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Homeless children supported by charity's play club

BBC A small boy plays in with a woman in a children's play centre setting. In front of them is a large shallow sandpit filled with flour. The woman has long red hair and is holding a paintbrush sprinkling flour into the pit. She wears a greay cardigan and lanyard which says 'LOVE' repeatedly. The young boy is looking at the sprinkling flour whilst holding two toy spiders. He has short ginger hair and is wearing a blue dressing gown with a Mickey Mouse embroidered logo.BBC
The club has been funded at the centre through money raised by BBC Children in Need

Staff at a homelessness charity have become "like family", according to one single mother who they have helped.

Johura came from Bangladesh to Britain in 2022 with her seven-year-old daughter Habiba and ended up in Stoke-on-Trent after what she called "lots of trouble".

She found refuge with the Gingerbread Centre in Longton which provides a home for single parent families across north Staffordshire.

"It's amazing - they're like blood-related family members. They are all my family, honestly," Johura said.

She added staff at the charity, along with other residents they have helped, have given her lots of support since she moved in two years ago.

"I didn't expect to get such support. British people know how to respect other people so I'm really grateful," Johura added.

Listen on Sounds: Hear what the club means to seven-year-old Habiba

At the centre, children are able to have fun and play in a safe place through the group's activity club, which is funded by BBC Children in Need.

The club aims to rebuild the mental health and self-esteem of children who have experienced homelessness, the charity said.

"It's just a really fun place," Kalisha Savage, from Gingerbread, said.

"The children can leave their worries at the door, forget about everything that's going on and focus on regaining their childhood."

The club will receive £34,000 annually for the next three years from Children in Need to keep the scheme running.

Three women smile at the camera. They stand in front of a wall painted mainly blue with other colours like yellow in broad stripes on it. On the wall are pictures done by children and a brightly coloured clock. The left hand woman has glasses and dark brown hair past her shoulders and wears a dark blue polo shirt. The women in the middle has long black hair past her shoulders and wears a brown jumper with a black jacket over it - a lanyard is around her neck. The woman on the right has shorter, light red hair and wears a black T-shirt.
Staff at Gingerbread said the club helps to build up the self-esteem of youngsters

Johura said her daughter Habiba particularly enjoyed climbing, bowling and farm trips the club staff have organised.

"When she comes here she can meet other residents and make friends," her mother said.

"I also enjoy it very much."

BBC Children in Need Day takes place on 15 November. Find out more about it here.

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