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• Domestic Abuse Counsellor, Portsmouth and Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse / Sexual Violence Service – Based in Gloucestershire

  Salary: £28,315 FTE per annum (£15,305.41 per annum for part-time, 20 hours per week) 1-year contract with the potential to be extended Location: Gloucestershire To apply: fill out the Application Form and email to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Monday 13th May 2024 at 5pm […]

• Pre-Therapy Group Facilitator for Adult Survivors of Domestic Abuse Service, Portsmouth and Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse / Sexual Violence Service – Based in Gloucestershire

  Salary: £28,315 FTE per annum (£15,305.41 per annum for part-time, 20 hours per week) 1-year contract with the potential to be extended Location: Gloucestershire To apply: fill out the Application Form and email to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Monday 13th May 2024 at 5pm […]

• Volunteer Helpline Coordinator, Portsmouth and Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse / Sexual Violence Service – Based in Portsmouth

  Salary: £24,724 – £27,232 (£4,944.80 – £5,446.40 per annum for part-time, 7.4 hours per week) 1-year contract with the potential to be extended Location: Office Based in PARCS Portsmouth To apply: fill out the Application Form and email to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Monday […]

• SENDIASS Case Officer, Wiltshire SENDIAS Service – Based in the Wiltshire Area

  Salary: £24,724 – £27,232 FTE per annum (£12,362 – £13,616 per annum for part-time) + £480 homeworking allowance per annum (£240 per annum for part-time) Up to 18.5 hours per week (part-time) Permanent Contract To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description […]

• Domestic Abuse Counsellor, PARCS, Portsmouth – Part Time, Flexible & Hybrid Working

  £28,315 FTE per annum to £31,073 FTE per annum Based in Portsmouth – flexible working / hybrid working is negotiable 9 to 19 hours per week (negotiable) Fixed term contract until March 2025 with the possibility of an extension To apply: fill out the Application Form & send to: [email protected] To learn more about the […]

• Special Guardian Services Development Worker, PAC-UK (National Services), London – Part Time

  £21,468 per annum to £23,541 per annum for part time hours Family Action Head Office, London, N1 7GR 22.2 hours / 3 days per week – permanent contract To apply: fill out the Application Form & send to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification […]

• Information, Advice and Administration Officer – Part Time

  Carlisle, based at Newtown Children’s Centre £22,011 FTE per annum 22.2 hours per week – fixed term contract until February 2025 To apply: fill out the Application Form & send to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Thursday 2nd May 2024 at […]

• Volunteer Support Worker, FamilyLine – Full Time & Permanent

  Starting at £24,724 FTE per annum to £27,232 FTE per annum +£480 homeworking allowance 37 hours per week – permanent contract Remote working (UK) To apply: fill out the Application Form & send to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Thursday 2nd […]

• CAPS Parent Group Leader, The Children and Parent Service (CAPS) – Based in South Manchester

  Salary: Starting at £24,724 – £27,232 FTE (£19,779.20 – £21,785.60 per annum, pro rata) Permanent contract 29.6 hours per week (part-time) To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Tuesday 7th May 2024 at 9am ID: 1159

• Young People’s Coordinator, Change4Life, London – Part Time

  • £19,262.40 per annum to £20,917.20 per annum • Part time (22.2 hours per week) – Fixed Term Contract • To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] • To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification • Closing date: Tuesday 30th April by 5.00pm • […]

• Wandsworth WellFamily and Foodbank Service – Wellbeing Coordinator

  Salary: Grade 3 Point 20-23; £32 104 -£34,862 Inclusive of Inner London Weighting Fixed term: 1 year from 01-06-2024 37 hours per week (full-time) To apply: fill out the Application Form and email to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Monday 6th May 2024 – 12:00am […]

• Community Development Co-ordinator, Family Hub Development Pilot – Based in Lincolnshire

  Salary: £31,991 FTE per annum (£15,563.19 per annum for part-time, 18 hours per week) Temporary Contract until 31st March 2025 18 hours per week (part-time) To apply: fill out the Application Form and email to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Tuesday 7th of May at […]

• Youth Worker – Hackney Mental Health Hub

  Salary: £34,862 per annum inclusive of Inner London Weighting 37 hours per week (3-7pm) and evenings up until 10pm. Weekend working will also be an essential regular requirement of the role. Fixed Term contract until 31st of March 2025 with the possibility of an extension To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] To […]

• STR (Support, Time and Recovery) Worker, BAND, Listening Lounge Community-Based Adult Mental Health Service – Based in Bolton

  Salary: Starting at £24,724 raising to £27,232 FTE per annum (£16,705 – £18,400 pro rata per annum) 25 hours per week (part-time); hours are late afternoons, evenings and weekend working on a rota basis Permanent Contract To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and […]

• Community Engagement Co-ordinator, FOOD Clubs – Based in Hollinwood, Oldham

  Salary: £ £24,724 – £27,232 FTE (£9,355.03 – £10,304.00 per annum, pro rata) 14 hours per week (part-time) Temporary contract until 31st March 2025 To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Monday 29th April 2024 […]

• LifeSkills Plus Support Worker, LifeSkills – Based in London with significant travel across Inner London

  Salary: £24,724 rising to £27,232 FTE – 25 hours per week: £16,705 – £18,400 per annum or for 35 hours per week: £23,387.57 – £25,760 FTE per annum for part time, pro rata Hours: Part-time (25-35 hours per week) Permanent Contract To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] To learn more about the role […]

• Senior WellFamily Plus Service Practitioner, City and Hackney

  • Salary: £32,104 – £34,862 FTE Inclusive of Inner London weighting (£12147.46 – £13191.03 pro rata) • Part time (14hours per week) – we offer flexible working arrangements. All new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment. • Permanent contract • To apply: fill out the Application Form […]

• Kamila’s story: How accepting difference helped me and my family 

  When we talk about neurodiversity, we’re also often discussing identity, and how we relate to others. Although it can be tempting to focus on how our differences can cause challenges, however, it’s also often the case that neurodiversity can bring people and families together to forge stronger, deeper bonds. This is Kamila’s story.   I grew up in […]

• Children and Family Worker x 2 Posts, Medway Universal Parenting Programme – Based in Chatham, Medway

  Salary: Starting at £24,727 – £27,232 FTE per annum (£14,834.40 – £16,339.20 per annum for part time 22.2 hours per week) Permanent contract 22.2 hours per week (part-time) To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Friday […]

• Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Young Carers Personal Budget

  What are RBKC Young Carer Personal Budgets? Family Action can provide up to £150 for young carers to use on a physical activity outside of the home.  Examples of activities we have funded for our young carers include ballet classes, swimming lessons, horse riding, and private football coaching, just to name a few. Please see […]

• What family means to me – Jake Graf 

  Last month Family Action was lucky enough to have Jake and Hannah Graf join us as part of our LGBT+ History Month Programme to speak about gender, equality and diversity.  Jake and Hannah are arguably the UK’s most visible transgender couple and have been named the most influential LGBTQ power couple by The Guardian, with […]

• Information Advice and Admin Worker, Wythenshawe Childrens Centres – Part Time

  Starting at £22,546 FTE per annum to £23,966 FTE per annum 14.5 hours per week – permanent contract Crossacres Family Hub and Wythenshawe Children’s Centres To apply: fill out the Application Form & send to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Friday […]

• Project Coordinator, Medway Universal Parenting Programme, Kent – Part Time

  £24,209.40 to £26,823.24 per annum for 28 hours per week Permanent Contract Medway, Kent based To apply: fill out the Application Form & send to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Wednesday 1st May 2024 at 9am ID: 1144

• SEND Information and Advice Support Caseworker, Harrow SENDIAS – Part Time

  £16,045.80 to £17,550.60 per annum for 22.2 hours per week 6-12 months fixed term contract with the potential to extend Part time (22.2 hours per week) Harrow, HA3 To apply: fill out the Application Form & send to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification […]

• Behaviour Outreach Support Service Case Worker, Lincolnshire Behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS) – Part Time & Term Time Only

  £10,280.24 per annum to £11,323,07 per annum Fixed Term Contract until March 2025 Part time (20 hours per week), term time only (40 weeks a year) Based in East and West Lindsey To apply: fill out the Application Form & send to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job […]

• Empowering single parents – investing in futures

  Empowering single-parent students through the Investing in Futures Fund in collaboration with JPMorgan Chase & Co. has been truly rewarding. We’re thrilled to share the success stories of four mums who benefitted from the fund. 

• Suicide Prevention Trainer, Bridging the Gap Adult Mental Health Project, BAND

  Salary: £28,315 rising to £31,073 FTE, (£22,652.00 rising to £24,858.40 pro rata, per annum) Hours: 29.6 hours per week (part time) Temporary contract until 30th April 2025 To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Monday 29th […]

• Activities Co-Ordinator, Bridging the Gap Adult Neurodiversity and Mental Health Project, BAND

  Salary: £24,724 rising to £27,232 FTE (£14,834.40 – £16,339.20 pro rata, per annum) Hours: 22.2 hours per week (part time) – part-time/full-time – x2 posts available Temporary contract until 30th April 2025 To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person […]

• Sammie’s Story: finding the right SEND support

  At Family Action we believe that family is a doing word – something that can demand so much of us yet also reward the work and commitment we pour into it.  Here, Sammie talks to us about her family’s experiences of grief, mental health problems and autism diagnosis, the support that helped them most and […]

• Family Action Children & Family Centres Gloucestershire

  What we do Playing an important role in the community, Gloucestershire Children and Family Centres will provide a wide range of supportive activities for children and families throughout Stroud and the Cotswolds. Achieved through a whole-family approach and multi-agency working, and offering tailored support for those having been identified as being in greatest need, the […]

• Supervised Contact Centre (SCC) Facilitator, Isle of Man Supervised Contact Centre – Based in Douglas Isle of Man

  • Salary: £27,232 FTE per annum to £30,179 FTE per annum, plus £3000 FTE per annum IoM weighting • Permanent Contract • To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] • To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification  • Closing date: Friday 3rd May […]

• What being a single mum looks like for me

  Mother’s Day presents a valuable opportunity to recognise the amazing women who nurture us throughout our lives.  But sometimes we can romanticise the job when, particularly for single mothers, motherhood also means sacrifice, challenge and loss. Here mum Natalee discusses the joys and struggles she’s experienced as a working single mother of two.    It’s challenging being […]

• Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC) – Manchester

   “I’m not alone and other parents go through the same.” – EPEC parent participant, Stockport EPEC empowers mothers, fathers, parents and carers to better understand, manage and enrich their children’s needs and development, as well as to look after themselves. The Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities (EPEC) programme is an evidence-based parenting programme delivered by volunteer […]

• EPEC Administrator, Manchester – Part Time & Hybrid Working

  Salary: £8,478.40 – £9,586.40 per annum for part time hours Part time (14.8 hours per week) – 2 full days (flexible) Hybrid working – Manchester sites & homebased Fixed term contract until December 2025 with potential to extend To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] To learn more about the […]

• How we change with families

  If you’re browsing the magazine aisle this month, pick up the March edition of Good Housekeeping and you’ll find an article marking the start of our exciting new partnership with the publication. “The Changing Shape of Family” charts how family life has changed and is still changing, with recent years seeing huge levels of upheaval […]

• Being my grandson’s Special Guardian

  Family Action is committed to supporting all families, and we don’t believe there is any “normal” family situation.  Retirement is often the period where people look forward to a life free from the responsibilities of work and raising a family.  Special Guardians inherit the caring role from their children, starting again from the beginning.  Here […]

• Celebrating 5 years of FamilyLine  

  Five years on from when our Royal Patron, HRH The Princess of Wales, launched our free helpline for families, we look back and celebrate the difference that FamilyLine has made.  In 2019, marking our 150th anniversary, we launched a new national helpline with our Royal Patron, HRH The Princess of Wales. FamilyLine was born out […]

• New Year, New Challenge – Corporate Supporters 

  New Year, New Challenge! This page is for companies and organisations who would like to promote our ‘New Year, New Challenge’ programme of events, or are organising their own fundraising for Family Action. We have put together a useful pack of events content, filled with all the guidance, quotes and assets you’ll need to recruit […]

• Skydive

  Looking for an unforgettable experience that pushes your limits and makes a real difference? Join #TeamFamilyAction for a thrilling skydive and help struggling families across the UK.  Why choose this challenge?  Conquer your fears: Face your anxieties head-on and experience the exhilarating rush of freefall.  Make a lasting impact: Your fundraising will provide vital support to families […]

• Do your own thing

  Unleash your inner athlete to help families! Choose your fun, active challenge for Family Action.  Get moving and make a difference for families in need with Family Action. Whether you’re a walking warrior, a cycling champion, or a poolside pro, there’s an active adventure for you. Choose your challenge and:  Boost your fitness: From daily step […]

• London to Brighton Cycle Ride

  This iconic event provides first-time riders and velo enthusiasts alike with a picturesque route through the English countryside followed by a thigh busting climb up Ditchling Beacon before gliding down to Brighton Seafront to meet you in your allocated area in our event village. It’s an event that appeals to all.  Your entry includes: mechanical […]

• London2Brighton Ultra Challenge

  2,000 adventurers of all experience levels & ages will take on a classic capital to coast route, testing their grit over the Bank Holiday weekend. You can choose to walk, jog or run your choice of distance, from the full 100km, three-quarter 75km, or a half or quarter options. There’s a challenge for everyone.   A […]

• Peak District Ultra Challenge

  Over 2,000 adventurers will take on the fabulous Peak District as a walk, jog or a run, and all will receive the famous Ultra Challenge support and hospitality all the way – which enables you to push yourself further and achieve something really special.  From the Bakewell basecamp the full 100 km challenge heads out […]

• Take on a challenge in 2024

  “It just feels great to endure a physical challenge to support those who face huge challenges every single day.” A great opportunity to improve your own health and wellbeing whilst giving back to the community. Walk, jog, run, cycle, skydive or come up with your own challenge to support struggling families.    Together, we can make […]

• Parenting Programme Facilitators, Planning Together for Children – UK Remote and Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, West Yorkshire, Liverpool & Cheshire

  Hourly Rate: £13.65 per hour Sessional Arrangement Sessional working hours – a choice of weekdays, evenings, school hours and weekends To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Rolling ID: 1071

• Family Action Chief Executive, David Holmes CBE, Knighted in The New Year’s Honours List

  Today’s New Year’s Honours List announces that Family Action Chief Executive, David Holmes CBE will receive a knighthood in recognition of his services to children and families. David Holmes joined Family Action as Chief Executive in 2013 and since then has transformed  Family Action to become a leading national charity supporting tens of thousands of […]

• A New Year’s message from our CEO David Holmes

  I hope the festive season has been an opportunity to press pause and reset after what feels like another challenging year. It’s become a tradition of these New Year messages to look back and reflect as well as look forward to the future. Navigating uncertainty I firstly want to say how grateful I am to […]

• Lauren’s story: FOOD Club volunteers saved our Christmas!

  How would you respond if your freezer broke down just before Christmas with no time to get it fixed? That’s what happened to parent Lauren… but thankfully her local FOOD club was on hand to help her get creative!   In my house it’s me, my other half and my two girls, and we’ve been […]

• Clare’s story: Toy Appeal gifted my daughter the recognition she deserves

  Our Toy Appeal is hugely important for the families we support, but often it’s just one piece of a complex jigsaw of support – like the icing on the cake or the bow that wraps the present. Here parent Clare* tells us how our Young Carer’s service helped both her and her daughter on a […]

• Vicky’s story: how my community connects though food

  Christmas is just around the corner and many of us are feeling the squeeze right now. Our FOOD clubs are here to support when times are tough. Vicky, a volunteer at one of our London clubs, was inspired to get involved by their spirit of community. Do you know what being T-Boned means? It means when […]

• How our FOOD clubs help families manage costs at Christmas

  Our FOOD clubs attract people for lots of reasons, whether that’s because of financial concerns, reducing food waste or connecting with their community. As Christmas fast approaches, we visited our FOOD clubs to speak to ordinary families about why it’s important to them and what the cost of living crisis means for them this winter.  […]

• Thomas takes steps to make this Christmas more magic

  Thomas Shepherd, aged 11 from March in Cambridgeshire, is walking 10,000 steps a day in November, to raise money for Family Action’s Christmas Toy Appeal. We work with over 60,000 families to help them overcome the challenges they face, through a wide range of practical, emotional and financial support in over 170 community-based services across the […]

• How FOOD clubs and the Toy Appeal made our Christmas

  Our Toy Appeal isn’t just about the gifts people are given – it also helps to let those who receive them know they’re not alone. Here, mum Joanne explains how, for her, the Toy Appeal ties into her beliefs about community, and the wider support that Family Action provides.   Support without judgement  We’re not supposed […]

• PARCS Training

  Now a part of Family Action, PARCS has supported survivors of rape and sexual abuse for over 40 years, and victims of domestic violence for more than 20 years. Alongside ever-changing public awareness and increasing confidence in addressing sexual abuse and rape, we deliver outreach community projects as well as free specialist counselling and psychotherapy […]

• How the Toy Appeal brought magic into our home

  When we speak of the gifts given by our Toy Appeal we, of course, mean dolls and bikes and every other joyous item that fits in Santa’s stocking. But we also mean something more, because often the real ‘gifts’ are more subtle. Sometimes the presents act as tokens of recognition and belonging, and sometimes they’re a […]

• The challenges facing families this Christmas

  Christmas is a time for giving. So how does it feel when we just can’t give? For too many of us this winter, the idea of Christmas isn’t filled with joy, but anxiety. In a cost of living crisis it can feel at times as if everyone is struggling, but the festive season is a time […]

• Zara’s story: how LifeSkills helped me toward employment

  Family Action and Barclays are working in partnership to help families and individuals overcome their challenges and build their confidence and employability skills for a brighter future.  We’re delivering Barclays LifeSkills sessions and resources to families, to build the knowledge, core transferable skills, and confidence they need to get into or progress in work.  Here parent and […]

• Rebecca’s story: my experience mentoring a young person

  Growing up and leaving care can be difficult without many of the family and friend networks many of us take for granted. Here, care expereienced adult, Rebecca shares how her own life experience was invaluable when mentoring young people who have experienced trauma with our London Friendship Works service. Early experiences   The thing about early […]

• We asked Wandsworth, how can we best challenge poverty?

  Challenge Poverty Week England & Wales is an opportunity for us all to say what needs to change to enable our own communities to thrive. It’s a chance for voices that are too often ignored to be heard loud and clear. It’s a chance to show that it is possible to build a better, more […]

• Sadie’s story: how Adopteens empowered me

  To mark National Adoption Week, we are shining a light on a unique service. Adopteens was developed in Yorkshire and Humber by and for young adopted people, as a safe space to be themselves, make new friends and make a difference. Here, we speak to Sadie about how the project, and the chance to be […]

• Barclays Learning Support Grants

  Grants of up to £1,000 are available to help individuals with dependent children achieve their goals by funding the additional costs associated with volunteering, further education and training. Up to £500 of any grant given can be allocated to basic household needs. An increasing number of families are facing financial challenges, more than ever before.  […]

• Share the magic of the Toy Appeal

    This page is for companies that are taking part in the Family Action Christmas Toy Appeal 2023. We look forward to working with you on our Toy Appeal and wider ‘Make Theirs Magic’ Christmas Campaign! We have put together a useful pack of festive content, filled with all the guidance, content, quotes and assets […]

• The hardest, and greatest year of my life – a story about adoption

  Our PAC-UK service supports adoptive and special guardianship families with many aspects of their family lives and we often get to share in the joys and challenges. Here mum Anne* lets us in on the story of her family, and how we supported her through the first year of life with her adopted son.  Adopting […]

• Welfare Grants Programmes

  Our Welfare Grants Programmes aim to help prevent an immediate crisis from spiralling and threatening the stability of families and individuals. Welfare grants are an integral part of our whole family approach to finding solutions for those who need it the most. Coupled with emotional and practical support, grants help us to create a safety […]

• Educational Grants Progammes

  Our Educational Grants Programmes support parents or carers who are looking to unlock their educational potential by participating in further education. For full details of who is eligible, what can be funded and how to apply please click on the links below. Family Action’s Educational grants programme Grants are available for parents or carers in […]

• Response to the Education Committee Report on persistent absence and support for disadvantaged pupils

  Family Action welcomes the spotlight the Education Committee’s report casts on the issues of persistent absence and support for disadvantaged pupils. We particularly appreciate the report’s focus on the complexity of the reasons for persistent absence and the absence of an easy single solution. Absence may be caused by lots of situations that the report […]

• Children England set to close

  We are saddened to see the announcement today of the closure of Children England later this year. Children England is an organisation that has done amazing work highlighting and influencing the big issues for children and families and the charities that support them for more than 80 years. Its loss will leave a very big […]

• Leeds Young Carers Support Service Information for young people

  Our Leeds Young Carers Support Service is here to make sure children and young people who are providing care for a loved one are visible, valued and supported. Find out more about who is a young carer and what services and support are available in the Leeds area below

• Over 350k children get their morning off to a better start with the National School Breakfast Programme

  The National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP), delivered by Family Action and funded by the Department for Education, is supporting over 350,000 pupils to have a nutritious breakfast each morning. Here we take a look at the difference the programme is making. The Progress Report, released this week by the National School Breakfast Programme, highlights the impact […]

• More support needed for children with special educational needs. Our response to the Government

  Family Action welcomes the acknowledgement from Government that we need a better system that builds capacity for children and families who require support with SEND, and the investment to start addressing this. However, we are concerned that these plans do not go far enough, and more needs to be done to support families systemically, rather […]

• How we’re helping families to Make Happy Memories this summer

  Summer can be a challenge for families and our recent poll highlighted that families across the country struggle with the costs of food and entertainment. As difficult as these issues are we can help families come together and Make Happy Memories through the work of our services. Here’s a snapshot of us doing just that […]

• Bailey and Ava’s story: making the most of summer as a young carer

  For young people caring for a loved one or family member, the summer holidays can be a difficult time, balancing responsibilities at home with school work and social commitments. Here Bailey and Ava tell us what it means to be a young carer over the school break and how no summer is care-free. Tell us […]

• Remembering Helen Dent CBE

  It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our former Chief Executive, Helen Dent CBE. Helen led our organisation with distinction from 1996 to 2013 and oversaw both significant growth in the charity’s reach and a very significant merger with FSU (Family Service Units) in 2006. Under Helen’s leadership we rebranded from […]

• Tips to beat the summer struggle

  Our social prescribing services work with families to help them navigate the support that’s available in and around their communities. For our Make Happy Memories Summer Campaign we’ve been discussing the added pressures that families might deal with in summer… a topic that our social prescribing services are all too familiar with.  Here we discuss why.  When […]

• North Northamptonshire Supportive Steps

  We support new and expectant parents and carers in North Northamptonshire, as part of North Northamptonshire Council’s Family Hub Programme, by offering parenting programmes that are universally accessible to prepare expectant mothers and their partners for labour, birth and the immediate post-natal period to support the transition to parenthood. We also offer evidence-based intensive support […]

• Phillipa’s story: how FOOD Clubs helped my family

  Worries about the cost of summer are widespread and, thanks to the cost of living crisis, having a job is not necessarily a protection against hardship. Here working single parent Phillipa* explains how she manages to provide for herself and her son, and how Family Action’s FOOD Clubs are a vital part of the puzzle.  […]

• Dads speak out about summer stresses, struggles and joys

  Summer is a time when work responsibilities must be juggled with childcare, family life and spending time together. We caught up with some dads at our Peterborough Pre-schools to talk about how their families manage shared workloads and childcare responsibilities over summer holidays.   How do you spend quality time with your family over school […]

• FOOD Clubs – a lifeline for my family

  Raising a family isn’t cheap, and costs can spiral during the summer when the safety net of school is removed and children are at home all day. Here mum Parul explains how Family Action’s FOOD Clubs help smooth out summer spending, prevent food waste and create special memories with her family.  The last few years […]

• Noor’s story: How a Health and Wellbeing project supported me as a single parent

  Looking after a child as a single parent is a difficult task, but it’s made much harder when you’re struggling with poor mental health, financial issues and strained relationships with family and friends.  Here, parent Noor* explains how Family Action showed her that she wasn’t alone and helped her build confidence and independence to move […]

• FOOD Club volunteering

  Volunteers needed We’re looking for volunteers to support our FOOD Clubs across the country in a wide variety of ways (packing food bags, serving customers, dealing with food deliveries, administration, marketing etc). Here an experienced volunteer explains how she got involved in volunteering for FOOD Club and the varied nature of her role. Why volunteer […]

• Over three-quarters of parents worry about summer activity costs

  Long days, warm weather and time with our families – Summer can sound idyllic. Our new research shows that for many, however, this is a time filled with insecurity.  From our work with families we know that many will struggle more over school holidays, so we polled over 1,000 parents and carers to find out […]

• Building confidence through volunteering

  Volunteering can have a wide range of benefits, not least helping to improve people’s confidence and communication skills, as one experienced volunteer explains to a member of our FOOD Club team… (Note that we have changed the identity of the interviewee to protect anonymity.)   Hi, I’m ****. I am 20 years old and I […]

• Annabel’s story: how Friendship Works supported my children

  It’s not always easy for families to find the time or the money to ensure their children have a varied and active summer holiday. Our Friendship Works programme matches young people aged 5-18 with mentors who can help them get out and about, broaden their horizons, support their emotional development and provide a trusted ear […]

• Rachel’s story: finding strength and healing after traumatic birth

  Conversations about pregnancy and motherhood are often had with the benefit of hindsight. If many of us responded truthfully and free of the fear of being judged we might admit that sometimes our experience wasn’t perfect, and this is particularly true when discussing traumatic births and premature children.   Here Rachel tells us about her experience of […]

• Susan’s story: my amazing son, my young carer 

  After years of caring for others, it can be hard to come to terms with accepting care yourself, especially from your own child. Susan tells her story of parenting through grief, managing the guilt of unexpected role reversals and the transformative effect of Family Action’s support for herself and her son as a young carer.  […]

• How we’re supporting families in poverty in Birmingham 

  Family Action works in Birmingham’s Ladywood and Hodge Hill, the two parliamentary constituencies with the highest child poverty rates in the UK, according to research released this week. Here we take a look at how we’re supporting families in the area. We support people in the community through administrating the Government’s Household Support Fund, which […]

• Joanna’s story: how FamilyLine helped me and my children without stigma

  Every year since it first launched this time four years ago our FamilyLine service supports thousands of families nationwide with the challenges they face. Although it’s often the service’s helpline that first comes to mind it also provides longer-term support through a team of befrienders and counsellors. Here mum, Joanna explains how FamilyLine’s helped her […]

