covid-19 blog

week 5- family mediation service.

Family Mediation is a vital service that BYHP offers. Here is what Deb had to say about how it's operating at the moment.
"Due to the Coronavirus, we have now moved our Family Mediation Service online, adapted our service and are now offering visual appointments on an online platform.  This gives us the flexibility and opportunity to work individually with everyone involved, hear from each person’s perspective what the issue is for them and start to build a trusting relationship.   Families can so often feel that their feelings are not heard or listened to and a climate of anger, hurt and resentment building up within the family home can at times be overwhelming.  We can step in to help mend the broken relationships and re-build strong family ties together.  This period of lockdown is an ideal time to nurture some harmony in the family home for everyone."
 
Providing that home is a safe place, the best place for a young person is to be at home with their family.  The biggest cause of youth homelessness is still parental eviction. Ros and Deb our Family Mediators together work with young people and their family members to provide a safe, non-judgemental space for families to air their grievances.   This can still work with virtual appointments providing the family can access a private space in their home where they won’t be overheard or interrupted.  Often, the families who come to us have forgotten how to communicate with each other respectfully.   In a Mediation session with a Mediator present, there is the opportunity for everyone to speak individually and be heard by the other family members.  In mediation, everyone is an equal and everyone is heard.
 We know that during this period of lockdown, some families will be struggling even more than usual;  click here for some tips for looking after yourself and others during this period of uncertainty.

To find out more information or make a referral for this service, please visit the family mediation page on the services tab of our website.

This week we'd like to say a massive thank you to the Banbury Nationwide. The Building Society have supported BYHP for some time now, with collection pots in branch, food bank donations and various other things. We were delighted recently to receive a £50 voucher for Morrisons so that we could buy items needed to go in our food bank. We put it to good use and stocked up on shower gel and shampoo which can now be distributed as part of our deliveries. 

THANK YOU NATIONWIDE BANBURY! 

Friday 8th May marks the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. With celebrations not being able to go ahead as planned, The Royal British Legion is calling on people across the UK to join in a moment of reflection and Remembrance at 11am and pause for a Two Minute Silence.
On the website which was set up to share plans for various celebrations and activities today, there is also this statement...
"We are also encouraging all those taking part to undertake the ‘Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of WW2’ at 3pm on the 8th May, from the safety of their own home by standing up and raise a glass of refreshment of their choice and undertake the following ‘Toast’ – “To those who gave so much, we thank you,” using this unique opportunity to pay tribute to the many millions at home and abroad that gave so much to ensure we all enjoy and share the freedom we have today." 

Please check back next week when we will be introducing you to the newest member of the BYHP team, Libby and talking about her employability project- Back on Track. In the meantime, if you are still looking for fun things to take part in at home this weekend, why not check out these fun activities and challenges put together by Centrepoint. 

WISHING YOU ALL A FUN, SAFE BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND :)