Every child deserves the best start — whatever their postcode.
A playcafe with a difference
Juniors began with a simple, stubborn belief: that the children who most need a strong start are too often the ones who get the least support in the years it matters most. We set out to change that in our own community.
Based in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Juniors is part of Families Like Us (SCIO), a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered in October 2012 (SC043484). We work across South and North Lanarkshire supporting families from pregnancy through to their child’s fifth birthday.
Most early years services work with the child. Most family support services work with the adult. We deliberately do both, because they can’t be separated. A child thrives when the family around them is steady — so we wrap practical help, wellbeing support and community connection around every child who comes through our doors. The child is our starting point; the whole family is who we serve.
This sits squarely inside Scotland’s own ambitions — Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC), the Best Start agenda, and the evidence on the first 1,001 days from conception to age two.
That offers:
☑️ Child Milestone Sessions
☑️ Exclusive ASN Play Sessions
☑️ Surplus Clothing
☑️ Parent Support
☑️ Community Larder
☑️ Advocacy
☑️ Benefit and Money Management
☑️ Walk & Talk
☑️ Talk, Learn, Do
☑️ Fuel Poverty
☑️ Homework Club
☑️ Back to work club
What makes Juniors different:
Confidentiality & Stigma-Free Support
We’re not a generic family hub. We are early years specialists with the practical infrastructure to back it up: a physical centre, a Community Larder, trained family support workers. We don’t just say we help — we measure whether we do.
Supporting Contact Visits
In addition to providing a welcoming play cafe setting for families, our center is also utilised by social workers for contact visits. We recognise the importance of maintaining and strengthening family bonds, even in challenging circumstances. Through our safe and supervised environment, families can enjoy contact visits that promote healthy relationships and positive interactions.
240,000 Children Living in Scotland are Living in Poverty
Ensuring that children have access to regular and nutritious meals has numerous benefits for their overall well-being and development.
Here are some of the key benefits:
Physical Health
Cognitive Development
Emotional Well-being
Social Interaction
Healthy Habits
Overall, ensuring that children are well-fed not only addresses their immediate nutritional needs but also has a long-lasting impact on their physical health, cognitive development, emotional well-being, social interactions, and future habits. It is essential for creating a strong foundation for their overall growth and success.
