

Celebrating SW!TCH on TikTok and in the sunday papers
Bursting onto TikTok Our SW!TCH team have recently started posting on TikTok, rapidly growing their following of young people to over 300 in a few months. As well as promoting upcoming activities, the team are able to provide a wider


Creating a workplace that’s like a friendly open home
One of the things I love most about watching the finals of competitions is how the first-time winners react. These moments seem to sum up so many things that we value in life—hard work, the miracle of succeeding, teamwork, family,


Creative English focuses on cardiovascular health in Birmingham
Following the successful pilot of Creative English: Caring for my Family last year, Birmingham City Council have given FaithAction a further opportunity to run Creative English for Health with places of worship, faith-based and community organisations within Birmingham, this time


Introducing Itoro and Jakadi, SW!TCH Youth Development Workers
This month, we’re introducing Itoro Victor-Akpan and Jakadi Appleton, Youth Development Workers supporting vulnerable young people through our SW!TCH Futures programme. Itoro and Jakadi have been making great strides running the girls’ hub together, which is why we wanted to


A duty of care: supporting employees though the cost of living crisis
Last month I wrote about how many of us struggle with the idea of change and how LifeLine’ programmes evolve according to the needs of our ever changing communities. This month I want to highlight how charities are modifying and


Supporting adults, families, and communities
Our new Adult Services team have been hard at work this year, delivering a range of programmes to adults, families, and communities across East London. The Champions Support Network, which brings parents and carers together to form community support networks,


Introducing Tilishia, Adult Services Manager
This month, we’re delighted to speak with Tilishia, who joined us in May to manage our newly-formed Adult Services team. You can read more about what the team have been up to recently and we hope you enjoy learning more


Let’s talk about change: how to deliver a successful support programme
It’s funny how change affects people. I’d say many of us struggle with the idea of change. That may be because we see it as something that undermines our stability, that unsettles the status quo. We’d rather stick with what


An interview with Katharine Haynes, LatchOn Havering
This month, we have a special guest in Katharine Haynes, who runs LatchOn Havering, a charity that provides free support and information about breastfeeding to local families. As you’ll see below, Katharine was inspired on her journey after taking part


Improving support for young people with SEND in Barking and Dagenham
Here at Healthwatch Barking and Dagenham, we have recently launched a new project regarding the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process and we’re keen to hear from parents and carers of children and young people with special needs or


Local needs require local solutions
I have a friend that works in the music industry as a tour manager. He’s worked on some of the most extravagant rock shows I’ve ever seen. I once asked him if he got bored of touring, putting on the


Introducing Stephen Callender, Youth Development Worker and Parent Champion Coordinator
This month, we’re speaking with Stephen, who joined LifeLine in 2020 and now works on a range of our programmes in the Havering area, offering support to both young people and parents. Where did you grow up? I grew up