Details of all the Daybreak projects and the two domestic violence FGC projects (DOVE) are given below. To jump to the project you are interested in, click on its name below:
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Daybreak in Brighton and Hove is run by the Project Manager, Sheena Cameron. The Brighton & Hove project has been running since September 2003. It is funded by the Brighton & Hove Children & Young People’s Trust to take approximately 63 referrals in this financial year (2006-2007). Workers from any agency can refer a family living in the City for a Family Group Conference (FGC). • where there is a child between 0 years & 13 years in the family |
Families can contact the project themselves, to ask for an FGC. The Brighton & Hove Daybreak project places a big emphasis on the children and young people having their views heard at the meeting that is planning for them. Children having a FGC in Brighton & Hove have the option of having an independent advocate and about 70% of children over five choose this option, other children presented their views themselves or with the support of family friends or known professionals. We are about to receive the outcomes of some independent research about the impact of advocacy on all particpants experience of the FGC process and on outcomes. Some of the project's outcomes include: |
"Everyone presented their thoughts and was given every opportunity to be heard" A relative "[My views were included] a lot, because the plan includes my worries which were drinking, arguments, housing, patience, money and writing.” A child |
• In 2004/2005 87% of children subject to an FGC were living with their family or community after having their FGC(s)
• FGCs have supported families and professionals in tackling both “major” issues such as where children should live, how they can be safe, basic issues of physical care, and more “minor” issues that greatly affect children’s emotional well being such as good contact with family members and the detail of how family time & care is organised.
• FGCs have been particularly successful in enabling children and young people to participate in decisions about their welfare. There is a high rate of attendance of children at their FGCs; 75% of children aged five and over attended their FGC; 92% of children have been able to present their view to the meetings. Children and adult family members feel those views have a positive impact on the family plan
• FGCs have contributed to the active participation of family members in decision making, with a high number of family members and friends (an average of 7 with a high of 14) attending meetings about their children and feeling satisfied with the process.
View our most recent Annual Report, or the shorter executive summary.
To contact the Brighton & Hove Daybreak Project:
Ring: Sheena Cameron (01273)718021
Email: sheena@daybreakb-h.fsworld.co.uk
Write to: Sheena Cameron, Daybreak FGC, Wayland House, 61 Western Road, Hove BN3 1JD
A Steering Group with representation from all funding partners and from Daybreak has been as essential feature of the project, and has led the work throughout all this time. Other agencies have also been invited to participate, such as the Hampshire Constabulary, Health and Youth Justice on the Isle of Wight and the Surestart organization in Ryde in our aim to promote the multi-agency community based project. Although a fairly small project, we do manage to work across a number of issues which are relevant to the different funding partners and are proud that we have a high rate of young people participating in their FGC’s. We aim to deal with 28 referrals in this financial year. |
To contact the Portsmouth & Isle of Wight Daybreak Project: Ring: Lorna Reavely on 023 92 838331, or 07739 716128 |
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Daybreak has been providing a FGC programme to Southampton Social Services, now Children’s Services, since 2000, and has supported the Department's long involvement with Family Group Conferences. We aim to work with 30 referrals each year. Daybreak Southampton is run by the Project Manager, Gill Turner. |
| Family Group Conferences are now used for both “children in need” scenarios and the higher tariff situations where there are child protection concerns, court proceedings and the possibility of removing children from their family. This latter work has meant that the Daybreak training delivered to social workers and other information givers for FGCs has had to be adjusted to ensure that the safety issues for children are fully discussed and understood. Daybreak has sought to widen its delivery of FGCs seeking new partnership relationships to enable referrals to come from other sources than social workers. We are about to start a trial use of FGCs within the Education setting in the city. This is a development which is exciting and offers more scope for FGCs to be accessible to young people and their families. The participation of children is seen as an integral part of this process. Co-ordinators work with the child/ young person from the outset to identify and deliver any support needs. Southampton has also had significant experience of working with disability issues within the family and has in recent times also been deliver Family Group Conferences which have been referred from the Children with Disabilities Team with the city. If you would like to know about this programme please feel free to contact me. I can be contacted by phone on 077 88 973 650 or by email: GillDTurner@aol.com |
