Amy’s House is a community focused charity dedicated to supporting children, young people and adults with support with complex needs, disabilities and social, emotional and mental health challenges. Founded from lived experiences and a passion for making a difference, Amy’s House was created to provide safe, nurturing and inclusive spaces where individuals can build confidence, develop life skills, and feel a sense of belonging.
For over 20 years, we have worked closely with families, schools, local authorities and community partners to deliver meaningful support that responds to real needs within our community.
The founding story
Amy’s House was founded in 2003 by Maurice and Meriel Littlewood; after seeing first-hand how tough things could be for their daughter Jayne, whose youngest daughter Molly had complex needs. At the time, there were no local out-of-school clubs or respite services, and like many other parents in similar situations, Jayne felt isolated, out of touch, and completely exhausted.
Tragically, in 1999, Jayne’s eldest daughter Amy passed away after contracting Meningococcal Septicaemia (Meningitis B). In the wake of this devastating loss, the family decided to set up a charity in Amy’s memory. They wanted a place where children like her sister Molly could play, engage with others, and enjoy the kind of experiences many children take for granted. They also wanted it to be somewhere where parents could catch their breath, meet others, and feel supported. This is when Amy’s House was born, and it’s been growing ever since.
In 2011, the family dealt another huge blow when Molly sadly passed away. To honor both girls, we introduced Molly’s Mates march 2020, a day service for adults. Molly’s Mates is Amy’s House’s adult service, designed to support adults with additional needs to develop life skills, social connections and independence through meaningful activities, community experiences and person-centered support.
Our growth
Amy’s House has grown from a small community initiative into a thriving charity supporting children, young people, adults and families across our local community. What began with a simple vision – to create safe, inclusive spaces where people feel valued, supported and understood – has developed into a range of services that make a real difference every day.
Over the years, our work has expanded to meet the growing needs of the community. We now provide specialist services including alternative education provision, inclusive activities, and Molly’s Mates our adult day service, supporting individuals with additional needs to build independence, friendships and life skills.
Our growth has always been guided by our values. We listen carefully to families, professionals and the people we support to understand what is needed most. This ensures that every new service or project is developed with purpose and responds directly to real community needs.
Alongside developing services, we continue to invest in people, partnerships and facilities so we can provide safe, high-quality support. By working closely with local organisations, local authories, schools, social care teams and volunteers, we are able to create opportunities that empower individuals and strengthen our community.
Everything we do is guided by our core values
Inclusion
Everyone belongs at Amy’s House. We celebrate differences and ensure our services are welcoming, accessible and supportive for people of all abilities, backgrounds and experiences.
Person-centered
We recognise that every person is unique. Our support is shaped around individual needs, abilities, and aspirations, ensuring people feel valued, respected and empowered.
Therapeutic
We nurture emotional wellbeing through sensory play, calm spaces, and compassionate care.
Safety and Trust
The wellbeing of our children, young people, adults we support is our priority. We maintain strong safeguarding practices and create safe environments where people feel secure and supported. Our Families rely on us for consistent, professional, and loving support.