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October 15, 2008: LifeLine nominated for award!
LifeLine has been nominated for the Children Young People and Families Awards for Bumps and Babes which has been short listed for the Early Years Award.
Bumps and Babes was an innovative response to some of the needs that LifeLine's Castle Green Children's Centre team found in the Goresbrook area of Dagenham, one of the poorest areas of the country. Over the past few years there has been a sharp reduction in antenatal support for expectant parents, and what provision there has been focussed strongly on the physical aspects of giving birth. Our Children's Centre staff found that many new parents were arriving at the Centre unprepared and often feeling unempowered in their new roles. New mothers in particular often expressed feelings of isolation in the first few months after giving birth.
The volunteer-led Bumps and Babes programme was set up to provide perinatal support, combining more traditional antenatal services with practical support for parents to be and new Mums. Run by parents, for parents and in contrast to some other programmes, Bumps and Babes real strength is that it promotes peer support with some additional training rather than the other way round. Often, it is the encouragement of other new mothers which makes the difference and leads to participants accessing other services such as the more formal ‘Getting Ready for Your Baby’ programme which is run by qualified parenting practitioners, straight after Bumps and Babes.
Bumps and Babes prepares participants to be parents, rather than just to give birth. It also connects new parents to each other so that they build a long lasting network of others in the same stage of life as them. The programme is designed to run at the same time as Midwifery visits to the Centre, providing an alternative to sitting in a waiting room before their appointments, for new and expectant parents.
As the aim of the programme is to combat isolation and is shown in the whole way the group is run, from comfy sofas to providing posh biscuits and nice coffee. The atmosphere of the session is critical to the success of the group. Making the sessions relaxed and comfortable creates an atmosphere where parents want to come and connect with others.
The Bumps and Babes team report that simple things like new participants being offered a cup of tea as they arrive or other members of the group greeting them, are the things that participants say have the biggest impact on them and keep them coming back. It’s about making the parents feel special, and this has ‘hooked’ many of them in to the Centre enough to begin to access other programmes.
Bumps and Babes has enabled many women who would otherwise be isolated and unaware of the wealth of provision available, to find themselves part of a vibrant peer support group. This has resulted in them:
• Forming long lasting social networks and peer support groups
• Accessing additional targeted parenting support and making better use of Children’s Centre and related provision (including employability support for some parents)
• Accessing Social Services and more intensive Family Support
• Increasing in confidence
• Becoming volunteers via the La Leché League programme
LifeLine has been nominated for the Children Young People and Families Awards for Bumps and Babes which has been short listed for the Early Years Award.
Bumps and Babes was an innovative response to some of the needs that LifeLine's Castle Green Children's Centre team found in the Goresbrook area of Dagenham, one of the poorest areas of the country. Over the past few years there has been a sharp reduction in antenatal support for expectant parents, and what provision there has been focussed strongly on the physical aspects of giving birth. Our Children's Centre staff found that many new parents were arriving at the Centre unprepared and often feeling unempowered in their new roles. New mothers in particular often expressed feelings of isolation in the first few months after giving birth.
The volunteer-led Bumps and Babes programme was set up to provide perinatal support, combining more traditional antenatal services with practical support for parents to be and new Mums. Run by parents, for parents and in contrast to some other programmes, Bumps and Babes real strength is that it promotes peer support with some additional training rather than the other way round. Often, it is the encouragement of other new mothers which makes the difference and leads to participants accessing other services such as the more formal ‘Getting Ready for Your Baby’ programme which is run by qualified parenting practitioners, straight after Bumps and Babes.
Bumps and Babes prepares participants to be parents, rather than just to give birth. It also connects new parents to each other so that they build a long lasting network of others in the same stage of life as them. The programme is designed to run at the same time as Midwifery visits to the Centre, providing an alternative to sitting in a waiting room before their appointments, for new and expectant parents.
As the aim of the programme is to combat isolation and is shown in the whole way the group is run, from comfy sofas to providing posh biscuits and nice coffee. The atmosphere of the session is critical to the success of the group. Making the sessions relaxed and comfortable creates an atmosphere where parents want to come and connect with others.
The Bumps and Babes team report that simple things like new participants being offered a cup of tea as they arrive or other members of the group greeting them, are the things that participants say have the biggest impact on them and keep them coming back. It’s about making the parents feel special, and this has ‘hooked’ many of them in to the Centre enough to begin to access other programmes.
Bumps and Babes has enabled many women who would otherwise be isolated and unaware of the wealth of provision available, to find themselves part of a vibrant peer support group. This has resulted in them:
• Forming long lasting social networks and peer support groups
• Accessing additional targeted parenting support and making better use of Children’s Centre and related provision (including employability support for some parents)
• Accessing Social Services and more intensive Family Support
• Increasing in confidence
• Becoming volunteers via the La Leché League programme
October 07, 2008: Lone Parents discover how to find jobs to fit their circumstances in Hackney
“ This week we have been running a 3 day event for Lone Parents called Discovery in Hackney. The discovery programme helps lone parents who may be affected by the changes in
The parents have all had access to a range of support, services and sessions.
During one of the afternoon sessions led by our parenting facilitator, one parent said that
the adviser leading the morning session had talked about volunteering. She commented that she would
like to volunteer at her children’s school, to help her build the skills, and confidence she feels she needs
to return to the job market.
Because of some of the links already formed in the Borough we were able to link her up to the school,
who have told us already that they are glad to have this parent join the volunteers at the school, and have set up a meeting with her…
WOW…talk about team work!!!!”
“ This week we have been running a 3 day event for Lone Parents called Discovery in Hackney. The discovery programme helps lone parents who may be affected by the changes in The parents have all had access to a range of support, services and sessions.
