Sandwell Family Partners help to keep families together

To mark National Clear Your Clutter Day on Saturday 11^th March 2017, charity Action for Children is encouraging families to declutter, sell their unwanted items and donate proceeds to their Family Partners project in Sandwell.

Family Partners offer one-to-one sessions with parents to give them practical help and support. The focus is on improving daily activities such as meal times and bed time routines, which helps to improve their child’s communications and social skills.

The project has found that families who are often dealing with complex issues can, through no fault of their own, allow their living space to become cluttered and untidy.

The Family Support Practitioners help to keep families together, by intervening at the earliest point and challenging the whole family to makes positive changes within 22-weeks.

The beauty of the project is that the practitioners are given time to help families and at the end of the 22-week programme, families are happier, healthier and get on well together.

Reducing Clutter – Keeping families together

Lucy Edwards, a family support practitioner from Action for Children’s Sandwell Family Partners, says:

“For the majority of families we work with, clutter is definitely an issue and this is why we are supporting National Clear Your Clutter Day. Cleanliness can also be a problem, as it can be difficult for our families to keep their living spaces clean when their rooms are obstructed by piles of clothes or toys.

“With the families we support, clutter can often be a result of other issues they are dealing with. We work with parents who have mental health issues or who have experienced domestic violence, and for them the thought of organising their living space can be very overwhelming.”

Lucy adds:

“The relationships we build with the families are key, and at Action for Children’s Sandwell Family Partners, we pride ourselves on being open and honest. With our support, families become self-sufficient and are able to tackle problems on their own.”

The programme is solely funded by Women Taking Action; a group of influential women who together with Action for Children are taking a stand against child neglect.

How Action for Children Works

Action for Children succeed by doing what’s right, doing what’s needed, and doing what works for children. They operate over 600 services with 7,000 staff and volunteers, and help disadvantaged children across the UK, from before they are born until they are into their twenties. The charity helps children through fostering or adoption – and by intervening early to stop neglect and abuse. Action for Children also make life better for disabled children. They influence policy and advocate for change improving the lives of 390,000 children, teenagers, parents and carers every year.

If you would like to get involved or find out more, then please visit: www.actionforchildren.org.uk or follow them on Twitter @actnforchildren