Chippenham family service marks landmark (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Chippenham family service marks landmark

9:08am Wednesday 25th April 2012 in News By Alex Winter

A Chippenham service that helps families to get back on track was visited by MP Duncan Hames, as it celebrated working with 1,000 people.

Jigsaw is managed by children’s charity Barnardo’s in its centre next to Redlands School on behalf of the GreenSquare housing group.

The service provides independent advice to tenants with children aged up to 19, or to young people who are tenants in their own right.

Staff offer confidential advice on a wide range of issues, including parenting, behavioural problems and domestic violence, as well as help with financial management and benefit entitlement.

They can also seek grants for essential household items and refer families to other sources of support.

Barnardo’s team leader Janet Byrne-Goddard said: “The Jigsaw team has made a real and lasting difference to so many families, helping them to cope with some of the most difficult periods in their lives.

“Staff offer a confidential and non-judgmental service, which builds trust and encourages people to seek support at an early stage, before their problems threaten to overwhelm them.

“Barnardo’s is immensely proud of everything that has been achieved by the team, as well as by the families they work with.”

One woman, who asked not to be named, was on the verge of losing her home and her children before receiving help with alcohol problems from Jigsaw.

She said: “I listened to the project worker when she was telling me to focus on the children and all of the activities meant that I kept myself busy and was not just sat at home, thinking about alcohol.

“I recovered my self-confidence and self-esteem and sought counselling and medication to beat my addiction.”