Children's Services Update

We are reviewing the support offered to children through the Children’s Service. This will involve undertaking a survey of the views of mums and children living at the hostels to assess how accessible and appropriate the play arrangements are for children. Additionally staff at each hostel have been asked to give their views on the service and to identify examples of good practice developed at The Haven, and gaps in service delivery. The aim is to improve the way in which children are supported whilst homeless as a result of experiencing Domestic Violence.

Kath Farmer

Support Services Manager

Children's Involvement The children were recently invited to participate in exercises that matter to them as residents; they were involved and included in a workshop regarding their Hostel Garden Refurbishment. The older children were also invited to a meeting for their input and involvement in deciding what they’d like to see in their garden. Both age groups delivered some brilliant ideas, which we have taken on board and will include in the garden design, supported by ‘Tarmac’ Employee Charity Awards.

Full participation in the ‘Mother and Children Stay N Play Sessions’ are presently working a treat! Interaction is proving positive in the Hostel environment.

Easter

During the Easter break, the Children's Service also ran an Easter Design competition. The winning design was rewarded by the Huge Easter Egg (kindly donated by ‘Vernon Lodge, South Staffordshire) - a huge treat for our jjoint winners, who also received certificates. All the other children who entered the competition also received a smaller Easter Egg for their efforts. Emma Burns Childrens Play & Support Worker

Eileen & Sue (FSW), awarding the joint winners their huge Easter Egg Prize and Certificates

Partnership Development

In November 2005, The Haven Children’s Services made an important link with the EYDCP (Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership), to identify how we could develop our Children’s Services, using additional resources and partnership work to support the needs of our children.
Staff from ‘Access and Inclusion, EYDCP',  alongside The Haven’s Children’s Services Team, did a resource audit at our Hostels. We were able to identify gaps in our resources both internally and externally. After careful deliberation, we were able to acquire brand new resources from the EYDCP, and have also secured Training: 'Birth to 3 years' for Children’s Workers, Support Workers and Volunteers - this will be taken up shortly.
We are also members of the ‘Schools and Community Arts Resource Facility’, which enables the Children’s Service to access innovative arts resources at reasonable prices.
On behalf of The Haven Wolverhampton and all the children who will enjoy the new equipment, we would like to say a very big thank you to all the work and support that the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership have provided, which will enable us to deliver quality provision to a particular vulnerable client group, to progress integrated partnership working, and to help form activities for our children for the ‘Summer Play Programme’.

Gloria Pearce

Children’s Service Co-ordinator

The Haven Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire District Council Partnership Working

The Haven is continuing to work in partnership with Staffordshire District Council this year to identify and address the need for services which support people in abusive situations.  A new Domestic Violence Forum Co-ordinator, ‘Tracy Groom’, was appointed on 15 May 2006 to continue the development of work from last year. Tracy’s work will involve working closely with The Council’s Community Safety Partnership, to implement the Domestic Abuse Strategy for 2006 - 2009. The Strategy document is basically a tool from which The Forum’s work will develop to meet the needs of people in the community, helping to reduce Domestic Violence within South Staffordshire.
For further information please contact Tracy direct on 01902 696500 Monday, Wednesday and Friday or 01902 572143 Thursday; alternatively email t.groom@sstaff.gov.uk

Tracy Groom

Domestic Abuse Forum Co-ordinator for South Staffs District Council

To The Hostel

	hat would we have done without these fantastic places
	pened doors to us, and put smiles on our faces
	en can no longer hurt us, no sobs, no more
	nd of that tunnel now with great galore
	ever forget you, always in our hearts, forever more

Residents Moving Forward         
Women and children in refuge are getting the opportunity to complete a ‘moving forward programme’ which is a joint initiative with the Haven and Wolverhampton College. The Programme offers a range of activities for the families. The sessions are run in the evening when the families can get together to engage in such things as arts and crafts, confidence building etc. The core ethos is around ‘Family Learning’.

Women’s Forum
The Haven supports user representation in its services and endeavours to empower women by providing a forum for them to discuss issues relating to The Haven Services. The forum also attempts to raise funds to enable the families to do the normal social activities which families enjoy, but are difficult due to lack of funds - such as going to the cinema, out for a meal, or just a day out in the park (which for any family can be an expensive event). The Forum requires funds to provide in - house activities (such as aromatherapy classes), arts & crafts materials and equipment. We have many talented women who would like to pass on their skills but need resources to do so. It is essential families do not become socially isolated and dependant solely on The Haven; the women’s Forum is a means to achieving this.

Refuge Gardens
All the refuges have good size gardens but many lack the facilities for families to enjoy the secluded environments. However, at one of our hostels, a purpose built outdoor play area, play equipment and seating / BBQ area have been kindly donated by Mansells Builders. A huge thank you to them - I know our women and children are eagerly awaiting warmer days to enjoy this facility! Tarmac Employee Charity Awards have allocated funds for developing a play area at another hostel, which will support the play room activities. Ground Works are currently involved in discussion to see where they too can help.
We have other garden areas which we welcome support with, in preparation for the long school holiday, so that our mums and children can access and participate in outdoor activities together.

Hostel Kitchens
The Haven’s hostel kitchens see over a thousand residents per year and take a considerable amount of use. The Haven is currently seeking support with finding funds for replacing these kitchens. If you can help in any way, can you contact the fund-raising team PLEASE!

Literacy Project
The Haven is currently in discussion with Ruth Coates, Project Co-ordinator from the Looked After Children Education (LACE) Team, Wolverhampton City Council and Wolverhampton University, regarding a scheme that was set up by Ruth, which promotes literacy to children in public care. The Haven is very excited, and will hopefully develop this scheme to support the children's services, and with help from Wolverhampton University’s Active Volunteers, provide literacy mentors to children living in temporary accommodation.

Michaila Tope

Refuge Services Manager