FSW

FAMILY SUPPORT WORK

Building Stronger Families in Sussex

https://www.familysupportwork.org/

Since 1890 Family Support Work (FSW) has supported vulnerable families and those living on the edge of society throughout Sussex. Working in areas of high deprivation, we focus along the coastal towns and in isolated rural areas where families are facing significant challenges around poor physical & mental health, poverty, isolation, domestic abuse and substance addiction. For families experiencing these multiple challenges, making changes and trying to improve their situation can seem an impossible task.

Our team of 20 family support practitioners located all across East and West Sussex provide holistic, practical and emotional support through one-to-one home visits and support work. Our work takes each family’s situation into account and is tailored accordingly, meaning that we can offer a truly individual approach to support. We supplement our intensive support with deliveries from our in-house food bank as well as help with fuel bills from our winter fuel fund when a family is in particular need. We also run group activity sessions for our families during school holidays, and various drop-in sessions for parents during term time. These give families the opportunity to develop social networks, reduce isolation and participate in new activities which otherwise would not be available to them.

FSW places no time limit on the length of support provided to families. This approach means that we can build a trusting relationship and tackle complex problems that may take months to resolve, with families safe in the knowledge that we will not leave them unsupported. We only stop working with a family once they themselves are ready to stand on their own, having developed the strength and resilience to deal with future issues by themselves.

FSW works in partnership with many local agencies including Social Services, other charities, schools and churches to make its service as accessible and effective as possible. Families can be referred through all of our partner groups as well as through self-referral, and we have no restrictions on who can be supported, as long as at least one child under the age of 18 is part of the family unit.

If you would like to discuss FSW’s work in more detail, our Director of Fundraising would be delighted to talk with you. Please contact Nikki Kerr by email nikki@familysupportwork.org.uk or 01273 832963.

FSW is always grateful that St Denys' and St Marks donate the Gifts and Christmas Food collected at their Christmas Toy and Harvest Services to Family Support Work.  St Denys' and Old Milk Lodge have permanent FSW food collection baskets.

The Rotherfield Deanery Practitioner is Richard Andrews 

Tel: 07541645274 email: richard@familysupportwork.org.uk

The St Denys' representative is Margo Fermor tel: 01892 852645