This has been a challenging year for Families Matter. We have had to adapt to the changing economic climate but we’ve managed and are still meeting the needs of families in our community.
We continue to look for areas of need not being supported by existing services and secure appropriate funding. Our project meeting earlier in the year created some new ideas, thank you to everyone who contributed. Project meetings are a great opportunity to meet together, share knowledge and encourage one another. I continue to be grateful to the fantastic team of staff and volunteers, without them our work would not be possible.
On the Right Track – School’s Work
Joy Drake works primarily in the Blackfield area and covers: Cadland Primary, Blackfield Primary and
This year Joy has supported:
- CADLAND PRIMARY – 7 children and 5 parents
- BLACKFIELD PRIMARY – 8 children and 6 parents
- ORCHARD JUNIORS – 1 child
- HARDLEY SECONDARY – lunch club every Monday in partnership with the Locality Team, YISP, Fawley Youth Worker, and the School Attendance Officer.
- MARCHWOOD JUNIORS – Weekly lunch-time drop-in sessions in partnership with the Handy Trust.
Other Family Work (not directly with the OTRT children/ parents)
- HARDLEY
- 1 family with a CAF (common assessment framework)
- 1 family with a child on a reduced timetable in Fresh Start and another child
- about to start infant school
- CADLAND – 1 family with an autistic child in year R
- BLACKFIELD – 1 family with an autistic child in year 4
- HYTHE – providing on-going support for 1 family
ADHD Support Group
9 families – some just attending the group, other requiring more extensive follow-up
Joy has also been asked to join the steering committee for a research project being conducted by
An Example of a Successful Outcome.
One family Joy has been working with for some time who were extremely needy: the child was on the child protection register, they were isolated and the mother had no support networks. Things have changed immeasurably, the child is off the CP register and the mother is now volunteering regularly at school enabling her to gain confidence and make friends. She was recently invited to be part of a presentation involving local dignitaries in recognition of the contribution that she is making. She is also part of the PTA for the school.
Beverly Eyres works in the Hythe area and covers: Hythe Primary, Waterside Primary, Wildground Junior, Orchard Junior, Noadswood and Applemore schools.
This year Bev has supported:
- HYTHE PRIMARY - 10 children
- ORCHARD JUNIORS - 2 children
- WIDGROUND JUNIORS - 9 children
- WATERSIDE PRIMARY - 7 children
- NOADSWOOD SECONDARY – 21 children transitioning. The Noadswood induction went more smoothly this year
She also gave regular update calls to their parents and signposted parents in need of support and advice to Louise Wells our local Parent Support Advisor.
All OTRT children have received extra visits to either their secondary schools.
An Example of a Successful Outcome.
Feedback from a parent whose son was really anxious about the transition reported that OTRT had been great for her son. Since having the visits he was far happier about things and actually looking forward to starting, now!
On occasions the school’s team are required to attend ‘team around the child’ meetings with other agencies seeking to assist families with differing needs.
I would like to thank both Joy and Bev for the hard work and dedication. They have helped so many children and their parents over the last few years.
Supporting Parents of Teenagers/ Youth Offending Team.
We have run only one
Parenting courses were once a major part of our work however, we have adapted to the changes filling gaps in services and meeting the needs of the hard to reach in our society.
Mental Health Service User’s Group
This group continues to thrive. I am grateful to my co-facilitator Sue Guymer for her support and dedication, also Madeline Slade and Helen Turnpenny who stand-in during holidays.
The group continues to offer support to parents who have mental health problems. We have seen lots of new members. The Perinatal Team recently referred one lady very new to the area. The isolation she was experiencing was exacerbating her depression and eating disorder. People are referred for a variety of reasons including depression; bi polar; eating disorders; self-harming and anxiety disorders. Most of our referrals come from the over-stretched Community Mental Health Team. The support members experience in the group can be life changing. We have recently undertaken an evaluation process to ascertain the impact the group has upon members. We have been delighted with the responses; they affirm we are having a positive impact.
