If your church wants to reach out to help local families, you might like to explore the following course run by Kids Matter.
The Mothers' Union offer a range of services across the diocese:
- Mothers' Union Family Contact Centre at The Gateway Centre, 66-70 Lottbridge Drive, Hampden Park, Eastbourne, BN22 9PB. Accredited by the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC). After a family break up, children can come to a safe and neutral place for supported contact with their non-resident parent, sibling or grandparent on the first and third Saturday of the month between 10.30am and 1.00pm. Service is free. Online self-referral. Coordinator: Kathryn Anderson. Tel: 07922 631901.
- Parenting: Diane Clack tel: 01243 551 984. Diane has a list of Mothers' Union Parenting Facilitators in the East, Central and West of the Diocese.
- Ministry of Cake and Prisons: Ros Thunder tel: 01444 417 103. Volunteers are going into the Neo-Natal and Special Care Baby Units in the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath and Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, to take savoury snacks and cakes for the parents and a listening ear. Work is spreading to Worthing and Hastings' Hospitals.
- Volunteers at Ford and Lewes provide for visiting children and enhance their interaction with their fathers through craft, toys and games.
To find out more about Mothers' Union members and their Branches please visit their website.
Family Support Work (FSW) work with families who are in or facing crisis and who need help to overcome multiple, complex issues. They offer: home visits, support groups, drop-ins, play opportunities for children, and supported family breaks with their community workers. They also provide food, clothing and toys to the families they work with, where needed.
