Sama Play Cafe was created by me, Hafsah - a local Children’s Nurse, Health Visitor and mum of Liyana, a (very energetic!) now 5 year old.
I moved to Newport and became a new mum in the midst of the first lockdown in 2020 and like others, really felt I'd missed out on the socialising aspect of maternity leave during this time. Initially all baby groups and classes were closed due to Covid rules but once lockdown lifted, I soon became frustrated with the lack of indoor play spaces in Newport featuring the things that were important to me. These were: good quality food and drink especially balanced options for children, a clean play space with a variety of toys and lastly, comfy seating I could park myself on and still be able to see my daughter play from where I was sat.
After lots of conversations with other mums feeling the same, two whole years of researching and planning, I finally jumped straight in and Sama Play Cafe was born! Sama is my daughter's middle name and means 'heavens' or 'skies' referencing the canopy above the world. I really wanted my space to be like an all-encompassing community hub for parents/carers and so the idea of this canopy felt fitting.
It has been a long journey and the space has changed so much since I got the keys in May 2024. I am so proud of all my hard work, and can’t wait to share it with you and your families. I truly hope that you love Sama Play Cafe as much as I do!
