The BDFA offers the opportunity for families to access their family wellbeing service, which provides counselling services and sibling activities for family members. We commission The Maypole Project to run the service, an organisation that specialises in supporting families of children with complex needs and life limiting conditions. The team at The Maypole Project have also received additional training around the impacts that a childhood diagnosis with rare and genetic diseases, including specifically Batten disease has on all family members.
The Family Wellbeing service offers the following:
Counselling:
Counselling provides a safe and confidential space for family members to talk to a trained professional about their issues and concerns. The Maypole Project have a specialist team of 14 counsellors who help family members explore their thoughts, feelings and behaviours so that they can develop a better understanding of themselves and of others.
- Adult Counselling
- Child and Young Person Counselling
- Couple Counselling
- One-to-one Buddying support to children and/or their siblings that are referred by BDFA
Referral:
Contact Sarah Kenrick, BDFA Head of Family Support and Advocacy in the first instance
Email: sarahkenrick@bdfa-uk.org.uk or call 07498 401492
Once a referral has been made, The Maypole Project arrange a family assessment where a member of their Support Team meets with the whole family to understand the presenting issues and the impact on each member of the family. The assessment informs the creation of a plan which is made for support and planning for all family members who will then be allocated to the different services which Maypole provide through the Family Wellbeing Service.
The BDFA is pleased to work with The Maypole Project, ensuring that families affected by Batten disease receive specialist therapeutic support.