From 1st November 2024, the Family Support and Play Service starts a new phase following the end of the significant annual contribution from the Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Direct Schools Grant to support work with children and their families. The direct B&NES Council funding is continuing with a variation to the contract to reflect the changes to the services delivered.
This significant reduction means that the Family Support and Play Service can no longer fund delivery from Bath Area Play Project (BAPP), and Southside would like to thank and pay tribute to the BAPP team for their contribution and work with children and families through our partnership since 2016. BAPP workers have provided inspiring creative play activities in our Community Hub Groups in Foxhill and Keynsham, supported hundreds of children through Nurture Groups in schools across B&NES, and provided whole family support. BAPP will continue to provide services directly with more information available on www.bapp.org.uk.
The funding cut also affects the overall capacity for Family Support and no longer supports Southside’s Community Hub Groups, Therapeutic Play and Counselling services. We are working hard to continue these services at this difficult time through our fundraising and support from a range of trusts, foundations, companies and individuals, as well as any additional statutory funding available.
Southside will continue to provide our high quality, whole family support with a trauma informed and therapeutic approach to provide early support before things get worse. The service is open to referrals through professionals and for families to contact us directly to seek support. We will work hard to ensure that the reduced capacity does not impact families as much as possible. Please contact the Business Support team on 01225 331243 if you would like further information or visit this page for the referral criteria and form.
Southside’s whole family support focuses on strengthening attachment and resilience to help improve wellbeing, resilience, feelings of safety, positive relationships, connections and a sense of identity so that children, young people and their parent/carers can thrive. This is a very challenging time for families, but we are inspired by the small steps and progress that parents, carers and their children make together every day. For example, this recent feedback from a parent at the end of direct support from a Southside Family Support Worker: “Everything is good. Improvements at home and in my relationship with my daughter have reduced feelings over overwhelm and allowed me to return to work. This reduces financial worries and provides security and opportunity for the future.”
“We would like to thank everyone at BAPP for all their support of children and families, and celebrate all that we have achieved together through the Family Support and Play Service over the past eight years.”
Southside CEO, Penny McKissock MBE
