Peer support at Wirral’s Family Hubs creating safe spaces for families

“It’s a community that you very much become a part of.” 

A partnership initiative is giving families and children with educational and health needs a safe space to connect with other carers and get practical and emotional support. 

Peer Support Groups were launched by Wirral Council earlier this year, with local charities The Positivitree and Koala North West, and are held in Family Hubs. 

Parents and carers of children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) or additional health or care needs can drop in for a chat over a cuppa with peers who understand what they’re going through.

“I felt a bit nervous at first,” said Emily a regular attender at the Stay and Play Peer Support Group at Seacombe Family Hub during the school holidays. “As soon as we walked in, everyone was so welcoming that I felt at home right away. My little girl quickly made friends and was having fun in the soft play area.”

Part of Wirral’s SEND support offer within Family Hubs, the Peer Support Groups are reducing the isolation parents caring for children with additional needs often feel, providing a listening ear and helping them feel connected. 

“It can be lonely when you’ve got kids that maybe the world doesn’t understand very well,” continued Emily. “Having that small corner of people that have your back and tell you what a good job you are doing makes such a difference.

“It’s a community that you very much become a part of. It’s nice to talk to someone that ‘gets it’. The staff and volunteers also have children with health needs or SEND and have the same challenges. My daughter doesn’t sleep very well and to just hear someone say, ‘we went through that too’ helps you feel less alone.

“On the outside, people don’t always see what’s going on. My son has health issues, and they might see him during a happy moment but don’t know about the flare ups, the medical appointments and everything else that’s not always on show. It helps to talk to someone who gets the hidden part of it. Just because he’s happy right now doesn’t mean we haven’t had a terrible morning.”

Funded by Wirral Council, the sessions are run jointly by The Positivitree and Koala North West, and facilitated by volunteer parents-carers and staff with lived experience who can offer practical advice and support. 

“For me personally, it’s important that people know how kind everyone is – not just the people who run the sessions but also the other mums and dad,” said Emily. “I’ve walked in and started crying after a horrible morning. Straight away one of the other volunteers played with the kids whilst someone made me a drink. Everyone is so welcoming.”

For families with children and young people with SEND aged 0-25 or additional health needs, the Peer Support Groups take place during term time across Family Hubs, offering a listening ear and solution focused support, with no subject taboo. You don’t need to have a diagnosis to attend these free sessions and there is no need to book just turn up! There is also an evening online session for those who can’t attend during the day.

There is one stay and play peer support session during term time at Koala North West Family Hub, but several take place at hubs across the borough during school holidays. These sessions are free but do need to be booked in advance.  Parents-carers can drop in for a chat over a cuppa with peers who understand what they’re going through, while little ones build confidence and resilience through play. The timetables for the school holiday sessions are released a couple of weeks in advance and you will be able to find booking information, locations, dates and times for these sessions on our Local Offer website, SENDLO. 

You can attend any of the following regular sessions during term time:

For more information on Wirral’s Family hubs visit: www.familytoolbox.co.uk.

To find out more about The Positivitree head to: www.thepositivitree.com

To find out more about Koala North West visit: www.koalanw.co.uk