Family Compass

04/02/2026

The BBC Radical podcast recently featured Louise Allen, a foster carer sharing powerful reflections on care, connection, and what children in foster care really need to thrive.

Most children in care are fostered, but there is a shortage of 6,000 foster carers nationally. Why is that?

As an organisation that works closely with children in foster care and the carers who support them, this one really stayed with us.

We’d love to know - have you listened? What resonated with you? What conversations did it spark for you as a care-experienced child or young person, foster carer, professional, or ally?

Link in the comments ...

27/01/2026

Calling all Ilfracombe friends and supporters!

If you shop at Tesco Ilfracombe, please take a moment to vote for Family Compass in the Tesco Stronger Starts community vote.

Every day, we support local children and families, helping children and young people grow in confidence, manage their big feelings, and find their sparkle. Your vote means more hope, more smiles, and stronger families right here in Ilfracombe.

Thank you for helping us to help our community 🙏

16/01/2026

We would like to say a HUGE thank you to Sam, Stu and their customers at The feel good Larder in Barnstaple...

Thanks to their amazing donations, we now have an incredible array of art kit, sensory equipment, books and crafty stuff... all of which will be used by the children we support during their therapy sessions. It's always a struggle for us to fund resources like this, but they make such a difference, enriching activities and encouraging creativity.

If you fancy a coffee, a tasty wholesome salad or a yummy gluten free cake you will not find a more welcoming place 💛

We love our community!

15/01/2026

Someone amazing recently recommended the podcast Strangers on a Bench to us - and it’s such a beautiful reminder that while we’re all different, there is humanity and goodness in every single one of us. And EVERYONE is interesting...especially the people who don't think they are!

Have you listened? What did you think?

https://www.youtube.com/

A new podcast where singer-songwriter Tom Rosenthal talks to strangers on park benches.

08/01/2026

Sometimes healing doesn’t begin with words.

In the therapy space, creative self-expression opens doors that conversation alone cannot. This wooden frame - beautifully transformed by a young person during a dramatherapy session -holds more than butterflies and flowers. It holds curiosity, safety, and a moment of being truly seen.

This is the quiet power of dramatherapy - meeting someone where they are, and inviting them to explore who they are becoming.

07/01/2026

First day back in the office after a few months away from CEO duties. It may be chilly in temperature (January boiler issues!! Argh!), but there was a very warm welcome from this lovely lot 🤗

17/12/2025

So many hampers for the families that we work with!

Paul Stevens Danny Stevens 3 little birds helping those that need it most

Your fundraising is amazing, thank you to your team for getting the hampers to us. They will be appreciated by the families of the children and young people that we work with.

16/12/2025

We are so lucky to be supported by The Tony Hudgell Foundation again this year, who have donated 43 presents to be distributed to the young people that we work with.

Everyone at Family Compass is blown away by the effort that goes in to matching presents to families that will really appreciate them.

Tony Hudgell Foundation 😍⭐️

11/12/2025

What a fab evening we had, hosting the end of the Reclaim the night walk, in association with Early Nourishment and NDADA.

Our Inhale Exhale Programme is an early mental health service providing Therapeutic Mentoring for children and young people who are struggling with their mental health and are not receiving support.

Please donate via our website at www.familycompass.co.uk/donations all funds will enable us to support children and young people.

09/12/2025

Many thanks to Rae and our friends at Tesco Barnstaple who have donated some essentials this week. These items will help keep the centre going as we head into 2026. We always need Squash, biscuits, toilet rolls, tea and coffee, and are extremely grateful to anyone that can donate.

02/12/2025

We welcomed the High Sheriff of Devon to Family Compass.

Many thanks for joining us on your trip across North Devon.

As always, grateful to .