Families' House
Working for children and families in Norfolk and Norwich
|
News
Spring NewsletterClick here to download a copy of our Spring 2008 newsletter. David Wright New Families' House Chairman David Wright joined the board of Trustees last summer along with Chris Hull. David succeeded Chris Mitchell as Chairman in February. "I am an Essex boy, who came to Norfolk in 1985. I live in Norwich with my Australian wife Sue. We have between us 6 grandchildren, with another due in November. I have always believed in the contribution of the voluntary sector, which is such a rich part of our national heritage. Even when working as a social worker, originally in the mental health service, and through into more senior posts in Norfolk, I have always done what I can to encourage the many initiatives that are possible when individuals have a passion to make a difference. Whilst Director of Social Services in Norfolk, the combined force of June Thoburn, Rosemary English and Joyce Hopwood approached me and I was only too eager to accept their ‘offer' that we in Social Services support Families' House to get started. I have thus retained an interest in its progress ever since. Although retired now from full time employment I enjoy a pretty active life on various Boards including the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals now Foundation Trust and the Norfolk Community Foundation. Nationally I am Chairman of the Crossroads Association and sit as a Committee Member of the General Social Care Council, dealing with conduct matters of social workers." New Volunteers Complete Volunteer Befriending Service Training Eight new volunteers have completed their training to join the Norfolk and Norwich Families' House Volunteer Befriending Service. They will soon be matched with a Norwich family in need of their support. The Volunteer Befriending Service, which now has 38 volunteers on its books, offers assistance and friendship to families with children aged 18 and under, who are finding it difficult to cope. Volunteer training includes listening skills, non-verbal communication, child protection, personal safety, child rearing and parenting skills. Anna Hiscox, Volunteer Co-ordinator said: "We simply could not run this vital support service without the members of the local community who give up their time to provide a lifeline for families in Norwich. I am in awe of our dedicated volunteers who take time out of their busy lives to focus on the needs of others." Another volunteer training course is scheduled to begin later this year. Families' House was awarded the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in August 2007. Two volunteers attended a Buckingham Palace Garden Party in May in recognition of the award. Kate, one the Volunteer Befriending Service's longest serving volunteers, was presented with a Norwich City Council ‘Civic Award for Community Service' last month. For more information about the Volunteer Befriending service contact Anna Hiscox tel. 01603 621702, email admin@familieshouse.org.uk. New General Managers Sam Ewing and Louise Richmond are the new General Managers at Families' House. Working on a job share basis, Sam has specific responsibility for the Supervised Contact Service and Louise looks after the Family Support Service. Sam has a degree in psychology from the Open University. She has had a lot of experience working with disadvantaged groups, was involved in a national NACRO offenders programme and latterly was employed by Norfolk County Council working in children's social care and special educational needs.  Louise has a degree in Development Studies and a Masters in Gender Analysis in Development. She worked for the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development in Geneva and also lived in Spain for a while where she worked as a university lecturer. Louise returned to the UK and settled in Norfolk, where she worked for Homestart in Thetford, then moved to Norfolk County Council's special educational needs section, where she met and worked with Sam Ewing. Louise Richmond said: "It is a privilege to work for Families' House. The charity really makes a difference to vulnerable people's lives. I am really looking forward to playing my part in developing our work." Sam Ewing added: "It is really fulfilling to be involved in such excellent child focussed work."  Lord Mayor Opens New Contact SuiteThe Lord Mayor of Norwich Roy Blower officially opened the new £120,000 extension at Families' House on 18 December. The extension features a new supervised contact suite, the Yellow Room and full access for visitors with disabilities. Funding for the project was received from Geoffrey Watling Charity, Charles Hayward Foundation, The Hedley Foundation, The Foundation of Joanna Scott, Alderman John Risebrow's Charity, Alderman Norman Foundation, The Percy Bilton Charity, The Paul Bassham Charitable Trust, The Clothworkers' Foundation, The Beatrice Laing Trust, The Friends of Families' House and an anonymous trust.
