We envision...
A world where children feel safe, seen, and free to form healthy family connections.
Our Mission
We are a registered nonprofit organisation committed to restoring and strengthening relationships between children and their families by providing safe, structured spaces for reconnection.
We support children and their caregivers to rebuild trust, improve communication, and navigate conflict in a way that prioritises the well-being of the child.
Jade and Ernest Lawson
Founders of the Samuel Lawson Foundation
Our Story
The Samuel Lawson Foundation was founded by Jade and Ernest Lawson in loving memory of their son, Samuel, who was stillborn at 38 weeks. His memory inspires our commitment to helping children experience safety, connection and belonging.
Through her work as an advocate in family law, Jade saw families leave court with an order for contact, yet struggle to find a suitable place or afford the support they needed. She wanted to help create somewhere families could turn.
Together, Jade and Ernest established the Foundation and its flagship project, The Treehouse Family Centre. What began with a deeply personal loss has grown into a shared commitment to caring for children and supporting families through difficult transitions.
Samuel’s legacy lives on through the care, hope and connection this work makes possible.
Our work today
Treehouse is the first expression of our vision: a welcoming family centre in Table View, Cape Town.
As the Foundation grows, we hope to bring this care closer to more families and communities.
Accountability and care
The Samuel Lawson Foundation is a registered Non-Profit Company and an approved Public Benefit Organisation. Section 18A certificates are available for qualifying donations.
NPC registration: 2025/818576/08
SARS PBO number: 930088519
For information about the Foundation, partnership opportunities or supporting documents, please contact our team.
In the news
TygerBurger
11 September 2026
A new Table View centre helping families rebuild parent-child connections.
CapeTalk · Lunch with Pippa Hudson
Jade Lawson and Tanya Daniels discuss supervised contact and the support available through the Foundation.
Good Things Guy
16 September 2026
The story behind Treehouse and a safe place for children to reconnect.