Bright Spaces®

A Special Place for Children

Making a Difference

Bright Spaces are warm, safe, enriching places in homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and other agencies for children and youth experiencing homelessness or other crises to:

• build caring relationships,
• heal from trauma through play, and
• experience the joy of childhood.

In a Bright Space, children can play, families can gather, and agency staff can provide programming and services to families in need. Our goal is to create a safe, supportive atmosphere to instill positive self-concept and self-esteem that foster resiliency in children and build stronger families.

Today, there are 2.5 million children experiencing homelessness in the U.S. and at least 1 in 15 American children has been exposed to some form of family violence. The reality for these children is that there are fewer opportunities for them to develop the social, cognitive, language, and gross motor skills that are important for academic success. This has serious and long-lasting developmental outcomes, which often contribute to a cycle of instability that is difficult to break.

Our dream is for every Bright Space to be the place where children and families in crisis can find the safety and opportunity they deserve to experience enriching childhoods and strengthen the well-being of their families.

For more information on Bright Spaces in the U.S., please contact us at brightspaces@brighthorizons.com.

For more information on Bright Spaces in the UK and Ireland, contact Tracy Wilkes-Green at twilkes-green@brighthorizons.com