Muirhead Outreach Project is a registered charity ( SC 035629 ). It was set up in June 2004 to work with and support families who are experiencing various levels of family dysfunction and vulnerability, often through no fault of their own.
The Project offers support to families in many ways. We are able to be creative in setting up packages which meet individual as well as family needs. This is in addition to what is available through Local Authorities.
It may be hard to believe that, in the year 2009, there continues to be young people who are being brought up in poverty, which one would expect to be evident in only third world countries. Part of the remit for Muirhead is to assist families in breaking this cycle of deprivation and therefore expanding the choices open to them.
School issues and accessing education are areas of work which Muirhead workers are particularly interested in and successful in pursuing.
Take R, who had not been to school for several months, whose mother was an aggressive and verbally and physically abusive parent, the child of a middle class family. Unfortunately, abuse is not the premise of the poor and the mother’s past experiences made it difficult for her to care for her child. A member of the Outreach Team sat in the classroom with R for six months, whilst another member of staff helped the mother with her issues. The result is that R is doing well at school and mum is in a long-term relationship. They have no need for our support other than telephone calls or the odd visit. Mother’s comments to John McDougall, MP, were that Muirhead staff had changed their lives.
Young people we offer services to quelled their hunger by rummaging for food in other people’s dustbins – yes, in the 21st century. This results in angry young people, bullied and were bullies. Fortunately we were able to intervene and the future is positive.
The stories we could tell are endless, not all success stories, but hopefully our intervention offered rays of light to lives that experience little joy. The secrets these young people carry are not visible, not terminal, but nevertheless blight their lives and the prognosis for a happy future.
At present our fund-raising efforts are focussing on extending the availability of respite care; increasing the number of activity scheme places; and offering support and education to young parents in conjunction with other professionals. Should you be willing to donate to our charity, please contact Dorothy Markham on 01333 424232.