During one of the afternoon sessions led by our parenting facilitator, one parent said that
the adviser leading the morning session had talked about volunteering. She commented that she would
like to volunteer at her children’s school, to help her build the skills, and confidence she feels she needs
to return to the job market.
Because of some of the links already formed in the Borough we were able to link her up to the school,
who have told us already that they are glad to have this parent join the volunteers at the school, and have set up a meeting with her…
WOW…talk about team work!!!!”
September 23, 2008: Two new contracts with City Gateway!
Two new contracts have been gained with funding from the Learning and Skills Council working in partnership with City Gateway. The first dovetails with Lifeline Institute work, and targets getting NEET young people into employment. The second gives us the opportunity to get back into working with secondary schools through provision of mentoring to 14-16 year olds.
LifeLine are thrilled to have this opportunity.
Two new contracts have been gained with funding from the Learning and Skills Council working in partnership with City Gateway. The first dovetails with Lifeline Institute work, and targets getting NEET young people into employment. The second gives us the opportunity to get back into working with secondary schools through provision of mentoring to 14-16 year olds. LifeLine are thrilled to have this opportunity.
August 13, 2008: Young people set to bring about change
We are delighted to announce that LifeLine's Young Consultants have been awarded a £10,000 grant from the Youth Opportunities Fund. This is fantastic opportunity and will:
• enable young people in Barking and Dagenham to have a greater input into the services provided for them
• Increase the quality and effectiveness of young people’s services in Barking and Dagenham
• Tackle misconceptions about young people in Barking and Dagenham
• Launch a new Social Enterprise, run for and by Young People.
The Young Consultants: Sophie Hagger, Robyn Keeble and Tom Rowe will go into 10 young people’s services such as youth clubs and Borough Services to evaluate provision and act as Consultants to Service Delivery Staff.
This project was generated by the young people. Late last year LifeLine asked Sophie, Robyn and Tom to help with some training it was doing with Borough staff and Youth Workers. During this training they found that many Youth Workers had misconceptions about young people and what they wanted. In response to this they decided that they could help more Youth Workers and young people by going into clubs and services and evaluating provision, then meeting with staff and recommending changes.
We are delighted to announce that LifeLine's Young Consultants have been awarded a £10,000 grant from the Youth Opportunities Fund. This is fantastic opportunity and will:• enable young people in Barking and Dagenham to have a greater input into the services provided for them
• Increase the quality and effectiveness of young people’s services in Barking and Dagenham
• Tackle misconceptions about young people in Barking and Dagenham
• Launch a new Social Enterprise, run for and by Young People.
The Young Consultants: Sophie Hagger, Robyn Keeble and Tom Rowe will go into 10 young people’s services such as youth clubs and Borough Services to evaluate provision and act as Consultants to Service Delivery Staff.
This project was generated by the young people. Late last year LifeLine asked Sophie, Robyn and Tom to help with some training it was doing with Borough staff and Youth Workers. During this training they found that many Youth Workers had misconceptions about young people and what they wanted. In response to this they decided that they could help more Youth Workers and young people by going into clubs and services and evaluating provision, then meeting with staff and recommending changes.
August 13, 2008: LifeLine wins new DWP contract
DWP Discovery Events
LifeLine have secured £99,000 for jobs and engagement events. The events will enable participants to develop trust, build confidence and be inspired towards the best working option for them through:
• Drawing on Job Brokerage, ESOL support and Parenting experience, staff will support participants throughout sessions.
• Informative, fun and interactive sessions themed to meet the needs and opportunities of each local area and build participants skills and confidence
• Opportunities to meet with and learn from real examples of Lone Parents who accessed support and found positive sustainable employment
• Meeting local employers, sympathetic to Lone Parent’s needs, to put a ‘friendly face’ on employment, give employment advice and offer job shadowing or employment opportunities.
Each participant also benefits from an event mentor, assistance in developing an Individual Action Plan and post event mentoring.
We are delighted for this opportunity to work with the DWP in opening new opportunities for people to get back into employment.
DWP Discovery EventsLifeLine have secured £99,000 for jobs and engagement events. The events will enable participants to develop trust, build confidence and be inspired towards the best working option for them through:
• Drawing on Job Brokerage, ESOL support and Parenting experience, staff will support participants throughout sessions.
• Informative, fun and interactive sessions themed to meet the needs and opportunities of each local area and build participants skills and confidence
• Opportunities to meet with and learn from real examples of Lone Parents who accessed support and found positive sustainable employment
• Meeting local employers, sympathetic to Lone Parent’s needs, to put a ‘friendly face’ on employment, give employment advice and offer job shadowing or employment opportunities.
Each participant also benefits from an event mentor, assistance in developing an Individual Action Plan and post event mentoring.
We are delighted for this opportunity to work with the DWP in opening new opportunities for people to get back into employment.
April 23, 2008: LifeLine Staff: Best Customer Focus Award
LifeLine staff member Firosa Moosa was awarded with the 'Best Customer Focus’ Award at the annual London East Advice Partnership (LEAP) Conference last week. LifeLine staff congratulated Firosa, who is an IAG Advisor at the Goodmayes Centre, at a presentation ceremony. Firosa was nominated by fellow staff member Harpreet Ubhi for the award. This is a fantastic commendation of Firosa, as she expresses LifeLine’s commitment to customer care at the Goodmayes Centre on a daily basis.
LifeLine staff member Firosa Moosa was awarded with the 'Best Customer Focus’ Award at the annual London East Advice Partnership (LEAP) Conference last week. LifeLine staff congratulated Firosa, who is an IAG Advisor at the Goodmayes Centre, at a presentation ceremony. Firosa was nominated by fellow staff member Harpreet Ubhi for the award. This is a fantastic commendation of Firosa, as she expresses LifeLine’s commitment to customer care at the Goodmayes Centre on a daily basis.