The Broadleaf Approach
Community infrastructure for families outside school
Broadleaf brings children, young people and their families together through creativity, nature and shared experiences.
We are a parent-led community for families who home educate and those whose children are currently unable to attend school. Some families have chosen this path from the beginning; others arrive after difficult experiences or during a period of uncertainty. All are welcome.
Together, we are building community infrastructure for families outside school systems: lasting relationships, shared resources, regular opportunities and connections to support.
Parents remain on site and are part of community life. The people shaping and running Broadleaf are themselves participating families, bringing their skills, interests and lived experience to something we build together.
Why this infrastructure matters
Children and young people need friendship, opportunities to explore their interests, and places where they feel accepted. Parents need connection, encouragement and people they can turn to.
Families outside school systems often have to assemble these things themselves, across separate activities, services and networks. This takes time, energy and money. For those navigating disability, anxiety or unmet needs, the barriers can be greater still.
Broadleaf brings opportunities, relationships and support together within an established community. Families can find their people, share knowledge and access opportunities through a network that grows with them.
One community, connected opportunities
Creative projects, time in nature, performance and shared interests bring us together. Through them, children and young people develop skills, explore ideas, build friendships and contribute to community life.
Alongside these activities, families exchange practical knowledge, offer encouragement and connect with information and specialist support.
Our partnerships with artists, researchers, community organisations and health services bring further opportunities into the community. Familiar relationships can make it easier for families to discover what is available and take the next step when they are ready.
Each part strengthens the others. An activity can become the beginning of a friendship; a conversation can lead to support; a shared interest can grow into a new project.
How we work
Relationships come first
We take time to get to know children, young people and their families. Familiar people, consistent relationships and a sense of belonging create the trust from which participation and confidence can grow.
Participation is based on choice
We invite and encourage participation, respecting each person’s pace and preferences. Watching, taking a break or joining gradually are valid ways to begin. Children and young people have a voice in how they take part.
Lived experience shapes our approach
Broadleaf is neurodivergent-led, and many participating families have experience of disability, anxiety and barriers to accessing opportunities. This understanding shapes how we plan activities, respond to individual needs and support one another.
Emotional safety matters
We recognise that some families come to Broadleaf carrying stress or difficult experiences. We work to create welcoming, predictable spaces where people can develop trust without pressure to explain everything or participate before they feel ready. With a trauma-informed practice and experienced team, we hold space.
What this means in practice
On the ground, this looks like:
Families staying on site, building safety alongside their young person
Small, consistent groups that develop trust over time
Skilled facilitators who prioritise relationships over outcomes
Flexible engagement - young people can step in and out as needed
Activities used as vehicles for connection, not measures of success
Calm, predictable environments with reduced sensory and social pressure
Long-term support, rather than short-term intervention
We do not ask young people to “fit” the space; we shape the space around them.
Built by families, strengthened by partnerships
Broadleaf has grown from a family community established in 2010. Parents contribute their time, knowledge and creativity, while children and young people help shape the community as their interests and confidence develop.
This shared contribution sustains the relationships and opportunities on which families rely. Our partnerships strengthen that foundation by bringing additional expertise, resources and experiences into community life.
Our involvement in research and policy also creates opportunities for families’ experiences to inform wider understanding and practice.
