Our Daisy Chain service in Glasgow uses play, nurture, and family support interventions to improve the lives of children under 12, and their families, who are at risk of marginalisation and discrimination. Our dedicated play staff promote the development and wellbeing of children, whilst family support workers build relationships with parents/carers,
supporting them to resolve difficult situations such as marital breakdown, isolation, domestic violence and poverty.
This year our Daisy Chain service entered a particular time of financial crisis which put the work of the service at risk. An emergency appeal was set up and we are very grateful to all those whose efforts, through generous financial donations and prayerful support, meant that our hopes were realised and the full amount of £100,000 was raised.
This will ensure that the doors of Daisy Chain can remain open for another year allowing the dedicated support for children and families to continue so they can enjoy one of the most blessed times of their lives.
Each year our services rely on the generocity of people like you which means we continue to look for support. If you would still like to read Robbie's story and back our Daisy Chain service, we would be so grateful.
Little Robbie, 9, has a difficult home life, his dad is in prison and mum struggling with alcoholism. He has also witnessed a lot of violence and drug use but none of it is his fault.
He and his sister were living with their gran and hoping for increased contact with mum after custody was taken away due to struggles with alcoholism. His school shared with staff at our CrossReach Daisy Chain service that although they encountered challenging moments due to his behaviour, he was a smart, lovely boy with a ‘cheeky glint’. Robbie was also known to love outdoors and school staff therefore thought he would benefit from coming to the Outdoor Nurture Group.
Upon starting sessions with our Nurture Group, staff noticed that Robbie seemed hesitant to trust others with his emotions, as well as a tendency to challenge instruction which resulted in burning himself and experiencing conflict.
Robbie often needed time and space away from the group to gather himself and struggled to read social cues and situations such as understanding when others were being playful as opposed to hurtful.
Our expert staff were patient and supportive of Robbie, guiding him through difficult moments and giving him the time and space to process situations. Staff also noticed that Robbie responded well to tasks that held responsibilities so they were able to tailor a plan suited specifically to him.
Before long, Robbie was settling into the group and making a positive effort to engage with his peers!
He showed persistence when struggling with things such as the fire and growing in areas involving responsibility. Robbie even began to show consideration towards his peers by serving food and drink to them first, an incredible turn around.
School staff also began to report that there was a notable difference in Robbie’s behaviour at school.
Unfortunately, Robbie can experience set-backs in his behaviours and his emotional wellbeing during school holidays due to extended periods of time in his unstable home environment. He can often be short tempered and have difficulty handling his emotions in constructive ways, but staff responded to this by swiftly reintroducing structure and routine within the session which Robbie responds well to.
Robbie has become a positive influence in the group by leading and encouraging others. Staff also incorporated more theraplay games to give Robbie and his peers the time and space to reflect on their own feelings and understanding the feelings of others.
The CrossReach Outdoor Nurture Group has been able to offer Robbie support, structure and development opportunities to guide him through a really tough period in his life. It's services like ours that not only change lives, but can save them too.
