Why did we create Little NASA?

Soft play cafés are popping up everywhere. Every week there seems to be another one, each more beautiful than the last. So why have we thrown our hat into the ring?

Because nearly everything in Little NASA was born from a question I kept asking myself when life was at its hardest.

Four days before I gave birth to my second son, I nearly lost everything. Overnight, the business I'd spent years building disappeared and, like many parents, I was suddenly trying to juggle a newborn, a toddler, work, old businesses court cases, family health scares, HMRC letters and all the other things life seemed determined to throw at us at once.

When I desperately needed somewhere to escape for an hour, I found myself in soft play cafés. They were beautiful. The coffee was lovely. The people were always kind. They'd ask, "Are you okay?" and at first I'd tell them everything. The jaundice. The baby who wouldn't latch. Standing in the supermarket staring at rows of formula with absolutely no idea which one to buy. My toddler's speech delay. The court battles. The stress. They'd always get this scared for me look, listen and tell me how tough it sounded.

But after quite a few visits seeing that petrified for me look, I stopped talking. I'd smile, nod and say I was fine… I don’t want anyone to feel that way.

That isn't anyone's fault. They weren't counsellors, midwives or health visitors. They were café staff doing their best. It just made me realise how many parents are quietly carrying far more than anyone around them realises.

I kept thinking, why doesn't somewhere exist that understands families a little better? Somewhere built entirely around children aged 0 to 6, where little ones can run, climb, imagine and learn through play while the grown-ups enjoy a proper cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate (because Hayley and Jody would absolutely tell me off if I only mentioned coffee). Somewhere that doesn't just provide a table and Wi-Fi, but becomes part of a parent's support network. A place that shouts, if you need us we are here!

Eventually I stopped asking why it didn't exist and decided to build it.

Little NASA is, of course, a soft play. We want children to have the best time ever. We want birthday parties full of laughter, babies discovering new textures, toddlers disappearing into role play and families making memories together. But underneath all of that is something much bigger.

I want to use the amazing people I've met throughout my career to bring genuine support into our community. Whether that's baby sessions, SEN mornings, parenting workshops, local charities, health professionals or simply creating a place where you know you're always welcome, I want Little NASA to become part of your parenting toolkit.

Now don't get it twisted. You're not going to walk through the door and get a psychological assessment! Most families will come to burn off some energy, grab a drink and head home with very tired little astronauts. That's exactly what we want.

But if someone walks through our doors feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or a little bit alone, then we've got you. Come and have a chat. Let's see what contacts we've got, who we can introduce you to, or whether you just need ten minutes with a hot drink while your little astronauts explore. We can't promise to solve every problem, but we can promise you'll never be made to feel like you're facing it alone.

Because that's the place I was searching for.

And that's the place we've built.