Families United Summer 2020 – Our first Blog Post

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Hello folks,

We hope that you’re enjoying our very smart new website. We’d like to thank the team at Blue Whale Media for designing and hosting our new website. We absolutely love that a local business has been able to support our small charity. Check out their website using the following link to see what they’re all about  www.bluewhalemedia.co.uk

Its been a tough peculiar summer this year thanks to CV19 but here at Families United we have continued to deliver activities for our families though we’ve adapted our offer to fit within the government guidelines ensuring that our families are safe & well.

So what have we been up to you may ask, well here goes………..

We have continued to signpost families to available services and to provide support within our private Facebook group, a safe space for families to ask sometimes difficult questions. Early on in the Pandemic, our Chair of Trustees Andrea arranged weekly Magic Matt Zoom sessions, allowing our families to socialise with each other whilst learning a new skill and having fun.

In June, as guidance was changed, our Trustee Vicky sourced a local company called Pony Proud to offer families socially distanced Pony Proud visits to the families’ homes. These visits adhered to social distancing, whilst wearing PPE, allowing families to meet the very gentle ponies Chilli & Guiness. Animal therapy is extremely calming for many with SEND, we received very positive feedback on social media from both the families and Pony Proud who said “We have 1 more visit booked in of many on behalf of Families United, and we would like to say from the bottom of our hearts what an absolute pleasure it’s been working beside you. The families and children have all been amazing and we are so overwhelmed by the joy, love and happiness both Guiness and Chilli have brought to all the families involved. We thank you so much for letting us share our ponies with you all. Thank you all and a big thank you to Vicky who booked in with us”.

In August, we hired bouncy castles for many families, again at their homes, using a local hire company https://bouncyhire.net/ who we received fantastic service from. Bouncing is a fantastic form of exercise that provides good sensory feedback and of course it is FUN for the whole family.

September has allowed for further Pony Proud visits which Families United have continued to offer with thanks to the funding from the Torus Foundation.

Finally, before we sign off, we’d like to announce that we are now on Twitter & Instagram!!!

Please give us a follow and show a little love when we post to help raise awareness of who we are 🙂