Covid-19 has had a huge and varied impact on the families who use Avenue. These families were already undergoing the trauma of relationship difficulties and/or family separation. A large proportion of these families have complex histories of trauma (domestic abuse/ substance misuse/ childhood trauma etc) and are already socially and economically disadvantaged. The grant will enable us to provide Family Wellbeing Groups for parents in Aberdeen affected by relationship challenges. These will cover topics such as: self-care; healthy communication; blended families; child and young person wellbeing; supporting children and young people through change and transition; and recognising the impact of trauma in self and others. The groups will be delivered by two practitioners trained in key skills including solution-focused techniques, trauma-informed practice, group dynamics and motivational interviewing. The groups will be offered in both face-to-face format at Avenue's base on Belgrave Terrace, and through online platforms (e.g Zoom). This will provide resilience in the event of a change to the pandemic-related restrictions, whilst at the same time offering choice of medium for parents who are often time-poor and who may have limited transport options.
