New family contact centre planned for city

Walk the Walk provides a contact centre for families with children in care

An organisation working to prevent family breakdown is set to open a new contact centre.

Walk the Walk Family Support Service provides a broad range of support for families at the "edge of care", where children face being taken into care or may be returning to their family after being cared for.

The organisation is planning to open the centre in Gloucester's Brockworth Community Centre in early November.

The non-profit's CEO, Jacqueline Gear, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that the organisation believes "there's always a chance for change, for hope".

'We try to walk alongside the family, which is why we're called 'Walk the Walk,' said Ms Gear

"Our core beliefs are to try and keep families together wherever it's safe to do so and, where children need some support around safeguarding, to put things in place to help keep them safe," she added.

As well as family contact sessions, the organisation also provides family therapy and round-the-clock support via a helpline.

"We try to walk alongside the family, which is why we're called 'Walk the Walk,'" Ms Gear said.

"Understanding their strengths, understanding some of their challenges, and really empowering them to move towards sustained positive changes."

Walk to Walk's family support group is contracted by local authorities, after being commissioned via a child's social worker, but the organisation is looking to develop a self-referral system for families in Gloucestershire by the end of October.

This, a spokesperson for the organisation said, will be funded via contributions from families or referring agencies.

Rhoanna has been supported by the organisation after a distant relative came to live with her.

"They've been absolutely amazing at providing round-the-clock support and advice," she told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"I don't feel scrutinised for asking anything at all, it can be big, it can be small, it can be something I think is ridiculous, but then I ring Walk the Walk and I know it's not."

The organisation also provides therapy and a round-the-clock helpline

Ms Gear said she was inspired to support families after her cousin took her own life, adding she "fell through the gaps".

"I take a lot of her journey with me," she said, and described how Walk the Walk worked to provide a non-judgemental space where families could be supported.

"Our families come and they're very worried and nervous and think they're going to be judged, but we really want to support them in that moment because it's all about the child," Ms Gear added.

"It's all about the child seeing their parent, having a great time with them, it's not about us making any kind of commentary about what's happened."

The new centre, which is currently awaiting accreditation, will have a fully trained contact centre coordinator and a contact centre worker.