• Shannon’s story: how pregnancy support helped me overcome challenges as a new mum

  Feeling anxious after birth is something many women can relate to, but when you don’t have your own place and relationships feel like they’re fraying it can be hard to know where to turn. Shannon shares how Family Action’s Pregnancy to Three service was there for her when she most needed to find her feet […]

• Lee’s story: My mentoring experience with Friendship Works

  10-year-old Issac struggled to make friends at school and often felt isolated and alone. He and his mum came to our Friendship Works Service in 2021 looking for a supportive mentor, and were matched with Lee. Since then, both Issac and his mum have said how much his confidence has grown. Find out more about […]

• Katt’s story: finding the right SEND support at school

  Every child is different, but each one has to fit into a school curriculum created with millions of children in mind.  Here Katt – parent of two girls – shares her thoughts on how the system doesn’t always benefit children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who learn in a more active way.  Both of […]

• Family Support Worker, Moorlands, Newcastle, Cannock, Stafford and South Staffordshire

  £20,579 – £23,268 FTE per annum (pro-rata for part time hours) 37 hours per week (full-time) / part-time hours will be considered, please state your preference on the application form Permanent contract To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and […]

• Norfolk & Waveney ASD/ADHD Support Service

  We support parents and carers of children and young people in the Norfolk & Waveney area who are waiting for or undergoing a neurodevelopmental assessment, or where there has been a recent diagnosis of autism or ADHD. We offer courses, parent coffee mornings, information sessions and a monthly newsletter covering challenges faced by parents and […]

• Resources

  ADHD Anxiety Apps Auditory Processing Disorder Autism Book Recommendations Change and Transitions Dyslexia Eating Emotional Regulation Epilepsy & Autism  Executive Function Gender Dysphoria Girls Home Education Independence Introduction to Neurodivergence Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Online Safety PDA Post Diagnosis Support School (Includes EHCP, Exams, Homework, Reading, Accessibility) School Attendance Self Harm Sensory & OT Siblings Sleep […]

• Neurodevelopmental Support Services for West Suffolk and Norfolk & Waveney

  Our Neurodevelopmental Support Services offer support to families whose children are waiting for, or undergoing, a neurodevelopmental assessment or where there has been a diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental condition such as Autism or ADHD. What do we provide? We offer families support through our free courses. We also offer opportunity for you join us and […]

• Contact Supervisor (Centre and Community Based), Children’s Contact Service Based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire (Service and community based)

  £22,546 – £23,966 FTE per annum/ Hourly rate: £11.72 – £12.46 Various hours available: 37 hours per week/flexible/sessional. Permanent contract To apply: fill out the Application Form and email it to: [email protected] To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification Closing date: Rolling ID: 778      

• Lucy’s Story: My Son’s Autism Diagnosis

  The time surrounding a diagnosis of Autism can be  challenging  for families and bring up all sorts of emotions for everyone involved. Here, Lucy takes us through what her son’s diagnosis meant for her family.  Our son was diagnosed with high-functioning Autism in 2021 just before his 15th birthday.    We felt so many emotions. […]

• Wiltshire SENDIASS

  Wiltshire SENDIASS provides a free, confidential and impartial support service to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and their parents and carers. We offer information, guidance, support, and signposting, either by phone, Teams calls, on an individual or targeted basis where needed, or through events and workshops. We aim to provide easy-to-understand information to raise awareness of […]

• The National School Breakfast Programme is now supporting 2500 schools

  The National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP), funded by the Department for Education and delivered by Family Action, has reached its recruitment goal of 2500 participating schools. The NSBP, in its current form, launched in 2021 and provides hundreds of thousands of children across England with a healthy and nutritious breakfast at the start of the school […]

• Jo’s story: my experience as a birth mother finding their adopted child

  Our Family Action adoption support agency, PAC-UK, provides specialist support to all parties affected by adoption and permanency. Each year, PAC-UK supports over 500 birth parents of adopted children, a historically underrepresented voice in the media and society. Here Jo tells us her story.  When I was 16-17 and still a student, I began my […]

• Investing in Futures Fund launches on International Single Parents Day

  The Investing in Futures Fund will provide hundreds of single parents in London with grants to purchase essential items for their education Family Action and JP Morgan Chase & Co. have launched the Investing in Futures Fund, on International Single Parents Day, to provide hundreds of single parents in London with grants in support of […]

• Hazel’s story: how our SENDIASS staff empower families

  Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Services, or SENDIAS services, are a vital part of the picture when talking about support for children with SEND and their families nationwide. Here Hazel from our Solihull SENDIAS service breaks down the nuts and bolts of how their service works, and highlights the joys and […]

• Hayley’s Story: How SENDIAS Services Helped Me and My Son

  Parents of children who have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) often find that there are periods of great upheaval in their lives. Here parent Hayley explains how one of Family Action’s SENDIAS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support) Services helped with her child’s transition to primary school. We were called into […]

• Jack’s story: why it’s important to listen to young carers

  On Young Carers Action Day we’re shining the spotlight on these many amazing young people and highlighting how important it is to make time to listen to their experiences and perspective. One of our Young Carers Ambassadors, Jack, shares his thoughts about the importance of making time to listen.    

• Robbie’s Story: how SEND support helped me and my family

  Family Action’s services working with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) know there is no such thing as a “typical” child or young person, and we tailor our support to the challenges and strengths of those we work with. This is how our Small Steps service supported Robbie, who has a diagnosis of ADHD, and […]

• The Westminster Foundation appoints Family Action CEO to Board of Trustees

  The Westminster Foundation has announced Family Action CEO, David Holmes CBE, will join its Board of Trustees. The Westminster Foundation is an independent organisation representing the charitable activity of The Duke of Westminster and Grosvenor businesses, that provides long term sustainable help and direction to vulnerable young people. Led by The Duke of Westminster, the […]

• Sadie and Melissa’s story: supporting communities through Social Prescribing

  Our Social Prescribing services sit at the heart of their communities and prevent hundreds from feeling isolated.  Here, to celebrate International Social Prescribing Day, we explain how these vital services work and shine a light on those providing them by hearing from members of our teams in two London boroughs.  Sadie, Hackney  Put simply, Social […]

• PARCS Counselling Services

  Adult Counselling We provide counselling for those who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, sexual abuse/violence, and domestic abuse. For adult counselling, we require you to make a self-referral by calling our office number or emailing at [email protected]. A staff member will then support you with this. Counselling for domestic abuse Our service is committed to […]

• What would our founder Octavia Hill think of Family Action today?

  Today is International Women’s Day, which recognises the vast societal, cultural and political contribution women make across the globe. To mark this important day, we’ve decided to honour our founder Octavia Hill with a fun piece creatively imagining how she might feel about our work more than 150 years since she co-founded Family Action.   Over to […]

• Response to the Government’s SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan

  The Government states that their SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan will provide children and young people across England, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision (AP), with high-quality, early support wherever they live in the country. In principle, Family Action is in support of this announcement, and welcomes the acknowledgement […]

• Why is reading important for young people? with Phil Earle

  Family Action directly supports young people who have experienced trauma and survived challenges that many adults would find it hard to imagine. Some of them will be in care, or care leavers, others are young carers themselves. Many will be struggling with their mental health, social isolation or living with a disability.  Phil Earle is an […]

• Gemma’s story: the difference our FOOD Clubs make

  Among the many items available for parents at our Peterborough FOOD club is a set of shapes used for making cookies, donated by a local department store.  They’re just one of the many bonuses available for parents at a service that, as volunteer Gemma explains, is anything but cookie-cutter.  Our FOOD Clubs provide discount food for […]

• Libby’s story: why my Family Action grant was so important this winter 

  Over the past year we noticed the huge impact that the increased cost of living had on many of the families we support. We responded by creating our Family Action Fund – which provides practical, financial suppot through supermarket vouchers to people needing it. We hear how important they’ve been to Libby.  Recent economic and […]

• FOOD Club offers more than just food

  FOOD Club is about more than just food, as one of our members explains. “I heard about FOOD Club when a link was shared on Facebook by a children’s centre. I work part-time, but we still need help with buying food for our family of four. The money saved helps buy more food and pay […]

• Experimenting with new foods

  One of the benefits of FOOD Club is the chance to try new foods, and experiment with new recipes, as one member explains. “I was offered some blue cheese, Stilton, at FOOD Club one week and I automatically said “I don’t like blue cheese”. I got home and started pondering my response and I thought […]

• Getting the most out of FOOD Club

  FOOD Club means different things to different people. Here one of our members speaks about how it has encouraged her family to try new foods and recipes, meet new people, save money, and get involved in other activities at the children’s centre. “I initially signed up for the FOOD club running from the children’s centre […]

• Connecting with others through food

  Whether it’s sharing a meal or discussing a new recipe, food can help to bring people together, to connect with others, and to make new friends, as one of our FOOD Club members explains: “…. for those that have helped me so much this year, I hope you all get to hear how much of […]

• 2022 and how we’re helping families in 2023

  Family Action Chief Executive David Holmes CBE looks forward to 2023, while also considering how far we’ve come to get here.  There is a tradition when speaking about the New Year. We often frame it by imagining a new start for ourselves and those we love, setting New Year’s resolutions and ambitious goals that we […]

• A Peterborough Preschool Nativity Play

  Adorable angels, dynamic donkeys and super singing stars: we document our Peterborough services’ 2022 community Nativity show.   Hundreds braved sub-zero temperatures to watch Family Action’s heart-warming Peterborough preschool Nativity service last week. Dozens of children donned traditional (and adorable!) outfits – including animals and angels – to entertain the parents, carers and extended family attending […]

• Medway Pregnancy to Three Support Service

  We provide support to Medway families where a parent is struggling with their emotional health or well-being during pregnancy and the first 3 years after birth. Our Pregnancy to Three Support Service is for parents who have, or are at risk of developing, mild to moderate mental health issues, including anxiety and post-natal depression. Our […]

• Hackney Social Prescribing and Outreach

  What is social prescribing? Social prescribing is about giving you access to activities, social groups, services and advice based on your needs and interests. The aim is to improve your sense of wellbeing, which in turn can often have a positive impact on your health. It doesn’t replace the medical role your GP plays but […]

• Barclays Learning Support Grants Programme

  Grants of up to £1,000 are available to help individuals with dependent children achieve their goals by funding the additional costs associated with volunteering, further education and training. Up to £500 of any grant given can be allocated to basic household needs. An increasing number of families are facing financial challenges, more than ever before.  […]

• James’ story: how volunteering keeps me in touch with my community

  One Family Action volunteer explains why he thinks more men should get involved and explains how doing so has improved his life. It’s the time of year when family and community are at the forefront of our minds as we take time off and enjoy the Christmas season. For our volunteers, however, community is a […]

• Investing In Futures Fund

  Grants of up to £2,500 are available to help lone parents with dependent children achieve their goals by funding the additional costs associated with further education.

• Robina’s story: how a Family Action Grant gave me safety and stability

  Hopefully most people reading these words will do so in an environment where they feel safe; where they are respected and there are rules for how they are treated. But this isn’t the case for everyone, and many people live in fear of their home environment and need to escape.  Here we discuss how our […]

• Elliot’s story: how a Family Action grant eased life’s stresses during a challenging time

  If the events of recent years have taught us anything it’s that life is unpredictable and can bring its share of pain as well as joy.  Family Action’s grants are there to support families and individuals through these difficult times when they suffer hardship through no fault of their own.  Here we tell Elliot’s story.   […]

• Dianne’s story: how my volunteering is making a real difference

  Family Support Volunteer Dianne shares what she finds so rewarding about helping families through struggling times. Our volunteers have one thing in common: They’re caring individuals who want to dedicate their time to contributing to the world around them. Other than that common factor each one is different, however, with their own motivations, skills and […]

• Easy Christmas crafting ideas for your family

  With our partner Fisher-Price™ Play Lab, we have been looking at how play and spending time together can help with children’s early years development.   This Christmas, there are many easy crafting activities that you can do together with your children and they can feel so rewarding. Here are some ideas you can try out at […]

• Family Action to Deliver the National School Breakfast Programme for an Additional Year

  Family Action is set to be the delivery partner for the National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) for an additional year, due to an additional investment of up to £12m by the government. The funding ensures that hundreds of thousands of children, across England, will continue to be provided with a healthy and nutritious breakfast at […]

• Baby Sensory Activities at Christmas with Fisher-Price™ Play Lab

  Through our partnership with Fisher-Price™ Play Lab we have been sharing how different types of play helps early years child development.   Christmas is a magical time, and we know it can also be very busy.  Here we guide you through some baby sensory activities that are super easy to do at home, and are very […]

• Janet’s Story: how the Toy Appeal helped my family

  This Christmas will be the toughest some of us will have ever known. Here parent Janet explains why Family Action’s Toy Appeal and Food Club means so much to her family, and outlines the comforts that have kept her afloat during a difficult time.   At one point everything was so rosy… I had a lovely […]

• Family Action Fund

  We’ve launched our Family Action Fund grant programme to support families struggling with the cost of living crisis. We’re distributing up to £500k through £200 grants to 2,500 vulnerable families providing a lifeline to people struggling with food insecurity.  About the programme This Programme is now closed, all the funding has been spent. Please click […]

• Kayleigh’s story: how the Toy Appeal helped my son

  There is no “typical” family that receives assistance from our Toy Appeal and, as this story by Kayleigh shows, there is no such thing as a “typical” present either. I was very poorly during my pregnancy as I had a blood clot on my lung. Although I was still going into work at my job […]

• Wythenshawe Children’s Centres

  We run five Children’s Centres across Wythenshawe, offering age appropriate sessions for under 5’s, antenatal, health visitor appointments, and an outreach service. Our outreach team specifically provides 1-2-1 support to local families under 5’s. We run a full programme of free sessions and activities across the centres, for you and your family. You can find […]

• Why magic is needed this Christmas more than ever

  As we launch our annual Make Theirs Magic Christmas campaign, we share our new research and outline how we’re supporting families this winter. New research we’ve conducted with Walnut Unlimited highlights that our Make Theirs Magic campaign is needed more than ever. It shows that 50% of adults will be going without things such as […]

• 11 helpful ways to manage your cost of living

  Our FamilyLine service share top tips intended to ease the burden of the increased cost of living. FamilyLine staff speak to families facing a range of challenges every day. In a separate article we’ve outlined some of the current pressures that families have shared with them, but they also noted that there are some pieces […]

• Open Doors Grants Programme

  The Open Doors Grants Programme provides cash grants alongside intensive support delivered to recipients by a range of partner organisations. It is administered by Family Action and supported by our corporate partner NewDay.    

• How the cost of living crisis is impacting families

  With the current cost of living crisis following hot on the heels of the COVID pandemic, many families are struggling like never before. Here we share what we learnt speaking to members of staff and volunteers at our FamilyLine service, who never know what the next call will hold and work with people during some […]

• Kayla’s story: finding my voice as a Young Carer

  Kayla is an 11-year old young carer living in London with her mum and brother. She helps look after her brother who has autism and her mum who struggles with Anxiety, Depression and migraines. When her responsibilities at home increased during lockdown, she sought help from Family Action. Kayla’s nine-year-old brother has autism and can […]

• The forgotten voices of birth families

  Our PAC-UK adoption support service is the largest independent agency in the country and supports all those impacted by adoption. Across the country, PAC-UK has been reaching out to individuals, families and professionals affected by adoption and permanency for over 30 years. The service’s multi-disciplinary team of more than 100 staff and volunteers come with […]

• Rosie’s story: pregnancy, my mental health and beyond

  A young mother explains how we supported her with her mental health during pregnancy and beyond.  This week sees the launch of our new Pregnancy to Three Support Service in Medway which aims to support parents to feel less isolated and build a stronger bond with their child. It’s an area we have a lot of […]

• Emma’s story: Getting the emotional support I needed

  Our Children’s Centres are vital to the communities they serve, offering a friendly space where families can raise their concerns and find a sympathetic ear. Here we explain how one of our centres worked with one parent to address her concerns and help her face the future.   For Emma Family Action helped her break a […]

• How we’re helping families thrive in an uncertain time

  Our new impact report outlines how both our charity and the people we support have adapted to uncertain times.   In some ways, our yearly impact report is a “business as usual” document; highlighting our current priorities, our successes and the milestones that have defined the previous year.  And yet the past few years have been […]

• Queen Elizabeth II: A reflection on the life and legacy of our former Royal Patron

  Steadfast, dependable and inspirational; the Queen’s patronage supported Family Action through some of our most challenging, and successful, times.   Many of us mourning the loss of Her Majesty The Queen do so in intensely personal ways, with her reign providing the stable backdrop to profound changes in our own lives. For many of us these […]

• Types of play and how they help children develop

  When talking about nutrition we often speak of a balanced diet – with the idea being that the various foods we eat each contribute something to our body’s health and wellbeing.  The same is also true of play – with different types of play encouraging the development of the different skills that will aid them […]

• The role of adults in supporting children’s play

  We break down the roles adults take on during children’s play and provide tips on how you can get involved  As an adult, it can often be hard to know how much you should get involved in your child or children’s play. We know from speaking to parents that they often feel guilty if they […]

• How different types of play help your child develop

  We spoke with play experts, Dr. Lisa Lohiser and Dr. Corinne Eggleston from our partner Fisher-Price™ Play Lab to understand how different types of play help child development.

• Sam’s Story: How embracing boredom is helping my kids’ playtime

  We’ve produced a range of activities for parents and carers this summer that allow you to get creative, encourage play with your children and stave off boredom. But we should be wary of always seeing boredom as the enemy. Here dad Sam tells us how he’s learnt to embrace doing less, and why. Have you […]

• Statement in reaction to the death of Her Majesty The Queen

  Family Action Chief Executive David Holmes CBE said everyone at Family Action has been deeply saddened by the news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen. He added: “Her Majesty The Queen has been and will continue to be an inspiration to all for generations to come. Her selfless service to our country over […]

• How can food play help child development?

  Here, Family Action Early Years Manager, Karen Woodcock shares key benefits of playing with food on your child’s development. Find out more about Creating Happy Memories through play and the benefits it can bring to your child’s development.

• How does modelling dough support child development?

  Here, Family Action Early Years Manager, Karen Woodcock shares key benefits of modelling dough on your child’s development. Find out more about Creating Happy Memories through play and the benefits it can bring to your child’s development.

• The Power of Play

  We introduce our Play Programme and explain why play is a powerful tool for promoting wellbeing, learning and family togetherness.  Our Play Programme has been designed to make play easier for families regardless of who they are. We’ve taken time to address all the barriers which the modern world can present that prevent our children […]

• Getting ready for your child’s first day at school

  Here we address some common worries about a child’s first day at school and suggest ways to tackle them through play. If you’re a parent who’s worried about the first day of primary school you’re not alone.  For many of us school represents the first truly closed door in our children’s life, and we worry […]

• How to prepare for the first day of nursery or pre-school through play

  Your child’s first day at nursery or pre-school is a big event in their lives so far, so it’s understandable that you might be worrying about how they’ll cope with the change. It’s also a big deal for many parents – it’s the first step to your child becoming more independent from you. While it’s […]

• How to use play to prepare for the first day of school

  We discuss how to playfully prepare your child to attend school for the first time. We get it. Your child has just broken up from pre-school and you’re now doing the full-time parenting thing, or your blissful, uninterrupted time spent in the company of your new best friend is soon to come to an end, […]

• How does water play support child development?

  Today, Family Action Early Years Manager, Karen Woodcock shares key benefits of water play on your child’s development. Find out more about Creating Happy Memories through play and the benefits it can bring to your child’s development.

• Water Play Ideas for Children: Muddy Puddles

  We’re sharing simple and fun water play ideas to support your child’s development.  Find out more about water play helps child development.

• Play In Nature Ideas for Children: Scavenger Hunt

  An outdoor scavenger hunt is one of the many ways your children can play in nature, get fresh air and even learn. Here are some easy scavenger hunt ideas. Find out more about how nature helps child development.

• How can nature help your child’s development?

  Here, Family Action Early Years Manager shares three key ways playing in nature can support your child’s development. Find out more about Creating Happy Memories through play and the benefits it can bring to your child’s development.

• Award-winning Family Action Garden finds its final home

  Family Action’s Royal Horticultural Society award-winning garden has been relocated to a women’s mental health unit where it will continue to benefit the community. When volunteers from Family Action’s ESCAPE project put together a plan for the RHS’ “planet friendly” border competition in July they felt it was important that their submission reflected the ethos […]

• Family Action Play Activity – Food

  Fill your bellies and your day with this handy guide showing you how to involve food in your child’s play. What is it? Food preparation contains lots of elements that promote play and lend themselves to promoting learning and development and independence. These activities help you to find the fun in food while ensuring nothing […]

• Mud and Sand Ideas for Children: Digging with Tools and Toys

  You can play with mud and sand as a digging activity. We’re sharing tips on digging with toys and tools at home. Find out more about how mud and sand helps child development.

• Mud and Sand Ideas for Children: Outdoor Kitchen

  You can play with mud and sand as a kind of mock kitchen. Watch our video for tips on setting up an outdoor kitchen. Find out more about how mud and sand helps child development.

• 3 ways playing with mud and sand helps your child’s development

  Did you know that playing with mud and sand has huge benefits for your child’s development? Here Family Action Early Years Manager, Karen shares three key benefits. Find out more about Creating Happy Memories through play and the benefits it can bring to your child’s development.

• Junk Modelling Ideas for Children: Painting

  Junk modelling is the process of creating arts and crafts out of recyclable household materials. It is a great way to inspire children’s creativity while simultaneously educating them about waste. We’re sharing tips on how your children can paint with everyday household junk. Find out more about how junk modelling helps your child’s development. 

• Junk Modelling Ideas for Children: Creating Structures

  Junk modelling is the process of creating arts and crafts out of recyclable household materials. It is a great way to inspire children’s creativity while simultaneously educating them about waste. We’re sharing tips on how your children can create structures with everyday household junk. Find out more about how junk modelling helps your child’s development.  […]

• 3 ways junk modelling supports child development

  Family Action Early Years Manager shares three key ways junk modelling can help your child’s development. Find out more about Creating Happy Memories through play and the benefits it can bring to your child’s development.

• How to embrace risk and mess when playing with children

  Many parents struggle to let go and play with children because of the mess and potential risk child-led play can create. Here we discuss why these two pillars of productive play are worth the stress and hassle.   It starts the very first day you get them home from the hospital.  Nappies need changing, and bottoms […]

• How to make time for play

  Modern life often leaves us little time to play. Here’s how to squeeze it in.   While our current campaign is all about how valuable dedicated play time is for both young people and adults alike, we also live in the real world. We know what life looks like for many families – with grown-ups having […]

• How to set up an environment for play

  Want to set up the perfect play space? We’ve got you covered.  There’s a lot of pressure on parents and carers in the modern world to demonstrate how involved they are in their children’s lives. This can come up on social media and in our interactions at the school gates, but often it starts in […]

• How to play well with your child

  Some people make playing look easy. Learn how to be one of them here.  It seems so simple, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s because its always mentioned in opposition to work – you know, the REALLY hard stuff – that we all think play’s easy.  But any parent or carer who’s ever stood in their front […]

• New play-based learning activities for a summer of happy family memories

  We’ve put together a range of practical play-based learning activities for 0–5-year-olds that are approved by our experts, and are available to any family, regardless of budget or location. If you’ve read our blog or seen any social media from us over the past month or so you’ll know we’re big on play. We’ve discussed […]

• The developmental milestones in your baby’s first year

  We share advice and research on early years development and suitable play-based learning activities for babies in their first year. The first year of our children’s lives is a period of rapid development and change, with children’s cognitive abilities developing faster during the first five years than they will at any other point in their […]

• Family play activity – junk modelling

  Sometimes you can build a compelling day of play around what we usually throw away. Find out more about junk modelling. What is it? These days we live in a somewhat disposable culture, where households and businesses produce a lot of rubbish that often goes straight to the recycling bin. Junk modelling involves turning these […]

• Simple ideas to encourage everyday play

  Try these suggestions for how to integrate play into a variety of household tasks. In general, our play programme dives deep into the theory and practice of how play is vital for young people and adults alike.  But we know how it is… sometimes you don’t want that.  Sometimes you’re just tired and need some […]

• Family play activity – modelling dough

  This simple guide provides you a bunch of handy tips designed to get you rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck into play with modelling dough. What is it? Although available to buy with a variety of brand names, modelling dough is easy to make at home and can be both educational and fun. This […]

• Family play activity – water play

  Build a day of wonderous water play using this handy guide full of useful tips. What is it? Available to any house with running water, water-based activities can be deeper than you might think (no pun intended) and can easily keep kids engaged for an afternoon. This sounds like a lot of hard work… Convince […]

• Are you the FUN or UNFUN one in your family?

  When we think about our own childhoods many of us remember a family member as being the go-to individual for fun and games… “the fun one”.    Our early years services talk to parents and carers about the benefits of play a lot, and often these conversations come around to discussing people’s own childhood experiences. […]

• Why play is helping your child to develop and thrive

  We all want our children to be happy and settled as they move from home or pre-school settings into school and, eventually, the adult world that follows.  Here, we speak to the experts employed in our campaign partner Fisher-Price™ Play Lab, as well as experts from our own services, to explain how important play is […]

• How play helps your child’s development

  We spoke with play experts, Dr. Lisa Lohiser and Dr. Corinne Eggleston from our partner Fisher-Price™ Play Lab to understand more about the benefits of everyday play on child development and how families can make the most of this precious time.

• Family Play Activity – Nature

  This handy guide is packed full of simple tips to make the most of a play session in nature. What is it? It might sound obvious but the natural world has been keeping children amused since the dawn of time, and is still more than capable of competing with a television or tablet today! This […]

• Family play activity – mud and sand

  This quick guide gives you all the information you need to build a day of messy, and glorious, play using mud and sand. What is it? Yes, as you’ve long suspected, it’s not just a by-product of playing outside: your kids really do love getting muddy just for the sake of it. Time to harness […]

• How play helps bring families closer and creates happy memories

  We explore how play helps to bring families closer and create happy memories.   Take a minute to think about your most treasured childhood memory. Got it? Now…we’re willing to bet that, wherever that memory takes place, you’re not on your own during that happy moment and have family or friends around you. From discussions with […]

• How play helps us with wellbeing

  Here we discuss the positive benefits of play for children and grown-ups alike.   This summer we are exploring the power of play and how important it is for a child’s day-to-day development. But that’s not the only benefit. Play is vital for wellbeing too and helps us all – children and grown-ups – to become […]

• PARCS privacy notice

  Portsmouth Area Rape Counselling Service (PARCS, part of Family Action) is a registered charity (Charity Commission number 264713) and will be the data controller for all data processing activities covered in this notice. Our Commitment PARCS/Family Action is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your right to privacy and security. We want you […]

• Thanking our amazing volunteers this National Volunteers’ Week

  Family Action couldn’t do what we do without our incredible volunteers. This National Volunteers’ Week, we want to say a huge thank you. For more information on volunteering with Family Action, visit our volunteer page.

