Family Centre

Bradford Family Support Network
BFSN is a Christian Charity in partnership with Abundant Life providing practical help and support to local families, refugees, and asylum seekers. Each family has its own unique needs but on the whole the most common are loneliness, poverty, debt, housing, child welfare, ill health (mental and physical), drug misuse, domestic violence, criminal affairs and education.

In 2006 BFSN has given support to

• 93 Asylum seekers - men, women and children
• 60 English men, women and children
• 25 Asian men, women and children
• 97 who spoke of feelings of isolation
• 75 who had experienced violence and abuse at home
• 33 single parents
• 22 fathers at home either not working or unable to work
• 10 economic migrants – a growing issue in Bradford. With Statutory bodies legally unable to support these families, as they reach crisis point. Both Social Services and the NHS refer them to BFSN

Cathy Ward, the founder and Director of BFSN works alongside a team of volunteers who’s mission is to build relationships with families in the community thus providing some stability in their lives. BFSN believes in the respect and consideration of others, and enjoys the depth and strengths that a wide cultural mix of people brings. Its work is in two key areas these being The Family Centre and Home Visits

The Family Centre

This runs every Wednesday being based in St Stephens Church, West Bowling, Bradford. This community based project offers 

• A relaxed, safe, homely environment where all can have fun
• Parenting classes
• Learning through play - parents and children
• Development of social and communication skills
• Development of cookery skills
• A baby clinic run in partnership with the NHS – enabling the Health Visitor(s) to access “difficult to reach” families

We accept every referral. Not a single family has been turned away. Everyone receives a service, some families require support.  Others more intensive help is needed.  We encourage and support families to use self help approaches.  As the families are introduced to others they form their own social network of support and reduce the effects of isolation.
   
Home Visits

Available to all families connected with BFSN and enhancing its work by

• Further reducing their isolation
• Developing a closer relationship with families Enabling families to gain confidence in building relationships through trust
• Giving opportunity to address personal issues, which could not be discussed in a group setting.