Supporting charities promoting the well-being of children and families

It is evident that the Covid 19 pandemic with the subsequent lockdown measures has had a devastating impact on peoples’ lives. Not only the impact of the massive loss of life that has devastated many families but the longer-term effects on the population as a whole. The effects of long Covid are little understood and causing a considerable amount of anxiety in the general public and the effects of the disruption caused by lockdown on the education of children is particularly disturbing.

The closure of schools, remote learning and the lack of social contact has had a disturbing impact in many of those children affected by the interruption of their schooling. Social distancing during the lockdown meant that many children were confined to their bedrooms without contact to their schoolfriends and resulted in a sense of isolation. Some resorted to online communication and many found consolation in playing games on their tablets and ‘phones for long periods.

With the slow but steady reduction in the incidents of the virus the restrictions have been removed and children have been able to return to school. This has not been without its problems with some of the children concerned about the loss of time and communication that they had with their teachers and the resultant effect on their ability to sit exams. After such a long time spent on their own some were anxious about interacting with their peers.

Not unusually, the reported incidence of mental illness amongst school age children has increased substantially.

Home-Start Essex is part of the HSUK network which was founded in Leicester 50 years ago with the aim of supporting parents who are struggling with the pressures of modern-day life.  They want them to be able to enjoy their children and helping parents ultimately helps the children.Chris Jones visited the club at our Paupers Night meeting in Carl Watson’s Squires Coffee Shop on Monday 30th January to tell us a bit about the charity.

The charity helps families in many ways - volunteers who visit families in the home allowing them to get out and about, help with play, encourage the establishment of routines, and provide practical and emotional support. They also provide telephone befrienders who can offer emotional support. The Home Start team help family members with low-esteem and lack of confidence to make friendships and build their self-confidence sufficiently to enable them to interact with other people and to access other groups and interests.

Home-Start has made a tremendous difference to the families seeking their support. 82% of families supported in 2021-22 reported an improvement in their mental health. 84% of parents supported in 2021-22 reported feeling more involved in their child’s development.  

To promote the work of the charity and the events that they organise they will be staging a Concert at Rayleigh Methodist Church on 15^th July 2023

Sandra Cole—Community Fund Raiser—Kids Inspire

Kids Inspire, based in Chelmsford, was founded by Sue Bell OBE in 2007. After working in schools as a drama teacher, Sue went on to qualify as a counsellor as she was concerned that many children who were excluded from school were the victims of distress caused by a variety of reasons including neglect, abuse, bullying and family breakup, but had nowhere to turn to for support. This resulted in self-harm and risky behaviours, such as alcohol/drug abuse, difficulties with eating, depression and thoughts of suicide, the result of which led to educational exclusion and social isolation, instead of receiving positive intervention.

Shortly after  founding Kids Inspire Sue found that not only the children required help but, in many cases, the families also required support and started family inclusive treatment, which meant families often received therapy alongside the child to support long-term sustainable outcomes. The aims of Kids Inspire have never changed - the charity’s goal is to meet the needs of the child at the centre of each case and for the child to thrive once completing a bespoke treatment plan.

The charity has gone from strength to strength and now a team of 249 employees and volunteers provide many forms of therapy including,  bespoke therapy tailored to the unique emotional, behavioural or mental health needs of each young person they work with, family inclusive consultations to strengthen relationships and the environment surrounding the child, working creatively to encourage body and mind reconnection, focussing on the strengths of the child and the family to nurture resilience, creative therapies (Art, Play, Drama, Music, Dance/Movement) for the evidenced healing that Arts can bring about. These therapies benefit the children and the wider public by strengthening relationships, reducing crime, and creating responsible citizens happily participating in their communities.

In the year from April 2020 to May 2021 98% of the parents the charity supported reported positive change in maintaining their own wellbeing, meeting their child’s emotional needs, implementing boundaries, and managing the child’s behaviour, establishing healthy family routines and improving education and learning. 94% of the children and young people they supported reported positive change in: self-regulating feelings and behaviour, improving relationships, building confidence and self-esteem, establishing, and maintaining friendships and engaging with education and learning.

In June 2022 the work of the charity was recognised by being awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The members of the club were encouraged by the work that both these charities were doing in the local community to support families and children in difficult situations and, at their Business Meeting on Monday 13^th March, voted to donate £250 to each of the charities to help them with the vital work that they do.