SKYLARKS TO OPEN NEW HOUNSLOW HUB FOR CHILDREN WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS IN MAJOR EXPANSION
An independent charity that supports thousands of families in south-west London is set to expand its reach with the launch of a brand-new site in Hounslow this summer.
Skylarks, founded in 2006 by a group of volunteer parents, has grown into a lifeline for over 6,000 children and young people with disabilities and additional needs, as well as their families. Its latest development comes at a time when families in the borough are grappling with shrinking access to support services.
The new Hounslow hub is being created in collaboration with Architecture:WK (AWK), a local firm with a track record of sustainable community projects. Together, they aim to transform a disused building into a purpose-designed space where children with additional needs can play, develop and thrive—while their families receive essential advice, respite and community support.
“Hounslow is a rapidly growing area of need,” said Aaron Guiver, Managing Director at Skylarks. “More often than not, families of children with additional needs are unfortunately finding it commonplace that support services are being actively withdrawn. Skylarks intends to step up and actively engage with more families in need of help.”
The new space will host free family-friendly activities, special educational needs and disability (SEND) education advice, advocacy services and peer support, echoing Skylarks’ broader mission to build a more inclusive and connected community. Skylarks also offers online webinars and nationwide support, but the demand for in-person services is growing.
The expansion arrives as several other charities in Hounslow have shut down, leaving a vacuum in local support. “With the recent closure of charities in Hounslow, Skylarks is creating a new centre designed specifically for children with additional needs and their families,” Guiver continued. “Skylarks is about community, and when we met architect Sam Kamleh, we knew she and her team were the right people for the refurbishment.”
Sam Kamleh, Founding Director of AWK, shares the vision: “We are thrilled to be working with Skylarks—a charity that is close to our hearts—and to be involved in bringing a tired building back into such good use,” she said. “The upgrades to the fabric and the vision that Aaron and his team had for the space were very much in line with our biophilic design intentions and sustainability ethos, with a building appropriately set in a park. We’re excited to see the building in use!”
Skylarks’ ability to expand without statutory funding is a testament to its resilience and resourcefulness. Operating in the face of rising demand and funding challenges, the charity continues to innovate and scale through sheer community strength and collaborative partnerships.
Guiver concluded: “We are delighted to work closely with AWK, who fully comprehend our brief and are maximising the available space to capitalise on its full potential. We thank AWK for their professional support, care and sensitive consideration of our expansion project.”
For more information, visit www.skylarks.charity.