• It’s become a big part of my week

  We’re looking for volunteers to support Family Action’s FOOD Clubs (e.g. packing food bags, serving customers). So, why volunteer with FOOD Club? Here one experienced volunteer explains how she got involved in FOOD Clubs and what she enjoys about her role.  “I have been a volunteer at the local children’s centre since August and work […]

• The TCS London Marathon 2025

  Sign up for 2025! Join us for 2025, tick it off your bucket list and raise crucial funds to support children and families! From the mum in Kent suffering from postnatal depression, the dad in Birmingham struggling to find the right support for his autistic son, to the teenage boy in Durham who regularly misses […]

• The TCS Virtual London Marathon

  Take on the challenge of a lifetime and run The 2022 TCS Virtual London Marathon to support Family Action! We need your support to raise crucial funds to support children and families! From the mum in Kent suffering from postnatal depression, the dad in Birmingham struggling to find the right support for his autistic son, […]

• Jess’ Story: How a perinatal support group helped me after pregnancy

  Raising a family is a beautiful, rewarding experience… most of the time.  Family Action’s perinatal support services, however, know that new parents – and particularly mothers – can face significant challenges to their mental health following a new addition to the family. Here new mum Jess tells us her story in an account that’s equal […]

• My favourite food …

  Through our food services, we’re always encouraging families to get creative and try new recipes that promote healthy eating or inspire them to try new ingredients and recipes. Here FOOD Club Assistant Megan shares her favourite dishes from her home country of South Africa, along with explaining what she loves most about it. For many […]

• Will’s Story: Gardening at the Escape Project is helping me manage stress

  It’s currently national stress awareness month, which is a good excuse for us all to discuss how to manage our stress levels after a difficult few years.   Here we join Will, who volunteers at our Escape Programme’s allotment and orchard, as he tells us how he learnt to slow down and appreciate the natural world around […]

• West Suffolk Neurodevelopmental Support Service

  We support parents and carers of children in the geographical areas of Forest Heath, Bury St Edmunds Town and Bury St Edmunds Rural who are waiting for, or undergoing, a neurodevelopmental assessment, or where there has been a recent diagnosis of autism or ADHD or other neurodiverse condition. We offer 1:1 parent support, courses, peer […]

• Dorset SENDIASS

  What we do We provide free, impartial, confidential information, advice and support on Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), for parents/carers and children and young people aged up to 25, in the Dorset area. We are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm. Who we are Our SENDIASS officers are Jane, Helen and Emily. We […]

• Sessional Pre-School Assistant, Peterborough (various settings)

  £10.42 per hour Sessional hours Email: [email protected] Closing date: Rolling Deadline ID: 341

• Staffordshire Family Support and Outreach Service

  Staffordshire Family Support and Outreach Service serves the Staffordshire Moorlands, Newcastle under Lyme, Stafford, Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire districts. We provide emotional, practical and financial support to help children, young people and their families, through a programme of: Referral Based Family Support Targeted Outreach Visits Support to access community support, groups, universal offers and entitlements. […]

• Wakefield WESAIL SENDIAS

  Wakefield Early Support, Advice, Information and Liaison (WESAIL) service provides a free, confidential and impartial support to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and their parents and carers. WESAIL provide information, advice, support and signposting according to need by either by telephone or where needed on an individual or targeted […]

• Safeguarding young people – a new resource for professionals

  As professionals working with children and young people it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of the safeguarding requirements relating to the different aspects of our roles – particularly when, like at Family Action, you often work with families during many different stages of their lives. This is particularly difficult when our services interact […]

• Ella’s story: My daughter’s autism diagnosis and the battle for support

  In response to the Government’s recently published SEND and Alternative Improvement Plan and to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week (13th – 19th March 2023) we are re-sharing some stories from Family Action’s SEND services. It can be a challenging getting a diagnosis for a neurodiverse child with Autism or Special Educational Needs, with this only being the start of an […]

• Our partnership with Fisher-Price™ Play Lab

  We’re excited to announce a one-year charitable partnership with Fisher-Price™ Play Lab. Together, we will create a programme of parent and child-focused activities and resources to help alleviate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on 0 to 5-year-olds’ early years learning and development. To launch this partnership, Fisher-Price™ Play Lab and Family Action commissioned research that […]

• National School Breakfast Programme welcomes Minister for Children and Families, Will Quince

  Will Quince MP joined pupils at Loughborough Primary School to find out more about our National School Breakfast Programme which helps feed thousands of youngsters every week.  The scheme, managed by national charity Family Action, aims to provide a healthy breakfast for all who need one to give pupils the best start to their school […]

• Peggy’s story: Why I’m not a fan of Mother’s Day

  Many of us will see Mother’s Day in a positive light, as it allows us to celebrate the important women in our lives and can create days to remember. However, this isn’t the case for everyone. Here blogger Peggy tells us why Mother’s Day can be a source of anxiety and stress for her and […]

• An Interview with Helen Rutter: Making young carer Archie the hero of her story

  As a charity running services supporting young carers nationwide, we’re always interested when art or culture reflects the experiences of the people we work with. This can come in any form but it is particularly useful when it helps to educate children and young people about the struggles some of their peers face. That’s why […]

• Mel’s story: Proud to be a single parent

  If there’s one thing parents can all agree on it’s that parenthood can be very difficult at times, so when we talk about someone raising their children as a single parent, we often do so in terms of how challenging it must be. Here single parent of four children and blogger, Mel Knibb @lecoindemel of […]

• Joshua’s story: Joining a young carers support group changed my life 

  There are many challenges young carers face, one of the biggest being that they often go unseen, as the adults around them do not realise the reality of their home life. This Action for Young Carers Day, Joshua Douglas, now 22, describes what life was like for him as a child caring for his disabled father. […]

• How to avoid burnout as a parent and partner

  In the approach to Mother’s Day we’ve been considering the support we offer to new mothers through our services and what we’ve learned from doing so. Here Perinatal Coordinator Zian talks about how parents might be able to manage some of the pressure that exists on parents and their relationships and avoid burnout.    Family Action’s perinatal […]

• Take and Make

  Members of some of Family Action’s FOOD Clubs in Nottinghamshire have been enjoying trying out a wide range of new recipes as part of our Take and Make project. Here, Natalie Cordier, one of our FOOD Club Assistants, explains how the project has been supporting families to cook and eat meals and snacks containing different sources of […]

• Practical cost of living tips for families

  Barely a day goes by at the moment without the news or somebody we know mentioning the squeeze caused by the current cost of living crisis. It’s been especially troubling as it’s followed the financial hardships many families have already faced during the pandemic.  We suggested money-saving tips to help get through that difficult period, […]

• Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our Friendship Works service

  Your place at the Mentoring webinar has been reserved. The event will include information about both mentoring a child and mentoring a care leaver. You should have received an email with details of how to join the event. We will also send you a reminder the week before the event takes place. If you did […]

• Working for FOOD Club

  Working for Family Action makes a positive difference to families across the country every day. Here, one of our FOOD Club staff explains how she came to work for Family Action and what she enjoys about her role. I currently work at the Bristol FOOD Clubs as a Coordinator. I started as a volunteer, then […]

• 5 simple ways you can support your child’s mental health

  This week is children’s mental health week – which is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges our young people face. It’s something we need to talk about more than ever, as local government, education and health providers are increasingly recognising the impact has COVID had on our children, and are creating resources […]

• Locating your adoption records just got simpler with Family Connect

  In the last few weeks, it was announced that the holders of the Locating Records Database (LRF) CoramBAAF have opened it up so it’s accessible to members of the public, researchers and adoption agencies. Here Family Action collaborator, author and expert Julia Feast applauds the decision and explains why.  It was so great to hear […]

• Challenge yourself to learn new skills

  Volunteering can offer a wide range of benefits, not least increasing self-confidence, meeting new people, and learning new skills. Here our Food and Nutrition Officer, Gill Kelsall, interviews one of Family Action’s volunteers about their experiences of volunteering during their year out before going to university. “I chose to volunteer for Family Action’s food services […]

• How FamilyLine helps you feel less alone

  To coincide with the 3yr anniversary of FamilyLine we looked at key numbers which have defined our FamilyLine service’s first three years. Here, in a short series of articles, we hear from some of the people behind the numbers and the families that we have helped via the helpline and our newly developed tier 2 […]

• Dorset SENDIAS service joins Family Action

  Family Action is delighted to have been awarded SENDIAS service for Dorset and we look forward to continuing to work together to provide impartial, consistent, high-quality support to families accessing the service. We have been delivering SENDIAS services in Family Action since April 2013 and SEND related services since June 2017. We have children and […]

• How FamilyLine can help you make an action plan tackling the pressures of family life 

  To coincide with the 3yr anniversary of FamilyLine we looked at key numbers which have defined our FamilyLine service’s first three years. Here, in a short series of articles, we hear from some of the people behind the numbers and the families that we have helped via the helpline and our newly developed tier 2 […]

• Safeguarding Statement

  Updated: June 2022 Safeguarding and Protecting People for Trustees, Charity Commission 2017: “As part of fulfilling your trustee duties you must take reasonable steps to protect from harm people who come into contact with your charity. This includes: People who benefit from your charity’s work Staff Volunteers Other people who come into contact with your […]

• How our FamilyLine service can support you through challenging times 

  To coincide with the 3yr anniversary of FamilyLine, we looked at key numbers which have defined our FamilyLine service’s first three years. Here, in a short series of articles, we hear from some of the people behind the numbers and the families that we have helped via the helpline and our newly developed tier 2 […]

• Food and mood

  Does the food you eat make you happy and healthy? The volunteers who work for our food services often develop a keen interest in nutrition and healthy eating as they see the impact of our work. Volunteer Isabel took it one step further, however, when some research she undertook while volunteering for our food programmes led […]

• FamilyLine – the numbers behind a record-breaking year

  Since Family Action Patron Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge service three years ago it has supported an amazing 20,655 people.  Here we look behind the numbers to find out more about the pressures facing families using the service.   In general, the top four concerns which prompt people to get in touch are parenting support, financial issues, child contact issues and relationship issues although, understandably, in 2020 enquiries about financial issues increased […]

• Family mediation – what it is and when it matters for your family

  This week is Family Mediation week – a yearly event where organisations highlight the benefits of mediation for separating couples. Through our Separated Parent’s Information Programme (SPIP) we know what an important tool mediation can be for families we work with. That’s why we asked Solicitor, Mediator and Family Mediation Week Chair Sarah to explain […]

• New Year… time to volunteer?

  With the start of the year just behind us, many will be looking to follow up on the new year’s resolutions they made. Although many people look to improve their own health or environment with their resolutions this is not always the case, and for some volunteering helps them to find a meaningful new direction. But many people don’t know how to find […]

• Walsall SENDIAS – Young People’s Area

  Welcome to the Walsall SENDIAS young people’s area. If you are aged 16-25 and live in Walsall, you are in the right place! On this page you can find out who we are, what we do, and how to contact us. We have also included some useful information and videos on this page. If there […]

• Family Action, looking forward into 2022

  Many of us will be taking our first tentative steps back into work in these first few days of 2022, and taking stock of where we are after another challenging year.   Family Action is no different.   Here, Family Action CEO David Holmes CBE takes a look at where the organisation is as we face the future together and he highlights how much we have to be […]

• Bristol FOOD Club research

  Family Action launched Food On Our Doorstep (FOOD) Clubs to provide good-quality food at a low cost, while also reducing food waste. Here Dr Patricia Lucas from the University of Bristol explains research carried out by her team into how members of FOOD Clubs in Bristol see the clubs, and the benefits of FOOD Clubs […]

• The Santa List as read by Kieran Crowley

  Reading with our children is a great way of bonding with them over the holidays and this Christmas, it’s even easier with videos of authors reading from their books online. Here is Kieran Crowley reading from his new festive novel, The Santa List.  Find more of our magical Christmas book recommendations here.

• Christmas stories to read with your children

  Winter is here, and as the nights grow longer and colder what could be nicer than cuddling up with our children and reading a good book or story? As a charity which runs children’s centres across the country we know how important it is that families read with their children. Doing so supports their development in a variety of ways, helping them to feel comfortable […]

• Food On Our Doorstep

  Family Action has launched Food On Our Doorstep (FOOD) clubs to provide good-quality food at a low cost, while also reducing food waste. It costs just £1 a year for a family to become a member. Once you’ve joined, you can purchase a bag of tasty food items every week worth approx. £15 for just […]

• Demonstrating our Impact

  It’s vital that we measure the impact we have. It ensures we effectively assess not only the value of our support, but the difference it makes to people’s lives. More than just counting numbers, impact is the long-term contribution we can make to: The lives of services users The communities they live in Reducing the […]

• National School Breakfast Programme

  The National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) is funded by the Department for Education and delivered by Family Action to support schools in England to provide children with a healthy breakfast at the start of the school day. Family Action is committed to supporting child development, and we believe a healthy school breakfast, without barrier or […]

• We speak to schools on the National School Breakfast Programme to find out their experience so far

  Launched in July 2021, the new National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) is funded by the Department for Education and delivered by Family Action. When the programme is at full capacity, it will be supporting approximately 2500 schools in England to provide hundreds of thousands of children with a healthy breakfast at the start of the […]

• Family activity ideas to make the most of the Twixmas period 

  For children the appeal of Christmas often focuses squarely on the 25th but for many of us parents the true joy of the season comes a little later. Take, for example, the short window between Christmas and New Year where there are often fewer expectations – dubbed as “Twixmas” by many (from the word “betwixt” meaning “between”).  While we know […]

• Connecting with your family through food during the festive season

  Few things evoke the festive season as much as food – whether that’s traditional turkey on Christmas day, the famous “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” or the hot chocolate that warms us during the winter months. Here, Family Action Food and Nutrition Officer Gill explains why family mealtimes are also important for a host of other reasons too.  Family mealtimes […]

• Staff comments

  Here two of the FOOD Club team talk about their time working at a range of Midlands FOOD Clubs: It is so rewarding working here “Personally I am not that adventurous with new foods, but working here has helped me to become braver in my food choices. I love working here. I had one lady […]

• Virtual family Christmas activities to bring all ages together

  As many of us are preparing for the Christmas holidays and time off from work it still feels like we live in uncertain times – with new government safety measures meaning we can’t reliably predict what this year’s celebrations will look like.  In situations like this it can help for us to focus on what we have, and what […]

• Jade’s story: Christmas stress, and how we manage it as a family

  Our #MakeTheirsMagic Christmas calendar was designed to help families prioritise spending special moments together, regardless of their budget, the demands on their time or any family tensions they may encounter. Here mum of three and blogger Jade tells us about the unique pressures she faces, and how she keeps the magic alive for her family.   As a parent of three children, with a […]

• Save money and get crafty this Christmas  

  There’s something truly special about the act of giving and sharing at this time of the year, something we’ve highlighted in our new #MakeTheirsMagic Christmas calendar, which contains a range of activities designed to make your neighbours and community smile.  One of the nicest ways to do so is to surprise someone with something hand crafted and personal, so here we gather […]

• Two years on from welcoming HRH Duchess of Cambridge as our Patron

  When Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge became our patron two years ago, few of us could have predicted the challenging times ahead.   It almost seems that the announcement and her visit with children from one of our services, where she chose Christmas trees and made eco-friendly Reindeer Food, took place in a simpler, more idyllic care free time.  We believe […]

• Coping with grief at Christmas

  We want all families to enjoy the festive season and create magical memories they treasure, but we can’t ignore that the past few years have been difficult for everyone. Many families have suffered loss and we particularly want to provide support to those of you who have experienced the death of a loved one. We have asked experts from our Children’s […]

• Katie’s story: How the Toy Appeal helped me

  Generous individuals who donate to our Toy Appeal make a huge difference to the lives of thousands of children and families nationwide. We caught up with one mum, Katie, who she shares her story and the difference the Toy Appeal made to her children and family.  I’ve worked as a bartender for years and I […]

• Creating new Christmas traditions as a care leaver

  For most of us the Christmas season is safe, reliable and built on the kind of traditions we celebrate in this year’s Make Theirs Magic Christmas calendar.  But this isn’t everyone’s experience and family circumstances can sometimes lead to a more turbulent experience during the festive season. Here an adult care leaver explains how Christmas felt for her […]

• Why giving back this Christmas is a tradition worth starting

  Our new  Make Theirs Magic Christmas calendar contains 31 ideas to kick-start new traditions this Christmas, as well as rekindle or revitalise existing ones. As we covered in an earlier post, celebrating traditions can make us happier as a family but they can also help us improve our mental health when they involve giving back to others. That’s why the calendar is broken down into sections – detailing not […]

• Managing money this Christmas

  We know that the pressure to have a “perfect” Christmas can cause many difficulties for families. Money worries are one of the most frequent reasons why families contact our FamilyLine service, and the festive season only pulls the purse strings even tighter. To help you manage your finances and reduce the stress over the season, […]

• How to manage expectations of children at Christmas

  No family is an island and children are exposed to a range of views about what Christmas should mean to them, and what to expect. Television, playground conversations and even well-meaning family members can all set unrealistic expectations of what young people believe will happen over the season.    Thankfully, with a bit of planning, you […]

• Why Family Action is focusing on Christmas traditions for families this year

  It’s ironic, but this Christmas we’re doing something different by focusing on things that stay the same. We are exploring the comfort Christmas can bring through well-worn traditions that help us relax and spend time with loved ones, providing the stability we crave now more than ever.  There is good reason to celebrate tradition and prioritise quality time together as a family. Traditions can make us happier;  research […]

• How to connect with teenagers this Christmas

  When talking to families about their thoughts and feelings about the upcoming festive season, we spoke to a number of parents who were concerned about engaging their teenage children in Christmas activities and keeping them involved in family life.   It can be difficult managing the different needs and expectations of family members at Christmas, but we found that this was a particular concern where teens are involved.   Here’s […]

• What our members say

  Here some of our FOOD Club members explain what they value about the scheme. Eating together is a big part of our life “I heard about FOOD Clubs through a children’s centre. The financial savings are a big part of why we belong to FOOD Club. But it also saves time as supermarket shopping takes […]

• My work is valued

  A Midlands based FOOD Club volunteer gives a flavour of their volunteering activities at FOOD Club, and explains what they most enjoy about the role. “My family had been using the FOOD Club for a while – we loved the variety of food you get at FOOD Club, and enjoyed trying new foods and recipes. […]

• Make friends and learn new skills

  Family Action’s BAND service in Bolton has supported people with their mental health for decades through hands-on help and guidance, information and a combination of one to one and group support. Here Jo explains how the service’s LifeSkills sessions have supported them to get out, make friends and learn new skills.  I’ve struggled with my […]

• Volunteering – how helping others can help you

  As a charity supported by nearly 600 volunteers across the country, we’re keenly aware of how important they are to the lives of the people we work with. By becoming a volunteer you will undoubtedly make a difference to your community as well as society at large,  but we thought we’d also point out how volunteering might improve your life too!                                                                                                                                                   Meet new people   Of all the negative impacts […]

• What I learned from volunteering at Family Action

  Working as a volunteer for our FamilyLine service attracts a wide variety of people with a range of skills; the only real requirement of the role is a desire to help others.   This was especially true of our 22-year-old blogger Morgan who entered the service while studying as a biology student and found it a rewarding experience.    I guess I’m a bit […]

• Karen’s story: A passion for volunteering with food

  Our Food on our Doorstep (FOOD) clubs are popular with their members for good reason as they provide good quality food for families at a reasonable price, while also reducing food waste.   However, the enthusiasm isn’t limited to just those using the service, and our volunteers can be some of the clubs’ biggest fans! Here Southend Volunteer Karen […]

• Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Family Action

  Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Family Action.  Your application has been sent to our local service staff. One of our team will be in touch soon to let you know how to take your application forward.  They will be able to answer any questions you may have about the role. If you […]

• Volunteer Privacy Notice

  Privacy Notice This privacy notice covers the use of your personal data if you are a volunteer at Family Action and our related services. Family Action is the Data Controller of the data, and processes the data using the legal basis of Legitimate Interest – Where it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of […]

• A volunteer’s story

  A Passion for Preparation Our Food on our Doorstep (FOOD) clubs are popular with their members for good reason as they provide good quality food for families at a reasonable price, while also reducing food waste. However, the enthusiasm isn’t limited to just those using the service, and our volunteers can be some of the […]

• We’ve won Charity of the Year at the Third Sector Awards

  We’re incredibly honoured to have won Charity of the Year at this year’s Third Sector Awards. Amazing recognition for our work over the past 12 months in response to the pandemic and beyond. These awards are one of the most important ways the third sector publicly recognises excellence and achievement, and so to win Charity […]

• The University of Essex and Family Action project highlight families’ needs at the front line of COVID-19

  The unprecedented year we’ve had has affected us all, and families have seen their limits tested. Our Impact and Influencing Manager, Stacey Warren, explains how a new project we have co-produced with the University of Essex shows how families have fared under COVID-19, what adaptations they’ve made, and what support is still required.   In July 2020, the University of Essex hosted a ‘Challenge Lab’ that brought together public and […]

• Recipe ideas

  NEW! We are always keen to hear from FOOD Club members and volunteers what amazing meals and snacks they have made with their FOOD Club items. Here are some ideas provided by one of our volunteers for: Inspirational Recipe Ideas : Food Club Blog-Trying New Foods Using up fruit and veg: Food Club Blog – […]

• Your back to school questions answered

  Although the return to school is often keenly anticipated by parents exhausted by entertaining children and negotiating with teenagers, it’s also a transition point that can cause significant stress. Here we discuss some of the common concerns we’ve heard from families, including those families whose children have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and suggest cheap and easy back to school solutions, tips and hacks […]

• Back to school anxiety – what to look for and how to help

  Returning to school after the holidays is an exciting time for many, but it can also generate a lot of anxiety for children and have an impact on their Mental Health and wellbeing. We caught up with charity, Nip in the Bud who produce films and fact sheets to help parents and carers learn more […]

• Family Action LIVE: Back to school, food and families

  Recently we welcomed Gill Kelsall, Food and Nutrition Officer across many of our food services, for an Instagram Live discussion about back to school challenges that all families face. Gill is a qualified and experienced nutritionist, who has supported a wide variety of families and community groups to develop their confidence to cook healthy tasty […]

• A guide for the anxious parents of children starting school for the first time 

  You’ve got to feel for those youngsters moving on from pre-schools, nurseries and homes in September and into school. Not only have they had to endure some of the oddest and scariest times in living memory thanks to COVID-19 – but they’ve still got to go through the stress of starting “proper” school. We know many of the parents reading this […]

• A fresh perspective on working with survivors of abuse

  Claire Alldis joined the Family Action team in April 2021 as service manager for the newly acquired Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Crisis Service (PARCS). In this blog, Claire shares her vision for the excellent service that she and her team provide. My vision for PARCS is to offer inclusive and diverse support for survivors and […]

• Win a butterfly garden kit courtesy of Insect Lore

  Win a butterfly garden kit courtesy of Insect Lore and get Creating Happy Memories with your children this summer! All you have to do is share a photo on Instagram of a happy memory you’ve made with #CreatingHappyMemories and tag @family_action. It could be playing football in the park, a board game on a rainy day, making lunch with […]

• Podcast: Recommendations to practitioners for recording care records

  Miriam Antcliffe, Research and Development Officer at Research in Practice, speaks to John-george and Darren* who share their personal stories of accessing their care files as adults. In this two-part podcast, they explore the emotional impact of receiving their care files, the importance of child-centred recording, and they provide some suggestions of how practitioners can […]

• Podcast: Accessing your care records

  Miriam Antcliffe, Research and Development Officer at Research in Practice, speaks to John-george and Darren* who share their personal stories of accessing their care files as adults. In this two-part podcast, they explore the emotional impact of receiving their care files, the importance of child-centred recording, and they provide some suggestions of how practitioners can […]

• Win a day out creating happy memories with Red Letter Days

  Win a Family Days Out Experience courtesy of Red Letter Days and get Creating Happy Memories this summer! All you have to do is share a photo on Instagram of a happy memory you’ve made with #CreatingHappyMemories and tag @family_action. It could be playing football in the park, a board game on a rainy day, making lunch […]

• Joe’s story: Preparing food… while preparing for the future

  Our Creating Happy Memories campaign is all about creating positive new experiences after a difficult year and looking forward to the future.  For many students this is particularly true, as they deal with an educational experience unlike any in history and consider entering into the world of work for the first time. Here Year 10 student Joe explains what he learned while undertaking work experience with […]

• Sheffield ADHD Project

  Our Sheffield ADHD Project is commissioned by Sheffield City Council and has been running in Sheffield for over 14 years. We support the families of children and young people diagnosed with ADHD by raising knowledge and awareness of the disorder, providing strategies for managing the symptoms associated with it and promoting the individuality and potential […]

• Sam’s story: Why my happiest memories are made around my kitchen table

  After a year largely spent indoors many of us are making plans for the summer and rediscovering the things we’ve been unable to engage with – it’s what our Creating Happy Memories campaign is all about. However, during this time, we’ve also learnt a lot about how to simplify our lives and take pleasure in […]

• Elizabeth’s story: my continuing journey as a foundling

  When Elizabeth began her journey to discover her background as a foundling – a child discovered with no identifying documents – she had no idea how much there would be to unravel. In her previous blog for Family Action she described how she found her birth family after DNA testing, the feelings this created for her, and how […]

• Anne’s story: Securing a school place for a child with Autism during COVID-19

  Our Creating Happy Memories campaign focuses on celebrating the resilience we’ve all shown over the past year or so and rebuilding our strength together as we face the future. Here Anne tells us about the unique challenges she’s experienced as the parent of a child with autism and how she’s found the strength to support […]

• Co-production: ways we involve our service users in the work that we do

  At Family Action, we are committed to embedding co-production within the work we do to support families. Co-production aims to involve the people we work with by consulting them and involving them in the design and delivery of our services. One of our stated values as an organisation aims to ensure we are ‘people focused’. […]

• Bingo! Win a day out creating happy memories with Red Letter Days

  Win a Family Days Out Experience experience courtesy of Red Letter Days and kick off your summer with some family fun! All you need to do is download your FREE Creating Happy Memories activities pack and get a bingo line or full house on the bingo game included. Take a photo and send it to […]

• Claudette’s story: How school and our BOSS service supported my family in lockdown

  Our Creating Happy Memories campaign is currently celebrating the fresh start we’ve all been given now that lockdown is ending, and supporting families to enjoy the time they have together. But not all fresh starts are easy ones… here Claudette tells the story of how moving house after breaking up with her partner coincided with […]

• Recognising Pride at Family Action

  June is Pride Month – an annual celebration of pride for LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, plus) communities. Pride is not just a celebration, however, and originally began as a protest against the criminalisation and oppression of gender and sexual minorities. Here our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager Jack discusses how Family […]

• Jay’s story: How my family began thriving after lockdown

  Our Creating Happy Memories campaign is all about highlighting the resilience and support our families provide for all of us, and celebrating the time we spend together as we move forward after a difficult year. Here Jay talks about how he’s navigated his family’s unique challenges to survive and thrive as they enter summer. Three […]

• Supporting LGBTQIA+ adoptive parents along the “rocky road” of adoption

  We are all exposed to a range of messages and beliefs about adoption, diversity, equality, homophobia and racism throughout our lives. Adoptive parents are tasked with helping their children manage how they absorb these messages while also helping them regulate their emotions, grow their sense of self and develop a sense of safety and belonging. […]

• Creating Happy Memories this summer

  With summer on our doorstep, at Family Action we’re committed to helping families move on from a difficult year and towards the sunshine. We hear from our Chief Executive, David Holmes CBE, about our new Creating Happy Memories campaign to help families share experiences that will last a lifetime. If you’re anything like me and […]

• Ben’s story: The impact of being a young carer

  For many of us, childhood is a carefree time where we feel supported by our parents and able to dedicate our lives to exploration and play. However, for some young people, circumstances mean that they are required to adopt a much more adult role. Our Young Carers Services work with young people in this position […]

• Wise words: top books for children

  Those of you who have seen Family Action’s Creating Happy Memories summer pack will have enjoyed reading tips from top children’s authors and illustrators Fred Blunt and Fiona Woodcock. In the pack they discuss their favourite children’s books and pass on their tips for parents who want to encourage reading. We also spoke to a […]

• Rakesh’s story: Enthusiastic about volunteering… and food!