To contact the Southampton Daybreak Project: Ring: Gill Turner on 077 88 973 650 |
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The Wessex Project is run by Project Manager, Richard Chalmers. The project was set up in 2003 in response to a partnership of three local authorities, Bournemouth, East Dorset and Poole, wanting to offer this service to families. The project is funded equally by the partners who all have representatives on the steering group which meets quarterly. At present we are targeted to take approximately 54 referrals in total from the three partners and we have a team of 10 co-ordinators to whom we allocate these cases. |
To contact the Wessex Daybreak Project: Ring: Richard Chalmers on 01202 862451, or 07980 985597 |
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The Dove Project is one of the family group conference programs managed by Daybreak FGC. It uses family group conferences to address situations of domestic violence. The key aim of the Project is to enable families to make their own plans that will help keep everyone safe. A family group conference acts against the secrecy of the abuse by enhancing knowledge and the number of people who know what has been happening. It draws on the strength of the extended family and friendship network for support, information and resources.It brings together, at one place and at one time, agencies who can offer professional resources. |
To contact the Dove Project: Ring: Alison Powney on 01256 312232, or 07901 655666 |
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This project started in April 2006 and is funded by the Department for education and skills. The project aims to provide Family Group Conferences to families living in the New Forrest and Eastleigh area of Hampshire and who are experiencing domestic abuse. The families must have at least one child under the age of 16. The project is managed by Daybreak, but is supported by a local multi-agency steering group. The project aims to involve extended family members, children, family friends and service providers in the process and to draw on their strength, information and resources in order to make plans to keep everyone in the family safe and to safeguard the wellbeing of the child. |
The voice of the child is important to us and we aim to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to be heard at the FGC. This can be done in many ways such as by letter or by having the support of an independent support person during the meeting. The project will take referrals from any agency concerned about a family experiencing domestic abuse. The project will allocate an independent coordinator to set up and facilitate the FGC and will support and supervise the coordinator in this work. The project will be independently researched in order to validate outcomes. We provide training for potential referrers as well as for potential coordinators. |
To contact the Dove SouthProject: Email: lis@gohrisch.fsnet.co.uk |
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The Bluebird Project is a new venture for Daybreak and is focussing on using Family Group Conferences in situations of Elder Abuse. The Project Manager is Linda Tapper, who is heading an experienced team of FGC coordinators to offer this service. The Bluebird project has been made possible by a 3 Year grant from Comic Relief, who are also hel;ing to evaluate the benefits of FGCs for older people who have suffered some form of abuse. |
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This exciting new area of work is being offered throughout Hampshire, including Southampton and Portsmouth. The project team are working closely with Adult Services in the field of Adult Protection and with all voluntary agencies working with older people. A steering group is being set up to advise the project, which it is hoped will include a wide range of interested parties, especially older people themselves. As with all other projects it is vital that the voice of the older person concerned is heard at the meeting and that their views and opinions are listened to and taken into consideration in any plans made. To this end we will be ensuring that all older people have the opportunity to have an advocate or supporter present at the meeting, who help them present their views. |
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Restorative Practices This is a method of resolving situations where there has been an incident of harm or conflict. This can be by way of one-to-one discusssions, or other methods through to a formal Restorative Conference involving everybody who has been harmed or affected by the incident. The Bluebird Project will be offering this facility were appropriate in some situations of elder abuse. This may be as an alternative to a full Family Group Conference or preparatory to one. To contact the Bluebird Project: Ring: Linda Tapper on 023 80 696644 or 07825 535835
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The website of Daybreak Family Group Conferences. Charity no. 1077607 Company no. 378026
The name 'Daybreak' is translated from the Maori word 'Puao-te-ata-tu'. This was the title of the report from which the concept of family group conferences first began.
