Young Carers dance in the dark!
Click image above or click HERE to watch the joy of evening sessions
We run our Young Carers groups once a month and they are hosted in the late afternoon which means during winter it can be dark. The children absolutely love them. It starts light but the sessions end in the dark with fire pit circles, glow bands and head torches. The sessions help with relationships, self-esteem, purpose and optimism. So important for young people who sometimes have a lot on their plate. Thank you to Waverley Thriving Communities fund for supporting these sessions. In this months reflections we hear from a lovely local family who benefit from both the Young Carers evenings and the free Holiday Clubs and they share what it means for them.
The joy of mud!
The wettest start to the year has meant the muddiest of acres but we've realised that one man's mud is another man's...muddy treasure! First picture shows a space2play attendee carrying out the highly important and underrated task of harvesting mud, crucial for the mud kitchen...
Second picture shows the garden volunteers wellies whilst they try and dig trenches for irrigation systems! Less helpful as it's like gardening with ankle weights on!
Heartfelt craft
In the Teen wellbeing groups the crafts focused on Valentines day with heart shaped willow sculptures decorated with flowers. The groups help those children struggling in school or finding it hard to attend. The weekly sessions allow them to make friends, grow in confidence, connect with nature, have time in a calm environment and receive praise for their involvement, which is so important for their self-esteem.
Wet days and heartfelt goodbyes
In the garden as well as digging trenches, planting onions, and moving veg beds, we bade farewell to Susie and Julie. They have done a brilliant job in developing the garden, creating new areas of interest and bringing new ideas. We wish them all the very best. We are looking for a new lead for our weekly growing group if you know anyone who may be interested or to find out more please ask them to email info@space2grow.space.
Men in Sheds have recently completed a fantastic project of creating bug house kits for the Farnham Museum. They'll be used in an activity day in the late Spring hosted by the Museum - a great way to encourage people to make more spaces for small wildlife.
In the press!
We were delighted when Tilford fete committee came to visit us and brighten up a grey day with an incredible donation after being one of their charities at their annual fete. The date for their 2026 will be on Saturday 11th July and if anything like last year will be a brilliant day out.
Following on from a presentation about the Talking Teens course delivered at the Neighbourhood committee we were delighted that the highlights were shared in the Herald. The current course is underway but there are spaces on the course starting after the Easter break. To find out more email info@theparentingspace.space
a home for Homestart
We have recently started a partnership with HomeStart who we are supporting by providing a space to help the work they do supporting their volunteers. It's a charity close to our hearts, helping families early on with family life, offering practical and real support.
reflections from the acre...
We hear from a parent who has a child who attends the young carers evenings as well as being able to use the Holiday clubs.
"As a family, and a mum, we love and are so grateful for space2grow. Both my children love the holiday clubs. It's such a big space they can both play in their own way, one running & adventuring around the grounds whilst the other happily sits under the big trees painting or crafting & creating in the hut and I get a welcomed break.
My daughter loves the time she gets there as a young carer, pond dipping, painting tiles, cooking marshmallows over the fire pit. It's a such a hidden magical gem, you don't even realise it's there, it reminds me of the secret garden. You wait for the gate to open into this gorgeous garden with so many hidden treasures."