2019 | Family Action

2019 | Family Action

FROM THE WEBSITE: Family Action works to tackle some of the most complex and difficult issues facing families today – including financial hardship, mental health problems, social isolation, learning disabilities, domestic abuse, or substance misuse and alcohol problems.

These issues can have a huge impact on the stability of family life, and will have a significant impact on the health, wellbeing and development of all family members.

Family Action believes that families facing these difficulties should have the support they need to become stronger, happier and healthier. With the right kind of support, families can overcome their difficulties and find hope for a brighter future.

Family Action works directly with vulnerable children and families through their services and also support professionals and organisations through training and consultancy provision.

Family Action provides high-quality training and consultancy services for a wide range of organisations – local authorities, the NHS, schools/academies, early years settings, adoption and fostering agencies, charities and commercial enterprises.

The open workshops, in-house training and consultancy draw on Family Action’s extensive experience of delivering programmes and services to support children and families across the country. This ensures that our training and consultancy is always based on real-world experience, reflects the latest research, and is grounded in best practice.

INFORMATION:

– Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge took over as Patron from The Queen in December 2019.

EFFORTS:

November 14, 2017 – Visiting Hornsey Road Children’s Centre – The Duchess of Cambridge visited the Hornsey Road Children’s in London. The Hornsey Road Children’s Centre provides childcare, family support and outreach services in the Holloway area of Islington, London. Duriing the visit, Catherine witnessed some of the valuable family and parental support services which are delivered at the Centre, including those offered by the charity Family Action, particularly the perinatal services which work with women (and men) who have mental health issues before or following the birth of a baby. The charity offers a professionally supervised volunteer befriending service that makes a very positive difference both to mom and baby and to the wider family too. The Duchess also toured the facilities and joined a round-table discussion with experts and practitioners in maternal mental health.

January 22, 2019 – Duchess of Cambridge Visits Family Action – The Duchess of Cambridge visited Family Action in Lewisham, South London to launch a new national support line ‘FamilyLine’, which uses a network of volunteers from across the country to support parents & carers through phone calls, email and texts. Family Action is a charity that helps families by providing practical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation across the country. This year they are celebrating their 150th anniversary. During her hour long visit Catherine heard about Family Action’s new campaign, which urges families to talk about the challenges that many of them face. Her Royal Highness talked with young carers about how they cope with school pressure and caring for their families she also heard from volunteers about their training and listened to an expert coaching session for the new ‘FamilyLine’, which was focused on perinatal mental health. The visit today is just another effort in Catherine’s mission in supporting children from their earliest years. The Duchess of Cambridge is currently driving a research project to establish what more can be done in and across the UK to give children their best possible start in life.

May 20, 2019 – The Queen Visits Catherine’s ‘Back To Nature’ Garden – Before showing off her own ‘Back To Nature Garden’ to Her Majesty and other members of The Royal Family The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took a moment to tour the ‘Family Monsters’ Garden with Alistair Bayford, who designed the garden which was named ‘Best Artisan Garden’, partly made at Swaffham’s Escape community allotment run by the charity Family Action. The space was filled with symbolism, such as trees with obvious imperfections to convey how families can grow together after tackling challenges, and boulders and pebbles of different shapes and sizes to represent different family monsters, which become smaller when we talk about them. David Holmes, Family Action’s chief executive, said: “Every family has its monsters and we’ve been helping families deal with their pressures for 150 years. We hope this wonderful garden, which is full of symbolism, will encourage families to come together and talk about their family monsters.” The garden celebrates 150 years of the national charity Family Action supporting families across the country.

December 04, 2019 – Joining Family Action At Peterley Manor Farm – The same day it was announced that Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge would take over the patronage from The Queen after 66 years in the role she joined a group of children supported by Family Action at Peterley Manor Farm in the village of Great Missenden in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire. During her visit The Duchess took part in several activities including helping the children pick out Christmas trees for their schools, making decorations and hot chocolate in the “Elves Enchanted Forest”, creating Reindeer food, and talking with parents.

January 21, 2020 – Launching Landmark UK-Wide Survey On Early Childhood – The Duchess of Cambridge has launched a month long national survey to help guide her future work in the early years development of children. The ‘5 Big Questions’ online poll is being conducted by Ipsos Mori on behalf of The Royal Foundation and “aims to spark the biggest ever conversation on early childhood”. The results of the survey will be made available in March and will determine the next step in Catherine’s early years work. To kick off the initiative The Duchess visited MiniBrum at Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum where she met with health professionals, parents, a group of children and supporters of this project including the chief executive of Family Action, David Holmes who said: “The insight from this survey will give the early years sector valuable direction in designing and delivering services and support which reflect what matters to most people.” The Duchess will then continue promotion of her online poll by going on a 24 hour tour, making stops in London, Cardiff and Surrey.

December 08, 2023 – “Together At Christmas” Carol Service – Five Family Action staff members were invited to attend the magical carol service at Westminster Abbey. These individuals have dedicated their lives to helping children and families in need, and it’s heartening to see their efforts being celebrated at such a grand event. The service was attended by inspiring individuals and families from all corners of the UK, including midwives, health visitors, early years practitioners, nursery teachers, community volunteers, and members of The Royal Family. The evening was filled with beautiful carols, musical performances, and poignant readings, making it an extraordinary and festive occasion. The service airs on Christmas Eve as part of a special program on ITV1 and ITVX.