WELLBEING
“They do so much more than they think they do. All the small things, the chats, the advice, the encouragement and the way they treat everyone differently makes them so special.’’
Parent 2022
The wellbeing of Islington parents is at the heart of all that we do at The Parent House. Parents come to us with wide ranging needs and issues. These include concerns about their physical or mental health, social and financial problems and family worries. We always start by listening so we can support parents to take steps towards their goals.
Our work at The Parent House aligns perfectly with the 5 ways to wellbeing promoted by the NHS
5 steps to mental wellbeing - NHS There is strong evidence to show that these five steps help people get the most out of their lives and to feel more positive.
1. Connect with other people
2. Be physically active
3. Learn new skills
4. Give to others
5. Pay attention to the present moment
We explore these five ways by following parent’s ideas and suggestions. This could include joining groups and projects of like-minded parents including our SEND Friend group, learning skills such as presentation or becoming volunteers for The Parent House.
We also run special workshops which explore many paths to wellbeing. in 2023/24 we ran 30 wellbeing drop in sessions exploring meditation, aroma therapy and other useful techniques. These sessions had 280 attendances.
Government Department of Health research shows that 1 in 6 adults in Islington suffer from anxiety and/or depression, and 33% of working-age adults receive disability benefits due to mental illness (the highest rate in London) Joint Strategic Needs Assessments Department of Health. Our focus on wellbeing is essential for Islington families.
Kaya
Kaya was clearly very nervous and anxious, twisting the watch round on her wrist as we talked. With a cup of tea in her hand she began to relax a little. She told us that she was feeling very down and wanted to speak to someone. Her two young children were at school. She was struggling to make ends meet and sometimes she did not have enough food for them all to eat properly, so she would go without. Her husband was working but was out a lot and sometimes he was angry with her. Occasionally he lashed out at her. She said she felt very lonely and believed she was ‘useless’, a ‘failure’.
First of all we were able to offer her regular one-to-one support. This led to a place on a course on how to manage a household budget. She made friends on the course and became more confident. She began to manage her finances better. She started to think about a part-time job. Encouraged to take small steps by the Parent House, she is now looking for a volunteer placement and eventually hopes to get work as a shop assistant. Her relationship with her husband has improved a little. Staff will continue to support Kaya as long as she needs as she is still vulnerable.
“For me, the Parent House is a space I can just focus on myself.”
Yavonne