Understanding families’ needs, a “significant need” for the island

Tuesday 26 September 2023

Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands gives grants to charities helping disadvantaged people play a fuller role in the community.

The Foundation also provides developmental support including mentoring, to help charities to improve their resilience and sustainability. As a grant recipient, Bright Beginning’s Children Centre invited Trustees of the Foundation to attend the centre and find out more about the role it plays in the community. Trustee Poppy Murray explains more:

With boxes filled with children’s clothes grouped by age range stacked in the corner and toddlers running around tables as an Old-MacDonald-singalong carried down the corridors into the café, it would be easy forget that Bright Beginnings is far from simply a provider of fun and games. In fact, with no other service provider on the island, the charity plays a critical role in the development of the island’s future generations.

Labelled the “fulfilment of a dream” by a Founder Rachel Copeland, Guernsey’s only children’s centre has grown from supporting 3-10 families on its inception in 2017, to catering to the growing needs of more than 150 families a week.

From prenatal and postnatal classes, therapeutic groups and counselling services to peer support, a dad’s group and activities designed to support healthy relationships, the services offered by Bright Beginnings have developed over time to support the physical, emotional and mental health of parents and children alike.

“We work with the families to benefit the child. We are a place where people can come to build essential trusting relationships,” said Mrs Copeland.

Bright Beginnings’ services have been tailored to support the first 1,001 Critical Days Agenda, from conception to age two. Mrs Copeland continued:

“There has been extensive research proving that the first 1,001 days of a child’s life, and the relationships they develop in that time, are crucial. The research is stacked up; if you address issues in the early years, then you prevent issues down the road.

“There is no States service delivering what we deliver. We work closely in partnership with many other professionals, including health visitors, midwives and social workers. We offer universal services, as well as targeted sessions and everyone who works here has worked in social care in some capacity. This helps us in understanding the hurdles and barriers for families.

"At Bright Beginnings, there is no stigma for families seeking support. By being consistent, approachable and understanding, we have become a lifeline service for families who would not otherwise consider engaging with services. This is hugely rewarding, and we are committed to making sure everyone gets the support they need.”

Alongside the development of healthy relationships, Bright Beginnings supports parents’ mental health and wellbeing. This includes drop-in services, one-to-one support and a “Beyond Blue” group, for families affected by and experiencing anxiety and depression through pregnancy and up to two years after birth.

“Parenting is not easy. We passionately believe that parents need support in the early years, or it can be an incredibly lonely place to be. We have a brilliant team that understands the needs of families, which meets a significant need for the island,” said Mrs Copeland.

Children’s Centre Manager, Teresa Bott explained the scale of the issue.

“People might not realise that perinatal mental health issues affect one in four mums. This can look different for everyone, and sometimes just coming along to a group where you can express how you’re feeling in a safe space or see that you’re not alone can be enough to help. For others, counselling services may be required or a referral to other support,” said Mrs Bott.

“Each of our groups has a different focus, and within that connections and friendships are built and that helps to support families in knowing they do have somewhere to go and someone to turn to. We have helped to raise the profile of perinatal mental health issues. We have parents who have said that the Centre and its services saved their life. When you hear that, it really hits home how essential our work is.”

Although Bright Beginnings operates a nursery for which it earns some income, all its other services are provided free of charge and the charity does not receive States funding.

“There is a significant financial strain in running the centre and, without donations, we simply would not be able to provide our services. We are incredibly grateful to Lloyds Bank Foundation, and every other organisation that supports us. Without this, we could not continue to run and hundreds of families would lose a lifeline service,” said Mrs Copeland.

“I am a dreamer, and I hope that we will be able to have a voice and can continue to demonstrate the positive outcomes of early intervention.”

In the time I spent at the centre, alongside fellow Lloyds Bank Foundation trustees, I saw just a small glimpse of the huge impact the work has had on the island. Far from only a “dreamer”, Rachel Copeland – alongside Mrs Bott and the rest of the inspiring team – spends each day proving through hard work and dedication that, not only does it take a village to raise a child, but that the Bright Beginnings Village (or “family” as Mrs Copeland refers to it) is one that our community should be hugely proud of, and grateful for.