What's on
From family support, fitness classes and learning to art exhibitions, festivals and talks, our activities are wide and far reaching.
At Coin Street, we believe that when we support the whole family, children can grow, parents can flourish, and communities become stronger.
When a local mother applied for a vulnerable two-year-old nursery place for her youngest child, the family were not receiving any professional support. This was the youngest of five children, and mum carried a lot of anxiety about leaving her child in someone else’s care.
From the first day, it was clear that settling would take time. The child clung to mum, hiding beneath their hoodie and avoiding eye contact. Both mother and child found full nursery days overwhelming, so staff adapted the timetable to four shorter mornings. Step by step, trust began to grow.
“At first, I couldn’t leave him, I felt so anxious. But the staff were patient and kind, and slowly I began to trust.”
With patience and consistency, staff built a strong bond with the child, who first connected with just one adult before gradually becoming more confident with others. Small group play sessions were introduced, helping them to watch, copy, and eventually join in with peers. By the time they were ready to attend the weekly SENsational sessions at Coin Street’s Family and Children’s Centre (FCC), both their confidence and curiosity were beginning to shine.
Over time, the changes were remarkable. The child started to eat with friends, join parallel play, and then interact freely with peers. They began to ask questions and take part in group activities. Staff noticed a stutter in their speech and referred them to the Speech and Language team. In the meantime, nursery staff used their WellComm training to support language and communication, with such success that the child joined full circle-time activities - an essential milestone as they prepared for primary school.
When teachers from the new school visited during transition, they were impressed by the progress the child had made. Coin Street staff provided a full handover, sharing strategies and interventions so the child would have continuity and the best possible start in their new setting.
While the nursery focused on the child’s development, the FCC worked alongside mum to help her feel supported and connected. She was invited to small, supportive groups such as Home from Home, where she could meet other parents in a positive environment. She joined healthy cooking workshops, toddler story sessions, and an EPEC parenting course. Taking up the free gym offer gave her valuable time to focus on her own wellbeing.
“The groups gave me space to breathe. I’ve made friends, started going to the gym, and I feel stronger for my children.”
During this time, it also became clear that one of mum’s older teenagers was struggling with their mental health. Thanks to the trust built with the family, FCC staff could link her with Youth and Community Programme colleagues, who helped the teenager receive an official diagnosis and specialist support.
This family’s journey shows how Coin Street’s whole family approach works in practice. With wraparound support, both the child and their mother gained confidence, resilience, and skills to thrive. Importantly, the wider family also benefitted from coordinated help across nursery, family support, and youth services.
