https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/ Our Blog OpenACS 5.0 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 19:13:31 GMT https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=56456445 https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=56456445 We are keenly anticipating the arrival of the report following our latest independent external evaluation. Our previous run of independent evaluations (Office of Public Management, 2013; Dr Mary Richardson, UCL 2014 & 2015; ‘Research Ally’ Moira Forrester, 2017) was interrupted by the pandemic. During that pause, we took the opportunity to reflect and refine our approach so we can learn more from the expereince of the children in Family Group. Rather than asking our evaluators ... Mon, 09 Jun 2025 19:13:31 GMT https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=55676502 https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=55676502 I recently retired as Headteacher of Richard Atkins Primary School in Lambeth, where I had the privilege of leading a diverse school community through both successes and challenges. The School & Family Works has been a valued partner in our school since 2016/17, and I have seen firsthand the profound impact their work has had on children and families. When budgets were tight, they continued to support us, ensuring that families received the help they needed. Now, I want to give back by sup... Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:29:16 GMT https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=48410514 https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=48410514 “There is deep wisdom within our very flesh, if we can only come to our senses and feel it”. Elizabeth A Behnke As an organisation, we’ve been working internally on anti-racist practice for a couple of years now, a journey documented in the anti-racist practice timeline we published on our family facing website last month. Here’s my thinking about the direction of travel, with a note on progress to date[1]   Systemic racism is not immediately obvious to t... Mon, 22 May 2023 22:12:34 GMT https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=45132135 https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=45132135 An old friend was in touch this week to tell me that his mother had died. I was saddened. She had been kind to me when he and I were children. Much more powerfully, I was drawn towards him by his experience of loss, feeling his vulnerability. I was moved to support him, instinctively. My own experiences of loss could be used in service to him. My understanding was required. His needs became my priority.   Roots of Empathy recognise the power of vulnerability I was d... Sun, 16 May 2021 14:54:22 GMT https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=38730445 https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=38730445 Building on the family context                                                  Family comes first Schools build on the developmental experience of the child within his/her family system. It is the parents who first set about promoting emotional wellbeing, building resilience, and establishing and protecting good mental health. Schools play a supporting role. Schools n... Sun, 03 Mar 2019 13:31:05 GMT https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=37646074 https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=37646074 Don’t put pressure on yourself to be happy                                    Feelings arise, feelings inhabit us for a while, and feelings pass. That’s a natural process. Christmas seems to require us to be happy; it’s an additional pressure many of us feel at this time of year. Christmas present resonates with Christmas past. There may be unwelcome feelings and memories. It&rsqu... Mon, 10 Dec 2018 10:16:13 GMT https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=34060535 https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=34060535 We’re often asked what sort of changes are seen in children and their families who attend Family Group. One of the ways that Family Group is unique is that it’s not a short-term therapy model. Families can attend for as long as they need to, on average for about a year. In that time, significant and sustainable change can take place, not just for the children attending but also their parents/carers.                      ... Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:56:52 GMT https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=33813069 https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=33813069 The horrendous abuse by Barry Bennell has been making news headlines in the last few weeks. Andy Connolly, Chief Executive at SurvivorsUK has written a thought-provoking article for The Guardian, ‘If the abused can’t speak, we need other routes to their pain’. Andy discusses why the victims didn’t speak out earlier about the abuse and it has inspired me to put my own thoughts down in this blog.  Where you stand regarding the case will be influenced by your ow... Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:32:48 GMT https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=31451016 https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=31451016 ‘I want my child to be happy and successful at school’.  That’s probably the main reason why parents join Family Group.  And that’s a genuine, heartfelt wish for lasting change.  But real life is messy.  And for many of the families who come… well, there’s a lot of stuff in the way. Sometimes that wish for change can feel a long way from coming true. So, I want to think about five ways in which Family Group is r... Thu, 14 Sep 2017 11:06:59 GMT https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=31182701 https://e-voice.org.uk/tsafw/marksblog/one-entry?entry_id=31182701   The School & Family Works is a change forum.  We're after LASTING change and we recognise that, to enable significant shifts, we have to start where people are and be prepared for a long journey.  The key characteristic of all our work is that it enhances the reflective capacity of all those involved.  It is through this reflective capacity that change takes place. So, what are the five ways that we enable lasting change for schools and families?   1. We sta... Fri, 25 Aug 2017 23:02:34 GMT