Young care leavers find strength together at Sunflower Lounge

From a traumatic childhood, Helen Davies overcame imposter syndrome and self-doubt to found Sunflower Lounge and create a safe space for young people estranged from their families and care leavers.

Sunflower Lounge is a Social Enterprise in Neath which nurtures care experienced young people, care leavers and young people estranged from their families.

Having grown up in a difficult and traumatic environment, Helen is estranged from her family. As a teen, her closest friend lived in a children’s home. Without warning, one day she was suddenly moved to a new home in a different county. Helen never saw or spoke to her again.

The injustice and loneliness burned for thirty years, and Helen became determined to make sure young people don’t suffer alone, and have people to champion them, to listen to them, and to love them.

So Helen founded Sunflower Lounge.

The right level of understanding and unique support is missing for many young people in traumatic situations. These children and young people need and deserve more.

“People said I was crazy trying to set up Sunflower Lounge – a centre where young people estranged from their families (like the young me) and young care leavers can learn skills in a safe, trusted environment, build friendships, independence, and self-esteem, and finally feel that they belong – but I did it anyway!

“Four years on, we have our own little premises, young people from across south and west Wales who want to get involved, and a web of trusted adults supporting me, the Lounge, and the young people.

“At Sunflower Lounge our main work is with care experienced young people as they transition out of the care system. There is no upper age limit to be a part of our tribe. Most of the young people in South Wales who need our support are aged 18 plus. This was the most important goal for us:  when other services step away, we step up.”

Many of the care experienced young people Helen works with faced really tough times as they transitioned out of care during Covid, often being housed in areas they didn’t know, with little or no support system and few skills to help them live independently.

Their experiences of mental health struggles, loneliness, and isolation while sofa surfing and struggling to survive meant that Sunflower Lounge was an essential resource.

Cwmpas has supported Helen and Sunflower Lounge in various business areas: from advice on setting up and running a social enterprise, to support with funding applications, advice on digital inclusion, and support from the Cwmpas ‘Communities Creating Homes’ team.

Helen learned how to measure the value of social impact at a Cwmpas event held in Bridgend, and she has calculated Sunflower Lounge’s social impact value at a huge £25.93 for every £1 invested (figures available).

Sunflower Lounge provides opportunities for young people to learn employability skills, life skills, and social skills, and to build trusted friendships and support networks where individuals grow together to gain independence in a safe environment.

As a young person, Helen was told that she wouldn’t achieve anything in her life.

“This has been an incredible healing process, overcoming imposter syndrome and the belief that I was no good.

“It has shown me that treating people with love, respect, and kindness is much more fulfilling and effective than being a slave to money.

“There are organisations to go to for help when things go wrong, but the loneliest, most isolating times can be when things are starting to pick up, when you have achieved something or had something to celebrate, but you had no one to call, no one to tell, no one that would be super pleased for you.

“The Lounge is a safe space where people are able to laugh, cry, be happy or sad, without judgement.

“Our social impact value score gives a good indication of the economic and social impact that Sunflower Lounge brings, and how valued and needed it is to our little tribe, and to Wales.

“My mantra is ‘Find your tribe’ and ‘Stronger together’. On the hard days I rest but don’t quit. The rest of the time, I push away the negative talk and dig deep, push for change, and make sure that when you’re part of the tribe, you’re never alone.”

Sunflower Lounge works with young people from nine years of age plus across Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Cardiff, and Powys, working with local authorities, advocacy organisations and universities across Wales to deliver training, mentoring and interventions to support young people.

Helen was one of three finalists for the ‘Women in Social Enterprise’ award at the Social Business Wales Awards in 2022, and won the 2024 Neath Port Talbot Lord Mayor Citizens Award for ‘Health and Wellbeing’. Helen and the young people of Sunflower Lounge have appeared on The One Show, BBC Radio 4, and Radio Wales.