Evidence of our work in action
Stories about brighter outcomes for children, young people and their families in Reading
Stories bring activity to life.
This page shares how our staff have had a positive impact on children, young people and their families in Reading.
Every story demonstrates our values in action: Honest, creative, caring, respectful, responsible and quality-driven.
A youth support worker in the Reconnect team received some wonderful feedback from a young person they have been working with. The young person was arrested for a drug-related offence and was being exploited, but is now attending further education, is in part-time work and is doing well. He recently shared some kind words: “I don’t know where I would be without your help and I really appreciate what you have done for me. I don’t know how to repay you.”
Demonstrating our values:
Quality-driven and caring
We received some incredible feedback for one of our social workers working with a local family. The father wanted to express his gratitude, calling her “the best family worker in the world.” He added: “Thank you so much for letting her be part of my family because she is doing all the best she can.”
Demonstrating our values:
Quality-driven and caring
A member of our Children and Young People’s Disability team, who is in their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE), has received an incredible message from a clinical psychologist at Oxford Psychological Medicine Centre regarding one of our young people who was recently discharged from hospital. It reads: “Thank you so much for all your work in coordinating the support for the young person since they left hospital. It’s really refreshing to see that their level of vulnerability has been fully understood by the team. It’s reassuring to know that they are in good hands since discharge.”
Demonstrating our values:
Responsible and quality-driven
A family who was being supported by one of our senior family workers during a particularly difficult time sent in a lovely message. It read: “Thank you for your support with us all, you will be missed. We will be forever grateful for you coming into our lives and bringing back some hope for the boys and me. Your next family will be lucky to have you and you are forever our hero.”
Demonstrating our values: Caring and quality-driven
Family worker thanked for extraordinary work
One of our family workers received some fantastic feedback from a family. The message said: “We want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The family workers’ team is excellent and provides extraordinary ideas and guidance to individuals with Autism. We would like to give particular thanks to our family worker for her politeness, understanding and smile on her face. It was a pleasure to spend time with her and we will miss her a lot.”
Demonstrating our values: Caring, respectful and quality-driven
A grandmother was so impressed with the quality of staff and provision at Southcote and Coley Children’s Centres she felt she had to write in to say thank you.
The former teacher attended sessions with her granddaughter and said they were well organised, age appropriate, educational and stretched the children.
She added that the sessions excelled in providing challenge and new experiences for the children.
Demonstrating our values: Creative, respectful and quality-driven
One of our Leaving Care Assistants received a wonderful email from one of the young people she had been working with who had recently achieved a 2:1 degree at university.
He wrote: “I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for being an exceptional support worker throughout my journey.
“Your unwavering dedication, compassion, and positive spirit have had a profound impact on me.
“Your constant encouragement and belief in my potential have motivated me to pursue my dreams fearlessly. I was truly fortunate to have you as my guiding light and invaluable companion.”
Demonstrating our values:
Caring, respectful and quality-driven
A member of staff at one of our children’s centres received glowing praise from a new mum. The parent said the Family Worker had helped her bond with her unborn child and supported them every step of the way. She said she was made to feel comfortable and welcome in all the groups she attended and the worker even helped her find a safe place to live. The mum called the member of staff a powerful superwoman and said she would be forever grateful to her.
Demonstrating our values:
Caring, creative and respectful
A mum told one of our occupational therapists that his professionalism and dedication had exceeded her expectations and his outstanding work had made a real difference to her son’s life. The parent praised the worker for his quick response, attention to detail and ability to understand her son’s requirements. She said the therapist’s commitment to excellence and genuine care for his patients was truly admirable and that professionals like him make a real difference to the lives of those they serve.
Demonstrating our values:
Caring, creative and quality-driven
A mum whose child had been visiting Cressingham Short Breaks service thanked the team for all the care and kindness they had showed them over the last few years. She said it had made such a difference to their lives and that she really appreciated it.
Demonstrating our values:
Caring and quality-driven
Two portage workers were praised for being extremely professional, kind, knowledgeable, compassionate and supportive by a mother of an autistic child. She added that the pair created a safe and inclusive space for all the children and the service they provide is of a high standard and a lifeline for carers of neurodivergent children.
Demonstrating our values:
Caring and quality-driven
A foster carer praised one of our “exemplary” social workers for her considerate care and ability to think outside the box which played a major part in the young person they had been caring for being reunited with their family.
