Northamptonshire Community Foundation Community Hero of the Week
Spring Charity support vulnerable families in Northampton, providing vital early years services to help children and parents thrive.
Their new project, The Hive, offers three key free groups for families with children under five living in Castle Ward and the wider town. Castle Ward ranks in the top 10% for deprivation in the UK, and less than half of children in the area start formal education at the expected baseline.
The Hive includes:
•Music Bees – a weekly 2-hour session for parents and their babies and toddlers, encouraging communication and social skills.
•Muddy Bees – a weekly 2-hour session promoting exploration of the natural world and introducing elements of a healthy diet.
•The Hive Group – an open and welcoming space for parents to build friendships, find formal and informal support, and connect with other families. This runs alongside weekly Health Visitors’ development check clinics, allowing immediate access to family support and signposting if needed.
Many families attending the groups face challenges including financial strain, unemployment, physical and mental health needs, homelessness, domestic abuse, and social isolation. The majority are young, single-parent households, with several families new to the UK and needing support to engage with statutory services. By offering these safe, structured spaces, Spring Charity helps families build confidence, resilience and essential early childhood skills.
A £5,000 grant from the St Giles Charitable Trust Fund, awarded via Northamptonshire Community Foundation, is supporting the delivery of The Hive, ensuring these vital services remain accessible to families who need them most.
Northamptonshire Community Foundation is the county’s largest independent grant maker, having given more than £24 million in grants since its inception in 2001. This year marks an exciting milestone for NCF – 25 years of inspiring local giving for local needs. Building on this, NCF is also looking 25 years ahead, with bold ambition for a fairer, thriving and more connected county for generations to come. Their latest Impact Report is ready to read here.