  Our Family Action FOOD Clubs are more than just a means to ensure families can access quality food at a discount and prevent food waste. They’re also community hubs and spaces for our volunteers and people using the service to share their unique viewpoints and enthusiasm. Here, in a personal account, volunteer Rakesh does just that. […]

• Fiona’s story: volunteering with FamilyLine

  Our FamilyLine service offers the opportunity for callers to receive emotional and practical support, and we’re used to hearing about the positive impact the service has upon the lives of those who use it. But each FamilyLine conversation features two voices. We hear from one of our volunteers as she tells us what it’s like to be on […]

• Laura, Pandemic Preggo’s story: Maternal Mental Health and the road to recovery

  Laura, author of the Pandemic Preggo blog, talks to us about her experiences of having a baby during the pandemic and how she’s feeling as things start to get back to normal. Last week was a huge one for us. We stopped breastfeeding for good and we had THREE garden meet-ups – two with new […]

• Pregnancy and birth during lockdown

  For many of us across the UK, the entire experience of parenthood has been shaped by the Coronavirus and the different society it has created. Here mum Kalley talks about her child’s first year in the pandemic’s shadow and what she’s looking forward to as we emerge from it.   We found out I was pregnant just before the first lockdown. We […]

• Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month: Top Tips

  It’s Maternal Mental Health Month which aims to raise awareness of the challenges that can arise for parents in the period before and after the birth of a child. This topic is one that’s close to Family Action’s heart, thanks to our Perinatal Support Services, which provide emotional support to families where a parent is […]

• Family Action Young Carers Services

  Caring for a parent or loved one can be tough, especially when you’re a child. Too often these amazing young carers go unseen in our communities with little awareness of the challenges they face or the support they need. Our Young Carers Services work with children and their families to reduce the impact of caring […]

• Developing life skills through cooking

  Our Cookalong4Families programme, which runs as part of Family Action’s Holiday Hub clubs, gives young people and their families the chance to cook and eat a wide range of tasty dishes together, using videos and handouts to help them.   Here teenager Vincent explains how his family’s encouragement to ‘get cooking’ has helped him to develop a love of preparing food and […]

• Mia’s story: Cooking, culture and COVID-19 – commencing university during a crazy year

  Our experiences of COVID-19 have differed significantly, but for one group it’s added further complications to a situation that already involves upheaval and new beginnings. Here we hear from student Mia who shares with us her experience of living away from home and her family in her first year of university and cooking in a […]

• Gill’s story: how FamilyLine made a difference during the pandemic

  Our Family Resilience report with LV= General Insurance shows that despite numerous lockdowns, most families feel they now have stronger relationships with their community and wider support groups. Here we look at how one mum, Gill was struggling with parenting but was able to seek support through our FamilyLine service supported by LV= General Insurance. […]

• Flourishing Babies Service

  We are pleased to announce that our Flourishing Babies project has secured funding to continue to deliver the programme and avoid the need to close.  The project was due to end on 31st July but we have been awarded a grant by Public Health to enable the service to continue.  This means that we will be […]

• Helen’s story: managing mental health during the pandemic

  Our Family Resilience report shows nearly four in ten people say the pandemic has had a negative effect on their mental health. Here we look at how one mum, Helen struggled with hers and how our FamilyLine service, supported by LV= General Insurance has made a difference. Helen* was anxious about contacting our FamilyLine Service […]

• Make Happy Memories

  We’ve launched our Make Happy Memories summer campaign because this summer will be more difficult than ever for many families. Our new research conducted with Censuswise shows that over three quarters (76%) of parents and carers are worried about activity and entertainment costs because of the rising cost of living, while almost half (46%) feel more stressed and anxious […]

• A story about pre and post pregnancy, resilience, and a very special space online

  As restrictions loosen and our lives once again return to something approaching normality it’s easy to look back over the past year and think of isolation and separation. However, if we dig a little deeper, we’ve also seen new support networks blossom and provide a support structure for families that will continue.  Here mum of […]

• Recipes and videos

  We have put together some easy-to-make, cost-effective family recipes for you and your family to enjoy together. Watch our videos below or get inspired with our recipes booklet at the bottom of the page:   Breakfast Recipes Easter Recipes            

• Tanya’s story: struggling with relationships and other family pressures

  Our Family Resilience report shows two in five parents say they have built stronger relationships with their children during the pandemic, however, one in 10 feel less effective as a parent. We look at how one mum, Tanya struggled with family relationships and how our FamilyLine service, supported by LV= General Insurance has made a […]

• Privacy Statement

  Data Protection and Confidentiality For the purposes of the data processing described in this statement and compliance with the Data Protection Act (2018), the Family Action operate as Controllers of the data. Commitment Family Action is committed to making sure that any information we hold about you and your child(ren) will be collected, stored and […]

• South Tees Perinatal Support Service

  We provide emotional support to families where a parent is struggling with their emotional health or well-being from birth up to the child’s 2nd birthday. The Perinatal Support Service is for parents who have, or are at significant risk of developing, mild to moderate mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. We provide support […]

• Heather’s Story: eating together as a family as lockdown restrictions ease

  With the children back at school and with further changes to lockdown restrictions planned for the next few weeks, there is lots of talk of getting back to normal, of meeting with friends and family, and for many the most important thing of all – finally giving loved ones a hug. But among feelings of joy that such changes are on the way, many are experiencing a […]

• Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service (PARCS)

  X Quick Close Who are we? Portsmouth Abuse & Rape Counselling Service (PARCS) provides free specialist counselling and psychotherapy for people who have experienced sexual and/or domestic abuse, based in the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire area. PARCS also provides the following services: · Counselling for parents, carers and family members · Helpline – Emotional […]

• Fun quizzes for families

  Why not have a go at testing your knowledge with our fun quizzes for families… Stroop test The aim of the Stroop test is to see how quickly a person can process information, their ability to pay attention and control their behaviour. These executive function are extremely important, especially when at school. Why not try the […]

• Cereal facts

  Find out what nutrients are in your bowl of cereal. It will probably surprise you how nutritious your cereal can be! *Calculations based on average data from several leading cereal brands using UK Reference Nutrient Intakes for children aged 4-17​

• How Easter egg decorations brightened up my childhood

  Every family celebrates Easter in their own way, but for mum Karin, it always reminds her of childhood in the United States and, in particular, the tradition of egg dyeing. Here she tells us in the UK a little about this common US activity and outlines how you can give it a go yourself with […]

• David’s story: how cooking with his son brought his family closer together

  Food has a way of connecting people and is often the focus of family or cultural celebrations like birthdays. Despite the current limitations on travel and socialising, food still has the power to connect us – albeit virtually – with other people, countries and experiences. Here dad of one David tells us how food has […]

• Breakfast on the go

  Sitting down at the dining table is an ideal start to the day – but with busy schedules this isn’t always achievable. Try these easy ideas for a quick breakfast on the go:

• Weekend breakfast

  Breakfast can encourage family bonding time and can be a relaxing start to the weekend. It can be a good way to get the kids out of bed and is a chance to talk and puts everyone in a good mood for the rest of the day!

• Danielle’s story: looking after a new baby as a single mother

  Over the past year families have found themselves cut off from support networks of friends and family to differing degrees. However, for many single parents, the experience has been especially isolating. Here, new mum, Danielle tells us her story.   I never really wanted to be a mother.  I’d gone to the doctor as I’d missed a […]

• Stress free morning

  In a recent Kellogg’s research study, one in five parents with primary aged children consider breakfast to be the ‘trickiest’ time of day (Kellogg’s 2018). Early morning starts can feel chaotic and rushed, with three fifths of parents saying they struggle to find enough time to eat breakfast as a family – and one in […]

• A problem shared

  When we talked to parents about what makes breakfast and the morning time stressful, they shared with us issues that most of us can recognise as familiar challenges in our own home. Here are some of the shared views on what makes the morning time stressful. Click the statements you relate to for some helpful […]

• 10 positive effects

  There are so many reasons why you should start your day with a healthy breakfast and make it part of your morning routine – find the top 10 here… A healthy heart  Cholesterol is a fat found in the blood, too much can cause blockages leading to heart disease. Eating a daily healthy breakfast may contribute towards […]

• What the research says

  Together Family Action and Magic Breakfast have extensive experience of working with disadvantaged and hard to reach children and their families. The feedback we have collected from the National School Breakfast Programme evidences the nutritional, academic and emotional benefit to having a regular breakfast. We would like to share with you the findings of our […]

• Sugar and breakfast

  Many parents are unsure what makes up a healthy breakfast and can find it confusing. Research found that 84% of parents whose child was consuming the equivalent of 3 or more sugar cubes in their breakfast considered their child’s breakfast to be healthy (PHE, 2017). Below we show you which options are low, medium and high in sugar to help you choose the healthier options.  

• Grow your own

  Why not have a go at growing your own fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices that you can use to make a tasty breakfast, for example grow chives to make your scrambled egg extra tasty or basil to add to your breakfast pizza. It is a fun activity to get children involved with. Here are some tips to get […]

• Breakfast hacks

  Parents told us that getting children to try new foods and eat a healthy breakfast can be a real challenge. So here are some workarounds for getting your children to load up their breakfast bowl with more fruit and veg, eat a greater variety of food types, and how the freezer can become your new […]

• Teenage breakfast

  Breakfast is the most skipped meal of the day with up to 30% of school children missing breakfast every day. Teenagers are more likely to skip breakfast, especially girls. Here we share some tips on helping you think outside the box to make sure that breakfast becomes a part of your morning routine​.

• Top tips

  Have a look at our collection of tips, ideas and hacks on how to get the very most out of your breakfast every day! They include ideas for encouraging your teenagers to have breakfast by making it more exciting, to  making cost effective breakfasts from ingredients you probably already have at home. Have a look here for more ideas.  

• Get organised

  Research has shown that parents find breakfast time one of the most stressful times of the day, this can contribute to family pressures. Families rushing to get to work, getting everyone dressed, fed and out of the house on time can be a real challenge. On this page we have shared some resources that have […]

• Breakfasts

  Breakfast is often referred to as the most important meal of the day, and for good reason! Over the last 2 years, The National School Breakfast Programme has provided 375,000 children with a school breakfast every day. As a result, schools have reported the overwhelmingly positive benefits of a school breakfast on a child’s readiness […]

• Family fun

  Make breakfast a fun time for families, try one of our ideas for a special weekend breakfast, and have a go at one of our fun quizzes or even grow your own herbs to use in your breakfast. Find tips, ideas and quizzes below:

• Nutrition and wellbeing

  Parents are often faced with a dilemma at breakfast time between the importance of their child eating something versus wanting their child to eat something healthy and nutritious. High sugar cereals and breakfast bars are often the ones that tempt children. In this section we share with you some interesting facts about why breakfast is such a great way […]

• Breakfast at home

  In a normal school year schools are open just over half the year (taking into account weekends and school holidays). This means even where breakfast is available within school, children are still having breakfast at home almost 50% of the time.   Did you know?  20-30% of school children skip breakfast on a regular basis.   81% of teachers […]

• Sarah-Jayne’s story: “Exhausting, relentless… and totally worth it” – a true tale of motherhood

  Sarah-Jayne says she has always been a driven person, with a focus on the future that has led to an evolving ten-year career in the fields of midwifery and public health. Here she tells us how her professional experience didn’t prepare her for becoming a mother herself, what she’s learnt, and how parenthood has changed her. […]

• Top tips for teenagers stuck at home

  Many people – ourselves included – have focused on making home-schooling work during the recent lockdown, but we might risk focusing on the work related aspects of being stuck at home for teens when it can be difficult for energetic young people who are stuck at home even when the school day ends, or when […]

• Practical back to school tips for families with teenagers

  Teenagers have not had it easy over the past year. Between lockdowns and isolation measures, their experience of school – and lack of it – has meant changes on a week to week basis during a key stage of their development. Which is why our experts in our Behaviour Outreach Support Service have put together […]

• Looking after your mental health during the pandemic podcast

  In this episode, we speak our community mental health service BAND about the impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on the nation’s mental health, and tips regarding how to keep yourself healthy and happy. Resources discussed in this podcast and useful links related to what was discussed: Nextdoor App Dr Happy’s website and facebook page Get […]

• The “lifejacket approach” to tensions at home

  The past year’s events have seen families across the UK spending more time around the house and the current lockdown’s requirement to juggle home schooling with other responsibilities has left many families near breaking point. Our Behaviour Outreach Support Service works to promote inclusion in schools and here our Senior Restorative Worker Phil shares a […]

• Tackling complex feelings about going back to school

  There are many practical considerations when helping our children transition back to school – particularly after a long summer break or during a move between classes or year groups. Despite these concerns, however, it’s also worth considering the emotional impact such transitions can have upon the whole family. Here our Behaviour Outreach Support Service, which […]

• Karin’s story: A tale of two lockdowns

  Most of us will have heard someone describe the past year as resembling “groundhog day”, with each day feeling much like the last. The current lockdown in particular has felt like the final straw for many, who have spoken of their frustration at returning to a situation we first experienced a year ago with seemingly […]

• Ten top homeschooling tips for parents of younger children 

  After the positive response from our homeschooling tips for teenagers’ article we thought it was useful to ensure that we covered younger children too… and once again our Behaviour Outreach Support Service, whose work promotes inclusion in schools, was happy to help!   Before we start, however, it’s important to note children have different academic abilities and need different levels of support so this can be a minefield for […]

• Protected: FOOD Club Handbook

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• Michael’s story: how being close to nature keeps me positive in lockdown

  With more time spent in and around our homes and gardens this year it’s not surprising many of us have developed, or rekindled, a love of nature. Here Michael from our Eco Explorers and FOOD Club projects outlines how an idyllic rural childhood led to an ongoing love of the outdoors, and how he continues to channel […]

• Our partnership with LV=

  We are thrilled to launch a three year partnership with LV= General Insurance. Their support will enable us to be there for even more families who are struggling across the UK. To launch our partnership, we have produced a joint research report around the Five Pillars of Family Resilience. Our research has shown that over […]

• Ten top home learning tips for parents of teenagers

  Homeschooling is tough! Not only do we have to ensure our children continue to learn and thrive – we also have to do it in an environment they associate with time off and relaxation. Some of us have to juggle full or part-time employment but nearly all parents whose children find themselves at home currently […]

• Mother’s Day – Competition, In Partnership with Red Letter Days

  We have partnered with Red Letter Days to recognise all the mums, grans, aunties and carers who have gone above and beyond this year. Together we are calling on the nation to help us claim back 100,000 hours of ‘Mumpaid Labour’ for our hard-working mums before Mother’s Day. We are also launching a competition to […]

• Simon’s story: Discovering my love for food and cooking for others by becoming vegetarian

  The decision to become a vegetarian is an increasingly common one and is reflected in the growing amount of vegetarian and vegan options available in our supermarkets and restaurants. However, many people are put off removing meat from all or some of their diet because they’re unsure of how to replace it in meals or lack confidence regarding their own […]

• Flipping Family Fun For Pancake Day

  Are you and you’re family looking for some Pancake Day inspiration? Read our handy recipes and ideas to get your children thinking creatively, this Pancake Day. Banana Pancakes: Ingredients: 40g of Porridge oats 2 ripe bananas 2-3 eggs spray oil Method: Weigh and measure 40g of porridge oats into a bowl. Cut and mash 2 […]

• Dan, The Breaking Dad’s story: managing lockdown over two households as a blended family

  Daniel Betts, Dad blogger, @The_Breaking_Dad tells us his experience and top tips for managing as a two-household blended family, during lockdowns and a year of COVID-19. Fed up of lockdown yet? We certainly are. As we creep ever closer to the anniversary of the UK’s first national restrictions, the end is in sight… But we’ve […]

• Change4Life Service

  We understand that living a healthy life isn’t always easy and that making any changes can feel challenging or daunting for us all. The Change4Life service aims to ensure that children, young people and families across Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster are supported to be healthy and happy in the communities where they live, learn […]

• Ed’s story: how cooking during lockdown has brought my family closer

  Eating well and remaining enthusiastic about meals has become more important than ever over the past year and has inspired families across the country to move outside their comfort zone and get creative in the kitchen. Here, father of three, Ed tells us how his family has changed their eating habits during lockdown.  We have a busy […]

• Change4Life Coaching Scheme

  The Change4Life coaching scheme supports children and young people aged 5-19 (up to 25 for young people with a special educational need or disability), in Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. The service offers specialist nutrition and physical activity advice as well as motivational support to help children, young […]

• Change4Life Training And Capacity Building

      Change4Life workforce training is available to staff working with children, young people and families in Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster. The training aims to support staff to create happy and healthy settings in which children and young people can live, learn and play. Click here to download the Change4Life Service leaflet. The following […]

• Change4Life Neighbourhood Projects

    As part of the Change4Life Service’s approach to tackling health inequalities and increasing positive health outcomes, Change4Life Neighbourhood Projects take place in three wards across Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster which change every year. The purpose of these projects is to provide an opportunity and platform for all members of the community to create […]

• Change4Life Clubs

  Our Change4Life Healthy Lifestyle clubs provide five-week programmes to expectant parents, children, young people and families in Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster. Club sessions will focus on healthy eating, physical activity and sleep to support families in eating well and keeping active and are open to parents to be, and 0-19 year olds  (up to […]

• Nikki’s story: rediscovering the joy of baking

  Nikki, mum to four children and also to one ‘absolutely perfect’ granddaughter, tells us how baking at home helps her to relax and unwind.  I have to say baking is a hobby I’d neglected for quite a while, but since working at home more during lockdown I’ve ‘rediscovered’ the joy of baking. Not having to […]

• Charlie’s story: how a Survival Fund grant made a difference

  Since the pandemic began many already struggling families are in need of support, now more than ever. Find out how one of our, Barclays-funded, Survival Fund grants has changed Charlie and his family’s life.    Since the Barclays-funded Survival Fund was launched back in July over 47 grants amounting to over £36,000 have been given out. We have already helped […]

• LV=GI proudly supporting FamilyLine

  At Family Action we are passionate about putting our heart into building better lives for our communities. That’s why we are proud to be partnered with LV=GI, who are joining us in our mission to build stronger families. LV=GI’s support will assist Family Action to transform lives by providing practical, emotional and financial support to […]

• Michelle’s story: how Family Action’s FOOD Clubs inspired my family

  When Michelle took up her post as Family Action’s Deputy Director of Services and Innovation National Services, she knew what excited her most about our charity – its reputation for delivering creative, dynamic services to the public.   It’s a passion that doesn’t end with the working day. Here she shares how our various food programmes have inspired […]

• How can we support your family in 2021?

  We want to hear from families! Tell us what you would like to see more of from us in the next few months. We’ve loved sharing information, tips, stories, and inspiration to support families on our blog. We want to build a bank of posts, videos and podcasts that can help families anywhere. What topics […]

• Supporting FOOD Clubs

  Our aims Food On Our Doorstep aims to: Provide regular access to a sustainable supply of food to people at risk of food insecurity Increase disposable income for local families to improve life chances and wellbeing Reduce the amount of food being sent to landfill in the UK by utilising surplus food Encourage families to […]

• Delivering a nativity to remember with our Peterborough Pre-Schools despite a difficult year

  Children from Family Action’s seven pre-schools have taken part in a nativity show for the past six years. However, this year the traditional performance would be impossible. Here our Early Years Manager Karen took a break from overseeing rehearsals to explain how they’ve worked around the challenges, to deliver a magical nativity at the end of a challenging year.   Our children first became involved six years ago after we […]

• Getting ready for Christmas with our Southend Children’s Centre podcast

  In this episode we catch up with our South End Children’s Centre, Mum and Baby group, to find out what they have planned for Christmas and how things might look a little different this year.

• Lucy’s story: how the Toy Appeal makes our Christmas magic

  Family Action’s Toy Appeal brings joy into the lives of thousands of children across the country each Christmas. Yet, despite the huge number of families we support, each one’s story is different. Here mum Lucy tells us hers.   I first heard about the Toy Appeal because I’d been referred to Family Action for specialist support to manage caring for my four […]

• Why cooking and eating together is important

  With more of us cooking and eating at home in recent months, here Sharon Robinson, Family Action’s Food On Our Doorstep (FOOD) Regional Coordinator (North), explains the importance of cooking and eating together within her own family. You might think that working with food all day at the FOOD Clubs would put me off cooking […]

• Thrifty tips for using Christmas leftovers and crafting budget-friendly presents

  Christmas and delicious food go hand in hand – but often luxurious treats can stretch our budgets as well as our waistbands, and lead to waste when excess food isn’t eaten. In this article, we share some budget-friendly present ideas, which can be prepared in your kitchen, as well as listing suggestions gathered by our Food […]

• Volunteering at our FOOD clubs this Christmas 

  Food On Our Doorstep (FOOD) clubs provide low cost, healthy and sustainable food for families on a budget who are at risk of food insecurity. The valuable work of our FOOD clubs is only possible because of a network of committed and passionate volunteers who help us to ensure we reach those who need support the most. Here we speak to two of these volunteers and hear how an unprecedented year prompted a lifestyle change that benefitted both […]

• Counting the cost – ways to save money during an unusual Christmas

  The end of the year is traditionally a time when we sit and reflect on the year that’s been, and whether it met our expectations. However, few could have predicted the huge societal changes that have occurred in 2020. With this backdrop in mind, we’ve put together a few useful tips for families to help them manage this costly season, in the face […]

• Dan, The Breaking Dad’s story: making Christmas magic as a single parent

  We hear from Dan Betts, creator of the Instagram page @The_Breaking_Dad, as well as thebreakingdad.co.uk, about his experience of Christmas as a single parent and how the biggest lesson he learned was that the most valuable gift you can give any child is the gift of your time. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. At least, […]

• LifeSkills

  What is Barclays LifeSkills? In 2013 Barclays launched LifeSkills, which has led the way as the UK’s largest employability programme, with the aim of helping to tackle youth unemployment and inspiring and helping millions of young people to transition from education to work. For ten years LifeSkills has been giving millions of people the core, transferable skills, […]

• Managing family relationships during a COVID-19 Christmas 

  Spending time with family at Christmas is magical but it can also put a strain on family relationships, this year more than ever. Here we share some helpful ways to manage tensions in your family during a COVID-19 Christmas. Our experts from our services tell us that family tensions can run high at Christmas, as we worry about giving both our […]

• Festive Fun

  If you’re feeling festive why not choose one or more simple fun and tasty dishes for families to make together at home. You could, for instance, make a popular dish and tweak it to make it more festive. Here are some ideas: (Festive) Luxury porridge – throw in some cranberries, or sprinkle with cinnamon Muffin pizza […]

• Gemma’s story: how the Toy Appeal saved my family’s Christmas

  Thanks to our Christmas Toy Appeal, children across the country will receive Christmas gifts they might not have had otherwise, as part of our aim to make this season magic for the families we support. Here mum, Gemma, tells us a little about the gifts her children received from the Toy Appeal and her experience as a volunteer for our services.   We’ve received gifts from Family Action’s Toy Appeal for three years now. It’s made the […]

• Super soups

  “Autumn is the harvest season for those who grow their own fruit and vegetables,” says Gill from our National School Breakfast Programme. “It’s the time for pumpkins, squash, carrots, parsnips, spinach, beans, leeks, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts and cabbages. And all these are great vegetables to put in soups! If you don’t grow your own, there […]

• Food Services

  Food and wellbeing are key to families leading healthy and happy lives. Here at Family Action our food programmes support children and families in lots of different ways to improve their wellbeing – through improving access to food, enhancing cooking skills, reducing isolation, increasing knowledge around healthy eating, offering new and varied experiences, improving confidence […]

• Making Christmas magic this year

  This is the first in a series of blogs where we will be counting down to Christmas with a mix of real stories, top tips and expert guidance to help families have a magical festive season. So read on and enjoy! With its twinkling lights, family focus, gifts and traditions there is little doubt that […]

• The positive impacts of allotments on mental and physical health

  It’s not just a case of us looking after our allotments – during lockdown it’s become clear that allotments have been looking after us, as Pete, one of Family Action’s FOOD Club Regional Coordinators explains. I have had my allotment for 5 years, after spending two years on the waiting list. I share it with […]

