Family Visiting Service

All parents know that being a Mum or a Dad is the hardest job in the world!

Sometimes we could all do with a little help – and the RISE Trust Family Visiting Service is here to help you!

About RISE and the Family Visiting Service (FVS)

The Family Visiting Service is a completely free, confidential service for families in Chippenham, Corsham and the surrounding villages to use. The service can be accessed by anyone with a young family regardless of status or family situation.

The family may access the FVS by referral from Health Visitors, Social Services or school/pre-school but also by self-referral. Volunteers visit families in their own homes to provide whatever practical help and support families have identified.

The aims of the Family Visiting Service

  • To encourage parents to develop skills and confidence in their parenting role.
  • To develop parents’ understanding of their child’s development and needs.
  • To encourage parents to access other local services/groups at the Children’s Centres which will build further on their confidence, parenting skills and opportunities for interaction with others.
  • To offer an on-going service with no cut off date – the family, volunteer and FVS Manager work together to decide the right time to end or reduce the support given.
  • To befriend local families in need of adult company, support and advice.
  • To meet the needs of each family as an individual unit and provide suitable support. Arrangements for exactly what support each family feel will benefit them most is agreed between the FVS Manager, the family and volunteer. This can be changed at any time.
  • To help develop routines and strategies to aid parents in organising their lives.
  • To help with the feelings of loneliness and isolation often felt after the birth of a new baby.

The ultimate aim is for the family to feel empowered to be able to take control of their own lives.

What families need additional support?

Children don’t come with an instruction manual, each child and family is different and being a parent is the hardest job in the world!

Therefore there are many different reasons why a family may need additional support and we help families from all walks of life.

It may be that parents with a new baby feel isolated if they have no family around and a weekly visit from someone who knows the area can lead to their inclusion in suitable activities.

Or a new mum may be suffering from post-natal depression and needing a supportive adult to talk to.

Other families may be struggling because of issues such as a disability, lack of confidence in, or no knowledge of, parenting skills, child behaviour difficulties, sleep problems, feeding issues or illness in the family.

Some families need short term help and others may need longer term support which over time may change as the family adapt and develop.

Volunteers and families are supported via regular contact and review visits from the FVS Manager until such time as the support can be stopped.

All you have to do is ask!

Is the FVS really for me?

The FVS is suitable for you if you answer yes to any of the following:

Do you feel isolated, depressed or lonely after having your baby?

Are you struggling to make new friends in your local area?

Are you new to the area or a first time Mum/Dad with little or no support around you?

Are you finding it hard to cope with your children, baby or babies?

Do you need advice about managing your money?

Do you want to join in local groups but find it hard to access them or don’t feel confident to go along on your own for the first time?

Is there a disability or illness in your family?

Are you struggling with establishing a routine for your children, baby or babies?

Have you had a bereavement in the family?

Do you need advice about healthy eating on a budget?

Are you a single parent wishing to meet other people in the same situation as you?

Would you like some support and reassurance that you are doing the right thing for your children?

Do you struggle with controlling your child’s behaviour?

How do I access the FVS?

If you would like to chat with us about our service, please do get in touch. A quick chat can explain in detail what support we could offer your family – and if you decide it’s not right for you, you are free to walk away.

We never judge a family – everyone is welcome at the RISE Children’s Centres.

Our service is completely confidential and you control the days and times of visits and the period of time you wish the visits to continue for.

We are here to help you to discover the confidence and skills to enable you to feel in control again.

Please contact Gill on 01249 445288 or gillb@therisetrust.org to discuss your individual situation.

Would you be interested in joining our team of FVS volunteers? Please see the ‘Support Us’ tab at the top of the page.