Family Support in School based Communities

For a number of years Father Hudson’s Society had received many requests from Schools in the Diocese to consider ways of supporting families. The Trustees and Director were keen to respond .After appointing a Community Projects Development manager in 2004 the Society carried out a wide consultation and also tasked him with considering ways of responding to the needs.

This seemed a good time to develop this new work; it coincided with the Government’s Extended provision in schools initiative. There was openness in schools to working with other partners in order to enhance all the work and contacts the schools already had with families. For Catholic Schools Father Hudson’s Society was a natural partner, since schools have supported other parts of the Society’s work for many years. Father Hudson’s Society was also open to partnering with State and other Church /Faith schools because of its mission to support those in great need, whatever a person’s faith, ethnicity, and gender.

Father Hudson’s Society was also keen to ensure that its services were well represented throughout the Diocese and for this reason development work was initiated in North Staffs, Oxford and Banbury following up contacts that had already been established.

In Birmingham Father Hudson’s Society developed relationships with two Extended School Clusters resulting in the creation of two new projects in the Border Busters South West Birmingham Cluster and the Clockwork Oscott Cluster.

Funding

All of the above posts have been part funded by the clusters, the schools and Father Hudson’s Society. This model is seen to be one that is sustainable, as long as all the partners involved believe that this is an effective way of responding to real needs. Financially the contribution that Father Hudson’s Society can make to these is a maximum of a third of the total costs. A possible sustainable funding structure would consist of a third from Father Hudson’s Society, a third from the schools involved and a third from an external funder.

Four of these posts are pilot projects for two years and the fifth for one year. Close evaluation of their effectiveness is being carried out and each has a Management Committee which meets termly and carefully scrutinised the progress.

The Future

Father Hudson’s Society continues to be approached by schools interested in establishing Family Support projects .It is important at this stage to ensure that what we are developing is effective and sustainable. Early indications are very positive. Whilst the Trustees initially set a limit on five new projects they are always open to considering more. Funding will always be a key issue. The Society is confident it has the expertise to set up and manage these projects with and on behalf of schools, but its limited resources will prevent it from being able to continue providing a third of the funding to any new projects. Schools that may be interested should approach the Community Projects Manager who will share all the knowledge and experience he has with any interested partners .Schools can then decide whether with Father Hudson’s Society, alone or in partnership with other schools, they want to take this work forward.