Jacqueline Crooks
We do what we know
Parenting is not easy. My mother was a lone parent immigrant from Jamaica. She struggled with three children in 1960s London after leaving a violent relationship. Not knowing about benefits, she worked the night shift at an old people’s home, then came home in the mornings to get us ready for school. She had to snatch a few hours’ sleep before collecting us from school, cooking dinner, getting our school clothes ready, and going back to work. She worked six days a week. She didn’t parent us. How could she? At the age of eight, I was a young carer.
Who we know can improve what we know
A family support service like Befriend a Family would have been a lifeline to my family. Befriend a Family knows all the estates in Westminster, the ones where vulnerable families are locked into dark corners, silent and desperate. We would have loved to have a volunteer come to our house every Saturday, like the Westminster Befriend a Family Volunteers who visit families every week without fail. My brothers and sisters would have loved to have a volunteer to help with education and provide recreational and cultural activities so we didn’t feel so cut off.
What we know can impact those we know
Befriend a family is not just about supporting families; the organisation brings communities alive by involving volunteers and local businesses and channelling support and resources to disadvantaged children and parents so that they can identify their talents and strengths and develop them.
There is no need for families to be isolated and alone. A family just needs one person to take their hand and lead them towards a brighter future. That is what our volunteers do week in, week out, 52 weeks of the year.
My family made it through, but many families from our estate did not. Our mission is to ensure that every vulnerable family receives the support they need. Please help us to lead a family to a better life.
Profile
First Class Hons Social Policy (Children’s Rights, Domestic Violence, Children and Families Social Work), MA Creative & Life Writing, published writer. Winner of the ‘Taking the Lead’ Award, Living City Leadership Awards 2010/11 |
