What we do

 

We provide a family support hub on the grounds of Springfield House, where we support the children that attend Springfield House School and their families. By using a multi-facetted approach we address the physical, mental and emotional needs of not just the child, but the whole family.  We do this by working with families social/family support workers, community resources e.g. access to mental health professionals and support groups, training and education – providing parents/caregivers with knowledge and skill and ongoing support, regular check-ins and assess to ongoing assistance for as long as is needed. 

 

Although our families come from lots of different areas, for the majority of them, we are their community.  This is because, due to the needs/presentation of their children, they find it difficult access their local community facilities successfully. Due to our children's hidden disabilities and life experiences, many struggle to manage their emotions in a safe and appropriate manner when anxious/in public/dysregulated.  The vast majority of local, community activities/support are not set up/able to successfully accomodate our children's complex needs.  Through the development of our trusted relationships, nurtured and maintained over time, it allows us to provided 'community' support that is so desperatley needed.

 

We host community picnics, events and parent/carer coffee mornings.   Previous grants and donations have funded qualified practitioners offering therapies like play, brick, draw & talk, and bereavement counselling. For the past two years we have received significant grant funding from the Eveson Trust, allowing us to provide school with the funds to employ a project/familiy support worker, Ann.  Ann works in conjunction with Mel from the Birmingham Pathfinder charity.  This joint wouking builds a much more effective, more efficient and systematic response to the challenges faced by our children and their families.

 

We also provide a uniform/hygiene bank, food vouchers and household goods, as well as Christmas presents for our families.  This year we are introducing forest school therapy sessions. We have also teamed up with providers of HAF (Holiday Activity and Food) who will use our site and family hub to provide support for school aged children, from Reception to year 11 who are in full-time education and receive benefits-related free school meals. These HAF programs will be open to all young people that qualify, not just those who attend Springfield House.   In addition to this, a local national football team have said that they would use our facilites/grounds for their community, school holiday clubs.