We have been recognised by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for our innovative ‘Vennture Thriving Families, Small Schools Collaboration’.
We were one of eight organisations nationally to be funded by the DWP to deliver projects between June 2023 and November 2024 aimed at reducing parental conflict and its impact on children.
Government evidence shows that poor relationships between parents can damage children’s short and long-term wellbeing. Frequent, intense, and poorly resolved parental conflict can affect their mental health, overall wellbeing, and future employment [1].
During an 18-month period, we provided over 1,100 home-based mentoring sessions to 64 core families, ultimately supporting 174 families, 308 parents, and 378 children across Herefordshire. The project worked in partnership with 37 local primary and secondary schools, training teachers to spot early signs of conflict and equipping them with tools to respond effectively.
We also provided conflict de-escalation resources, domestic abuse screening, and a teacher toolkit for early identification. Schools played a central role, acting as trusted hubs where support could be accessed without stigma. “Rural communities often lack pastoral resources. This project has shown that trusted link workers in schools can dramatically elevate awareness of parental conflict and reduce its impact on children,” said one of our practitioners.
Vennture worked with Luisa Lee-Smith, from Weston-under-Penyard and Whitchurch CE Primary Schools. She said: “Our families face a unique set of challenges due to the rural nature of our county. There’s limited access to help and services, including transport to access them, and school is often seen as a good place to find support. Vennture were able to give families the time they needed to work towards their goals, provide expertise and work collaboratively with school. They were there to support us, other agencies, and parents as much as the children. Most importantly their approach is non-judgemental so families weren’t afraid of the consequences of asking for help.”
A letter from the DWP thanked us for our “valuable contribution” to national learning, noting that our insights continue to inform policy and practice. The department also praised our visual roadmap showing how we supported families; it hangs outside the Minister’s office at the DWP headquarters in London.
The final learning report, which is now available online here, highlighted our success in improving co-parenting relationships, reducing conflict exposure for children, and creating a scalable model for other rural areas.
We now hope to find funding to help more families in Herefordshire as well as offering training and resources to schools and local authorities in Shropshire and Worcestershire.
This year, our charity is marking 10 years of support for families in Hereford, with 735 supported so far.
Anyone interested in finding out more can contact Vennture on 0330 20 20 730.
NOTES:
[1] Taken from Parental conflict indicator 2011 to 2020. Updated 25 March 2022, published here.
Our charity’s visual roadmap showing how we supported family, hangs outside the Minister’s office at the DWP headquarters in London.
Strategic system insights taken from Herefordshire Vennture, Consolidated Report & Financial Statements. At 31st December 2024 (pages 21 and 22).
- Investing in direct support for families is more valuable to schools than coordination
Schools want people that provide support and are easy to access – as opposed to signposting.
Schools like being able to put a face to support when explaining support for families.
Schools & parents prefer referring a family to a person, rather than a service.
Schools value ongoing dialogue with the person supporting their families.
- The requirements of small rural schools are different from larger city/town schools
New legislative expectations on schools providing Early Help are daunting for small rural schools
Small schools need pastoral resources that make larger schools more independent of needs
Small schools are their own locality; they are often the only rural community resource
- Parents go online for support more than into community
Ideal resources in the community do not exist.
Online is easily accessible, doesn’t involve travel/new relationships, though it can be random/impersonal.
Parents are often time poor and don’t have the energy to go out.
- In home mentoring works well for families in rural settings
The Link Worker comes to the home, so there is no cost for the parent, and they feel valued.
Children are seen and understood in their home setting.
Weekly in-home visits and regular school dialogue improve outcomes for everyone.
- Demand ebbs and flows and can be unpredictable
Comprehensive offers to busy schools need to be clearly described and planned.
Ebbs and flows in referrals are natural and are to be expected.
Becoming a trusted asset and relationships take time, reflective of the increase of referral consortium wide.
- Schools need a ‘stable state’ addressing their core needs so they can deliver for children
Schools need readily available, easily accessed, instant support for their families.
A single relational point of contact for referrals is easier for schools and parents.
Programmes coming and going are disruptive, inefficient and costly.
Teachers and school leaders are doubly time poor in rural settings.
- There is a growing need for resilient providers who will sustain for the long-term
Too many significant providers are living on the edge of survival.
Local community assets are diminishing at an alarming rate.
Community and voluntary sector organisations need to act maturely in collaboration and consolidating their assets.
