Across the Borough of Hounslow, there are many families struggling to make ends meet. The Robinson family is one of them.
They rely on benefits, have very few belongings and hardy any furniture. They are living hand to mouth with just the bare basics to get by.
Thankfully though, the family have received support from HAY through the Youth Bonds Project. Initially, the YBP youth worker referred them to the Hounslow Furniture Project which was able to provide them with a dining table and chairs, a sofa and beds for the two younger children. And the HAY’s youth worker was also able to direct them to other charities which could provide carpets and paint to decorate the house, turning it into a comfortable, safe and suitable home for the whole family.
Additionally, YBP staff supported the family with meetings at school and social services agencies. Before receiving support from HAY at the Hanworth Centre, relationships with the family were quite fraught. But regular one-to-one sessions have helped the children and their mum form a much better relationship.
HAY’s youth worker supports the family at Case Conferences and Core Group meetings and works closely with the family social worker and family practitioner to support the family in moving forward and building a better life for themselves.
The HAY youth worker also works closely with the youngest boy, Tyler, who attends the YBP. They have weekly one-to-one sessions where they talk about home and school life, helping him work through any problems he has, for example when Tyler was being bullied at school.
The youth worker has also referred Tyler’s mother onto Triple P Parenting workshops so she can learn new techniques for how to deal with her teenage children, which will help to keep them safe and out of trouble. These skills will also be useful with the younger siblings, demonstrating the lasting benefits for the whole family.