parent who feels more confident and connected to their child may be better placed to recognise when something is wrong.

A child who feels listened to may be more able to communicate what they are experiencing.

And a family who has practical tools for managing emotions and stress may be better equipped to navigate difficult periods together.

Our Parent & Child Days are not designed to replace specialist mental health or therapeutic services.

They are about providing an early, accessible and positive layer of support — helping families build connection and resilience before difficulties escalate.

Giving old things new life — and creating new possibilities for people

I feel incredibly privileged to work alongside the wonderful companions at Emmaus, using crafting, upcycling and mindfulness to create moments of connection, confidence and kindness.

What is Emmaus?

Emmaus provides a safe home and meaningful support for people who have experienced homelessness and difficult circumstances. Companions are given somewhere safe to live, the opportunity to contribute through meaningful work and the support they need to rebuild their lives and look towards a more positive future.

At the heart of Emmaus is the belief that people deserve dignity, belonging, purpose and the opportunity to rebuild.

Creating with kindness

My sessions at Emmaus are about so much more than crafting.

They are about sitting together, having a cup of tea, sharing a laugh, talking, creating and simply enjoying being in a safe and welcoming space.

Through mindful kindness, crafting and upcycling, we take old and unwanted items and give them a new purpose.

And in many ways, that feels symbolic of the work we are doing together — putting new life into old things while helping people to rewrite their own stories.

We create seasonal pieces, handmade products, upcycled treasures and beautiful things that the companions can feel proud of.

A wonderful space with a purpose

Emmaus has a fantastic room on site where the companions sell their  creative projects.

The finished upcycled and handmade pieces are then sold through Emmaus. This creates a wonderful circle of giving, because the companions are able to contribute back to the community and to Emmaus, which provides them with a home, support and a safe place to rebuild their lives.

Every piece has a story.

Something that might once have been unwanted can become something beautiful, useful and valued 

We craft, paint, reuse, repurpose and create seasonal products together, but the most important thing we create is connection.

These sessions are incredibly special to me. I feel very blessed to spend time with the wonderful companions at Emmaus and to be part of their journey.

Building futures

I am incredibly grateful to have received funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, allowing us to continue this work for a further six months.

This funding means we can keep creating opportunities for companionship, creativity, wellbeing and practical skills — while continuing to build confidence and futures together.

Because sometimes giving something a new life is about much more than the thing itself.

It’s about reminding someone that they, too, can have a new chapter.

The Kindness Company brings something valuable alongside the existing support at Emmaus: creative wellbeing, mindfulness, connection and practical opportunities to rebuild confidence.

Many companions have experienced significant challenges, and rebuilding a life is about more than having somewhere safe to live. It is also about belonging, purpose, confidence, relationships and believing in future possibilities.

Through crafting, upcycling and mindfulness, my sessions provide a safe, informal space where companions can talk, connect, learn new skills and achieve something they can feel proud of.

The work also creates real purpose. Companions can turn unwanted materials into something useful and beautiful, with finished pieces sold through Emmaus. This gives their creativity value while contributing back to the community that supports them.

The Kindness Company complements Emmaus by helping companions discover their strengths, build confidence and experience the feeling of being valued, capable and connected.

With funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, we can continue providing these opportunities and help more companions take positive steps towards their next chapter.

Building confidence, life skills and independence for young people

The Step Up Programme is an eight-week life skills and wellbeing programme designed to support young people as they prepare for greater independence.

The programme has been created through a collaboration between The Kindness Company Norfolk CIC, Wellbeing Discovery, led by Daniella, and Social Moments, led by Chantelle.

We are working alongside Broadland Housing and Children’s Services, with groups of 10 young people taking part in each programme.

What the Step Up Programme offers

The programme brings together practical life skills, wellbeing, creativity and work-related experience, including:

• Mindfulness and wellbeing – practical tools to manage stress, emotions and everyday challenges.

• Confidence and resilience – helping young people recognise their strengths and build self-belief.

• Home and independent living skills – understanding what is needed to set up, manage and maintain a home.

• Money management and budgeting – learning how to budget, understand household bills and make money go further.

• Shopping on a budget – practical ways to plan meals, shop wisely and reduce household costs.

• Cooking and food skills – preparing affordable, nutritious meals and developing confidence in the kitchen.

• Upcycling and creativity – transforming unwanted or second-hand furniture and household items into something useful and personal.

• Creating a home – exploring style, organisation and ways to make a home feel comfortable without spending a fortune.

• Work experience – developing workplace confidence and transferable skills.

• Barista and hospitality training – practical experience in customer service, communication and hospitality.

• Teamwork and communication – learning how to work alongside others and build positive relationships.

• Goal setting and future planning – helping young people think about their aspirations and the steps they can take towards them.

• Celebrating achievements – recognising progress and leaving with practical skills and greater confidence.

A partnership approach

By bringing together three local organisations, we can offer young people support from different areas of expertise.

Daniella from Wellbeing Discovery brings her experience in mindfulness and emotional wellbeing.

Chantelle from Social Moments brings practical food, cooking, hospitality and work-related skills.

The Kindness Company Norfolk CIC brings practical home and budgeting skills, creativity, upcycling, mindfulness and confidence-building.

Together, we create a supportive environment where young people can learn practical skills while also feeling listened to, encouraged and valued.

Step Up is about more than learning how to live independently — it’s about helping young people believe they can.

DescriptiWhy Step Up is Needed

Moving towards independence can be a difficult transition for any young person. For care-experienced and vulnerable young people, the challenges can be significantly greater. They may be expected to manage a home, money, food, employment and relationships at a time when they are still developing the confidence and skills to do so.

The statistics show why early, practical support matters:

• 40% of care leavers aged 19–21 in England were not in education, employment or training (NEET) in 2025, compared with around 15% of all young people of the same age. (Explore Education Statistics)
• In 2024–25, 8,370 households with a care leaver aged 18 or over were recorded as having support needs relating to care leaving and were owed a homelessness prevention or relief duty. (GOV.UK)
• Of these households, 67.4% were already homeless when assessed, rather than being assessed before homelessness occurred. (GOV.UK)
• Financial pressure is also a major concern for young people. Government research found that 41% of young people identified money as one of their biggest everyday worries, while 40% were worried about what they wanted to do in the future. (GOV.UK)
• Cost of living pressures remain particularly significant for younger adults, with 89% of 16–29-year-olds identifying the cost of living as an important issue. (Office for National Statistics)

Why Step Up makes a difference

These figures demonstrate that independence cannot simply mean giving a young person a tenancy or expecting them to manage on their own.

Young people need practical skills, confidence, emotional support and positive experiences before problems become crises.

Step Up provides this through an eight-week programme combining:

Wellbeing + confidence + money management + cooking + home skills + creativity + work experience + future planning.

The programme gives young people the opportunity to practise real-life skills in a supportive environment, make mistakes safely, discover their strengths and develop confidence in their ability to manage adult life.

Most importantly, Step Up is preventative.

By investing in young people before they reach crisis point, we can help reduce the risk of financial difficulties, disengagement from education or employment, isolation and homelessness, while supporting them to build the skills and belief they need for a more independent future.

Step Up is not simply teaching young people how to live independently. It is helping them believe that independence is possible — and giving them the practical tools to achieve it.