In the beginning of March we traveled together with colleagues form 10 Bulgarian organisations that apply the method Family Group Conference to a mobility visit to Leeds in the UK. Our partners from Family Rights Group have organised an intensive 3 days programme for the teams of Bulgaria, France and Germany with the participation of many of their colleagues form various parts and cities across the UK. The team of Tulip Foundation invited representatives of Opportunity and Protection Association from Haskovo, Co-participation Association from Varna, Club of NGOs from Targovishte, Future for Children Association from Kazanluk, Egida Association from Pazardjik, Animus Association Foundation, Centre Maria from Gorna Oriahovitsa, Helping Hand Foundation from Dobrich, Naia Association from Targovishte and the Know-How Centre for Alternative Care for Children at the NBU.
The first working day started with presentation about the introduction and the development of the FGC model over the last 25 years in Britain. Maureen Japp from Y Bont spoke about family group conferencing in Wales, Gillian Christian told about the FGC service in Scotland and Sean Haresnape presented the experience of Family Rights Group. Then we learned about the FGC standards, FGC service accreditation, training and supporting FGC coordinators and post graduate FGC certificate. Embedding standards and service accreditation - the perspective from FGC services was presented by Sarah Llewellyn Hertfordshire FGC service and Maureen Japp, Y Bont FGC service in North Wales.
The new Lifelong Links programme with principles and practice was presented by Alex Ryan from Family Rights Group, followed by Paul Reddiex, North Yorkshire County Council and Stuart Graham, Family Rights Group who talked about Implementing Lifelong Links and case examples. Gillian Christian from the Edinburgh FGC Service talked about using the method in response to concerns pre-birth. Tim Fisher from the London Borough of Camden FGC Service presented the work of his team. All sessions concluded with roundtable discussions.
During the second day at the Carriageworks the hosts from Family Rights Group presented the website of the organisation, including FGC films from FRG and Camden and FGC toolkit. During the next session the three partner organisations - Gironde Departmental Council from France, NeuKolln von Berlin from Germany and Tulip Foundation from Bulgaria shared their practices - fundamentals and principles of FGC used in each country.
In the afternoon the team of the partner organisations discussed impressions after two days of training in Leeds, the organisation and the content of the next mobility in Berlin, data gathering and methodology for elaboration of the good practice guide.
The Leeds FGC conference took place on 9 March. Simon Johnson – Head of Service, Children’s Social Work and Steve Walker, Director of Children and Families presented the principles and practices of Leeds’ FGC Service. Prof Kate Morris & Mary Mitchell told about the evaluation and mapping outcomes. In the afternoon the participants attended four workshops on Family’s Experiences of FGC, FGCs in response to Domestic Violence & Abuse, Creating a Restorative Culture and Creating a Service User Group for Young People.
The mobility visit was organised in the frame of the programme Exchange of practices on Family Group Conferencing in Europe with partners Gironde Departmental Council from France, Family Rights Group from the UK, NeuKolln von Berlin from Germany and Tulip Foundation from Bulgaria. The project is co-funded by Erasmus+ programme of the EU.
