Refugee families often face profound isolation and disconnection after relocating, leading to significant mental health challenges and wellbeing issues.

Discover how Beacon Family Services is bridging the gap for refugee families, offering therapeutic support to rebuild connections and promote wellbeing.

Have you ever experienced that unmistakable ‘click’ when you connect with someone who truly listens, understands, and accepts you for who you are? That warm feeling of being able to share laughter as well as your deepest vulnerabilities? Positive connections like these are what make life truly fulfilling. But imagine if those connections were suddenly taken away from your everyday life. How would it feel?

Research consistently emphasises the profound impact of positive human connections on our mental health and wellbeing.

The NHS  lists “Connect With Other People” as the first step to mental wellbeing, highlighting the release of beneficial chemicals like oxytocin and serotonin when we engage in meaningful social interactions.

For many refugee parents who have journeyed to the UK, the hardest part isn’t the unfamiliarity of a new culture or the challenges along the way. It’s the separation from their loved ones – friends, colleagues, and extended family – when they need them the most. This sense of isolation can lead to profound negative health effects.

We offer fully funded support packages to help refugee parents and children rebuild their family relationships.

At Beacon Family Services, we understand the importance of restoring these vital connections. Our experienced therapists specialise in playful interactions that are carefully structured to promote healing and connection. Through evidence-based therapies like Theraplay, we focus on strengthening the bond between parent and child, which is crucial for a child’s mental wellbeing.

Thanks to funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Community and Birmingham City Council, we are now able to extend our support to families from Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Syria.

Here’s what we’re offering:

• Family Theraplay Support Packages: We will meet with a family to understand their needs and then provide a bespoke package of Theraplay sessions and parent support, all with the support of an interpreter.
• Theraplay Groups: Fun-filled sessions where parents and children can explore the power of play in building relationships.
• Groups for Teenagers and Young People: Opportunities for young refugees to connect and thrive in a supportive environment.
• Beanie Bundles: Our unique play resource, designed by our play therapists and crafted by volunteers, to welcome Ukrainian families to Birmingham.

Know a family who could benefit from our services?

Refer them to us through our website or contact Peppy directly to learn more.

Are you part of a community group, school, or organisation that supports refugee families?

We’d love to collaborate with you. Whether it’s running Theraplay Groups or providing support packages, we’re here to make a difference.

Contact Peppy directly to learn more.

How can I access professional training?

We offer a fully funded comprehensive two-day training program, written by experienced clinical psychologists and social workers, to support professionals working with refugee families. This immersive training covers attachment theory, neurobiology, and Theraplay techniques to help professionals assessing and supporting refugee families foster healthier, more resilient relationships.

Parenting With Theraplay info leaflet

Our next dates are:

📅29th -30th August 2024, 9.30am – 4.30pm

📍Spring Housing Association HQ

Contact Peppy directly to learn more.

🎟️Book your fully funded place here 

And if you’re passionate about knitting or crochet, join our team of volunteer crafters in creating Beacon Beanies for our therapeutic sessions. Your skills can make a real difference in the lives of refugee families.

 

Peppy Hills is a qualified play therapist who leads Project Salam at Beacon Family Services.   

For more information about Beacon Family Service’s Project Salam, contact peppy@beaconservices.org.uk or 0121 270 0593