The summer holidays can be a great opportunity for children and young people to take part in activities, learn new things and make new connections. For some children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse, they can also provide an opportunity to access specialist support outside of the usual school-term routine.
This summer, our Children and Families Team have once again been busy delivering intensive group programmes across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Seven groups, 34 children and young people
Over the summer, we delivered seven groups, including STAR Recovery, Helping Hands, CRUSH and bespoke programmes, reaching a total of 34 children and young people.
Our intensive summer programmes cover the same content as our term-time groups, but are condensed into fewer full days rather than hour-long weekly sessions. This can make group support more accessible for children and young people who may face barriers to attending during term time.
Building confidence and connections
For a child or young person, walking into a room full of unfamiliar faces – both staff and other young people – can understandably feel daunting.
It’s been wonderful to see how, as the sessions progress, children and young people can grow in confidence and begin to build connections and friendships with others who may have had similar experiences.
The groups provide a safe space for children and young people to explore and talk about subjects that can sometimes be difficult to discuss. Those attending have told us how much they have learnt through the sessions and how useful it has been to have the opportunity to talk about things they may not feel comfortable discussing with their parents. Some even told us they didn’t want the sessions to come to an end.
Hearing from parents and carers
We’ve also received some lovely feedback from parents and carers about the difference the groups have made. Parents have told us how beneficial the programmes have been for their children, and how reassuring it has been to see them come home talking about what they have learnt — as well as the fun they’ve had along the way.
Several parents have since enquired about follow-on programmes and other services that may be available to their children. For us, this is a positive sign that families feel comfortable with the support being offered and recognise the value of having continued opportunities for their children to build on what they have learnt.
One parent summed it up perfectly, telling us that her child “wishes that she could come back every week!”
Looking ahead to autumn
We’re incredibly proud of the children and young people who took part in our summer groups, and of the progress they made along the way.
From initially feeling unsure about joining a group to developing confidence, friendships and the space to talk openly, it has been fantastic to see them make the most of the opportunities available to them.
We may have reached the end of our summer groups for this year, but our Children and Families Team are already looking forward to welcoming many more children and young people to our autumn-term groups across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
And, before we know it, we’ll be doing it all over again next summer!