Statistically speaking the most common type of need for all looked after children at 31st March 2020 was Social, Emotional and Mental Health.* According to the Children and young peoples Mental Health Report written by the Education Policy Institute, children referred to CAMHS are waiting an average of two months (56 days) to begin treatment (2019)|. And between April and June 2020 there was a 17.1% increase in domestic abuse from family members and evidence that cases are escalating more quickly } Now more than ever, families need as much support as possible to help reverse these figures which can only have been exasperated by the impacts of the pandemic.

Since 2009 Bookham Baptist Church has served families in the local area, first as the Wellspring SureStart Childrens Centre and then in January 2016 - following the ceasing of local authority funding - as the Bookham Baptist Childrens Centre. Independently self-funded the centre provides valuable support to families in Bookham, Fetcham, Effingham and the surrounding areas - running weekly groups for parents, grandparents and children under 5, as well as a range of parenting courses to help strengthen family life. In addition, we offer more specialised individual support for families who are facing particularly challenging circumstances such as domestic abuse, relationship break down, financial difficulties, children with additional needs (including ASD and ADHD), mental health difficulties such as depression, postnatal depression, anxiety, among other things.

Our aim is to prevent early challenges families may face from escalating into more entrenched difficulties by providing support early on and to support families at level 1& 2 of the Surrey Effective Family Resilience Levels of Need - which is universal support and early help. We welcome hundreds of families to our groups and courses every year.

For the past 5 years we have been privileged to receive a grant from the Community Foundation for Surrey to employ a part-time family support worker to work in a bespoke and focused way with local families who are particularly vulnerable or in challenging circumstances. Unfortunately, the funding from the Community Foundation for Surrey has now come to an end. Without this grant we will no longer be able to fund this vital support.

We are therefore launching a fundraising campaign asking for your support, however small, in raising funds to maintain all of the services we offer the local community. Heres how you can help:

1. Make a donation via our web site or our just giving page.

2. Raise money on our behalf! If you have an idea for an event or activity which you would like to do as an individual or group - then email familyservices@bookhambaptist.org and we will help. We can also provide some great ideas such as a sponsored toddle or coffee morning providing publicity material to help you make a bigger impact.

3. Would you be able to advocate for us locally? particularly through social media? Like and share our cause to help raise awareness!

4. Would you be willing to provide us with a supportive statement to help celebrate everything we do? If so then please email us at familyservices@bookhambaptist.org.