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 Blackburn Diocesan Board for Social Responsibility (BSR) delivers a series of projects working to improve family life, using volunteers
In its wish to address issues which affect the family, BSR received funding from Health Inequalities money (from the NHS given to Pendle Borough Council) to help to deliver the Lifecheck approach. This enabled BSR to establish an intensive family support project in Pendle
Grassroots Intensive Family Support provides extra support to families living in the Pendle area by providing 2 visits a week from a trained and CRB cleared volunteer visitor who will be a listening ear and offer practical help to the parents. The visitors work on various issues affecting the whole family, including parenting advice, debt management, healthy living and school attendance problems
 The referrals come from Pendle Families First Forum, where identified young people and their families are discussed, to find the appropriate agencies to help them
After receiving a referral, the Project Co-ordinator will visit the family home and do an initial assessment of the family’s support needs and a risk assessment for any future volunteer visitor who may be placed with the family
Once a relationship has been established, the Co-ordinator is able to place a volunteer, who is felt to be suitable to work alongside the family in question. The nature of the Project’s work is very much about esteem building and encouraging families to find their own practical solutions to meet their welfare and social needs
 With concentrated support, the parents are more able to deal with their most pressing issues, thus freeing them up from the stresses which prevent them from coping with everyday life
The intensive support entails up to four hours a week one to one visits with a parent and may offer other support including:
- life coaching
- parenting classes
- confidence building groups
There is also the opportunity for the whole family to attend community fun days and other events
 If you would like any further information on this Project, please contact:
Chris Simpson
Family Support Team Leader
Tel: 01282 619 057 | 
