We are a small independent charity, established over 20 years ago. We work in Winchester and its surrounding villages.
Our aim is to improve the life chances of local children and families, who are struggling and unable to cope with day-to-day family life.
Our purpose is to offer a safe and nurturing environment where children and their families can learn to help themselves and focus on building a healthy family life for the future.
Our guiding principles:
Our approach is based on getting involved early in the life of a family that is experiencing difficulties, in order to improve their family outlook. The unique support we provide to families and children aged 0-13 years is delivered through four key areas of work:
A group offering mums and their young children a twice-weekly professional support service
Trained volunteers offer confidential support in the home, to children aged between 5 and 13 and their families
One-to-one counselling service offering reassurance to men who are struggling with their role as a parent
Weekly counselling sessions offering complementary support and guidance to parents who are engaged with our other services
We work closely with other local family services. Families and children are referred from a range of organisations: Hampshire Children’s Services, health visitors, social workers, police, GPs, mental health workers, local schools, the prison and other charity support networks.
Families we work with frequently tell us the positive impact Friends of the Family has had on the lives of their children, the parents and family life as a whole.
Regular surveys of families using our services show that:
*Survey of 5s to 13s Befriending families