See what delegates at the Supporting Families in Difficult Times said about the two day conference

1. Supporting Families in difficult
times:
Providing effective early help and
intervention

2. “The family support worker
came to see me at my
foster carers house
before I came back to
live with Mummy. She
said her job was to keep
us safe and work with
our family. Now I live
with my Mummy and I
feel safe. I can talk to
my family support
worker, she listens to
me” Young person

3. “The family support
programme has helped
me with my children,
how to manage my
children’s behaviour. I
got a lot of help and
support from the family
support worker. They
were always willing to
help me and listen to
me. I get on better with
my children now,
thanks to the family
support worker” Mother

4. “My family support worker
visited us a lot. I would
look forward to her
coming as she would
always be there for me,
no matter what. She
helped us a lot” Mother

5. “The family support project
has helped us as a
family, to talk about
things and communicate
better.” Father

6. “Working with the family
support worker has
helped me with talking
to my children about
boundaries and rules.
My children really
enjoyed the games
they got to play and
family activities they
got do at the Centre.”
Mother

7. “I liked it when I got to
play the Operation
game when the family
support worker visited’
Young Person
“I liked the family support
worker coming to see
us and I liked the
family activities we did
at the Family Centre. I
liked the family support
worker, he was jokey”
Young Person

8. “The family support
programme helped
me to understand
about teenage
behaviour better. It
helped us as a family
to have better
routines. I liked the
one to one talks with
the family support
worker” Mother

9. “The family support
worker was friendly
and easy to talk to.
They helped us with
our whole situation.
The family support
worker was a big help
in meetings, they
helped me to speak
up.” Father

10. “The family support
worker got on brilliantly
with my children. I am
more positive about
things now. I feel more
confident and they
have helped me myself
to have more
confidence.” Mother

11. “The family support
worker helped me with
my confidence. I feel a
different person now!
They helped me and
my family to grow
stronger and now we
do more as a family”
Mother

12. “The family support
worker helped me
to get sorted out
with benefits. They
listened and talked
to me. We also visit
the Centre and my
children all enjoyed
the craft and
cooking things we
did there” Mother

13. “I am very happy to have
a family key worker.
They are there at the
end of the phone and
to talk to. I was really
pleased how my
children listened to the
family worker and
respected them. The
family worker helps
with what the children
need” Mother

14. “Working with the family
support worker has
made me realise
when you are at your
lowest things can
improve. The family
support worker has
helped me to regain
some of the control
and confidence I lost.
They have helped the
kids and me and my
husband too. They
have helped in my
decision to go to
College.” Mother

15. “The family support
worker has helped
me and my family to
become closer and
communicate more. I
am more confident
thanks to them and
I’ve joined college. I
can manage
boundaries more in
my family. My family
is happier. Thanks
for everything!”
Mother

16. “The family support
worker has changed
us as a family for
the better. We feel
more confident as
parents.”
Father

17. “Everyone needs a
family support
worker!” Mother

18. “The family support
worker helped my
family when we
were in crisis. They
asked how things
had been and we
talked, taking the
burden off your
shoulders. They
helped get my
daughter going back
to school again”
Mother

19. “The family support
worker visited us. I
always knew I could
phone or text, and
they would phone
back if they were
busy. She was a big
help with school,
and helped me to
talk better in
meetings at the
school and not let
people judge me”
Mother

20. “The family support
worker always
explained plans and
reports to me. I felt
involved in
everything. If I didn’t
understand
something they
explained it to me.”
Mother

21. “The family support
worker helped me
to sort out all my
family issues. My
children are happier
and more relaxed.
And I am more
confident. I feel
more in control as a
parent.” Mother

22. “The family support
worker went with
me to hospital
appointments and
helped me to get
counselling. This
helped me to cope
better as a parent.”
Mother

23. “The best thing about
the family support
programme was
that we now do
more things as a
family. I am also
more confident
about meeting
people.” Father

24. “The best things about
the family support
programme were:
Everyone was
friendly
They don’t criticise
you
They help with any
issues
They help with
issues with schools
They help you get
your family back on
track” Mother

25. “Thanks to the family
support worker we
enjoy being a family
again and doing
things as a family.”
Father

26. “Working with the family
support worker has
been a good
experience. It has
helped me to learn a
lot. In meetings they
made sure I got a
chance to have my
say. They helped me
at my pace and my
children’s pace. They
were not ‘too in your
face’ or
‘overpowering’.”
Mother

27. “The family support
worker has been
kind to us. She has
visited us at home
and at school. We
know she is helping
to make things
better for us and
Mum. She has made
us happy. She
listened to us and
made my Mum
smile. We love
talking to her, she
makes us laugh.”
Young Person

28. “The family support
worker has helped
us to improve our
son’s school
attendance. His
behaviour has
improved too. We
enjoyed the ‘Lads
and Dads Group’. I
enjoyed talking to
the family support
worker and the one
to one support.”
Father

29. “The family support
worker has brought
our family closer.
They have made me
back to myself .
They have been
there when I needed
them.” Mother

30. “The family support
worker has changed
my attitude towards
my kids. I am more
patient with them
now and they are
happier. The family
support worker also
helped me to get my
point across in
meetings about the
kids.” Father