News from South East England

Find out how we are finding homes for children in South East England

Billy-Jo O’Leary shares updates, encouragement and prayer points related to Home for Good’s work across the South-East.

Reflection

Sometimes, like a Sunflower, we might feel out of place when in fact Jesus has planted us right where we need to shine, grow, and enable others to smile as they walk past. Look to those around you who have and are tending to your strength. In a recent sunflower I walked past I saw someone tied a cord just under the flower head to steady the plant and possibly stop someone pulling it up. It is a great image of looking out for each other and those we are called to tend after.

Recent highlights

We’ve had a few busy months delivering our Who Cares campaign at Spring Harvest, Big Church Festival and the announcement of the merger with Safe Families. Below is an outline of the activity where I have been out and about.

This term, we have been focused on developing and growing our registered volunteers, Home for Good Church network and supporting our existing peer support groups. Currently, we have three registered Home for Good Churches across the region.

Our three registered Home for Good Churches are:

CityCoast in Brighton and Hove
City Life Church in Southampton
Pneuma Church in Ashford

If you would like to become a registered Home for Good church or begin a conversation about what part you can play, you can register your interest here https://homeforgood.org.uk/home-for-good-church. Billy-Jo can be in touch to pick up this conversation with you.

Peer support groups

Billy-Jo is pleased to share our current peer support groups that are led by registered volunteers:

Farnham – Run by Louise these are two different groups running please do email her for more information about when and where these run [email protected]
North Hampshire - Run by Earl and a small team there is a summer BBQ coming up email Earl for more details [email protected]
Kent – run by Debbie. There is a September social coming up do email Debbie for more information about the bring your own picnic [email protected]

If you are operating a peer support group and think you would like to be part of the Home for Good network or were in the past and are without a @local.homeforgood email address please contact Billy-Jo to have this set up under the new regulations for volunteers.

New Volunteers

A warm welcome to our newly interviewed and trained volunteers. Your dedication and commitment are truly inspiring. With 27 of you in this network, Billy-Jo is excited to work with each of you as we strive to achieve your dreams, whether it's through speaking engagements, developing support groups, increasing our reach, impact, income or other initiatives. Your incredible work is invaluable, and we want to express our deep gratitude for your support.

As the local church and individual, you are making a significant difference in the lives of local children and families. Your support and dedication are invaluable, and Billy-Jo is proud to be part of this journey with you. Your work is not just important, it's changing lives.

If you're reading this and would like to find out how you can volunteer and become a registered Home for Good volunteer you can find out more on our website here https://homeforgood.org.uk/volunteer

Thank you to Volunteers

Volunteers have been busy delivering speaking engagements—meeting with prospective families and those who have adopted, fostered or provided supporting lodgings. We are so grateful for this growing network of key supporters. Some have taken up the challenge to Walk with Me this summer in different ways.

Volunteers in West Sussex will run an information session in November - if you would like to know more details you can contact Billy-Jo. Thank you to the volunteers for organising and leading the session.

The picture below of Debbie Bashford at The Vine – Debbie supported a speaking engagement as Billy-Jo was on leave. Thank you Debbie for your support (and all our volunteers) as Debbie continues to support a few who met with her and will be attending our online events.

Activities & Stories

Billy-Jo supports the commission with West Sussex (for fostering) and PACT (for Adoption) and works primarily across the churches in West Sussex, East Sussex, Surrey, and Brighton and Hove. We have built great relationships between home good volunteers and the recruitment team with regular Home for Good updates in the fostering newsletter.

It is an exciting way to work together to support existing foster carers and working together to recruit new foster carers across the county. West Sussex's fostering team joins us regularly at church events, speaking engagements, and information sessions. If you come across any networks or opportunities for Billy-Jo to expand her work and network, please contact her or make introductions.

In June Billy-Jo visited Arun church in Littlehampton where she shared about the merger with Safe Families, held an info stand and met families fostering or have adopted. The stand-out moment was when one of the young people high-fived Billy-Jo and shared that she herself is care experienced.

Billy-Jo spent a weekend down on the south coast across Portsmouth, Southampton, and the Isle of Wight, developing and reconnecting with existing relationships, church leaders, and peer support volunteers. Highlights were visiting Aspire which hosts a monthly support group for families who foster, adopt, and their birth children. It was great talking to a foster carer who really values this group for her birth children and for those that she looks after.

Most recently, Billy-Jo enjoyed supporting volunteer champions at City Coast Church in Brighton and Hove. As they explored some elements of children and youth leader training in order to think through supporting and welcoming families who foster, have adopted and the children or young people in the care.

The engagement team met in Birmingham. Thank you, Gas Street, for hosting us – the team picture below:

Who Cares? Campaign https://homeforgood.org.uk/who-cares

Billy-Jo and volunteers have been out and about meeting with church leaders and speaking to congregations about Home for Good sharing the Who Cares campaign. This has included Horndean Baptist Church, Arun, The Vine, Big Church Festival, Lionheart, City Gate church Portsmouth. These have been brilliant events that have increased awareness that we believe will find a home for every child who needs one. If you would be interested in booking a Home for Good speaking you can contact Billy-Jo directly, or click here.

What’s coming up?

We have a few events coming up next term, and I’d love your support in sharing these opportunities with others you might know who might like to come along or might like to support.

Join us on September 30th for an exciting evening as we launch the merger of Safe Families and Home for Good, sharing why we believe this decision will see more children and families thrive. We’ll be joined by some very special guests, including those who have benefitted from the support of Safe Families and Home for Good. And you’ll also get to hear about the ways you can continue to play your part as we seek to serve church, children, and families with greater impact than we could do individually. Register for free here.
Billingshurst - The aim is to invite local churches and individuals to come & for a few charities to showcase opportunities for volunteers to get involved.
Kent Support group – Bring and share picnic led by Debbie Bashford
Sussex information event – In-person. Led by volunteer Champions – more information to follow. Date TBC for November 2024
North Hampshire Summer BBQ – Peer support group led by Earl Robinson and team
Aspire Peer support group – Led by Lucy Nicholas on the Isle of Wight with September – December dates please share with families or contacts you might know

There are also regular opportunities to signpost people to our online information session and autumn foundations course. If you would like to support the foundation course. Please let Billy-Jo know if you would like to host or support the foundations' course.

What can I be praying for?

We would love you to stand with us in prayer as we continue to work to find a home for every child who needs one in the South East.

Families as they navigate new starts and new terms in education
For those who will have results over the next few weeks
I currently have planned speaking engagements in, Guilford, Ashford, Petersfield
Home for Good and Safe Families merger
Ongoing relationship with the West Sussex fostering team