Stoke-on-Trent council, working with charity Shared Lives Plus, run the Family by Family project, a wholefamily peer support model. Based on the approach pioneered by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation, the project matches ‘seeking families’, who are going through challenges with ‘sharing families’, who have been through a similar situation or have a similar background. Families meet up via Link Ups, helping to build social connections and networks and offering practical help too. The model
is based on the fundamental principles of choice, relationships and strength, with families working
together on a bespoke set of goals of the family’s choice. Children are empowered to play a central role in helping positive changes materialise for the family. In addition, family and children’s coaches on hand to help facilitate the goals. The hope is that this type of intervention can reduce escalation to crisis and negate the need for referral to statutory services. This intervention was shown to be beneficial to families in Australia and the pilot currently taking place in Stoke.
Family by Family Stoke-on-Trent pilot project - Shared Lives Plus