Demonstrating our values:
Creative and caring
A parent thanked one of our family workers for making a massive difference to their family and their situation. They said the worker had listening to all the family, supported them, liaised with professionals and worked hard to bond with their child who had special educational needs. The parent thanked the individual for speaking out and being honest and said the family will be forever grateful.
Demonstrating our values:
Honest, caring and responsible
A grandparent who successfully obtained guardianship of their young grandchild thanked one of our social workers for keeping them updated, informed and supported through the process. They said our social worker’s encouragement and polite manner meant a lot and that he was the ultimate professional and a pleasure to welcome into their house. They gave heartfelt thanks for guiding them through any issues that arose.
Demonstrating our values:
Caring and respectful
A parent reported the difference they had seen in their son since he had started using Pinecroft children’s home shared care provision. They said he had previously only been able to cope with short car journeys but had now enjoyed a wide range of activities, including rides at a theme park, visiting a country park and enjoying meals in the pub. They also noted lots of little changes in their son’s life skills and behaviour at home. They said it may seem just little things, but they are huge achievements for him.
Demonstrating our values:
Respectful and caring
A mum wanted to thank Reading Borough Council and Brighter Futures for Children for providing two-year-old funding as she is now qualified as a nurse and will be starting employment soon. The parent commented that without the funding, she would not have been able to complete her studies.
Demonstrating our values: Responsible and quality-driven
Parents were apprehensive about their son staying overnight at Cressingham short breaks service but after visiting and talking to staff they decided to try it. Staff explained to the parents and son that it was like a sleepover with friends and the teenager went on to really enjoy his visits.
He now packs his bag the night before his stays and has settled in incredibly well. His parents are finding the break from their caring role invaluable as they can recharge their batteries, spend time with their other child and plan evenings.
Demonstrating our values: Caring and creative
A mum who was initially reluctant to take her son to our Baby Dimensions sessions at Whitley Children’s Centre says she now wouldn’t change if for the world.
She said they were made to feel very welcome and not under pressure and she now has a very different view of playgroups.
The mum said her son has also developed well and is now a very chatty little boy who has learnt to sit up, clap and say some short words.
Demonstrating our values: Respectful, caring and quality-driven
Parents who have children and young people who are being exploited attended a six-week programme created by BFfC’s Youth Justice Service and found it hugely supportive.
The parents said they had previously felt very alone and often did not know where to go for support.
The programme, co-designed with one of the parents, covered topics in relation to exploitation.
Parents said that for the first time they felt listened to, did not feel judged or blamed and they were empowered to speak out about things that had troubled them, sometimes over many years.
Following the tremendous feedback, the service is continuing to run the programme.
Demonstrating our values:
Caring, respectful and quality-driven
Four parents who had struggles related to drug or alcohol use turned their lives around and trained to be peer mentors. The parents had all been supported by one of Brighter Futures for Children’s parental substance use consultant practitioner social workers. One mother who had struggled for years with substance use worked hard with our practitioner and is now accessing further education and hopes to train as a social worker.
Demonstrating our values:
Caring, honest and respectful
The work of our paediatric occupational therapists makes a direct impact on the families they are supporting. One family said a bath seat that had been arranged for their son had been a great success. They also said an additional step for the back door and handrails meant he could now get around with ease.
Demonstrating our values:
Caring, responsible and quality-driven
A parent said a family worker in the West Cluster Children’s Centre was able to identify that her son had additional needs before either herself or his nursery and her transition work had been incredible. The mum said she never thought she would value the input of a family worker as much as she does.
Demonstrating our values:
Respectful, caring and quality-driven
A family worker in the South Children’s Action Team worked intensively with a mother who had debilitating mental health issues. She helped take her from a reclusive, shy mum to a more proactive, attentive member of the community.??
The mother’s development has enabled her children to access education, begin to reach their potential and most importantly, enjoy a more fun, spontaneous, loving relationship with her.
Demonstrating our values:
Caring, respectful and quality-driven
An education setting reported how the work of a senior SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) case officer had helped transform a young person they had been working with. They reported that the boy, who had previously been struggling, was now joining in with everything and ready to jump into life at sixth form.
They said the case officer’s hard work, persistence and careful planning ensured the young person remained close to home with his family and ensured resources were used creatively and efficiently.
