In August 2013, Single Parent Action Network (SPAN) joined together with another Bristol based charity – Silai for Skills – and took over the management of the Silai Building which was renamed as ‘The Silai Centre’.

Silai means ‘sewing’ in Urdu and upholds the heritage of the Silai Project, which started as a sewing project for Asian women who were isolated and disadvantaged. Silai developed into a thriving community learning and enterprise project supporting women of diverse backgrounds. They specialised in sewing and upholstery and this area of work has continued inside The Silai Centre.

The Silai Centre is now SPAN’s headquarters as well as a fantastic community resource in inner-city Bristol. At the Silai Centre, SPAN offers the following services to the local community:

• Adult learning opportunities
• A family friendly and affordable community café
• Early years services
• Family support services
• Sewing & upholstery workshops
• Hair salon
• Room hire
• Volunteering and work experience opportunities

The Silai Centre is also the home of:

• The Brigstowe Project
• Young Mother’s Group Trust
• Money, debt and benefit advice sessions run by St Paul’s Advice Centre
• 1:1 career service appointments run by the National Career Service
• Monthly legal advice sessions for single parents run by
• Simpson and Miller Solicitors
• Easton Energy