This report summarises three years of the SMILE & Safe Families project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund Reaching Communities Programme. It covers support for lone parent families through community building, link work, courses and holiday activities.
This is the final report of the SMILE & Safe Families project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund Reaching Communities Programme. It covers three years of work supporting lone parent families in the BCP area to connect, grow and thrive.
The report opens with a message from the project lead, thanking the Lottery. It then presents key statistics: 129 families engaged in the last year, 236 people at the Lone Parent Fair, 33 Safe Families referrals, and 157 volunteers involved. It notes that 43% of children in UK lone-parent families live in poverty, and that in BCP over 40% of single-parent families are estimated to live below the poverty line.
The model of change is described: community empowerment through coffee mornings, an online Facebook community, gym courses, and skills building, alongside personal support through link work, Safe Families, and advocacy. The report details the Lone Parent Fair, weekly connections, and friendships formed.
The Facebook community section reports 596 members by September 2026, with over 4000 posts, comments and reactions in the past year. Member testimonials describe SMILE as 'sunshine for the soul' and 'the family I choose'.
Empowerment courses covered include DIY Confidence, Barista Training, Book Club, Parenting Course, and Money Course. Summer holiday activities are evaluated: 4.7 out of 5 overall satisfaction, 33% increase in social connectedness, and 89% of parents reporting increased confidence for their child. Link work provided crisis support, accompaniment to appointments, advocacy, and practical grants for beds and school uniforms.