Family Friends News - 2008

A festive time was had by all volunteers, staff who attended the 2008 Family Friends Christmas party! It was celebrated in St Luke’s Community Hall in Maidenhead, sharing some festive nibbles and drinks to the background music provided by Ian (volunteer) and his friend Ross.

Family Friends, in partnership with Family Learning in RBWM, celebrated Parenting Week by providing circus workshops for children and their families from five schools within Windsor, Maidenhead and Ascot. The workshops provided children and families with the opportunities to learn circus skills, build confidence, have a fun time and bring children and their parents together to enjoy a range of activities. Many families stated that they learnt new skills, had a great time with their children and their confidence and that of their children grew.

Family Friends has just completed a consultation with parents who attended the Enjoy Your Children parenting course provided by Family Friends. These parents stated that they were finding it difficult at times to manage their frustration and anger in their role as parents. Family Friends initiated a day with these parents that involved focused consultation on what they would like to assist them with managing their frustrations. This consultation was facilitated by a Family Friends member of staff and the social work student on placement with Family Friends. Out of this consultation, a plan for a ‘Facing frustrations in Family Life’ parenting project was developed, with plans to provide this as a group to parents in 2009.

This is the first year that Family Friends has been able to provide a 70-day placement to a 3rd year social work student, Katherine Wheeler, from Reading University. Family Friends’ management committee and staff are delighted to be able to provide a social work student with a setting that enables them to learn about working in a voluntary sector organisation. As part of the student’s learning, she was required to hold a case load of four children, undertaking individual work with them around separation and divorce, domestic violence, bereavement, building confidence, peer and school issues. The student was also able to lead and develop on a consultation with parents about ‘Facing Frustrations in Family Life’ (see below). Not only did Katherine’s learning benefit from undertaking her placement at Family Friends, staff also benefitted from her knowledge and skill as well as her enthusiasm and commitment. In November and December 2009, Family Friends will be providing a 1st year social work student with a 5 day taster of what it is like to work within a voluntary sector organisation. Family Friends aims to provide a 70-day placement for a social work student once a year.

In the summer, Family Friends was happy to provide parents (who attended the parenting courses) and their children with a picnic and fun session aimed at obtaining feedback from the children.

The Lion’s Club donated the proceeds of their Duck Derby in Boulters Lock to Family Friends. On the day of the Duck Derby, Family Friends had a stall that displayed Family Friends’ information as well as providing face painting, an art competition and chocolate competition to all families. The Duck Derby raised approximately £5,500 and Family Friends were very grateful recipients. This contribution will ensure that Family Friends’ services, like parenting support, is available to all families (with children aged 13 years and under) in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. A very big thank you to all at the Lion’s Club of Maidenhead!

In the last year family friends has been able to provide 7 parenting groups throughout Windsor and Maidenhead, providing support to 64 parents. The programs we provide are based on Webster Stratton and parents meet on a weekly basis for two hours per session to discuss some of the challenges they face as parents, identify strategies to overcome these challenges and to meet other parents who are in similar situations. Here is some of the feedback from parents who have attended these courses:

• “it has been invaluable doing this course and will help the next few years go so much easier”
• “I took on the important information about how my behaviour as a parent affects my child’s behaviour….our family situation is now much more relaxed”
• “I feel much more positive and in control, everyone in our house seems much happier”
• “this course reminds you that praise is important in your child’s life…….my child is much happier when I praise and encourage him”

If you would like more information about parenting courses in general and upcoming parenting courses (Autumn), please contact Family Friends.