1. News Letter May 2014. Family Life can be full of ups and downs, good days and not such good days. Parents can often do with having places to go to, people to be with and/or things to do with the children, as well as sometimes having space for themselves. Family Space can help that to happen so parents can spend time with their children, spend time with other parents and children can have time to play together. Our Wonderful Volunteers. Without them there is no Family Space.. As one has shared, “I’m welcomed each week by the bright eyes and beaming smiles of children who want to play games, read stories and express themselves in many different ways. It is wonderful to see their independence flourish as they realise hanging on to mum’s leg is not the only place they feel safe……and I am rewarded in many different ways.” Our Wonderful Volunteers. Without them there is no Family Space.. As one has shared, “I’m welcomed each week by the bright eyes and beaming smiles of children who want to play games, read stories and express themselves in many different ways. It is wonderful to see their independence flourish as they realise hanging on to mum’s leg is not the only place they feel safe……and I am rewarded in many different ways.” Cheltenham Child Contact Centre in partnership with Family Space in 2013 worked with 96 different families representing 131 children. We have now joined an national online pilot whereby referrals to the centre now need to be done online at www.naccc-selfreferrals.org.uk www.naccc-selfreferrals.org.uk We are still looking to welcome many new families to use this service and welcome families to visit at any time. Family Space has relationships with families in the hope that things work out better…….......but do they? Often you can’t be sure that the outcome is a positive one certainly not in the long term. What we can be sure of though is that the Family Space activities of Befrienders, Stay and Play, Time Out for Mums and the Cheltenham Child Contact Centre related to just over 300 families last year, mostly on a fairly regular basis. Family Space is looking for 12 businesses to partner with us in 2014. Thank you to Chase Media for their support.

2. GARDEN MAKEOVER A team of Waitrose Staff gave up a morning of their time to make over a garden for a family helped by our Befriender Scheme. Family Space would like to thank Waitrose for helping this family. Mum said “I am in shock at having my garden done for me. I can’t believe people would give up their time to help me. Family Space has helped me so much over the last few months, the support given is invaluable and has made such a difference to my family’s lives. I feel more relaxed and have been able to start to recover from my illness as a result of Family Space taking the pressure off”. TIME OUT FOR MUMS, our second group is now up and running. Why is it exciting? Well, most of the volunteers helping to run this group and the crèche are mums from the first Time Out group who been trained up over several weeks and then on top of that, one of the first activities they all enjoyed at the group was led by a volunteer and a parent from one of our Stay and Play sessions. "When I attend Time Out Two, I’m not just mummy, I'm not just a wife and house cleaner. I'm me again! I know my daughter is in a safe, lovely place with her new friends. I have also met lots of new friends who all have problems of their own, it doesn't matter because we're all learning to trust and gain confidence again.” Welcome, Sarah Avery, New Manager Designate has come onto our staff in 2014. For more information or to support us this year please contact www.familyspace.org.uk us@familyspace.org.uk Registered charity number 1116457 St Silas Church Centre, Hesters Way Road, Hesters Way. GL51 0ES For more information or to support us this year please contact www.familyspace.org.uk us@familyspace.org.uk Registered charity number 1116457 St Silas Church Centre, Hesters Way Road, Hesters Way. GL51 0ES