Our Programmes at Lou's: Always Mum and Connecting Through Change
Seventeen mothers joined the first term of our Always Mum programme in February. This group of mothers, from diverse backgrounds, both reflects on and work towards individual goals for their children, who are in out-of-home care. They've built strong relationships within the programme, demonstrated by their empathy and kindness towards each other. The team leader at Anglicare’s Preservation and Restoration Service reported, “We have had several mums complete your Always Mum programme. We find it instrumental in their healing and working towards restoration of their children into their care.”
Term 1 of Connecting through Change began both its in-house and outreach programmes in February. The outreach programme is run through WHOS, a local drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation centre that provides a range of evidence-based, therapeutic treatment programmes. Lou's Place offers an onsite programme for women who are unable to leave WHOS to attend our core programme.
Most enquiries for this term's programme were self-referrals, having heard about Connecting through Change through previous participants. We have received an overwhelmingly positive response from the 10 women who are near completion of the in-house programme. Furthermore, some women have become friends and are making plans to catch up.
We received such lovely feedback from last term's group:
“I absolutely loved coming to this group! It gave me a safe place to discuss all I have learned."
“My biggest take-away was that I am not alone, and I did not do anything to deserve what happened to me.”
“I cannot thank you enough for this amazing programme. I have got so much from this amazing group.”
“Shazya and Alice were fantastic facilitators. They are so kind and caring and obviously love their jobs. Big thumbs up to them both.”