• Nicola’s story: how Family Action’s grant helped my daughter and I

  COIVD-19’s impact on the nation’s health, economy and schools has been dramatic and far-reaching but, in many respects, the effects have been felt hardest behind the closed doors of family homes. Thanks to our emergency appeal, supported by Barclays’ COVID-19 Community Aid Package, we have distributed nearly £400,000 to over 350 families struggling with food […]

• Celebrating World Food Day with our FOOD Clubs

  Today it’s World Food Day, which offers us the chance to celebrate its theme of “food heroes”, who are helping ensure food reaches children and families who need it most. We believe our FOOD Club staff and volunteers display their own brand of heroism by helping to support local families, while also using surplus food […]

• Coronavirus – employee rights and how they affect you 

  The economic and financial implications of COVID-19 have resulted in increased job insecurity across the country and, in some cases, unemployment. It’s a worrying time for many of us and that’s why, as well as highlighting some of the real-life stories of families and individuals affected by the current situation, we wanted to support the families we work with by providing some practical advice.  Monaco […]

• Worrying about employment in the post-COVID world

  The Government’s furlough scheme that it introduced in response to COVID-19 is unprecedented and has kept many families from severe hardship. However, with the furlough scheme changing, it’s worth considering the potential impact of COVID-19 on employment, both for those of us who will feel the ramifications of the changes and those, like our guest […]

• Back to School with Clapham Manor podcast

  In this episode we visit Clapham Manor Primary School and Nursery, to find out how students; Ezra, Romy, Riadore and Jayden along with Mum; Frances and teachers; Iona and Ana feel about returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have been affected by any of the subjects discussed in the podcasts or you’re […]

• Karen’s story: adopting my two daughters

  Karen, a single mum of two, describes her journey to becoming an adoptive parent and explains how her daughters give her such a sense of fulfilment and love. Read on to find out more about Almaz, Heaven and Karen’s family. I am a single, black lady who first adopted 10 years ago at the age […]

• Mick’s story: my mental health journey

  Our service, BAND has been supporting people with experience of a mental health condition for over 30 years. One man, Mick, has been there since the beginning – as a service user, a volunteer and, finally, a member of staff. Here’s his story.  I had a normal, happy childhood growing up with my mum, dad and brother. Although I was smart, […]

• Make Theirs Magic

  Our 2023 Make Theirs Magic Appeal has now closed. Thank you to everyone who supported us in 2023. We’ll be back again in 2024. Christmas is meant to be the most wonderful time of the year, but with the rising costs of food and utilities, many families will find their holiday season far from merry. […]

• How to reduce your family’s food waste

  To mark the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste we asked John – dad of one, gardener and keen forager from the Midlands, to tell us about the practical steps he and his family have been taking recently to try to keep food waste to a minimum. Save those scraps For a […]

• Family Action Pension Scheme

  Implementation Statement 31 Dec 2022 signed by Helen Frisby 14 June 2023 DC Chair Statement 31 Dec 2022 signed by Helen Frisby 25 July 2023 Family Action – Statement of Investment Principles – February 2024  

• Tips and tricks for perfect packed lunches 

  It’s finally time for children and young people across the country to return to school – which for some families means a return to making packed lunches for long-suffering parents and carers! It’s one thing though to make up a packed lunch, however, but quite another to make it something your child wants to eat […]

• Back to school competition with Bacofoil®

  Show us your child’s favourite packed lunch and be in with the chance of winning a Family Art Set and Bacofoil® goodies worth over £100! You can take a photo, draw a picture or even make it with crafts! Comment with your entry on Facebook tagging @ilovebacofoil for a chance to win! Entries close 23:59 on […]

• Inspiring brunch ideas from our Holiday Hub team

  Now that many of us are starting to get back to school and work, we may reminisce about our family brunch times, just like our Holiday Hub staff have been doing. Get inspired by their engaging brunch ideas below. Nothing signals the start of the weekend or a holiday like a lazy brunch with the […]

• Walsall SENDIASS Useful Information

  This page collects together videos, leaflets, webpages, groups and support services that are useful first points of call for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, and their parents and carers in and around Walsall. Guidance Walsall SENDIAS Leaflet Here is a short animation to show the support available to young people with SEND […]

• Walsall SENDIASS

  Walsall’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information and Advice Support (SENDIAS)  service provides free and impartial support to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and their parents and carers. By doing so we hope to raise awareness of the options available to those using our service, as well as supporting […]

• Report out: Our response to the COVID-19 challenge

  Our Chief Executive, David Holmes, CBE and Chair of Trustees, Mary Fulton introduce a report on our response to the changes and challenges posed by COVID-19. This time last year we were in the middle of our 150th Anniversary celebrations. Who could have known how different the world we work in would be this year? […]

• City and Hackney Neighbourhoods MDT Privacy Notice

  Background The primary purpose of the Neighbourhood Team is to bring organisations and services together to provide the best care possible for you. We have 8 Neighbourhoods in City and Hackney who are improving the way care is provided in the community. These 8 Neighbourhoods are: Clissold Park Neighbourhood Woodberry Wetlands Neighbourhood Hackney Marshes Neighbourhood […]

• Thank you for your support

  Thank you for your kind donation to Family Action. Your generous support has helped provide a lifeline to struggling families.

• Back to school advice for parents of children with SEND

  Our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities experts, who work within Family Action services, have come together to provide a few points that might help you manage the return to school with your peace of mind intact. Returning to school after the summer holidays can be difficult for any child. The vast majority of children will be moving […]

• Preparing your children to return to school 

  Deputy Headteacher of Clapham Manor Primary School, Iona Mumby, shares her passion, knowledge and advice about preparing your children to return to school this September. August is usually a time for relaxation and quality time with family following a long and action–packed summer term at school. This year will see August filled with a different set […]

• Back to school – low cost, high quality packed lunch inspiration with Bacofoil®

  To help us support families preparing to go back to school, we have partnered with household favourite and kitchen helper, Bacofoil® who have got some low cost, high quality lunchbox ideas below. It may have been months since parents had to think about their children’s packed lunches, but this September as schools reopen it will […]

• Fun ways to enjoy nature outside with your children

  The summer holidays are great to enjoy some time with your children, but after a long period of lockdown and home schooling it can be difficult to find new fun activities to do together. With the warmer weather officially here, we caught up with Vicki from our Lincolnshire Behaviour Outreach Support Service and Holiday Hub […]

• Money-saving tips for troubled times

  We’ve spoken to a range of our experts from all over our organisation and come up with some handy money saving tips, to get you through post lockdown read on to find out more.  The coronavirus pandemic has created strain in virtually every area of our lives – affecting our mental health, our working patterns, […]

• Summer Staycation Strategies

  The summer holidays are here but with the national and global picture still uncertain and countries moving into and out of isolation and quarantine, many of us just don’t want to chance a trip abroad. Therefore, here are some great alternative solutions for holidaying and celebrating closer to home. Hotels and hostels Hotels and hostels […]

• Louise’s story: food, meal times and my family during lockdown

  Louise, our National Food Services Operational Manager and mother to a teenager, shares her lockdown experience and the part food and meal times have played. Lockdown for many – myself included – has been a very busy time, juggling full time work with home-schooling, shopping for neighbours and relatives, dealing with IT woes, and much […]

• Claire story: searching for my birth mum

  Adoptee and blogger, Claire of How To Be Adopted shares her experience of searching and reuniting with birth family members, highlighting how our new FamilyConnect website can help. I searched for my birth mother at the age of 18. I thought this was fairly normal but now that I’ve met many adoptees from the closed […]

• Lockdown… and beyond. A new perspective and way of living

  COVID-19 has, without a doubt, changed the way we live – the way we socialise, shop, work (and workout).  However, despite the difficulty this has caused for families across the country, such changes have also prompted new perspectives, new hobbies (like cross–stitch, pictured) and new, often better, ways of living.  Families and communities have also slowed down […]

• Hannah’s story: lockdown in perfect company 

  We’ve been sharing stories regarding the little changes we’ve all made during lockdown which have had a positive effect on our mental wellbeing, our finances or our relationship with those around us.   Here, mum Hannah explains how lockdown has allowed her to take her foot off the pedal, and appreciate the life she shares with […]

• Young Carer Maggie – looking after her family during COVID-19

  Maggie Brooks an extraordinary individual with an astonishing story to tell, at only 12 years old. Read on to find out how Maggie has supported her family through the lockdown. Like millions of children Maggie Brooks has had to do her schoolwork at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike most, she faces an extra challenge. Often […]

• Survive and Thrive Integrated Children’s Service

  Bradford Survive and Thrive : A Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Service for adults and children . In 2019 we joined forces with charities Staying Put and WomenCentre to create a one-stop-shop for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. The new consortium, named Bradford Survive & Thrive, launched in October 2019, transforming services in Bradford and the surrounding […]

• Perinatal Support Service

  We provide emotional support to families where a parent is struggling with their emotional health or well-being during pregnancy and up until baby turns 2 – the first 1001 days of baby’s life.  The Perinatal Support Service is for pregnant women or women who have a baby under the age of 2; who have, or […]

• Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

  The Modern Slavery Act 2015 introduced new obligations in relation to slavery and human trafficking. Family Action is fully supportive of the legislation as it is in keeping with our values. Family Action is committed to the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the abolition of modern slavery and human trafficking. As an […]

• Kenneth’s story: my volunteering and employment journey with HeadStart

  Kenneth, a young person supported through our HeadStart service shares his volunteering and employment journey. Kenneth started volunteering at the London Bowling Club for 16 hours helping with the maintenance and restoration of the club. Following completion of this placement, Kenneth secured a role at the Berkley Street Starbucks store. I joined HeadStart because being […]

• Harrow SENDIAS information for young people

  This is Harrow SENDIAS’ young people’s webpage. This page explains what we do, how to contact us, and provides useful videos and resources. We produce this page with you in mind so if you would like to see something included or would like us to change something, let us know using [email protected]. What does SENDIAS mean? SENDIAS stands […]

• North East Hampshire and Farnham Social Prescribing Service

  ** Unfortunately our service is due to end and cannot accept any more referrals. ** Frimley Clinical Commissioning Group has commissioned Family Action to deliver its social prescribing service from 1 July 2020. NE Hamp & Farnham Social Prescribing service leaflet What is social prescribing? Social prescribing is about giving you access to activities, social […]

• Creative writing tips to help support your mental health and wellbeing

  Writing and getting creative is a great way to support our mental health and wellbeing, but where do you begin? Read our top creative writing tips from Alex, a volunteer with our BAND community based mental health service in Bolton. In a world which leaves little time for reflection and creativity, writing has many benefits. […]

• Joshua’s story: how having a mentor turned my life around

  During this period of physical distancing, staying connected to each other is more important than ever. That’s why our services are working hard to ensure staff and volunteers can keep in contact with the people we work with via telephone or video wherever possible.  Here 21-year-old Joshua talks about his experience of having a mentor through our […]

• A new way to manage loneliness as a single parent

  Read Zoë’s story as a single mum & founder of Frolo, one of the services we reccomend through our FamilyLine helpline as she talks about how single parents can combat loneliness with a new and free way to stay connected. Becoming a single parent can be a very lonely experience – even if you have […]

• Basil’s story: birth and pregnancy from a dad’s perspective

  Fathers’ day is a chance to celebrate the men who have cared for us and helped to shape who we are.  However, it’s also a time when fathers themselves reflect on their experiences, and the transformative effect fatherhood has had on their lives.  Here one father, Basil talks us through the period leading up to the birth […]

• Programmes in Barrow

  Below are a range of Targeted Programmes that Family Action Barrow offer. If you require more information please email: [email protected]  

• Mohbub’s story: Receiving a COVID-19 grant

  We knew from the moment COVID-19 hit the news headlines that families of all kinds across the country would be put under unprecedented amounts of stress. That’s why we launched our emergency grants fund to support those who needed help with the essentials during this difficult time. Here, proud father Mohbub tells us what receiving the grant […]

• Sam’s story: my experience as a Young Carer

  Caring for a parent or loved one can be tough, especially when you’re a child or a young person. Too often these amazing Young Carers go unseen in our communities with little awareness of the challenges they face or the support they need. Read Sam’s story as she shares her experience caring for her mum […]

• Elizabeth’s story: my journey as an adoption foundling

  Elizabeth, a foundling, opens up about her journey discovering her background, who she was and meeting her birth relatives for the first time. Read on to find out about how she felt, the support she had, and how our FamilyConnect website can make a difference.  I am an adult, adopted in the peak adoption post […]

• How to declutter your home without feeling overwhelmed

  Our Bolton based Community Mental Health Service, BAND advises on how decluttering your house can help maintain a clearer headspace and mental wellbeing. Read on to find out their top tips. Why declutter? Owning fewer things can make living easier. Without clutter swamping you, you are more able to enjoy hobbies, get on with cooking, […]

• We’ve partnered with The Times Coronavirus Charity Appeal

  We’ve partnered with The Times and The Sunday Times Emergency Coronavirus Appeal to support the thousands of vulnerable families we work with.  It is a tough time for vulnerable and low-income families, many of whom were already struggling before COVID-19. Increased isolation, the closure of schools, the loss of low-paid work, and the loss of free […]

• Barrow Volunteering

  Would you like to gain experience or share your skills? Why not volunteer? Get to know us! Hello, I’m Kirsty Parkinson the volunteer and engagement worker for Barrow in Furness. I’m married with 3 sons (4 if you include my dog 😊). Before I started in the current role I was previously a Child & […]

• Keeping active through challenging times

  Our Active Families service based in Bishop Auckland in County Durham, share their top tips for keeping you and your family active during these challenging times. Read on for some brilliant resources and ideas. Active Families Active Families is a Family Action project in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Our project normally involves working with groups […]

• Children’s Trauma Therapy Service

  About us We are currently open for new referrals. If your young person is experiencing a mental health crisis please contact First Response on: 0800 952 1181. Alternatively you can visit your GP for support. The Children’s Trauma Therapy Service, at Bradford Family Action, is a specialist therapy service providing trauma and attachment focussed therapy for […]

• 10 free acts of kindness

  Our Bolton based Community Mental Health Service, BAND shares 10 free acts of kindness that can help us all feel more positive as part of Mental Health Awareness week. For some reason, to us humans, the act of giving results in higher levels of satisfaction than receiving. There is a sense of wellbeing and a […]

• Young Carers Windsor and Maidenhead

  Young Carer Assessments By law, all young carers are entitled to a Young Carers Assessment to ensure the right support is in place for their own development whilst balancing the needs of the person they care for. It is important to acknowledge young carers and let them know of their rights, even if they choose […]

• How our National School Breakfast Programme is supporting schools during COVID-19

  The National School Breakfast Programme is committed to continuing to support our schools throughout this most challenging time of COVID-19. Over 1000 schools have now registered to receive food provision for families living in disadvantage. We are grateful to the National School Breakfast Programme schools that are able to commit to continuing the provision. These […]

• Jo’s story: money, food and my family during the lockdown

  The worldwide spread of COVID-19 and the resulting isolation measures have placed financial and emotional stress on families across society – but it’s especially hard for those for whom routine has become a survival mechanism. Here mother-of-two Jo, speaks about the struggles and successes of her life in isolation followed by how we can help.  Our […]

• Virtual Family Picnic ideas, tips and activities

  Thank you for holding a Virtual Family Picnic – we hope you’ll have fun together. Whether you’re organising something with your family or friends or getting your neighbours, colleagues, and community involved, we have lots of top tips and ideas to make your Virtual Family Picnic a success. Recipes Games and Crafts Family Yoga Story […]

• Hold a Virtual Family Picnic

  Have a Family Action Virtual Family Picnic.   Location: your home or garden!  You can host your picnic in your garden, a local park, on your balcony or the living room floor! Just find some space, make some tasty treats and reconnect with friends and family. Although we are still social distancing we can share this […]

• John-george’s story: tracing my records as a care leaver

  Tracing records and family origins can be a daunting journey for adults who grew up in care. Here John-george shares his experience and looks at how our new FamilyConnect website will make a difference. I slide the care file out of the messy stack of papers by my bed and place it next to me. […]

• Siobhaun’s story: my journey from volunteering to employment

  Flourishing Babies, Perinatal Support Worker, Siobhaun shares how her volunteer experience led her to the role, and how rewarding she’s found it since, supporting vulnerable parents with infants under the age of 2, and parents to be. My journey with Family Action started when I heard the Flourishing Babies service was looking for Volunteer Befrienders. […]

• Social Prescribing – City and Hackney Service 

  Due to the current situation around Coronavirus (COVID-19), we are offering a mixture of face to face sessions, telephone and online support. The welfare of our clients and staff is our highest priority and we are committed to continuing our support to those who need it. If you have any questions or concerns please contact […]

• Ideas to feed your family during the COVID-19 lockdown

  Our National School Breakfast Programme, Project Support Officer and public health nutritionist, Gill understands the difficulties many families are facing in the current circumstances. Here she shares some tips to help ease some of the pressures around food. There are few things in life as fundamental as our relationship with food – it nourishes and […]

• Isolation ideas for your children from a pre-school professional

  Since the government rolled out nationwide isolation measures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic parents have found themselves much more involved with their children’s daily routine. Many of us now find ourselves juggling homeschooling with working from home, and even where this is not the case occupying young children’s attention throughout the day is a full-time […]

• Hackney WellFamily Plus

  Due to the current situation around Coronavirus (COVID-19), there will be no face-to-face sessions provided by WellFamily Plus service at Family Action for the foreseeable future. The welfare of our clients and staff is our highest priority and we are committed to continuing our support to those who need it. We have taken the decision […]

• Stockton On Tees Family Outreach and Volunteering Service

  We help children, young people and families to gain life skills and confidence. We care about building strong relationships with families – in family hubs, in the community and within the family home. We strive to support stable, positive family networks in which all family members are able to thrive. As the name suggests, the […]

• Jade’s story: pregnancy, birth & Covid-19

  Pregnancy and the prospect of giving birth can be an anxious time, even more so during this unprecedented time. We caught up with expecting mum and Not Your Average Family blogger, Jade as she shares her experience. “If you told me a few weeks ago that I would be giving birth to my first child […]

• A message from The Duchess of Cambridge

  We are delighted to have received this wonderful letter from our Royal Patron, The Duchess of Cambridge. 

• Family Action now holds the Norcap Contact Register

  We are delighted to announce services delivered by Adoption Services for Adults, including the management of the Norcap Contact Register, transferred to Family Action on 3 April 2020. All services previously provided by Adoption Services for Adults (ASFA), including; searching and tracing, intermediary services, birth record counselling, and access to information from adoption files, will […]

• How to enjoy the weekend during the COVID-19 outbreak

  Modern life is built around the working week, with many of us dreaming of when Friday rolls around. However, due to the coronavirus, it’s hard to define what the weekend should look like… After all, we’re still in our houses, with the same people we’ve seen all week, and with limited options for activity, entertainment […]

• Julia’s story: my experience with adoption and how FamilyConnect will help fill the gaps

  Julia Feast OBE, describes her experience working with care leavers and those impacted by adoption and how our new FamilyConnect service will help support those who may not have the support available otherwise. There is a natural curiosity for people to understand who they are, where they come from, and make connections with family members […]

• How to manage family tensions whilst self isolating together

  While many of us love spending quality time with our family, being on lockdown means we can’t do the things we’d usually do with our families. We understand this can make family tensions run high which is why we’ve spoken to our experts to give you the following tips. Thanks to COVID-19 outbreak many of […]

• Introducing our new FamilyConnect website

  David Holmes CBE, Chief Executive Family Action introduces our new FamilyConnect service, helping adults who have been adopted or in care find answers to questions about their origins. For people who have been adopted, in care or otherwise separated from their birth families, living with unanswered questions about their past, their family relationships and childhood […]

• Eco Explorers

  The Eco Explorers project, funded by the British Ecological Society, aimed to: increase awareness and interest in ecology among children and families, through ecology-themed activities; develop the skills and confidence of children, families and community leaders to communicate about ecology; and to inspire families to take their learning forward independently after the project. Summary The […]

• Learning at home with your children during the COVID-19 outbreak

  Long periods of school absence can fill many parents with nagging doubts about the effect on their children’s wellbeing and learning. This is especially true when the situation prevents you from leaving your house or garden – as is currently the case with the COVID-19 outbreak. Here we hear from Nicola, a Year 2 teacher in Middlesbrough, […]

• Our response to the COVID-19 crisis

  We are committed to supporting families through the COVID-19 outbreak. We know this situation will bring added pressure and uncertainly to families across the UK so we’re adapting our services, setting up a new small grants scheme and delivering food to those most in need, growing our virtual befriending service and providing expert advice to […]

• COVID-19 emergency appeal

  Family Action is launching a fundraising appeal to help families that we are working with who are struggling with food insecurity and other financial pressures as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The financial impact of COVID-19 poses an unprecedented challenge for thousands of vulnerable and low-income families. Although the Government has stepped in to […]

• Islington SENDIAS – information for young people

  Welcome to the Islington SENDIAS webpages for young people. Here you can find out what we do, how to contact us, and links to useful videos and other resources. If there is something you think we should include or change on this page, let us know! What is a SENDIAS service? SENDIAS means special educational […]

• Launching social drama film LAST DATE – addressing the issues of coercive and controlling behaviour

  Our Domestic Violence and Abuse Coordinator, Tracy Foster looks at the new social drama film LAST DATE, launched by Family Action and Omni Productions and discusses the need for more education around coercive and controlling behaviour, especially for young people. Family Action and Omni Productions are pleased to launch a new film about coercive and […]

• Behaviour Outreach Support Service

  Family Action offers a flexible Behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS) for schools, local authorities and MATs across England. Our aims Our BOSS service aims to reduce the risk of exclusion and develop the ability of schools to support children displaying behaviour that challenges. What we provide Family Action can be commissioned by a local authority, a […]

• Useful online links

  You can find a wide range of healthy, tasty recipes online. Here are just a few examples. Change4Life recipe bank: “These healthy recipes are aimed at children and have clear instructions and colourful pictures.” Love Food Hate Waste: “This recipe bank is aimed at reducing food waste. Lots of healthy recipes!” School Food Plan Recipe Hub: “You can download a range of […]

• Jan’s story: how I supported my partner’s Mental Health journey

  One of our Senior Behaviour Outreach Support Workers, Jan, opens up about her feelings around supporting her partner’s Mental Health journey and how sometimes your professional training doesn’t make you immune from needing support. I want to talk openly about my journey of living with and trying to support someone who is mentally ill. In […]

• FamilyLine – the conversation continues

  It’s been one year since our vital helpline service FamilyLine opened its virtual doors to families across the nation. Since then thousands have called, texted, emailed and chatted online with our free and confidential service, looking for support with a range of topics – from relationships and money to housing issues and much more. HRH […]

• Family Action supports HRH The Duchess of Cambridge’s ‘5 Big Questions’ survey on the under 5s

  We recently celebrated the end of our 150th Anniversary year with the great news that HRH The Duchess of Cambridge had become our Royal Patron and we are proud to support The Duchess’s exciting new UK-wide survey on early childhood, ‘5 Big Questions’. The landmark survey contains just five short questions and aims to spark […]

• Parent Carers Service

  Family Action’s Parent Carers Service is open to all parent carers in Newham. A parent carer is someone aged over 18 who provides care to a child with a special educational need or disability (SEND) for whom they have parental responsibility. Identifying needs On behalf of Newham Local Authority we carry out what’s known as […]

• Leeds Young Carers Support Service

    Young carers are children under the age of 18, who take on physical, practical, or emotional tasks at home because someone in their family has an illness, disability, alcohol or drugs problem, a learning difficulty or experiences mental ill health. A young carer may do caring tasks such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, giving medication […]

• Solihull SENDIAS – information for young people

  Welcome to the Solihull SENDIAS webpage for young people. Here you can find out what we do, how to contact us, and links to useful videos and other resources. If there is something you think we should include or change on this page, let us know! What is a SENDIAS service? SENDIAS means special educational […]

• HeadStart

  “I really appreciate all the effort you put into helping me get this interview and I will be able to apply these skills for the future. You have also helped me write a CV and cover letter that no one has ever helped me with so I wanted to say thank you so much” – […]

• Emily’s story: when you’re having a Christmas baby…

  Christmas is a special time for all families but for Emily the excitement is doubled by the prospect her baby girl will arrive sometime around Christmas day. Here the mum-to-be tells us a little about how she’s feeling, and shares some of the pressures faced by a working family expecting a new addition to the […]

• How to survive Christmas as a single parent

  Family Affairs and other matters blogger Lucy Campbell shares her thoughts and advice on surviving Christmas as a single parent. Christmas can be a difficult time of year no matter what your family dynamic consists of and it is often hard to get away from the happy family stereotype of what Christmas should be like. […]

• Ways to enjoy the outdoors with your family this Christmas 

  Family can be a lot to cope with especially during the festive season but a brilliant way to let off steam is to take the family outdoors. Read on to find some of our top tips for getting outdoors with the family this Christmas. It’s tempting to think of Christmas as taking place primarily indoors […]

• 0-19 Child and Family Support Service

  Family Action is delighted to be working closely with Cumbria County Council to deliver their new 0–19 Child and Family Support Service, having officially taken over provision on 1 January 2020. Our support We are currently in the process of mapping existing provision against the new service specifications. In the meantime, we expect existing services […]

• Growing Minds

  About Growing Minds Growing Minds aims to improve children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing in City & Hackney during the important transition years from primary to secondary school and secondary school to adulthood. The project, which supports children and young people aged 11 to 25 of African, Caribbean and mixed heritage (ACH), is […]

• Christmas traditions for you and your family 

  Tradition is part of the fabric of Christmas and from the moment the lights go up and the adverts appear on TV the sense of what we can expect from the period ahead is tremendously comforting.  Our Family Monsters Project research shows 49% of people said they were worried about spending quality time together and in some regards, Christmas is a perfect antidote to these […]

• Amy’s story: volunteering as a mentor with Friendship Works at Christmas

  Amy began volunteering with Family Action in the run up to last Christmas with our mentoring service Friendship Works. At the time she didn’t suspect that the friendship she would forge with 12 year-old Izzy would have such a huge impact on both of their lives. Here’s her story. I wasn’t really looking for a […]

• Managing family tensions at Christmas 

  Christmas is a time many of us look forward to for a variety of reasons.  It could be due to time off work, the promise of presents, the chance to indulge ourselves with fine food or the chance to spend time with our loved ones.   One of the unfortunate side effects of the season’s huge potential for happiness and contentment, however, is […]

• How to bring Christmas to your kitchen this festive season 

  Sweet treats and Christmas go hand in hand. You can make some rewarding recipes with little effort, some willing helpers and very little money. Here we bring you a few suggestions of how to bring Christmas to the kitchen this festive season.   A Warning To all Perfectionists  With all our suggestions below, it’s important […]

• Jane’s story: The challenge of living far away from ageing parents

  Christmas is a time for coming together with family and loved ones but that can be hard as those close to us grow older or live further away. Read how one daughter manages during Christmas and the rest of the year. Christmas is a time when families traditionally get together. I am very lucky! Although […]

• Sam’s Story: How a box of bright balloons was the best Christmas present ever

  There’s a lot of pressure on parents to ensure Christmas is magical for their children, and many of us can fall into the trap of overspending on toys for our kids – even when, as in the story one father tells us below, the child is really too young to appreciate it. Here’s how he […]

• Managing Children’s Expectations of Christmas 

  No family is an island and children are exposed to a range of views about what Christmas should mean to them, and what to expect. Television, playground conversations and even well-meaning family members can all set unrealistic expectations of what young people believe will happen over the season.   Thankfully, with a bit of planning, you can […]

• Choosing Christmas trees with HRH The Duchess of Cambridge

  Following the announcement that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge will become our new Royal Patron, The Duchess joined us at a Christmas tree farm in Buckinghamshire where children from our Peterborough Pre-Schools chose trees. Read more about today’s Royal Patronage announcement here.              

• Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge becomes our Royal Patron

  On behalf of the Board of Trustees and everyone at Family Action, I am delighted to announce that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge will become Royal Patron of Family Action in our 150th Anniversary year. The Duchess will assume the Royal Patronage of the charity from Her Majesty The Queen who has held […]

• What we have lined up for ‘Families at Christmas’

  Our Chief Executive David Holmes CBE introduces our festive blog series and talks about what we have in store for ‘Families at Christmas’ as we count down throughout December For most of us Christmas is a lovely part of the year which allows us to spend time with those we care about the most, enjoy […]

• Susie’s story: our Post Sexual Abuse (PSA) service

  Our Post Sexual Abuse (PSA) service supports children and young people up to the age of 18 who have experienced sexual abuse. Our free and confidential service aims to improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people, and bring about greater stability in their lives. Find out how we work by […]

• Thank you for your support

  Thank you so much for donating to Family Action’s Christmas appeal! Your support means more families will enjoy a happier Christmas together – from giving a child a present to open on Christmas Day, to enabling a family to get involved in festive activities, to making sure a parent has somewhere to turn for emotional […]

• Holiday clubs – feedback

  The documents below give a flavour of the wide variety of holiday activities and food clubs that Family Action co-ordinates (e.g. Holiday Hub). East Midlands Read a short case study from a setting in the East Midlands about one of the Holiday Hub sessions they have delivered. Another Notts children’s centre gives a summary of their […]

• Medway SENDIAS – useful links

  Local links Medway Parent and Carers Forum – https://medwaypcf.org.uk/ Carers First – www.carersfirst.org.uk Kent Autistic Trust – www.kentautistic.com Kent Deaf Children’s Society – www.kdcs.org/default.aspx Medway Family Information Service – https://admissions.medway.gov.uk/Synergy/fisd_welcome.aspx Medway MAGIC – www.medway-magic.org/ Club AUsome – https://clubausome.co.uk/ Other useful links The Challenging behaviour Foundation – www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/ Contact – www.cafamily.org.uk/ Council for Disabled Children – […]

• A thank you to our grandmas, grandpas, nans, grandads, grannies, and grandpops

  Here at Family Action, we have a holistic approach to helping families – supporting every generation from babies, children and young people, to parents and grandparents and we know through our work, the very special place the grandparents have in a family. They often play an intrinsic role in supporting their families, be it looking […]

• The impact of breakfast on learning in children

  Dr Katie Adolphus, Dr Clare Lawton and Professor Louise Dye from the Human Appetite Research Unit at the University of Leeds, School of Psychology, have been researching the importance of a healthy breakfast for school children. Their findings and conclusions below reassure the need and importance of our National School Breakfast Programme‘s work. Breakfast: Fuel for the brain Numerous […]

• Toy Appeal – Get involved as a company/group

  Our 2023 Christmas Toy Appeal has now closed. Thank you to everyone who supported us in 2023. We’ll be back again in 2024. Get your organisation or group involved with our Toy Appeal and help make Christmas magical for struggling families! Our Toy Appeal is a great way to spread Christmas cheer around your office […]

• Tanya’s story: an adoptee working in adoption

  Tanya, a Project Worker with our Adopteens service, delivered by PAC-UK shares her own experience of being adopted and how it has helped her work in adoption  “Don’t go and work in a profession because you want to fix yourself” was the advice my practice educator gave me whist doing my final year social work […]

• The research behind our work supporting families facing pressures

  Now that the school summer holidays are over and children are back at school, our Chief Executive David Holmes CBE talks about our research into the pressures many parents and carers are facing. As part of our Family Monsters campaign this summer, Family Action has been discussing some of the challenges families face during the school holidays, in particular, those […]

• How you can change lives by leaving a gift in your Will

  We know that families come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter how you define your family, when we have the support of those who love us we’re better able to manage the challenges life brings.  At Family Action, we believe in building stronger families, giving families the tools they need to manage the […]

• How to support families in your Will

  Making a Will is one of the most important decisions you will ever make and the only way to set out your wishes for the future. Many people like you leave a gift to a charity like Family Action in their Will and pass on something wonderful. Will you leave a gift to a charity […]

• Get support

  It can sometimes be difficult to talk about the pressures on our families but together we can face them. We’ve pulled together some useful advice on how to help families talk about and face their family monsters. Often we can tackle our family monsters just by starting a conversation! So feel free to check out […]

• Screen time? How much is too much?

  If you’re not sure what’s best for your children when it comes to screen time, you’ve come to the right place. As part of our Family Monster Project, we’ve come up with a handful of quick and practical tips on how to make screen time another simple part of summer fun with your family. The summer holidays […]

• Carl’s story: how we tackle our communication family monsters

  As part of our Family Monsters campaign, we’ve been discussing some of the challenges families face during the holidays – including finding things to do and resolving any tensions that arise from spending so much time together. Here, father of six, Carl shares what he’s learned about managing his large family over the summer months. I’m currently […]

• Charlotte’s story: managing financial family monsters as a single mum

  As part of our Family Monsters Project’s focus this summer holidays, we’ve been asking families about the everyday struggles that can surface during this period, and how they cope. Here Charlotte outlines how difficult it can be to manage during the holidays, as a stay at home mum. The holidays are a really difficult time for me […]

• On our best behaviour? 7 strategies to help siblings get along during the holidays

  You’ve all been cooped up together in the house. You’re frazzled. You’ve had too much caffeine and too little sleep. Your partner needed to go into work and your otherwise delightful children seem to find something new to argue about every ten minutes. Why can’t they just get along? (Sound familiar?) The holidays can be […]

• Our BBC Radio 4 Appeal with Sean Fletcher

  This week (11th – 17th August) we are so excited to be the featured charity for the BBC Radio 4 Appeal. Voiced by Sean Fletcher, our appeal features the story of Remmie and Rayo. After the death of Rayo’s mother, Remmie was struggling to care for his daughter on his own and turned to his […]

• How parents can save money during the school holidays

  We have already seen how some of our very simple tips for working parents can save you money during what can often be an expensive summer break. Below we dig a little deeper into our Family Monsters piggy bank of money-saving tips for parents. Have a good clear out: this is one of those perfect activities to involve the whole family – and the […]

• Child Contact Services

  Family Action are no longer operating a Child Contact Service from 1st April 2021.  For CAFCASS referrals for services run in Peterborough and Southend please contact Children’s Link and in Medway please contact Swanstaff. For enquires about privately funded supported and supervised contact please contact the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC)

• Recipes to keep your family fed and happy this summer. Part 2

  Finding healthy meals to feed the family during the holidays can be challenging. Read more of our simple summer recipes below, inspired by parents as part of our Family Monsters Project.   Delicious homemade falafel Serves 4   Ingredients   400g tinned chickpeas in water, rinsed and drained  1 small onion, peeled  1 clove garlic, peeled  […]

• Simple summer recipes that will keep your family fed and happy Part 1 

  Coming up with a different meal every day that the whole family will enjoy can be a real challenge, especially during the school holidays. Keep your family coming back for more with these two simple recipes, inspired by parents as part of our Family Monsters Project. Chicken & roasted vegetable couscous Serves 4-5   Ingredients   70g […]

• Top 5 things to do before you hear “I’m bored” this summer! Part 2

  Already having fun with your family this summer thanks to our first 5 fun tips? Make the most of the time you have with your children during the school break with our next top 5 tips on simple summer fun… 6. Visit your local library  FREE – PRE-SCHOOL AGE PLUS   If a trip to the […]

• How to feed your children on a budget… and have fun with food this summer 

  Our Holiday Hubs work with families across the UK to provide meals and opportunities for family bonding through eating, learning and play. Here Julie Pike, Family Action Community Engagement and Volunteer Support Worker, discusses the added pressures families face over the holidays and gives a few simple tips that might help.  Our Holiday Hub has […]

• Race to the Tower 2022

  Conquer the Cotswolds and take on Race to the Tower! From quaint idyllic villages to medieval burial grounds, the Cotswold Way will take you all the way to the foot of the magnificent Broadway Tower. The highlights are endless, rich with 13th Century ruins and modern day film locations. The yellow, Jurassic Cotswold stone will […]

• School holidays

  The school holidays are a great opportunity to enjoy some family time but it can also be a time when the pressures affecting us – our family monsters, feel that bit harder to manage. That’s why we’ve pulled together some top tips, insights and resources to help you and your family this school holiday.

• How to keep your children entertained this summer

  Community Engagement and Volunteer Support Worker, Julie Pike from one of our Holiday Hub services, shares some tips to ease the pressure on parents entertaining children over the summer. Our Holiday Hubs works with families across the UK to provide support to those who need it, using opportunities for families to bond through eating, learning […]

• Top 5 things to do before you hear “I’m bored” this summer! Part 1

  We know that being a parent can be difficult at times, especially when it comes to keeping children entertained during the long hot days of summer. As part of our Family Monsters Project, we’ve put together a paddling pool full of easy ideas that we hope will inspire happy holidays for the whole family – […]

• Top Tips for Working Parents

  Being a parent or carer can sometimes feel like a full time job in its own right – especially during the long hot summer holidays. It’s hardly surprising then that so many of us struggle to come even close to any kind of work-life balance. Read on for some practical tips we’ve gathered as part […]

• Abbey’s story: family life and the stresses of the work-life balance

  Below is Abbey’s story about how her and her husband manage their work-life balance… it’s not always easy that’s for sure, read on to find out how they discovered their coping mechanism. Abbey and her husband always knew it would be hard to fit their busy working lives around their first child. Both of them […]

• Gabrielle’s story: the difference I make as a mentor

  Gabrielle is a volunteer mentor with our Friendship Works service. She writes about how her friendship with Crocell, her mentee, has grown over the past two years. After years of voluntary work with adult trauma survivors, I needed a change of direction whilst continuing to volunteer, as it is an important part of my life. […]

• Crocell’s story: how having a friend and mentor helped me

  Crocell, 16, writes about his friendship with his volunteer mentor, Gabrielle. Crocell was referred to our Friendship Works service in 2017 because he needed some support building relationships outside of school. “At first, having a mentor was more something my parents were talking me into more than something I wanted to do. They recognised that […]

• Text and email support introduced alongside “Sunshine” call cover during Special Guardians summer shakeup

  Text and email support has been introduced alongside “Sunshine” call cover during a summer shakeup of Family Action’s Special Guardianship Service. Significant changes to our Special Guardians Support Service will expand the ways people can get in touch with us and ensure we can offer more comprehensive support, to local authorities and the Special Guardians […]

• Amber Rudd visit’s NSBP school

  MP Amber Rudd visits one of our National School Breakfast Programme’s schools to show her why it’s important that the 280,000 children accessing free breakfasts, don’t lose out on their fuel for learning due to government funding cuts. The National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) was delighted to invite Amber Rudd, local MP for Hastings and […]

• Take on a Trail in 2020

  Challenge yourself in 2020 by signing up to an event in the Threshold Sports trail series. The series is a collection of breathtaking events that you can walk, jog or run. Each route shows the very best of the British countryside with distances from 10km to 100km non-stop ultras! Help us be there for every […]

• Protected: Holiday Food and Fun – job roles and volunteering opportunities

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• Protected: Holiday Food and Fun – information for delivery partners

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• Protected: Holiday Food and Fun – background and aims

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• Tobin’s story: how my new job welcomed me and my mental health monster

  Project Manager Tobin, shares his experience with his mental health family monster, as the last blog in our series promoting positive mental health in the workplace and our Time to Change Employer Pledge – signed yesterday. I am a newbie to Family Action, having only started November 2018. 2018 was an interesting time for me […]

• Harrow SENDIAS SEND Information and Downloads

  Harrow SENDIAS leaflets Harrow SENDIAS Funding for SEN Support Harrow SENDIAS Specify & Quantify Harrow SENDIAS What if I do not agree? Harrow SENDIAS EHC Plan Harrow SENDIAS EHC Needs Assessment Harrow SENDIAS Health Factsheet Harrow SENDIAS information for young people Harrow SENDIAS Our Service Harrow SENDIAS Personal Budget Harrow SENDIAS Confidentiality Harrow SENDIAS EHCP […]

• Alex’s top tips for talking about Mental Health

  Family Action’s Fundraising Officer Alex, shares her experience and tips around her mental health family monster, as part of our series of blogs promoting positive mental health in the workplace and our Time to Change Employer Pledge. Let’s talk about mental health When I was a teenager, there was little talk of mental health. I […]

• Launching the ESCAPE Discovery Garden

  Project leader Rhonda, discusses what starting up the ESCAPE Discovery Garden has been like. I took receipt of the ESCAPE Discovery Garden on 1st April 2019 and on that day, the project looked very much like a large patch of weeds, a dilapidated bus and of course, being an English garden in April, it was […]

• A Dad’s story: family monsters and feeling like we don’t have enough time together

  Father’s Day is here but it’s worth remembering that although being a parent is incredibly rewarding it can be hard to juggle all of life’s responsibilities. Even when we succeed in doing so the experience can be draining. Here one father tells us how his unusual career impacts on the life of his family, and […]

• Catherine’s story: how I faced depression and my mental health family monsters

  Family Action Learning and Development Coordinator, Catherine shares her mental health family monster as part of our series of blogs promoting positive mental health in the workplace and our Time to Change Employer Pledge. I’m not sure that I can pinpoint when I started to experience mental health issues. As a child and teenager I […]

• How to manage exam pressure and your family monsters

  We caught up with a group of young carers recently who shared with us their insight into juggling exam pressures whilst caring for loved ones too. Students and schoolchildren all over the country are currently busy revising for their summer exams. It can be very stressful for all of them, but for a young person […]

• Jade’s story: why it’s important to talk about your family monsters

  Blogger, Jade shares her experience of caring for her niece and nephew as a Special Guardian and why it’s important to face our family monsters by talking about them, whatever your family looks like. Having important conversations is something that all families can find difficult. Every family encounters conversations that they might prefer to ignore. […]

• Motivating students to eat a healthy breakfast

  We look at how our National School Breakfast Programme and an Aston Villa footballer are inspiring secondary school students to see the value of eating a nutritious breakfast. The National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) has been providing the students of Turves Green Girls’ School with a free breakfast since November last year. The school previously […]

• Leah’s story: how I managed my mental health family monster and my job

  Administrator, Leah shares her own mental health family monster as part of our series of blogs celebrating Family Action’s commitment to promoting positive mental health in the workplace and our Time to Change Employer Pledge. Prior to the birth of my daughter, Ivy, in 2015 I did not have any experience with family monsters like […]

• Fiona’s story: my mental health family monster and work

  Early Years Coordinator, Fiona shares her own personal mental health experience as part of our series of blogs celebrating Family Action’s commitment to promoting positive mental health in the workplace and our Time to Change Employer Pledge. When did I first realise that there was something wrong? That would be the day I was listening […]

• Thank you for joining Friends of the Family

  Thank you and welcome to Friends of the Family, Family Action’s dedicated group of dedicated supporters. Together your considerable contributions to our work allow us to innovate to ensure families in crisis are supported in the most effective way. We look forward to updating you on your support, and if you have any questions please […]

• Thank you for your donation

  Thank you for your donation to Family Action. Through the Family Monsters Project, we are raising awareness of family pressures. Your donation will help families who need it get the support they need. This means no family has to fight their monsters alone.

• Thank you for your donation

  Thank you so much for your donation to Family Action’s Off Centre service. Your support will help us support more young people in Hackney facing mental health difficulties. Read more about Off Centre here.

• Thank you for your support

  Thank you for your donation to Family Action. Your generous support will help us be there for every family facing crisis and trauma.

• Getting smart with your energy

  Around 4 million UK households are in fuel poverty, unable to afford to live in a warm, dry home. (NEA website: www.nea.org.uk) In 2018 Family Action’s Holiday Hub team co-ordinated a pilot energy project entitled Getting Smart with your Energy. The project, which was funded by Smart Energy GB, aimed to help people: feel more […]

• The Family Monsters Garden

  Gardening has incredible powers for our wellbeing, especially for those experiencing serious and life altering mental health problems. “It is no exaggeration to say that his life was transformed. And not just his life, the whole family has been lifted in spirit by his placement. From being a withdrawn and lonely young man William has […]

• Green therapy for mental health and wellbeing

  As the Chelsea Flower Show approaches and our Family Monsters Garden is unveiled we look at the role of our ESCAPE community allotment service on the project and how gardening can be a great way to manage your mental health family monsters Mental illness comes in many shapes and forms and is a family monster […]

• Holiday Food and Fun

  Holiday Food and Fun The London Borough of Croydon and Family Action received funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to co-ordinate free holiday food and activities programmes during the 2019 summer holidays. The scheme, entitled Holiday Food and Fun, aimed to help children (particularly those on free school meals) and, where appropriate, their parents: […]

• Leaving the care system and having a mentor

  One year ago, our Friendship Works service ran the first training weekend for Care Leaver Mentors.  David, one of the volunteers who attended that weekend, writes about his experiences as a mentor to a young man who recently left the care system. My wife has been a mentor to a young girl through Friendship Works […]

• We’re officially 150 years old!

  Today we’re celebrating our official 150 year anniversary read on to hear from our Chief Executive, David Holmes, CBE, about being Family Action’s 150 years. Exactly 150 years ago today on the 29 April 1869, Family Action convened its first meeting in London, chaired by our founder Octavia Hill. I wonder if Octavia Hill and […]

• The centre piece of our garden: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019

  Our landscape designer Alistair explains the centre piece, of our Family Monsters Garden, which contributes towards getting families to open up about their family monsters and start a conversation. Read on to find out about the bench, water pool and Scottish beach cobbles explained by Alistair below. As Family Action has discovered many families face pressures […]

• Families Together Leeds

  Families Together Leeds Family Action Families Together Leeds service is commissioned by Leeds City Council to provide family support for children and families across Leeds. Referrals are accepted into the service via Leeds City Council’s family support allocations panel. Our Family Support Workers: work with families across the city of Leeds talk with families to […]

• The trees in our garden: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019

  Family Monsters Garden designer and idverde Landscape Architect Alistair Bayford looks at the trees being used in our garden at Chelsea and the symbolism of each species. The trees in the Family Monsters Garden are very symbolic and carry a great deal of meaning within the garden’s concept. They represent the generations in our families. […]

• A Mum’s story: the helping hand I needed

  A mother of three shares how she has managed her family pressures and how our Perinatal Support service gave her the helping hand she needed. It’s not always easy becoming a mum and it isn’t just becoming a mum for the first time that can seem very daunting. For me it was my third time. […]

• A daughter’s story: my number one mum – mental illness and all…

  A daughter shares her experience of having a bipolar mum who is still her number one It’s a funny thing, when the mother-daughter roles reverse, but sometimes that’s the bipolar way. There’s no script when it comes to mental health, but whoever plays ‘mum’, we’re facing our Family Monsters together. Let me introduce you to […]

• A daughter’s story: when mum isn’t around

  As Mother’s Day approaches a daughter who’s mum is sadly no longer around shares what the day means to her and the memories she has of her mum. Mother’s Day is so often sold to us as these quaint scenes; kids making their mum breakfast in bed, adorable homemade cards, and “Best Mum Ever!” mugs. […]

• The steel structure behind our Family Monsters Garden at Chelsea

  idverde landscape architect and our Family Monsters Garden designer, Alistair Bayford discusses the challenges of a “no dig” garden at Chelsea and how we are using weathered steel as its framework.  Our garden relies on the use of a corten steel structure. Corten steel is weathered steel which we have chosen for its longevity and […]

• Sarah Jarman’s story: the perfect mum?

  Selfish Mother blogger Sarah Jarman shares her experience of being a mum and the pressure to be perfect as part of our Mothers’ Day blog series. Mother’s Day is approaching, I’m certain it will get to the stage where my kids won’t bother with it, but currently; young, innocent, and with me still on a […]

• Our National School Breakfast Programme Hits 1775 Target!

  We are delighted to say that the National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) has reached the recruitment target of 1,775 schools set by the Department for Education. This means that by the beginning of the Summer Term over 250,000 more schoolchildren will be starting lessons with a healthy breakfast inside them, settled and ready to learn. […]

• PAC-UK

  Our PAC-UK service is the largest independent adoption agency in the UK. With bases in Leeds, Liverpool and London PAC-UK has been reaching out to individuals, families and professionals from the Scottish borders to the south coast for 38 years. Entering adoption, Special Guardianship or another permanent placement is an important step forward in a […]

• The family monster that is sleep

  We’re all constantly tired or definitely know someone who is – it’s a very common family monsters indeed. So we thought, why not give you some tips on how to tackle the monster most of us share? Read Connor’s top tips below: How to get better sleep Sleep problems are common, most people experience difficulties […]

• Building Brighter Futures with Family Action

  We know that families come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter how you define your family, when we have the support of those who love us we’re better able to manage the challenges life brings.  At Family Action, we believe in building stronger families, giving families the tools they need to manage the […]

• Building Brighter Futures with Family Action

  We know that families come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter how you define your family, when we have the support of those who love us we’re better able to manage the challenges life brings.  At Family Action, we believe in building stronger families, giving families the tools they need to manage the […]

• Building Brighter Futures with Family Action

  We know that families come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter how you define your family, when we have the support of those who love us we’re better able to manage the challenges life brings.  At Family Action, we believe in building stronger families, giving families the tools they need to manage the […]

• Building Brighter Futures with Family Action

  We know that families come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter how you define your family, when we have the support of those who love us we’re better able to manage the challenges life brings.  At Family Action, we believe in building stronger families, giving families the tools they need to manage the […]

• Alistair’s story: sharing his family monster and the inspiration behind our garden at Chelsea

  Alistair our Family Monsters Garden designer, shares his own family monster and what inspired him to get involved with our project. When idverde was first approached about exhibiting a garden with Family Action at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and I heard about what the charity did, I had no hesitation. I wanted to show my […]

• Protected: Active Families Information and Resources – Medway

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• Protected: Active Families Information and Resources – Durham

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• National Apprenticeship Week 2019 – Family Action’s Apprentice

  Digital Marketing Apprentice, Beth gives an insight into her time at Family Action and what it’s like to be an apprentice after joining the organisation in October 2018, as well as her top apprentice tips. So it’s National Apprenticeship Week, something that has never really meant anything to me until this year but how did I […]

• Planting a Family Monsters Garden: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019

  Our Family Monsters garden, was designed by idverde’s Alistair Bayford, who talks about his visit our flowers supplier – in instalment number 3 to his series of blogs, in the lead up to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019. This is the one thing that has the potential to go wrong. Dealing with a living […]

• The monsters in our garden: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019

  Landscape architect and Family Monsters garden designer, Alistair Bayford discusses family monsters in the second of a series of articles exploring the road to our garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019 We’ve now revealed the hidden identity of our Chelsea Flower Show garden after the launch of #MyFamilyMonsters campaign in January and my […]

• Angela’s story: how a mum, tackled her family monsters

  As part of the Family Monster Project we’re encouraging people to share their family pressures. Here’s the story of one Mum, Angela, sharing how her and her daughter tackled their pressures. I first heard about Family Action last year after going to my daughter’s school for help with her behaviour. At the time I was really struggling […]

• Chelsea Flower Show with garden designer Alistair Bayford

  Here, Alistair Bayford – our Landscape Architect for our RHS Chelsea Flower Show – talks about our garden’s concept, in the first of our series of blogs in the lead up to the show. We’re now 109 days away from the gates opening at the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show and our Family Monsters Garden […]

• FamilyLine a free out of hours helpline for families

  FamilyLine is a free digital helpline service provided by Family Action, for anyone 18+.   FamilyLine was designed to offer support for families to prevent challenges from reaching crisis point and provide an early intervention, via text, phone or email.  It’s available to support any family seven days a week and during the evening and […]

• Duchess of Cambridge launches FamilyLine

  Duchess of Cambridge visits Family Action to launch FamilyLine and help get families talking about their pressures. Today the Duchess of Cambridge visited Family Action to launch FamilyLine, a new confidential helpline for families, after research by the national charity found family members want to talk about problems but don’t always know who to turn to. […]

• Getting ready for the Duchess of Cambridge’s visit

  Tomorrow the Duchess of Cambridge is visiting Family Action to launch our FamilyLine, a new confidential helpline for families. FamilyLine has been set up for any family member who is struggling with any aspect of family life, such as parenting challenges, family conflict, relationship difficulties or mental health and wellbeing. The service aims to provide […]

• Lambeth Participation and Engagement Service (PES)

  Family Action’s Lambeth PES Service supports parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Lambeth. Find out more about Lambeth’s SEND Local Offer. Our work Information and Advice We offer support with issues such as: understanding your child’s condition and circumstances navigating the SEND system workshops, coffee mornings and […]

• Gainsborough WellFamily Service, Lincolnshire

  The Family Action Gainsborough WellFamily service is funded by the local clinical commissioning group and covers GP surgeries in and around the Gainsborough area. We seek to empower people and communities to address their issues and challenges with practical support through a holistic person-centred assessment, advice and signposting to community and statutory services. Our aim […]

• Useful links for young people

  Young People: Preparing for Adulthood – the project works with the Department for Education and its partners to ensure that young people with SEND achieve paid employment, independent living and housing options, good health, friendships, relationships and community inclusion as they move into adulthood. IASSN for children and young people Anti- bullying Alliance: For children […]

• A Mum’s story: Facing your family monsters

  A mum shares how one of our Perinatal Support Services and especially how her support worker *Jade has helped her and her family… “My support worker has helped me in so many ways; my self esteem, my confidence as a mum and has helped me to have more fun and enjoy my family”. I am […]

• National School Breakfast Programme Best Practice Templates

  While delivering the Department for Education’s National School Breakfast Programme our schools often request information that can help them make their breakast as good as it can be, as well as make innovative suggestions regarding what’s already working. Here we collect some of this guidance into bite sized chunks that you can download to help […]

• The school that… was popular right out of the gate

  We look at how Wallington Primary Academy have been getting on as part of our National School Breakfast Programme, making sure children aren’t too hungry to learn Wallington Primary Academy had not had great attendance at breakfast clubs in the past – with the existing paid club attracting just three members. The Surrey school knew that […]

• The school that… was our breakfast programme’s first special school.