We asked members to use three words to describe themselves when they joined the group and three words to describe them now. (I have picked out a few examples)
Before
- Isolated
- Anxious
- Unhappy
- Ugly
- Alone
- Stressed
- Low self-esteem
Now
- Confident
- Supported
- Happy
- Attractive
- Valued
- Less-stressed
- Valued
As you can see by these responses the group empowers real changes in attitudes.
A new development this year has be a secret Facebook group. This was set up by one of the members to enable group members past and present who access Facebook to keep in touch. This virtual group has been really successful. Members can post events that may be of interest, announce successes but more importantly can post when they are feeling depressed, anxious, lonely or upset, and need a supportive word. I have been exposed to the wonders of Facebook as they asked me to supervise the group to ensure no bullying or unkind comments were posted. I can admit I am a Facebook convert; not only have I been able to keep in touch with the group members during the week, I have also been reunited with old school friends and even family I’d lost contact with! Used in the correct manner Facebook is a great tool for combating isolation and forging friendships, I would thoroughly recommend it.
Our mental health work is a real growth area with mental distress on the increase and services over-stretched we have been able to support and empower parents to hope for a better future. Studies suggest that there is lower uptake of early years and other universal services in families where a parent has a mental health problem, with the associated compounding factors of social isolation and stigma. Research indicates that early intervention and prevention are the key principles to improving outcomes for children and families where there is a parental mental health difficulty. It is thought that universal services are not adequately reaching this vulnerable group and there is a need for targeted support. Supporting parents in this way improves outcomes for children.
I would like to thank Val, Jill, Irene and Anne for their patience and dedication, running the crèche and making the members feel welcomed and reassured their children are in safe hands. We should not underestimate the effect having a break from the children and space to talk through their problems has on these parents.
3C’s – Coffee, Cake and Chat
This group continues to serve the community by offering a warm and friendly welcome, a listening ear and of course
I would like to thank all the volunteers involved for their hard work and dedication without them this group would not be able to run.
Deliberate Self-Harm Group
We have been disappointed not to be able to develop this idea further. After initial positive meetings with CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service) and Brookvale things went quiet. They have been under extreme pressure and due to the cuts in NHS budgets and a freeze on employing new staff they are currently understaffed. We still hope to set-up a support group for parents of children engaged in DSH (deliberate self-harm), but will seek funding externally. This is still an area where there is no support currently offered and cases are on the increase. We hope to secure funding to run an 8-week course, two or three times a year. This will offer parents support, time to talk to each other and educate them regarding DSH.
Emotional First Aid Course
I completed the ‘Emotional First Aid for Children’ course, run by Southampton Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. The course focussed on emotion distress in children and young people and how to recognise the signs and assist them to access appropriate services.
Mental Health Awareness in Children and Adolescents.
Joy has completed the 14-week mental health awareness course. She found it extremely useful not only in her work with children in schools but also her work with parents in the ADHD support group. Having an experienced and well-trained workforce is crucial especially as the children we support are often very vulnerable.
Funding
Securing funding for current projects is a continuous process. This is tough especially in the current financial climate; statutory agencies are often applying for grants that once were open exclusively to voluntary agencies. I have attended course run by Community Action Hampshire this was informative and helpful but did reiterate how tough lots of charities are finding things.
We are extremely grateful to the Tudor Trust and Hampshire County Council for their financial support.
Networking
Networking continues to be an important part on my work. Without the co-operation and collaboration of colleagues in education, health, social services and other voluntary or third sector organisations we would not be able to survive. Partnership working is a key element of our work and is encouraged by this and the previous government. Although meetings can be laborious it is often these times when we meet significant people who can inform us of funding streams or the changing strategies in the county. It is important to keep abreast of developments.
Personal Development
I have now completed the ‘Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care’ course and graduated on
I would like to thank the trustees/ management at Families Matter for their support and the opportunities they have given me. I would also like to thank the members of the church who have prayed for me and for the project.
Sharon Ellery
Development Manager
