MANX LOTTERY TRUST SUPPORTS ADULT FOCUSED EARLY INTERVENTION PILOT SCHEME

The Manx Lottery Trust, as delegated partner of Big Lottery Fund, is to fund a pilot scheme as part of The Children’s Centre’s Thriving Families project.

The pilot will include a parenting programme plus a number of two-hour workshops, during which childcare support for families attending will be available. The aim is to help reduce conflict in the home and increase emotional wellbeing for children.

A bespoke programme for parents involved with the prison will examine how separation of a parent impacts on a child and how to encourage and build solid attachments.

Mediation will offer a safe, neutral place where parents can meet with an impartial trained mediator to work out plans for the future, with their children central to their behaviours and decisions, aiming to resolve partners’ conflict and reach agreement on all issues surrounding separation.

Mark Payne, Head of Charitable Services at The Children’s Centre said: ‘We are very thankful for the support and encouragement from the Manx Lottery Trust for this pilot which will lay invaluable foundations on which to build appropriate services for the future. The first parent education session has just been launched, the Prison programme is in the planning stages for a wider roll out (although support is already being provided for some families) and mediation with be available for families referred to the Thriving Families team in 2018.’

Leaflets and posters have been distributed throughout the community, additionally, information and how to book parenting education sessions can be found at: https://www.thechildrenscentre.org.im/programmes/families/thriving-families/ and by calling The Children’s Centre on 676076.

Lulu Gillow, Manx Lottery Trust Chair, added “In funding early intervention projects, it is hoped to bring about a reduction in the levels of preventable need and it will be useful to learn about what has contributed to progress.”

To find out more about the work of the Manx Lottery Trust visit: www.mlt.org.im.

Thriving families delivery team. Left to right: Joni Ashworth, Janet Bailey, Carly May.