  We speak to Bluebell Park school to find out how our National School Breakfast Programme has been adapted to work in the very first special school we recruited Bluebell Park has around 200 students, is one of the largest schools in the North West and is located in one of the most economically deprived areas […]

• Why Dental Health Matters – The Tooth, and Nothing but the Tooth!

  We find out more about how schools delivering breakfast, such as those we support under the National School Breakfast Programme, can do more to support dental health Our National School Breakfast Programme is all about ensuring children have the best start to each day and this means ensuring that all the foods we provide are […]

• Launching the Family Monsters Project – celebrating 150 years of Family Action

  Our Chief Executive David Holmes CBE talks about the Family Monsters Project and what we have in store this, our 150th year supporting families to face their monsters This is such a big year for Family Action as we are celebrating our 150th Anniversary throughout 2019! When I reflect on Family Action’s history I am […]

• Fundraise

  We all know that it can be tough to face your family monsters alone. You can help us be there for all families, to provide the practical and emotional support needed when times are hard. There are endless ways to get involved, so whatever you want to do – you’ll be helping support families across […]

• Managing challenging behaviour

  Managing challenging behaviour in children  Different children react differently to the family monsters and experiences within their lives. Often one child may have no side effects or developments in behaviour whilst another may experience behavioural changes. Some children may have had difficult experiences during their early years and some might have feelings of loss, suffered […]

• Managing the impact of domestic violence

  Managing the impact of domestic violence  The impact of domestic violence and/or abuse on a family can be devastating and is a challenge experienced by families from all backgrounds. Exposure to or being the victim of domestic violence can be as damaging for a young person as experiencing it first-hand. Domestic violence includes psychological, physical, […]

• Schools and education

  Schools and education  Schools can play a major role in your child’s life. They can help them deal with the difficulties they have faced and equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive. But, schools also provide other worries to you and your child, so it’s important to know how to choose […]

• Starting a conversation

  Starting a conversation with your child Talking to your child can be difficult but it is a great way to build on relationships and avoid family monsters becoming unmanageable. Sometimes, children just need to talk about their family monsters in order to get past them. For a lot of children, just knowing that they have […]

• Family relationships

  Family relationships Becoming a Parent Becoming a parent can have a huge impact on your personal relationships and family dynamics, which can often become complicated. It is important you are aware of these changes and understand they are normal, to stop them from becoming unmanageable family monsters. It will take time for things to settle […]

• Managing family change

  Managing family change All families go through changes but transitioning between different stages in your family’s life can often feel difficult or overwhelming. Families experience a number of changes in life, from moving to a new home to starting children at a new school or watching them become adults and fly the nest. These changes […]

• Supporting children with learning disabilities

  Supporting children with learning disabilities  The pressures of supporting a child with a learning disability or physical or sensory impairment can be hard to manage. These family monsters can often build and become overwhelming. Many parents struggle to know what support is available for their child and find it hard to meet people with similar […]

• Supporting children with health needs

  Supporting children with health needs Managing the physical and emotional needs of your child with a long-term health condition can be challenging, particularly when you’re are managing other Family Monsters too. Children with common chronic health conditions including diabetes, epilepsy and asthma are twice as likely to suffer from emotional problems especially if their condition […]

• Staying healthy

  Staying healthy Family monsters can have a real impact on your physical and mental health if not managed. The everyday challenges that all families face can mean it’s hard to find time to do things you enjoy and make you happy as well as staying healthy. Parents often feel all their attention needs to be […]

• Your support network

  Your support network Having a strong support network in place to share your family monsters with can make a big difference to your health and wellbeing. Knowing that you have people to rely on and that you don’t need to carry all the strain on your own is really important. It’s important that you let […]

• RHS Chelsea Flower Show

  We’re excited to be working with idverde and Landscape Architect Alistair Bayford, on our very own artisan garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Our Norfolk allotment and orchard community project, ESCAPE, are over the moon to be helping idverde’s Alistair to create a unique garden for families at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019. The Swaffham based […]

• Donate to PAC-UK

  Your support helps to ensure those affected by adoption and other forms of permanence are able to live their lives to the full, by helping PAC-UK to provide the tailored support children, as well as adoptive and birth families, need to navigate the challenges of this journey. You can start a regular gift to PAC-UK […]

• Latest news

  Here’s what’s going on…

• Join the conversation

  All families face pressures at times. These family monsters can grow and become overwhelming if we don’t talk about them. They are a normal part of family life but they don’t have to scare us. If we face our family monsters, bring them into the open, they get smaller and easier to cope with. That’s […]

• Family Monsters

  For 150 years, Family Action have been working to relieve the everyday struggles, big and small, faced by every family. But we’ve noticed that, like monsters, these pressures sometimes hide in the dark and grow when we don’t talk about them. That is why, to mark our 150th anniversary, we are launching the Family Monsters […]

• Family Christmas Tips

  With 10 days to go until Christmas we share with you some top tips each day to try and make the family festivities that bit more manageable. Behind all the mince pies, tinsel and John Lewis adverts, Christmas can be a particular stressful time for some people and their families. Whether it is time or […]

• Wiltshire Community Support and Outreach Services (Mill Race)

  Wiltshire Community Support and Outreach Services provides a range of fun day activities and learning opportunities for people over 18 with a learning disability and/or autism. The service is well established within the local community and is dedicated to helping people improve their independence and well being. The service aims to: Provide a safe, caring, […]

• Active Families

  Family Action has been awarded National Lottery funding from Sport England to help parents and carers in Medway in Kent and Bishop Auckland in County Durham get active with their children. The fund is a key part of Sport England’s focus on helping young people have an enjoyable experience of sport and physical activity so […]

• 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence 2018

  On the 25th November, we recognised White Ribbon Day and international Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence. Hi, I’m Tracy Foster the National Domestic Violence and Abuse Coordinator here at Family Action. I have worked within the domestic violence and abuse field for […]

• Press / Media

  Welcome to the Family Action media centre. Here you can read our latest media statements and download our press releases. Need a comment or point of view on a story you’re working on? We can provide experts who are able to speak about a range of topics related to our work with vulnerable families. If […]

• Post Sexual Abuse (PSA) Service

  Who we are The PSA Service, based in Leicester, provides specialist trauma informed and attachment focused social work interventions for children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse. Our service is delivered by social workers and focuses upon addressing trauma distress and symptoms, and family functioning. Our work is based upon exploring the context […]

• Friendship Works – Care leavers first year

  After a huge amount of success working with children in care, our Friendship Works service is drawing on 40 years’ experience of delivering long term mentoring, to support young adults leaving the care system. Many of the care leavers we work with were born into families where there was extreme domestic violence or excessive drug […]

• Peterborough – Carolling & Crumpets Show

  John Kirkpatrick’s Carolling & Crumpets Show in aid of our Peterborough services. An unforgettable solo performer John Kirkpatrick, former member of Steeleye Span and a legend in Folk music has a treat for you! Staring in his very own Christmas concert, ‘John Kirkpatrick – Carolling & Crumpets show’ at Stamford Arts Centre, Peterborough on 14th December. […]

• Our Social Prescribing Evaluation

  Our Social Prescribing in Secondary Care Pilot in Hackney helped users to improve their wellbeing, health, and social welfare by connecting them with others and the community. The pilot service, which was commissioned by Healthy London Partnership, ran from December 2017 to the end of June 2018 at the Homerton University Hospital. The service provided […]

• Together At Christmas – Toy Appeal

  Help give a child in your local area a happier and brighter Christmas, by joining our Toy Appeal! Christmas is a magical time for many of us, as we are able to spend time with family and spoil our loved ones. However, every year there are thousands of families who simply do not have the […]

• Islington Useful Links and Downloads

  Links Islington Council’s Local Offer – Sets out the services and support available in Islington for children and young people under the age of 25 with special educational needs and those who are disabled. Council for Disabled Children – An umbrella body for the disabled children’s sector. They have an online library of resources about disability policy […]

• Children’s Minister Visits National School Breakfast Programme

  One of our National School Breakfast schools had a very special visitor recently! Children and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi, stopped by at St Mary’s RC Primary School, in Wandsworth, for a hearty breakfast with some very enthusiastic children. The minister also got the chance to see some of the school’s innovations designed to further boost […]

• Race to the King

  Race to the King is the stunning South Downs walk, jog or run, taking you from Arundel to the magnificent Winchester Cathedral! Along the stunning South Downs Way, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the Ancient Weald of Southern England and the Queen Elizabeth Country Park. This is a challenge for all, inclusive of all ages, […]

• Celebrating Black History Month – Sean O’Callaghan

  Family Action is proud of the diversity we have within our organisation and enjoyed celebrating and showcasing this during Black History Month. Over the last few weeks on this page, we have been uploading stories and personal experiences from various members of staff. We hope you enjoyed them. See the final one below, from our […]

• 500 schools and counting join our National School Breakfast Programme

  Our National School Breakfast Programme, working with schools in disadvantaged communities across the country to improve access to healthy breakfasts and learning recruits its 500th school to the programme. It’s a big day for breakfast! Today our National School Breakfast Programme recruited its 500th school. This is a significant milestone for the Department for Education-funded programme, […]

• Our Special Guardianship Support Service – A Support Worker’s insight

  How was your Halloween night? Halloween may be scary, but contacting our Special Guardianship Support Service doesn’t have to be. Read Laura’s blog. Hi, I’m Laura and I’m a Digital and Telephone Support Worker for Family Action’s Special Guardianship Support Service. Sometimes taking the first step to get support can be a bit frightening. I’m […]

• Solihull SENDIAS SEND Information and Downloads

  Solihull SENDIAS Leaflets Sendias service leaflet SEN Support and School Meetings EHC process EHC Needs Assessments Choosing a school Specify & Quantify EHCP Annual Reviews Prep for Adulthood Transtion Mediation Solihull SENDIAS Policies and Processes Accessibility for Children and Young People Confidentiality Data Protection Policy Solihull SENDIAS GDPR Consent Form Impartiality Policy Referral and exit […]

• Sarah-Louise’s Story: what mentoring means this National Mentoring Day

  For National Mentoring Day on 27th October, Sarah-Louise, a volunteer mentor with our Friendship Works service, reflected on what mentoring means to her. Today is National Mentoring Day – and since mentoring is one of the few topics other than cats and politics that is close to my heart – I’ve decided to write about […]

• Celebrating Black History Month 2018 – Fola Bello

  We are proud of the diversity we have within our organisation and would like to showcase and celebrate this during Black History Month. Over the next four weeks we will be sharing stories and personal experiences from various members of staff. Growing up in Nigeria was interesting, it was fun and instilled values of hard […]

• Charlie Story: Volunteering in the 21st century

  We hear from Charlie, a Volunteer Befriender with our National Parent Support Service discussing why she volunteers her time and the difference you can make by volunteering virtually. I have been married for nearly eight years and have two children aged nine and three, so I have my hands full! I have many interests, but […]

• Donate to Off Centre

  By supporting Off Centre you will help us provide young people in Hackney with the emotional and practical support they need to take control of their mental health and overcome the challenges they face. Donate today or set up a regular gift and help us empower young people to live happier and safer lives.

• Chemistry Cooks!

  The Chemistry Cooks! project aimed to increase interest and engagement in chemistry among children and their parents/carers, as well as helping to build the confidence of community leaders to deliver food chemistry-focused sessions for families in their local area. In summer 2018, 180 children and families took part in eight family fundays in the Midlands and the […]

• Celebrating Black History Month 2018 – Dean Davis

  We are proud of the diversity we have within our organisation and would like to showcase and celebrate this during Black History Month. Over the next four weeks we will be sharing stories and personal experiences from various members of staff. My name is Dean Davis and I am a caseworker with Friendship Works, a […]

• Rock-it!

  Family Action’s Rock it! project was funded through a grant by the Institute of Physics. The project aimed to increase awareness and interest in physics among families through rocket-themed fundays, and to develop the skills and confidence of families to communicate about physics.  A physicist from Warwick University’s community outreach team supported Family Action’s Holiday Hub Co-ordinator […]

• Families, Food and Fun

  The Families, Food and Fun programme, co-ordinated by Family Action, took place during the Summer 2018 holidays. Funded by the Department for Education (DfE), the programme offered children AND their parents/carers: free healthy meals and snacks enrichment activities (eg music, drama, crafts) physical activities food-related activities (eg cooking, budgeting) educational trips in the local community signposting […]

• Food and Activities

  “School holidays can be particular pressure points for some families because of increased costs (such as food and childcare) and reduced incomes. For some children that can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children from disadvantaged families: less likely to access organised out-of-school activities more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition […]

• Celebrating Black History Month 2018 – Funke Fatunla

  We are proud of the diversity we have within our organisation and would like to showcase and celebrate this during Black History Month. Over the next four weeks we will be sharing stories and personal experiences from various members of staff. My story began as a young girl in my father’s commodity business in Nigeria […]

• Joshua’s story: A child in need of a mentor

  Our London mentoring service, Friendship Works currently has 48 children in Lambeth and other London boroughs who are waiting for a mentor. To get an insight into the real challenges these children face caseworker Debbie has bought together some of the real experiences of children our mentors support, retold through the eyes of “Joshua”. I’m […]

• Remember a Charity Week 2018

  Its Remember a Charity Week this week and our Fundraising Development Manager, Emma is looking at what we have in store and how leaving a gift in your will can help us build a brighter future for families. Remember a Charity showcases how leaving a gift in your Will can help charities like Family Action […]

• Stories from this summer

  In Wales families from our Family Support service enjoyed a day at the beach which included a treasure hunt and a healthy picnic. A space was also rented for families to do activities such as cake decorating and arts and crafts. “Lovely place next to the beach” In Southend our Children’s Centres brought the beach […]

• Back to School Time

  It’s back to school time again and our London mentoring service, Friendship Works is looking at how this and other changes and transitions in life can impact children and young people who face additional challenges. “Back to School” is a familiar ring at this time of year. It’s a time of change and new beginnings. […]

• Samantha’s story: becoming a special guardian

  Family Action support worker, Samantha discusses her own experience as a prospective special guardian and looks at the difference our Special Guardian Support Service can make. In my quest to find a new job I stumbled across Family Action’s Special Guardian Support Service website, I then found the vacancy for the support worker position. The […]

• The difference mentoring and friendship makes

  Our London youth mentoring service, Friendship Works gears up to celebrate International Friendship Day and looks at the importance of stable, reliable role models in the lives of young people and why friendships are needed. Friendship Works – it’s in the name. Our model of mentoring is all about providing friendship to children and young […]

• Celebrating excellence

  Family Action Chair of Trustees,  Mary Fulton discusses our recent Staff Recognition Awards and looks at the dedication of our staff and volunteers across the organisation. A room full of can do attitudes and a tangible commitment to excellence, mutual respect and people focus were all on display at Family Action’s recent Staff Recognition Awards. The […]

• National School Breakfast Programme Privacy Notice

  Family Action is a registered charity registered with the Charity Commission (Charity number 264713) and will be the data controller for all data processing activities covered in this notice. Our Commitment Family Action is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your right to privacy and security. We want you to be clear about […]

• Services Privacy Notice

  This Privacy Notice is for users of all Family Action services. Services that have separate, specific Privacy Notices and the applicable Notices can be found here: National Schools Breakfast Programme Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service (PARCS) City and Hackney Neighbourhoods MDT About Us Family Action is a registered charity (Charity number 264713) referred to […]

• Fundraising and Marketing Privacy Notice

  Family Action is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your wishes and we want you to be confident that we are.  We aim to be clear about when we collect your data and not do anything you would not reasonably expect us to do with your personal data.  This policy is to help […]

• Rawa’s story: volunteering from home with FamilyLine

  Volunteer, Rawa shares why she chose to volunteer with Family Action and our new Digital Parent Support service and explains her role and the training and support she has received. I decided to become a volunteer because I had a very long career break to have a family. I was a paralegal and I have […]

• Organisation and structure

  Our organisation has a long history of being managed and governed effectively by our trustees, patrons and staff. We have a culture of openness and transparency that is present within everything we do.

• Our impact

  We are committed to ensuring our services have a lasting and positive impact on the lives of the children, young people and families we support. It’s vital that we measure the impact we have. It ensures we effectively assess not only the value of our support, but the difference it makes to people’s lives. More […]

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• Inclusive Childcare in Schools

  Family Action was funded by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2015-16 to support school-based early years settings to develop more inclusive childcare provision for 0-5s with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Research and evaluation Developing High-Quality Inclusive Practices Developing High-Quality Inclusive Practices (Family and Childcare Trust/Family Action, 2016). This report highlights the experiences of school-based childcare settings supported by […]

• Welcome to Our Voices

  Our Chief Executive, David Holmes CBE introduces our new blog and looks at how communication and technology have changed at Family Action. Welcome to our new Family Action blog “Our Voices”.  The aim of “Our Voices” is to give an insight into our work and the support offered by our wide range of services, together […]

• Learning Exchange: Information for Schools

  Family Action has received a number of grants from the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver projects to support schools and school-based childcare providers. Within these website pages we share information and resources for schools (eg toolkits, case studies) from recent DfE-funded projects.

• Wraparound Childcare in Schools

  Family Action was funded by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2013-15 to support schools to develop affordable and flexible childcare (breakfast, after-school and holiday provision) on a school site. Research and evaluation Childcare_in_Schools for_2-4 Year Olds in Wigan and Bolton Childcare in Schools for 2–4 year olds in Wigan and Bolton (Duncan Lugton, Family […]

• Leroy’s Story

  Leroy was eleven when he was referred to Friendship Works by his mother. She recognised that her health problems had resulted in Leroy taking on a lot of caring responsibilities in the home. This, together with the fact that it was hard for her to take him out of the house, had led to Leroy […]

• Adoption Support Resources

  Family Action’s East Midlands Adoption Support Service (EMASS) was funded by the Department for Education (DfE) from 2016 to 2018. The EMASS team worked in partnership with a number of local authorities and voluntary sector organisations to ensure adopted children and those with attachment-based difficulties and their families in the East Midlands received the support they […]

• Useful links

  Attention Deficit Disorder ADDISS – information and support: www.addiss.co.uk Angelman Syndrome Angelman Syndrome Support Education and Research Trust – information, helpline, newsletter: http://angelmanuk.org/ Autism and Asperger Syndrome Ambitious about Autism – services, awareness-raising, campaigns: www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/page/index.cfm Anna Kennedy Online – offers information, training and advice, and supports families with autism: www.annakennedyonline.com Curly Hair Project – information, support, […]

• Jargon buster

  Age Weighted Pupil Unit (AWPU) This refers to the amount schools are given for each pupil on their school roll, irrespective whether they have a SEND. Annual Review Local authorities have to carry out a review of each EHC Plan at least once in every 12 months. (Also called Transfer Review?) Children and Families Act […]

• FAQ

  Who should I approach if I need support? If your child is in an early years, school or FE setting, you should contact the SENCO there (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator). Otherwise, contact your local authority and they will put you in contact with your local IAS team. What support can I expect to receive for […]

• Becoming an adult

  Education, employment and training As your child approaches adulthood, it will become increasingly important to consider issues such as the further/higher education, employment, training and volunteering opportunities available for your child, and what support and funding is available. Your local SENDIAS team can discuss different options available locally and how you can access these. They’ll […]

• Survival strategies

  Support Being a parent or carer of a child with SEND can be tiring, stressful and bewildering, but there is help available, for instance: You might also find it useful to contact a helpline, or receive emotional support from a befriender or counsellor. Contact Family Action’s FamilyLine. Perhaps join an online or face-to-face parent/carer support […]

• Leisure

  Short breaks Short breaks could include childcare, a Saturday or after school club, a residential holiday for you and your family, or a holiday scheme. Depending on the type of short break you are looking for, these can offer a chance for the family to enjoy some fun time together, an opportunity for your child […]

• Help with daily life

  Resources Specialist equipment and adaptations to the house can make a real difference to the life of your child and your whole family. Ask your social worker or SENDIAS team for information on getting adaptations made to your home (eg grants from the council, charities). They can also give you some guidance on how to […]

• Money

  Disability Living Allowance (DLA) DLA is often the first benefit which parents claim – it’s not means tested and is paid every month. There are two elements to DLA, care and mobility, so consider whether you will need to apply for which element or both, for instance. For more information on DLA, visit Citizens Advice. […]

• Education

  Duty of Local Authority Your child may have difficulties with reading, they may have a diagnosis of autism, they may find it hard to socialise and make friends, or they may have hearing difficulties. Whatever their special educational need or disability, your Local Authority has a duty to ensure that your child can reach their educational […]

• Health

  Duty of Local Authority Many children with SEND will also have health needs, and every Local Authority has a duty to ensure that appropriate health care is provided to children and young people with SEND. If you feel your child may have additional health needs, make an appointment to see your GP in the first instance. […]

• SEND information for parents and carers

  Special education needs and disabilities (SEND) information for parents can often be hard to find or difficult to access. To help parents and carers we have bought together some useful national information on key topics below. The information below is grouped into categories that the SENDIAS service in your local area would be able to help […]

• Off Centre

  Off Centre is a counselling, art therapy, advice and information service for young people aged 16-25 in City & Hackney. The services we offer are designed to help young people take greater control over their lives. We offer a range of support, from 1-2-1 counselling and art therapy to advice and key-working. We also run […]

• Mentoring

  Mentoring is a vital part of the support we provide to children, young people and families at Family Action. Volunteer mentors work in different ways with a number of our services however all are focused on building a positive, trusting and supportive relationship with a young person. Find out more about how our services use […]

• BAND

  BAND has over 30 years’ experience of supporting people with lived experience of a mental health condition. We work to improve the quality of their lives using Recovery Focused Approaches. With co-production at the heart of all we do, we build close relationships with the people who come to BAND. As a result, we are […]

• SENDIAS News

  End of Statements After 1 April 2018 the old law relating to Statements will no longer apply and instead be replaced by the new law in relation to EHC Plans.However, if your child/you still have a Statement, don’t worry. Local authorities must ensure that an EHC needs assessment takes place ‘as soon as is reasonably […]

• Sandwell Services

  Family Action supports families across the Sandwell area in lots of different ways. Find out more about our latest projects below. Helping Hands Helping Hands in Sandwell is a social prescribing project which trains volunteers as Health Champions to support families going through diagnosis of ADHD or ASD with their children. As well as providing […]

• 6. Keep on going

  As January came to an end my focus was on completing Phase 3 and getting to grips with Phase 4 which is essentially practicing for the actual race weekend. Week 14 on the plan went well on paper; I hit 60 miles in the week, but it took it’s toll on me. Every run felt […]

• Donate today

  Thank you for supporting Family Action. Thousands of families are in need of support throughout the country — we’re there when they need it the most, supporting them to tackle complex problems like family breakdown, mental health issues and poverty. *After clicking “Click to Donate” please wait until you are taken to the thank you page […]

• January takes its grip

  The past couple of weeks have challenged me not in the running, but more in actually getting out and doing the training. As the mileage builds to over 55 miles per week the willingness to get out of bed and run those miles has dropped.  It’s been cold, it’s been windy and it’s been wet.  […]

• 2018 started much like 2017 finished – running! In effort to win the title of “Most Boring Person of the Year” I found myself going to bed on New Year’s Eve at 10.30 pm after only two glasses of wine in preparation for the New Year’s Day Parkrun!  I was that smug person at the […]

• Protected: Holiday Hub Members Area

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• Yorkshire Three Peaks

  A challenging hike to reach the three highest summit of the Yorkshire Dales. This region was shaped by glaciers many thousands of years ago, and there are plenty of geological landmarks – striking limestone outcrops and unusual rock formations – to pique our interest as youwalk. You will also see the famous Ribblehead Viaduct enroute, […]

• Weeks 8/9 – Happy New Year!

  Most people (none of whom have run 3 marathons in 3 days I hasten to add!) said that the week before and the week of Christmas would be the most problematic for me with the training. Fitting it around the social get-togethers, work client dinners, and visiting family 200 miles away would mess with my […]

• Week 7: Running through the cold!

  Last week was the first week in the plan that I didn’t overly enjoy. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate it but for the first time since I started I found myself dragging myself out of bed with a sigh.  I’m certain that the sudden drop in temperature had everything to do with this […]

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• FamilyLine

  We all feel overwhelmed at times. Family Line’s trained volunteers are here to listen. We can provide emotional support and practical guidance – whether you’re having a parenting issue or you’re feeling overwhelmed with the pressures of family life. We can signpost you to additional help if needed and help you think practically through problems. […]

• Registration Complete

  .Thank you for registering! We will be in touch shortly to confirm your place on the appeal and match you with a service if you’re buying gifts. Please don’t make payment for the registration fee until your place on the appeal is confirmed.

• Esme’s Story

  Esme can’t remember a time when her mother didn’t have a brain tumour – she was told at just three years old. It hadn’t had much of an impact at first – her mother had continued in her role as an occupational therapist, and Esme and older sister Anna enjoyed an idyllic childhood of ballet classes, […]

• Meet a Friendship Works Mentor

  Friendship Works has been matching volunteer mentors with children and young people facing disadvantage for over 40 years. During this time we have seen the amazingly positive and meaningful impact the volunteer scheme has on both mentees and mentors. Our mentors come from a range of diverse backgrounds and each has a unique story to tell. […]

• Election Fever in our Paston Funday Preschool!

