DELEGATES to a conference about troubled families were moved when two families helped by Thurrock Council told how their lives had been turned around.
Cllr Bukky Okunade, the council’s portfolio holder for Children’s Services, said after the event on Wednesday (7 October): “It was really very moving.
“The afternoon was set up a bit like a television chat show hosted by one of our troubled families workers and one of the mums said how her child had started back at school after a long period of absenteeism.”
She added: “Another said how, once the family realised how working together and how the team was ‘not just there to tell my kid off’ things started improving.”
The conference also heard from people like police District Commander Leigh Norris, and the council’s Director of Children’s Services, Carmel Littleton.
Cllr Okunade said: “Working together is the only way to achieve the great outcomes we heard about. The trouble Families initiative has been very successful here in Thurrock and we more than achieved our government-set targets.
“That’s why we’re leading the way in the second phase of the programme and why we must remember there is more work to do – we mustn’t relax, but we know we are on the right road.
“While all the officers and partners involve deserve our thanks for their hard work, we must also remember to thank the families themselves. It takes a great deal of courage to take that first step and then for the whole family to keep up the good work.
“It would be very easy to slip back, but the advantages of following the programme soon become clear.
“I want to thank them all – but particularly those who came along to explain to us how their lives have improved. Admitting your struggles in front of others is not something anyone wants to do, but by showing us how they’ve come out the other side should encourage everyone to keep up the good work.”