Demonstrating our values:
Quality-driven and responsible
Families came together at Pinecroft Shared Care Service to celebrate the successful transition of seven young people into the new style provision in August 2022. The celebrations included outdoor games, a BBQ lunch and an achievement ceremony where all the young people received a personalised medal and certificate. One parent said they had talked to others and they all agreed they could not imagine how any other provision could get anywhere near as good as Pinecroft.
Demonstrating our values:
Creative, caring and quality-driven
A representative from the Department for Education visited the town to look at Reading’s cultural partnership provision and gave excellent feedback about BFfC’s Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) scheme.
They said all the clubs were creating life-long memories for all the children attending, thanks to the hard work of the HAF team at BFfC and the leaders, volunteers, and staff at each of the clubs.
Demonstrating our values:
Quality-driven, responsible and creative
A carer told us about two young girls who were made to feel valued and enjoyed a massive boost to their self-esteem by attending short break sessions with Reading Football Club. She said how valued the all-inclusive activities were for children who struggle in mainstream settings. She added that there was no competition children could come last in, just equal fun activities making them feel great, especially about themselves.
Demonstrating our values:
Respectful and caring
A Reading mother was overjoyed when her teenage son, who has additional needs, joined her in their garden this summer. A small feat? No, a giant one. It was the first time since they moved into their house 12 years ago. The mum sobbed with joy as they had lunch together in the garden and she described it as one of the happiest moments of her life. She believes the change in her son was down to the positive impact the new tranquil garden at our children’s home, Pinecroft, had on him during his visits to us.
Demonstrating our values: Creative and caring
BFfC’s Elevate careers service began working with a teenager who hadn’t been in employment, education or training for some time. Our careers coach was patient, listened, gained his trust and started to share details about apprenticeships. She never gave up and continued to send him opportunities in the areas he was interested in. He went on to secure a position with an engineering firm in Berkshire.
Demonstrating our values: Respectful and quality-driven
A college student with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism wrote into the school transport team at BFfC to thank them and the taxi firm they use for being so supportive and providing help when they were feeling anxious and overwhelmed. They said they would never have been able to finish their college course and start working without their help.
Demonstrating our values: Respectful, caring and responsible
Daily life was a struggle for a Reading family with two children diagnosed with autism but their lives have been transformed after attending the BFfC Living with Autism course.
The father found that he was able to understand his young son so much more easily and reflect on what day-to-day life is like for his children. He said he felt grateful for the opportunity to attend the course and now feels heard and less isolated, knowing other families are experiencing similar struggles.
The course also helped to embed the strategies the Portage team and nursery have suggested. The parents also shared that their other, non-verbal child had put two words together for the first time. She said “love you” to her mother.
Demonstrating our values:
Caring and quality-driven
Several of our teams supported a family who had two young children with complex special educational needs. The BFfC Portage team supported the parents to play and interact with their children at home while our Early Years SEND advisors worked hard to find two appropriate settings for the children to attend.
Portage continues to support the family at home and both settings are providing high quality SEND support for the children.
Demonstrating our values:
Quality-driven, responsible and caring
A member of BFfC’s Occupational Therapy team was thanked by a mum for helping guide her through the Disabled Facilities Grant process. She commented that BFfC has a very bright future if her experience was an indication of the company’s social care practices going forward.
Demonstrating our values:
Caring, creative and quality-driven
Members of our Early Years team have been providing extra support to two-year-olds in Reading to help them regain months of missed social and educational opportunities due to the pandemic.
Their aim is to understand the impact of COVID on this age group and work with practitioners to enhance two-year-old provision. The team has provided support to 33 early years settings so far and childminders and have already received reports of increased confidence among the young children.
Demonstrating our values:
Caring and quality-driven
A Lego club at Cressingham Short Break Service has proved to be a big hit with children since starting in the spring 2022.
The club was launched to help stimulate children’s imagination by providing them with various Lego pieces and setting them a theme. The young people have loved it and not only have they successfully built amazing objects for each theme, they have created a whole world and story around each one.
Demonstrating our values:
Creative and caring.
Sunnyside nursery at Sun Street Children’s Centre, in east Reading, has been offering 15 hours of childcare for children eligible for two-year-old funding since opening in May 2022.
The team has enjoyed great success but one of the most significant has been a huge improvement in communication skills among the young children.
Those starting in May were born during the COVID-19 pandemic which affected their communication skills. In the space of four months the children had learned to communicate well, learning new words and expressions.
Demonstrating our values:
Creative, caring and quality-driven