  In line with June’s general election, one of our preschools in Peterborough tried its hand at a democratic vote of their own to introduce the children to some election customs – with a twist. Staff members created their own parties and crafted manifestos and policies they thought were sure to bag them the victory. Setting […]

• Young Carers Raise Awareness with a Song and Dance.

  Family Action supports young carers across the country all year round through our ten Young Carers services, so when it came to Carers Week, we knew it was time for something special. Two of our Young Carers services, in Newham and Islington and Camden, came together for an event on a sunny Saturday on Islington […]

• Our response to the Grenfell Fire

  In the early hours of the morning of the 14th June 2017 a horrific fire engulfed the 24 storey Grenfell Tower in West London. By mid morning Family Action had set up a Justgiving page to raise money for the families and individuals affected and within a fortnight we launched a financial grants programme. Our […]

• Peterborough Pre-Schools

  We have a number of pre-schools that operate across Peterborough. Click below to see our current prospectus. Prospectus To see all of our pre-schools in action click the button to go to our Facebook Group. Facebook Group   Find out more about your local Family Action Peterborough Pre-school.  

• Parallel London

  Family Action is dedicated to supporting families of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).  Our advice services offer confidential and impartial information, striving to ensure needs are met and barriers to accessing services are highlighted and addressed. We believe diversity is something to be celebrated, and have inclusivity at the heart of our work with young people with SEND. […]

• Lincolnshire Behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS)

  Lincolnshire Behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS) has been commissioned by Lincolnshire County Council.  We primarily work with Lincolnshire mainstream schools and academies to support pupils displaying distressed behaviour that is compromising their learning and school attendance, and/or the learning of their peers, and who are at risk of exclusion. Our aims To reduce the number […]

• Cycle India

  India offers a broad diversity of landscapes, people and wildlife, with an incredible mix of colourful cultures and a sense of history at every turn. On this trip you will travel to the desert state of Rajasthan, where our exciting ride takes you through an historic area known for its characteristic old forts, painted houses and […]

• Tough Mudder

    Tough Mudder is a 10-12 mile mud and obstacle course designed to drag you out of your comfort zone! It’s not about how fast you can cross the finish line. Rather, it’s a challenge that emphasizes teamwork, camaraderie, and accomplishing an amazing challenge whilst raising much needed funds for Family Action. This is the […]

• The Big Half

  Join our team in this brand new Half Marathon from the organisers of the London Marathon. The Big Half will take place in London on closed roads for the first time next March. The route will start at Tower Bridge and finish by The Cutty Sark in Greenwich, where you can join in the Big […]

• Manchester Half Marathon

  A fast and flat course, perfect for a first half! Get your own place and raise as much as you can for Family Action.  We will provide you with race and fundraising tips, a running vest and plenty of support up until the big day.  Please visit the official website to enter and then let us […]

• Planning Together for Children

  Planning Together for Children is a programme that promotes co-operative parenting by helping both parents understand the impact of separation and conflict on children. The programme is for parents who have been ordered to attend by the Family Courts, or who are attending before their hearing in agreement with their Cafcass officer. It encourages parents […]

• PAC-UK Special Guardianship Support Service

  Special guardianship provides an alternative legal route to permanence for children where adoption is not appropriate. Figures published by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) show that during 2015 a total of 5,386 children and young people were the subject of Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) made by the family courts in England and Wales, compared with […]

• Families Together

  The Families Together Project provides support to families facing multiple and complex needs including those living with mental ill health and/or experiencing domestic abuse, with a particular focus on supporting families in the perinatal period (the period leading up to and following the birth of a baby). The project supports families to overcome the challenges […]

• Bradford Services

  Our Work in Bradford Family Action offers a range of services across the Bradford District. We work in partnership with local and national organisations to meet the changing needs of children and families. Perinatal Support Service Trained volunteers provide peer support to families where a parent is struggling with their emotional health or wellbeing during pregnancy […]

• Friendship Works

  Referrals to our core service are closed, but care leavers referrals are still being accepted. please continue to check this page for when they are back open for our core service.   Our Friendship Works service has been providing volunteer mentors to children and young adults who have experienced childhood trauma or disrupted attachments for over […]

• Friendship Works

  Friendship Works is our flagship mentoring service supporting children and young people in London. Established in 1977, we have forty years of experience of creating and supporting positive friendships between young people in need of support and safe, reliable adult volunteers. Our young people, their parents, and our volunteer mentors all tell us that our […]

• Royal Parks Half

  Join Family Action in London’s favourite Half Marathon this Autumn! Put your legs to the test and help support families facing tough times across the country. The stunning 13.1 mile route takes in the capital’s world-famous landmarks on closed roads,  and four of London’s eight Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park […]

• Medway SENDIAS

  Medway Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information and Advice Support service (SENDIAS) provides a range of free and impartial help to parents/carers, children and young people. We hope to make children and young people with SEND more aware of what they’re entitled to, and the options available to them, and their parents and carers. Through […]

• Solihull SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) Information, Advice and Support Service

  About our service Our vision at Solihull SENDIAS, is that children and young people with SEND, and their parents/carers, will be  aware of their entitlement and the options available, and will be able to make informed decisions. Information, advice and support for children and young people with SEND and their parents/carers will be impartial, free […]

• Welfare Grants information

  IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON FUNDING AVAILABLE. PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION.  We currently have no funds left for Welfare grant applications under mental health and domestic abuse. We are still accepting applications for older people (60+) and for the Women’s Holiday Fund. Please do not apply under mental health or domestic abuse […]

• Islington SENDIAS

  Islington SENDias provide a SEND Advice line for parents and carers living in Islington staffed by IPSEA trained staff to provide high quality SEND advice at point of contact. Advice line hours: Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm Call: 0203 031 6651 Or email the advice line: [email protected] We aim to respond to your enquiry […]

• Training and Consultancy

  Following the forthcoming retirement of the two training managers, Nicky Probert and Kanu Patel, who have successfully run these services for many years, we have made the difficult decision to close this service in July 2021. However, Family Action’s Ofsted ‘outstanding’ rated adoption support agency PAC-UK offers a comprehensive annual training programme for parents/carers and […]

• Greenwich Fun Run

  On Sunday 21st August, join us in Charlton Park to celebrate Young Carers in Greenwich and take part in one of two running events! 5K Fun Run Are you aged 16 or over? Join our 5K route around Charlton Park and help raise money for activities for Young Carers. Registration costs £5 and includes a […]

• Regular donation – Friendship Works

  Thank you for supporting Friendship Works.

• Great Funday Bake Off

  Get your wooden spoons at the ready – it’s time to hold your own Bake Off! We’ve all seen the pro’s do it with Mary and Paul – now it’s time for your team to put your oven where your mouth is and accept the bake off challenge… How it works: Use our bake-off poster Pick themes […]

• Friendship Works

  Thank you for supporting Friendship Works

• Funday Week 2017

  Get your bunting ready and plan your Funday during our national week of fundraising and raising awareness In Family Action’s Funday Week from 7 to 13 April 2017, join one of our Fundays across the country, or host your own and help us raise money an awareness of the issues facing families today . Whether you’re a […]

• Donation Terms and Conditions

  If you have any questions about your donation, have made a donation in error or believe you need a refund please contact our Fundraising team on 0207 254 6251 or email [email protected]. Our fundraising promise: When you support us you can be sure of the following: • We will never sell your contact details to anyone • If […]

• Great Birmingham Run

  Join Family Action in the epic Great Birmingham Run, alongside live music through Birmingham’s greatest sights. The course takes in some of the city’s most iconic sights including the Bullring, the Cadbury World in Bournville and Edgbaston cricket ground. Live music from ‘bands on the run’ keep you motivated every step of the way and thousands […]

• South Coast Challenge

  Take on this beautiful day and night South Coast Challenge for Family Action! Starting in Eastbourne and walk the infamous Beachy Head, then pass through Seven Sisters Country Park and along the South Downs Way. Brighton mid-point, Devils Dyke, stunning views, ups & downs, sunset & sunrise all lie ahead before the Cathedral spire of historic Arundel comes […]

• Cheltenham on Trend

  Join the most glamourous Ladies and Gentlemen of the Cotswolds at Cheltenham on Trend! As featured in Cotswold Life, Cheltenham on Trend is a fabulous evening celebrating high end fashion in Cheltenham, to raise money for Family Action. Our catwalk and auction will bring you the best of fashion and luxury. Purchase tickets here or […]

• Cycle Vietnam to Cambodia

  This challenge will take you from Vietnamese Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City, through the rice-paddies and waterways of the beautiful Mekong Delta into Cambodia.  Cycle through beautiful rural landscapes dotted with ruins of ancient civilisations and small towns towards one of the most impressive sights in Southeast Asia, the Royal Temples of Angkor Wat. […]

• Great Wall of China

  Stretching 6000km in a dotted line across China, the Great Wall was begun in the 5th Century BC. As it snakes across the mountains it conjures up a sense of history which is difficult to grasp until you have had the opportunity to experience it. Our trek is very varied, as we pass through woodland […]

• Climb Kilimanjaro

  The highest freestanding mountain in the world, Kilimanjaro is also the highest mountain on the African continent at 5896m. Its snow-capped summit rises high above the dusty African plains; huge permanent glaciers flow down from the summit, spectacular views and beautiful ice formations are the reward for pushing your limits both physically and mentally. Our […]

• Sahara

  Take on the ultimate challenge, and trek across one of the worlds’ most beautiful spaces…the Sahara Desert. From stony flat expanses to perfect wind-blown sand dunes, broken only by the occasional oasis, this trek in the Sahara Desert transports you to another world. The desert and its incredible night skies provide a feeling of space […]

• Bespoke Team Challenges

  Are you a company, a team or a group of friends looking to take on a challenge together? Family Action work with ATOL protected tour companies in the UK and abroad to help you plan and design the trip or challenge to suit your group. These could include: Take your team on one of our overseas […]

• Trek Mount Toubkal, Morocco

  Take a journey through the Moroccan Atlas Mountains, witness the stunning rugged landscape, make friends with the local Berber guides and summit Toubkal all in only 3 days of trekking.The Toubkal Trek is a popular choice with adventurers – with its stunning views of the High Atlas Mountains the route is widely regarded as one […]

• Local Events

  Take on a challenge for Family Action in your local area We’re delighted to partner with RunForCharity to access over 350 local events. Choose your region below to find events taking place in your local area! Whether it’s an obstacle race you are after, a 5km run or even a marathon – we’ll have the […]

• Team Challenges

  Whether you’re looking to engage your employees, impress corporate clients, or compete with your friends, Family Action can help you build the team challenge you are looking for.   If you are interested in signing up your friends or colleagues to a fun and challenging event in support of Family Action, please contact [email protected].  

• Harrow Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service (Harrow SENDIAS)

  We are able to offer information, advice and support over the phone and via email or meet any service users for face to face appointments. We are contactable by phone, but due to the upsurge in the number of calls received by the service we are asking, for the time-being, if you cannot get through […]

• Holiday Hub

  Holiday Hub supports families in the school holidays by providing meals and opportunities for family bonding through eating, learning and playing together. As well as taking part in a wide range of fun activities and enjoying quality time together, families learn about nutrition and keeping fit and healthy. Most useful is learning about all different […]

• TaMHS toolkit

  Targeted Mental Health in Schools Services Family Action’s Targeted Mental Health in Schools Service (TaMHS) has developed a range of strategies and interventions to support schools in responding to the emotional wellbeing needs of their pupils. Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Toolkit for Schools Developed by experienced practitioners this toolkit provides school staff with the […]

• Open Doors Grants Programme

  The Open Doors Grants Programme provides cash grants alongside intensive support delivered to recipients by a range of partner organisations. It is administered by Family Action and supported by our corporate partner NewDay.  

• Volunteering opportunities

  We have a range of volunteering opportunities across our services. If you are interested in volunteering for us and do not see a vacancy listed below, please contact your local Family Action service to discuss what opportunities are available. Family Action is committed to equality and diversity, and are Investors in Diversity accredited. We welcome […]

• Walks

  Lace up your walking boots and step up to a walking challenge with Family Action   If you are interested in taking part in one of these, or any other challenge for Family Action, please contact [email protected].

• London to Paris Cycle

  Hop on your bike and join Family Action to cycle London to Paris   From one historical and beautiful capital to another, this challenge is no easy feat but is well worth the pedal power. Starting in London, the route takes you through the picturesque Sussex countryside to Newhaven. You then cross the Channel and […]

• Cycle

  Gear up for a cycle challenge with Family Action   If you are interested in taking part in one of these, or any other cycling challenge for Family Action, please contact [email protected].

• Running

  Grab your trainers – its time to get fit! Take part in one of these charity running challenges to support Family Action’s work with children and families. To find out more email [email protected]. Interested in challenge events for Family Action? Check out our walking, cycling or overseas events too!

• Great North Run

  Race alongside world class athletes, celebrities and dedicated fundraisers in the world’s greatest half marathon: The Great North Run! Starting in the heart of Newcastle, the race crosses iconic Tyne Bridge, goes through Gateshead passing the famous international athletics stadium and finishes in the coastal town of South Shields. Live music, on-course refreshments and thousands […]

• Isle of Wight Challenge

  Pop on your walking boots and join Family Action in the Isle of Wight Challenge! Are you ready to take on a fantastic challenge on a beautiful Island? Why not run, walk or jog the 106km route round of the Isle of Wight. With spectacular coastlines, dramatic cliffs, & sandy beaches, this will be an […]

• Christmas Toy Appeal

  Our 2023 Christmas Toy Appeal has now closed. Thank you to everyone who supported us in 2023. We’ll be back again in 2024. Join our Toy Appeal and help make Christmas magic for the thousands of children and families we support! Family Action’s annual Toy Appeal aims to make Christmas magic for the children and […]

• Warwickshire SEND Information, Advice and Support Service

  Please visit the Warwickshire Local Offer page for details of the Warwickshire SEND Information, Advice and Support Service.    

• Measuring and Evaluation

  In order to provide the most impactful and cost effective services for the people we work with and our funders, Family Action is committed to continually evaluating our services. Much more than counting numbers and outputs, we measure our impact so we can ensure the value of our support and the difference it makes to […]

• Schools and Education

  Family Action offers a wide range of programmes and services in and around schools in England, for example: National School Breakfast Programme Our National School Breakfast Programme funded by the Department for Education, is working to support 2500 schools in disadvantaged communities to improve access to healthy breakfasts and learning. SENDIASS Services Our Special Educational Needs and […]

• Troubled Families

  Family Action is a leading provider of home-based family support services for vulnerable and disadvantaged families. We have a strong track record of working successfully with many of the ‘troubled families’ that the Government is targeting.   Our Services Family Action’s Family Support Services aim to strengthen families and communities, to build skills and resilience […]

• Donate in memory

  Making an ‘in memory’ donation to charity is a valuable and positive way to celebrate the life of a relative, friend or other loved one. It’s a touching way to remember them and, by making an ‘in memory’ gift to Family Action, you can make a real difference to some of the country’s most vulnerable […]

• Leave a gift in your Will

  Leaving a gift in your Will to Family Action: A lasting legacy When thinking about your future, how do you want to be remembered? A loving friend? A supportive parent? A caring grandparent? These are all things to think about when writing a Will. Did you know that once you’ve taken care of loved ones, […]

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• Current Vacancies

  Our current vacancies are listed below. If you’re interested in a particular role and would like to find out more about it, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our HR team via [email protected] to find out more. Family Action is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all sections […]

• Supporting School Readiness with NAHT

  Between 2013-2015 Family Action partnered with the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) to deliver the Ready to Learn Everyday campaign, jointly creating 10 leaflets aimed at School children to aid them in their everyday learning and home lives. The partnership raised nearly £12000 and introduced Family Action to 300 schools – with one choosing […]

• Corporate Supporters

  Corporate support plays an important role in our mission at Family Action. We work with a diverse set of companies to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged families. Family Action is proud to develop bespoke relationships with our partners and supporters, by catering to corporate needs and CSR objectives. Together, we help to improve the lives of families across the country, on a local and national level. […]

• Emotional Health & Wellbeing Services

  Emotional health and wellbeing describes how we think, feel and relate to ourselves and others and how we interpret the world around us. Having good emotional health affects our capacity to manage, communicate, and form and sustain relationships. It also gives us resilience to cope with change and major life events such as the birth […]

• Work for us

  Family Action is a values-led organisation. We work with families, children, young people and adults, some of whom are vulnerable and at risk. All of our staff and volunteers are expected to share our commitment to promote and safeguard their welfare. We’re always looking for staff and volunteers who share our values and vision. If […]

• Our trustees

  Family Action’s Board of Trustees, bring a wide range of expertise and experience to the charity. This includes social care and health (both on the ground and within research and policy development) legal affairs, financial strategy and management, human resources and pensions, as well as investor relations and insolvency.

• Register your interest

  Thank you for registering your interest to take part in an event for Family Action. A member of the fundraising team will be in touch with you shortly with further details. If you have any questions in the mean time, please call 020 7241 7454 and ask to speak to the fundraising team.  

• Three Peaks Challenge

  Could you climb the UK’s three highest peaks in just 24 hours for Family Action? We’ll start in Scotland, tackling Ben Nevis before travelling over the border into England to climb Scarfell Pike. The challenge will finish in Wales with Mount Snowden 24 hours later. This is a fantastic challenge to complete as a team, […]

• Run, Walk or Jog the Thames Path Challenge

  Join Family Action’s Thames Path Challenge Team this autumn and walk, jog or run along one of England’s most famous rivers. You can choose to complete 25, 50 or the full 100km route over the weekend of the 9th & 10th September passing historic sights such as Hampton Court along the way.  This is a […]

• RideLondon

  RideLondon 100 Created as a legacy for the 2012 Olympics, RideLondon is a 100 mile cycle race that will take you through the landmarks of London and the stunning countryside of the Surrey hills all on closed roads. The event will see 20,000 people, both seasoned cyclists and relative newbies, come together for the biggest […]

• Overseas Challenges

  See the world on one of our overseas challenges – these are just a few!   Email the team at [email protected] for more info. Interested in challenge events for Family Action? Check out our walking, cycling or running events too!  

• The TCS London Marathon

  Sign up for 2022! Inspired by watching the London Marathon this year? Join us for 2022, tick it off your bucket list and raise crucial funds to support children and families! From the mum in Kent suffering from postnatal depression, the dad in Birmingham struggling to find the right support for his autistic son, to […]

• details

  IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON FUNDING AVAILABLE. PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION. We currently have no funds available under the MENTAL HEALTH and DOMESTIC VIOLENCE priority groups.Please do not submit applications under these priority groups as they will be unsuccessful due to lack of funds. Due to the numbers involved, we regret that […]

• Sarah’s story

  We have recently received a grant application from Sarah, a 22 year old woman asking for £150. Sarah has been homeless since the age of 16 when she left her mother’s house due to the physical abuse she was subjected to. For the past six years, she has been sofa-surfing, finding any way to stay […]

• Educational Grants information

  Family Action distributes grants to parents or carers who are looking to unlock their educational potential by participating in further education. Many individuals face challenges during their time at college which may mean they’re unable to complete their studies and pursue their future career goals. For others, their life situation may change meaning they need […]

• Looked After Children Support Services

  There is much evidence that suggests that looked after children achieve poor outcomes, with particular issues around poor education attainment, mental health issues, drug and alcohol dependency as adults, and teenage pregnancies. We strongly believe that these children should have the same life opportunities and chances as their peers with opportunities to build close bonds […]

• Young Carers Services

  There are an estimated 6.5 million carers in the UK, and of these over 400,000 are Young Carers aged 0 -24 according to the 2011 census. Increasingly a caring role is being taken by children as young as five to ten years old. Without support, young carers’ educational achievement and development can be significantly affected, with […]

• Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Services

  Family Action SEND services, provide expert, impartial legal advice, practical guidance and emotional support to help children and families navigate the health, social care and education systems and feel empowered to get the help they need. SENDIASS services are Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Services. Local Authorities are required by law to […]

• Advice services

  People need advice services for a variety of reasons. Unexpected events, such as relationship breakdown, job loss, illness or disability, or caring responsibilities can throw lives off course. Some people lack skills to cope with form filling and others need help to understand complex rules and regulations. Some are worn down by red tape, bureaucratic […]

• Early Years Childcare Services

  Children’s early experiences have an important impact on health, behaviour and developmental outcomes. In their first three years children develop physically, cognitively and emotionally at a faster rate than at any other time in their lives. High quality early education sits alongside health as an important determinant of children’s life chances. Family Action’s Early Years […]

• Children’s Centres

  The core purpose of Children’s Centres is to improve outcomes for young children and their families and reduce inequalities between families in greatest need and their peers in: child development and school readiness parenting aspirations and parenting skills child and family health and life chances.’* *Department for Education (2013) Sure Start children’s centres statutory guidance […]

• Family Support Services

  A strong, stable and loving family network provides a foundation for all family members to flourish and fulfil their potential. However, many families will face difficulties at some time and some have multiple complex needs. We know that these families often have poor outcomes in health, social interaction and educational attainment. The multiple needs are […]

• Disclaimer

  This website is intended for informational purposes only. This website is used for non-commercial purposes. In particular, this limited licence does not permit you to incorporate any material from this web site in any other work, publications or web site either of your own or belonging to any third party without the prior consent of […]

• Cookie Policy

  How we use cookies on our website We use cookies across our website to improve performance and enhance user experience. This policy explains how we do that. What are cookies? Cookies are small text files which a website may put on your computer or mobile device when you first visit a site or page. The […]

• Privacy Notice

  Family Action is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your wishes and we want you to be confident that we are.  We aim to be clear about when we collect your data and not do anything you would not reasonably expect us to do with your personal data.  Click below to find out […]

• Accessibility Statement

  Family Action is committed to making this website accessible to as many people as possible. If you have any suggestions or feedback on our website’s accessibility, or have encountered any problems using the site, please let us know. Changing text size Family Action’s website has been built so that you can change the text size […]

• Perinatal Support Services

  Maternal depression can turn into a lifelong illness if not responded to and it is proven to increase risks to the unborn child and the safe development of the new baby. Supporting the mother (and father as well as other family members where possible) and the developing infant through this period is recognised to be […]

• Commission us

  Family Action has over 140 years of experience in providing support for disadvantaged and socially isolated families through a vast range of services. We understand the challenges faced by commissioners, and can provide flexible, competitive solutions tailored to meet the needs of the local area. We work with local and national government, the health sector, […]

• Financial Statements

  Family Action annual reports and financial accounts Family Action Annual Report and Accounts 2022-2023 Family Action Annual Report and Accounts 2021-2022 Family Action Annual Report and Accounts 2020-2021 Family Action Annual Report and Accounts 2019-2020 Family Action Annual Report and Accounts 2018-2019 Family Action Annual Report and Accounts 2017-2018 Family Action Annual Report and Accounts […]

• Governance

  It is essential charities have good governance, to ensure they are effectively run and successful in achieving their aims. Our governance rests with the Board of Trustees, who are responsible for setting the direction of the charity, providing a long-term vision and protecting the charity’s reputation and values. They have an important role to play […]

• Key People

  Family Action is driven by a team of passionate, dedicated and innovative leaders, with a wealth of experience from across sectors. The day to day running of the charity is led by the Executive Group, who are governed by our Board of Trustees – a group of individuals that bring financial, social and legal expertise […]

• Our strategy: Building on 150 years

  Through all that we do, Family Action is rooted in the belief that well-functioning and supported families are a driving force for happy, healthy individuals and communities. Building on all that we have achieved over the past 150 years – providing practical, emotional and financial support to vulnerable children, adults and families – our new […]

• Our History

    Family Action has a very impressive history. Since being founded in 1869, we have regularly been at the forefront of providing innovative support to vulnerable people. Click on the video or on each date to learn more about our history or use our interactive timeline, kindly prepared by researchers from the University of Southampton […]

• Services in your area

  Family Action is a national charity, with an incredibly local focus. Whilst the Head Office is based in North London, we deliver our services from local offices across the country.

• Help & Advice

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• Corporate Partners

  Why partner with us Family Action has been providing services to children and families for over 150 years. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience in supporting families through the most challenging times, including world wars, recessions and more recently through the pandemic and the cost of living crisis. By partnering with us, you […]

• Fundraise for Family Action

  There are plenty of ways that you can get involved in supporting families in need by fundraising for us. Whether at school, in the office, or with friends you can fundraise for Family Action and make a difference today. We have lots of ideas, enjoy having fun with our fundraising and would love to hear what […]

• Volunteer

  We need volunteers with a range of life experiences, skills and knowledge to fill our diverse range of roles. In return for giving your time and talents, you will receive quality training, ongoing support, and the reward of knowing that you are making a real difference. Family Action strives to be an inclusive organisation. Our […]

• Grants

  Family Action has been distributing grants to help people and families in need since we were founded in 1869. We know that by giving a small grant when it’s needed the most, we can remove immediate financial barriers. This helps families to work through the bigger issues they’re facing such as fleeing abuse or keeping […]

• Adult Mental Health & Wellbeing

  Many of us will experience a mental health problem in our lifetime and, in the UK, mental illness accounts for a third of all illnesses at any given time. Mental health issues can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, class or race. They can have a profound affect on family members and particularly children. Family […]

• Children & Families

  Family Action’s Children & Families Services work with children, young people, parents, carers and the wider family network to ensure the family is able to realise its full potential. Working holistically across the extended family is fundamental to Family Action’s approach and we strive to support stable, positive family networks in which all family members […]

• Early Years

  Family Action believes that every child has the right to the best possible start in life and that every family should be supported to enable their children to reach their full potential. “For all children, the quality of the home learning environment is more important for intellectual and social development than parental occupation, education or […]

• Contact us

  There are a number of ways to contact Family Action. General enquiries Family Action Head Office 34 Wharf Road London N1 7GR Telephone: 020 7254 6251 [email protected] Media enquiries Mobile: 079 0307 4174 [email protected] If you are looking for contact details for a particular service please search in your area.   Parenting help Family Action’s FamilyLine […]

• Who we are

  Family Action transforms lives by providing practical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation across the country. We have been building stronger families since 1869 – today working with over 60,000 families a year in our 200 community-based services, as well as supporting thousands more through our national […]

• Worried?

  If you are worried about yourself, someone in your family or a friend, and you haven’t found what you are looking for on this website then please contact one of the many organisations who are able to help.   If you or someone you know is in danger, or you need immediate support please call: […]

• Get involved

  We know that families come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter how you define your family, when we have the support of those who love us we’re better able to manage the challenges life brings. At Family Action, we believe in building stronger families, giving families the tools they need to manage the […]

• What we do

  Building stronger families