Richard Atkins Family Group
From "THINC Fund Medium Projects (£10,001-£24,999)"
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Family Group at Richard Atkins Primary School is not a response to challenges—it is a celebration of potential. This initiative brings together families who deeply care for their children, creating a nurturing community that offers the expert support needed for every child to flourish. With a funding request of £18,000, we will further support this community of strength, hope, and belonging in the heart of Brixton.
Every Tuesday morning during term time, Family Group provides a safe, welcoming space where families and school staff unite to prioritise children’s happiness and success. Up to eight families gather weekly with a therapist and a dedicated member of the school staff. Children and their parents/carers collaboratively set goals, participate in skill-building activities and games, and share their progress in a confidential, encouraging circle. Together, we foster resilience, connection, and brighter futures for our families.
Family Group provides a unique mix of community support and professional expertise. Families help each other, but they are also guided by a qualified therapist who brings specialist knowledge. This ensures the group can gently and sensitively address the serious challenges many families face—whether that’s a child who has been through difficult experiences, a parent coping with past trauma, or the stresses of everyday life. Lasting change is the goal: families attend for as long as they need.
Family Group serves Richard Atkins families who want to support their children to thrive. Parents/carers who join are already deeply committed to their children’s well-being. Families from different backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences, are united by the same hope: to see their children flourish at school and home.
Family Group helps parents/carers feel stronger, more confident, and less alone. Adults discover new ways of supporting their children and are encouraged by the realised weekly progress. Children feel listened to and proud of their achievements. They become more settled in school, enjoy learning more, and build stronger relationships at home. For schools, Family Group means stronger partnerships with families and a relational culture that benefits the whole community.
Teachers notice changes too: improved behaviour, calmer classrooms, and better learning outcomes. At home, families talk more openly, spend better time together, and feel closer. One parent described Family Group as “the perfect bridge between home and school.” Another said: “I thought I was on my own. Now I’ve found my village.”
This funding allows Family Group to continue for another year, offering weekly sessions to families. The ripple effect is powerful: when families are supported and children thrive, the whole community grows stronger. Parents who once felt isolated go on to volunteer, start training/work, and contribute to school life. Families encourage each other to use local services, speak up for their needs, and challenge barriers.
Family Group has been successfully running at Richard Atkins since 2018. It works because it combines expert therapeutic guidance with the care, commitment, and wisdom of families themselves, the combination providing lasting change. Help us continue this invaluable resource for more families in 2026.