Challenge (Before)
In March 2025, an asylum-seeking single mother with a three-year-old child was referred to the Play, Learn & Thrive (PL&T) Project from SMF – another DPIA project. They had recently been relocated from London to Home Office temporary accommodation in Cardiff. This mother was new to Cardiff and to Wales. She had previously been active and was looking for activities for both her and her daughter.
Intervention (Action)
A DPIA staff member assisted them in registering for the Play, Learn & Thrive Project. The child was invited to all age-appropriate play sessions, trips, walks, and outings. Covering bus fares was an essential condition for attendance, as the mother would otherwise have been unable to afford travel and unable to leave her home.
The mother and child were also made aware of a variety of free events, community spaces, parks, and playgrounds, including the National Museum Cardiff, Museum of Cardiff, Techniquest, the Senedd, Roath Park, ParcPlay, AntsInyaPants, Cardiff Central Library, the Trinity Centre, and the Wales Millennium Centre, Railway Garden. Overall, they attended 56 various sessions.
They were further referred to other organisations providing activities for children and asylum-seeking young women, such as WRC and Oasis.
Results (After)
The child has become noticeably more confident. She now has a safe space where she does not experience loneliness and has formed friendships with other PL&T Project participants. She is often heard laughing and engaging socially. She has developed social skills that will support her adaptation when she starts school. Her favourite activities are crafts, playtime in Trinity Centre and Ukrainian Hub and walks.
The mother is now more aware of the wide variety of activities available for children, including free options, and is better able to access opportunities for her child’s learning and social development. However, covering bus fares and offering a space for playtime are still essential.
