About us
Who we are
Broadleaf is a community-led family hub supporting children, young people and families who are seeking community, connection and a sense of belonging.
We work with families who face additional challenges, including neurodivergent and disabled children, young people with mental health challenges, and families navigating neurodivergence, disability, or complex or unmet needs. Many of our families have experienced isolation, anxiety and disconnection.
Broadleaf was founded in 2008 by local parents who could not find appropriate, inclusive support for their children or families. Rather than accept that gap, they created what was missing. That reflexive, grassroots approach remains at the heart of Broadleaf today.
We are passionate about collaborative working and have had the joy of running projects alongside Turner Sims Theatre, South Bank Centre, Countryside Education Trust, BBC Gardener’s World, Hampshire Music Service, University of Southampton and many more.
We believe family life should be joyful, inspiring and whole-human, and community is a central part of this worldview. Broadleaf is our supportive community, offering care, friendship and information from fellow families.
We are still led by parents and carers, working as volunteers alongside a small paid team, shaping provision in direct response to lived experience and community need. Broadleaf exists because families designed — and continue to design — the support they themselves needed.
Between us, we volunteer over 120 hours every week in order to create a space for our children and young people to access opportunities, friendship and community to build wellness, self-esteem, ambition and health.
We invite other children, young people and parents to join us for the same exciting possibilities, encouraging them to become part of our welcoming community.
Our roots
We began as a toddler group in a village hall in 2010, running gentle, nurturing groups for children and their parents.
Over the years, Broadleaf has taken many forms, as it has grown to meet the changing needs of our own children and the local community. We aim to model the power of belonging and to provide opportunities not available elsewhere to children and young people who are unable to access mainstream services or education.
We still base all our offerings on our neurodivergent-led, inclusive and consent-based foundations, building a nurturing, caring space for the entire family.