Friends' Auction Raises £19,000 for Families' House The Friends of Families' House has raised a spectacular £19,000 for Families' House; the proceeds from a silent auction of paintings staged at the John Innes Centre in October. Professional and amateur artists including Mark Cator, Mary Fedden, Maggi Hambling, Auriol Innes, Gerard Stamp and The Bishop Norwich donated more than 100 paintings for the auction, which was attended by 200 people. General Manager, Aliona Laker said: "I would like to thank the Friends' committee, their friends and families for staging such a superb event. The generosity of the artists and those bidding for their art combined to create a fabulous result. The trustees, staff and volunteers are all thrilled with this funding which will support our vital work with families' in the local community." Jeremy Robson, Friends' Chairman said: "The silent auction was a great team effort by our committee and the Families' House staff. We were absolutely delighted by the support we received from the artists who contributed their work I am sure that we will run a similar event in the future." Jocelyn Magnus, Friends' committee member added: "We could not have run the auction without the help of our families, friends and supporters. It is wonderful that we have managed to raise such a substantial sum for Families' House. We look forward to supporting other projects like the new contact suite." Painting Donated to Families' House A painting by Suffolk artist, Dee Nickerson, dedicated to Families' House, was bought at the Friends of Families' House silent auction in October by an anonymous bidder. It has subsequently been framed and donated back to Families House. It now hangs in the new multi-purpose contact suite. The Friends of Families' House contributed funds to the building of the contact suite as well as purchasing the furniture. New Volunteers Complete Volunteer Befriending Service TrainingSix new volunteers completed their training in November and joined the Volunteer Befriending Service. They will soon be matched with a Norwich family in need of their support. The Volunteer Befriending Service, which now has 31 volunteers on its books, offers assistance and friendship to families with children aged 18 and under, who are finding it difficult to cope. Volunteer training includes listening skills, non-verbal communication, child protection, personal safety, child rearing and parenting skills.  Julie, one of the new crop of volunteers, is a former Families' House service user: "My husband and I had a very difficult divorce, but have come through a terrible phase in our lives with the help of Families' House. I had invaluable support at home from a volunteer and, in addition, because of the messy nature of our divorce, we were offered supervised contact at Families' House. This facilitated my husband's access to our son. Unfortunately our son has ADHD, but again Families' House came to the rescue and I joined its ADHD Support Group." "Families' House has given me back my confidence," continued Julie. "I decided to train as a volunteer so that I could give something back to the community, and feel that I am well placed to empathise with people with similar problems. Families' House has really inspired me and I hope to be able pursue a career in family support. It has also inspired my ex husband who is planning to do the next volunteer training course." Anna Hiscox, Volunteer Co-ordinator added: "We simply could not run this vital support service without people like Julie, who give up their time to provide a lifeline for families in Norwich. I am in awe of our dedicated volunteers who take time out of their busy lives to focus on the needs of others." Annual ReviewClick here to download a copy of our Annual Review 2006/07. Queen's Award for Voluntary Service Celebration Staff, volunteers, trustees and supporters were joined by special guests, Mr Richard Jewson J.P., HM Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk, The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor Roy Blower, The Sheriff of Norwich, Mr Nick Williams and The Chairman of Norfolk County Council, Councillor Michael Carttiss, at a party on Friday 10 August to celebrate our Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. Mr Jewson said: "The Queen's Award recognise excellent voluntary service in the community. It was a great pleasure to give you the award for all that you do for the County." Lorna, one of our volunteers added: "We are delighted that Families' House has been given the Queen's Award. It tells us that our work is recognised as successful and is highly valued in a wider arena. The award also greatly encourages us and gives us more confidence as we work to make a difference for the families." Buckingham Palace Garden Party  Chairman of the Trustees Chris Mitchell and his wife Lorna, along with General Manager, Aliona Laker with her daughter Natasha (shown right), represented Families' House at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party on 19 July. The Garden Party was attended by all winners of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2007.
Annual Public Meeting 07, Wednesday, September 26The Annual Public Meeting will be held at The Assembly House, Norwich on Wednesday, September 26, 6pm for 6.30pm start. Anthony Douglas, Chief Executive of CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) will be guest speaker. This follows our successful meeting at the same venue last year when we were joined by more than 60 friends, volunteers and supporters including The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor Felicity Hartley and The Dean of Norwich, The Very Revd Graham Smith. Guest speaker District Judge Christine Hamilton while explaining her work dealing with private law family cases at the County Court added, "The Families' House supervised contact service is the only option for children from the most difficult family break-ups, to continue a relationship with the parent from whom they are separated. I shivered with horror when I heard that the future of Families' House might be under threat." Queen's Award for Voluntary Service Families' House has been chosen as a winner of this year's prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. It gives recognition to the ‘stars' in our communities that play an essential role in our daily lives. All winners are nominated by members of the public who have either benefited from their work, or have seen the positive effect on their community. The Award is only given to those groups where volunteers are judged to have regularly devoted their time to providing an outstanding level of help to other people. New ADHD Support groupFamilies' House, in partnership with Norfolk Primary Care Trust's Community Psychology and Nursing Team has launched a new support group for parents and relatives of children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The group meets twice a month at the Families' House headquarters. Different topics are covered each session to help parents understand the causes of ADHD and also pick up information on health and diet. In addition, parents get the chance to meet each other socially and share their experiences over a cup of tea. Richard Gilham, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Norfolk Primary Care Trust said: "It is so important that parents understand more about the causes of ADHD and find out how they can help their children. The support group at Families' House is a really good initiative, providing help and advice in a friendly, informal setting." The Lord Mayor Remembers ‘Black Anna' at Families' HouseThe Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor Michael Banham, inaugurated a plaque to commemorate Antoinette Hannent ‘Black Anna', landlady of The Jolly Butchers, at her former premises, 125 Ber Street, on Monday, December 12. The Jolly Butchers is now the headquarters of Norfolk and Norwich Families' House.  left to right Aliona Laker, General Manager Families' House, Tony Skipper, The Lord Mayor, Councillor Michael Banham with his 'Black Anna' brew, The Lady Mayoress, Carolyn Fenn and Chris Mitchell, Chairman of Trustees Families' House. 'Black Anna' was landlady of The Jolly Butchers from 1935 until her death in 1976, and was famed for her jazz and blues singing. The plaque has been fixed to the Grade 2 listed building to mark the centenary of her birth. The Lord Mayor said: "Thanks to the initiative of Norfolk and Norwich Families' House, ably assisted by former Jolly Butchers regular, Tony Skipper, the centenary of Black Anna's birth has been marked with this plaque. It is a very appropriate permanent reminder of her 40-year contribution to the culture and life of our fine city." The Lord Mayor then toasted 'Black Anna's' memory with a glass of 'Black Anna' brew produced by Tiny Little of The Alexandra Tavern, Stafford Street.
|
