Our History

How it all began…

Ormiston Families exists today because of one family’s tragedy.

A young woman, Fiona Ormiston Murray, died while on her honeymoon. Fiona loved children and it was no secret that she was excited about starting her own family. Her family, devastated by their loss, wanted to do something to honour her memory. They created a charitable trust devoted to helping children and families in need. That trust is now known as Ormiston Families.

Here for families since 1981

We launched our first family centre in Ipswich in 1981 and have since delivered a diverse range of powerful services in areas including:

Families affected by imprisonment
Young people’s mental health
Bereaved children
Mothers who have had a children taken into care

Our work has supported thousands of families across the East of England with a clear aim at its heart – for everyone in the region to feel happier, stronger and understood.

A hopeful future

We are proud of our past – but our work continues to be of vital importance.

Our vision remains at the core of all we do.

It is driven by our values of collaboration, compassion and effectiveness and our firm belief that the families we work with should shape the work we do.