1. Hello
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2. A bit of history
Parent Support Link(PSL) started in Southampton 1994
Was operated solely by volunteers for the first 10 years
Lots of good will from the statutory services and other
organisations
Received first external financial support after 2 years of
operation

3. Development of the Charity

To begin with, we just did what we did.

As well as the passion, there was a varied skill set

The catalyst was word of mouth

People phoned the number

They were asked what would help

They offered help

We acted on this information

We asked for help

Attended training... still do

Started to advertise

Did the work to become registered

4. Development of the support group
People said they wanted to meet others...
We recognised that PSL could not be all things to everybody...
Such a wealth of knowledge, understanding and empathy...
Different support mechanisms work for different people...

5. What did we try
Holding groups every week
2 groups in one evening
Groups every 2 weeks
Different groups on different days
Different days of the week
Morning groups, afternoon groups, evening groups
I group a month

6. What worked
Listened to those people who wanted a group,
involved those people in the planning and
the delivery of the group sessions

7. Is it that easy?
Not really
Find a venue, the right venue
Work -up the guidelines
Small details
Be sure everyone is safe
Right type of advertising
Keep motivated

8. And the rest...

Decide what kind of group

Will it be a support group,

What kind of support is on offer

Can you involve specific learning

Is the group to be peer led

Is the group to be facilitated

Is the group a directive learning group

Will you have invited speakers

What model of emotional support will you employ

What happens if facilitator is unwell

Who holds the keys

Who makes the coffee, brings the biscuits and washed up

And anything else you can think of

9. What people say.
•
The group is my sanctuary: a place of refuge, a place of
protection from danger and trouble, some place to flee to.
•
A place where I can think: home is too full of stress,
memories and seems like a dead end
•
Without a word being spoken, we know all know why we
are here
•
There is a bond that grows around us: as we begin to
realise the meaning of the journey we are undertaking

10. Outcomes!
Need to be very clear on what you are trying to achieve
Need to be very clear on what your service users are trying to
achieve
Need to be very clear on what the funders expect you to
achieve
Make the outcome monitoring forms user friendly and easy to
record
Develop your own system
Or find one that works for you

11. Where are we now.

24/7 telephone contact line

Providing 1-2-1 support

Running an emotional support group for 20 years

Offering learning groups

Time-out project. Respite events and voucher system

Family and Friends support project in the treatment hubs in
Hampshire

Report to funders

Make applications for charitable funding

Involve the organisation in the wider community

Continually consult with our service users

Provide training, support and supervision to other groups
and organisations