Our History: Over 50 Years of Community and Support

From a Kitchen Table to a City-Wide Community

Kith & Kids began in 1969 with a simple but powerful realization: families of children with disabilities were often left to navigate a world of isolation and limited resources on their own.

What started as a self-help group founded by two sets of parents in London has grown into a pioneering charity. Those founding families sought to create a “common meeting ground” where they could share experiences, provide mutual support, and make their voices heard. They named the organization Kith & Kids drawing on the old phrase “kith and kin” to emphasize that their members are more than just service users; they are family and friends.

Decades of Growth and Innovation

While the scale of our work has expanded far beyond what our founders originally envisioned, our core ethos remains the same. We have spent over five decades adapting to the evolving needs of families living with autism and learning disabilities.

  • The 1970s & 80s: Establishing our “self-help” roots, we began running the first social development projects and summer camps, providing vital respite and social opportunities that were otherwise unavailable.

  • The 1990s & 2000s: We formalized our volunteer training programs, recognizing that well-supported volunteers are the bridge between our members and the wider community. In 2000, Kith & Kids was formally incorporated as a charitable company.

  • The 2010s: We expanded our focus to include long-term adult support. This decade saw the launch of projects like KLASP (Kith and Kids Lifetime Advocacy Support Project), founded by parents to ensure that their children with disabilities would have someone who would speak for them and ensure their quality of life and an advocate even after their parents were no longer able to support them.

Facing Challenges Together

Our history hasn’t been without its hurdles. From navigating financial shifts to the sudden death of our long-time CEO, Marjolein de Vries, in 2023, the Kith & Kids community has always pulled together. Our resilience is a testament to the dedication of our trustees, many of whom are parents of members themselves, and the hundreds of volunteers who join us every year.

Our Legacy Today

Today, Kith & Kids supports over 250 families annually through our Tottenham-based hub. We continue to run our signature Social Development Projects, Weekend Clubs, the Employment & Life Skills project, and KLASP,  always putting the individual needs of our members at the heart of everything we do.

We remain proud that many of our founding families are still active within the organization. Their original spirit of empowerment and social inclusion continues to drive us as we look forward to the next 50 years.