About Us
We are a small group of people with big hearts for our community!
Little Lounge opened in 2015 as a Baby and Toddler group on Friday mornings, run by a group of friends with our own little ones; our ethos was ‘Welcome, Acceptance & Support’
We tried really hard to create a special place for local parents, carers and their little ones. It was a hit! We soon had to create two groups and relocate permanently to Cilfynydd Community Centre.
We are known for our Play Café sessions which are really popular with local families; serving fresh, healthy and affordable food and providing fun play spaces for little ones to explore whilst the grown ups can relax and catch up.
The Little Garden project emerged during the Covid lockdown months. Using our Sensory Garden created in 2017, we re-purposed the space for people to have somewhere they could connect with others safely and enjoy being outdoors. We started a seed and seedling swap and encouraged growing fruit and vegetables at home.
From the success of the Little Garden we launched our Outdoor Adventures Toddler Group in the spring of 2021.
Our big dream is to create a Little Lounge Hub in Cilfynydd, where we can expand our projects, offering more opportunities for groups, workshops and connection. The hub will contain a Café and incorporate The Community Pantry which will be expanded to offer eco friendly products at an affordable price.
The team that started Little Lounge were all part of a local Christian church called Lounge Communities, over the years our volunteer team has grown and not all our volunteers are Christians but Little Lounge maintains a Christian heartbeat at the core of all we do; that God created and loves all people equally and therefore all people should be respected, welcomed and loved regardless of background or belief.
Meet the Team
Katie
Katie started Little Lounge back in 2015 as a Baby and Toddler Group in Cilfynydd. She is a mam of three sassy girls and knows first hand how difficult parenting can be! Her and her husband Steve also lead Lounge Communities which is a local church.
As a couple they are dedicated to serving the people of Cilfynydd and surrounding areas; seeing people equipped, connected and supported in all areas of life. Katie is a proud valleys girl, Welsh speaker and singer of nursery rhymes!
Our Trustees
Our trustees all live in Cilfynydd but come from various walks of life! They share a passion for community, justice and their Christian faith.
They bring a broad range of skills and interests to the table, including environmental awareness, adoption and supporting children with additional needs. The trustees help make important decisions about the running of Little Lounge and make sure the charity grows with the original vision and ethos at the core.
Mark
Mark has many years experience as a trustee in several charities. He is keen to see community develop and thrive. He is passionate about ethics and sustainability, and protecting our world for future generations.
Mark tries to make the best of what the Welsh weather offers by trying to grow his own fruit and vegetables in his garden at home.
Suzanne
Much of Suzanne’s working life has focused on children who have experienced trauma in some way, and their carers. She is particularly interested in how we can build resilience, support children in their emotional wellbeing, and support parents and carers to understand and meet their children’s needs.
Suzanne is a single mum who understands both the challenges and joys of parenting, and the huge importance of community and support.
Our Mission
Little Lounge is a charitable community project committed to facilitating and supporting the wellbeing of residents of Cilfynydd and surrounding communities.
In particular we aim to provide opportunities for families with young children to connect with one another and have access to high quality activities which promote their health and wellbeing.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a safe and welcoming community space for residents to connect, share skills, and feel supported in a positive environment.
We aim to facilitate grass roots innovation and creativity to enhance the lives of residents of Cilfynydd and surrounding areas.
Our Values
Little Lounge is established on Christian faith principles, that all people are created and loved by God. Because of this all people should be treated with acceptance and generosity regardless of belief or background.
We believe God lavishly gives to all people despite their inability to give back, we therefore seek to make all Little Lounge activities and experiences accessible to all. We try to be mindful of affordability, cultural and physical issues which may affect people accessing our projects.
The God of the Bible created the world with a spectrum of beauty and function, we therefore believe all people have valuable skills and abilities to contribute and should be celebrated and encouraged to do so.