When you feel blue your child does too, says new campaign

Called ‘Through Their Eyes’ and featuring the slogan ‘When you are blue they feel it too’, it will encourage people to think about what children see and feel when there is ongoing conflict at home and will raise awareness of the support available to parents who are going through difficult times.

The campaign is being run by the Healthy Relationships Partnership Hartlepool – a partnership between Changing Futures North-East, Hartlepool Borough Council, Belle Vue Sports, Community & Youth Centre and Tavistock Relationships which works to support parental relationships and improve life for children.

The Partnership – which is one of three pilots in England – is funded by the Early Action Neighbourhood Fund, the Big Lottery Fund, Comic Relief and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

The campaign will be launched on Thursday 8 February at a conference for professionals called ‘Relationships Matter’, organised by the Partnership at Hartlepool College of Further Education.

The event will bring together a wide range of agencies from Hartlepool and across the country which are working to support families. Speakers will include Professor Gordon Harold of Sussex University, Ben Lewing, Senior Advisor at the Early Intervention Foundation, and Sally Robinson, Director of Children’s and Joint Commissioning Services at Hartlepool Borough Council. The aim is to share ideas and good practice to help families nationally.

The Partnership will also be running a series of drop-in events for Hartlepool parents where they will be able to chat, meet the Partnership’s friendly team and find out more about the help available.

These events – which will also include activities for children - are:

Monday 12 February          -            Belle Vue Sports, Community & Youth Centre, Kendal Road, 11am-1pm.

Tuesday 13 February         -            Wharton Trust, The Annexe, Wharton Terrace, 11am-1pm.

Wednesday 14 February    -           Kilmarnock Road Children & Young People Family Resource Centre, 11am-1pm.

Wednesday 14 February    -           Community Hub Central, York Road, 1pm-3pm.

Thursday 15 February       -             Middleton Grange Shopping Centre (ground floor, main square, near the B&M store) 9.30am-3pm.

Friday 16 February            -              Middleton Grange Shopping Centre (ground floor, main square, near the B&M store), 9.30am-3pm.

Saturday 17 February        -            Middleton Grange Shopping Centre (ground floor, main square, near the B&M store), 9.30am-3pm.

There’s also lots of advice and support available on the Partnership’s new website at www.hrphartlepool.co.uk

Jayne Moules, the Partnership’s Project Lead, said: “In today’s world, parents face some tough challenges, such as finances and work, which can leave them little or no time to maintain the quality of their own relationship.

“This in turn can trigger stress and conflict – or at worst a complete relationship breakdown – which not only has a very bad effect on their own health and wellbeing, it has a very big impact on their young children too.

“We’re encouraging people to talk about their relationships and to get help if they need it and together we can achieve a happier, healthier Hartlepool for both parents and children alike.”

Councillor Alan Clark, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Children’s Services Committee, said: “It’s vital for every youngster to have the happiest, most stable childhood possible, and a good relationship between their parents is the cornerstone of that.

“We all face tough times during our lives and if parents feel their relationship is under pressure, I hope they will take up the friendly advice and support that’s on offer. It’s always good to talk and share a problem.”

The Healthy Relationships Partnership Hartlepool can be contacted on (01429) 891444 or email enquiries@hrphartlepool.co.uk