Honeypot was founded on 13 April 1992 by Lisa Nelson Stratton to realise a childhood dream of helping children who had not enjoyed the childhood advantages she had. Originally called The Nelson Trust, the charity was initially set up for the relief of children who were handicapped, ill, or otherwise in need, by providing holidays in residential homes.
The first house was Honeypot Hampshire in The New Forest, which opened its doors in 1996. The charity’s name was changed to The Honeypot Home Charity and it’s objectives widened to improve quality of life for under privileged children. Many came to the house for holidays from the East End of London. In 1999 our name was shortened to The Honeypot Charity, before eventually becoming what we are known as today: The Honeypot Children’s Charity.
In the early 2000s it became clear that a particular group of children - young carers who had largely remained under the radar - were desperately in need of support and Honeypot has specialised in this group ever since, while also supporting non-carers whose circumstances place their wellbeing at risk.
Over the years our services have grown to adapt to the ever-changing needs of these children, and our reach has widened throughout the UK. Our second house, Honeypot Pen y Bryn, opened in Wales in 2016. A third house soon followed with Honeypot Dalleagles opening in Scotland in 2023.
From humble beginnings, Honeypot now supports over 3,000 children each year. Depending on the age a child is first referred to us, we provide ongoing support for up to 8 years. Honeypot is the only UK charity offering this consistent level of support for children aged 5-12. We celebrated our 30th Birthday in 2026, marking key milestone achievements throughout our history.
We believe every child has the right to make the most of their one chance at childhood, regardless of the circumstances they experience. This is why Honeypot exists.
Simmi Woodwal | Honeypot Chief Executive
