Story
30 years of supporting families in the Winchester district who are facing adversity, helping them to face their future with confidence.
In 1993, Friends of the Family was established to provide early intervention for vulnerable families in our community. 30 years on, we are still there to guide and walk alongside those families, fostering better outcomes for them and their children.
The pressures of increasing costs, mental ill health and other issues is giving rise to increasingly complex needs for our families and a resulting increase in demand. We are determined to be here, to care and sustain for our families for the next 30 years, and to mark this significant milestone we need your help!
The link between exercise and wellness is well known, and good mental health is at the heart of our mission at Friends of the Family. Our team have been inspired to create their own Wellness Walks to help reach our fundraising goal.
To help us achieve our fundraising goal, why not lace up your trainers and join us by creating your own wellness walk?
If its really not your thing but you'd like to support us you can also donate on this page, or to one of our team's.
£30 will enable us to train one befriender who supports a focus child, meeting them twice a week for a year. A simple thing such as a taking a 6-year old who has seen abuse in the family home to the park, for a hot chocolate or to play a board game does wonders for the child's self-esteem and wellbeing. the simple things make a difference and you can watch our video about befriending below.
£30 provides 1.5 hours of group therapy for 6 mums who are experiencing isolation, mental health challenges but cannot access support any other way. Karla says 'I had a rocky mental health patch when I was pregnant with my 3rd child. The health visitor suggested the group to me and at first I said, 'hell no, I'm not going to some cliquey group'. I had a real fear of judgement and great anxiety. When I got here the first session was very awkward. But the second time I came I thought - I'm never leaving'.