I S S U E 3 FIN Inclusion Matters P A G E 4 Table 1 FIN Townsville Resourceful Friends – relationship work Relationship work by Resourceful Friends Relationship gifts from family members to FIN family and sup- porting members Accepting people for who and what they are Demonstrating true empathy, love and respect; hugs and physical comfort/ support Making time to listen – without a form to fill in! Listening to parents’ stories without judgement, with understanding and acceptance Accepting contact from a family almost anytime (including evenings and weekends) but having honest & open discussions about constraints and time out for self-care Being there at the time that something is happening; rallying around to help out a family in need. Being reliable and dependable Going the extra mile Working as a team – if one supporter can’t do something (eg provide sup- port at a meeting with Child Safety) the chances are another will step in Ringing parents to make sure they are OK Continually checking that the help offered is acceptable Devising plans together that everyone is happy with Enabling parents to have choices and make their own decisions according to their own values Role modelling acceptance Diffusing conflict Not expecting anything in return but accepting reciprocation when it’s offered Enjoying contact together; share fun Friendship Feedback New ideas and perspectives Warmth and positive regard Kindness Hugs Acceptance Understanding Non-judgement
I S S U E 3 FIN Inclusion Matters P A G E 5 Table 2 Practical help – when somebody needs a helping hand Practical help from FIN Resourceful Friends Practical help from FIN family members to other families, supporting members and to the FIN or- ganisation Transport Caring for children when parents need a break; when parents go to work or are ill; taking children to & from school Sewing clothes for children Housecleaning when it all gets too much Garden clear-ups Opening & sorting backlog of mail Goods to help out when a family cannot afford them – eg bedding, clothing, meals, groceries, furniture, toilet paper Loan of trailer to move furniture Brokerage re other services eg furniture from Lifeline, food parcels Loan of money, with pay back strategies Gifts of money Keeping money safe so that it’s not spent on eg smokes Gifts of non-prescription pharmaceuticals eg inhaler, lip moisturiser, pain killers, cold and cough medi- cations Use of washing machine when a family’s breaks down Shared use of equipment eg pressure cleaner, whipper snipper Loan of equipment eg video camera, TV Open-house eg use of swimming pool, shared BBQs Emergency rent free accommodation in FIN house Removing rodents from the FIN house Loan of camping equipment Providing access to a house for FIN activities, including emergency accommodation for homeless FIN par- ents Joint working bees for FIN house and garden; for other families’ houses at times of crisis; Garage sales, fundraising BBQs Handyperson tasks eg pressure cleaning, replace taps, hang pictures, clean ceiling fans and light shades, swimming pool maintainence Car fixing tasks Computer and printer fixing tasks Babysitting and back-up care for sick/disabled family members House cleaning Informal contacts with tradespeople Contacts with fundraising opportunities eg Rotary, Melville’s farm Food handling training course Gifts of eggs from backyard chooks Skills re FIN projects eg making banners, filming and editing DVDs, creating and managing FIN website Loan of equipment eg data projector Lending DVDs, books etc Donation of second hand large office photocopier/ printer Cook meals/cakes Going camping together Having BBQ’s Supportive friendship – texts, phone calls, visits, meeting for coffee
ISSUE 3 FIN Inclusion Matters PAGE 8 In Remembrance of Annabelle Rose 17th February—5th March 2014 and In support of Emma and Jamie—and all FIN parents and grand- parents who are separated from their children through death or being in care. The Cord You are connected, Your child and you, by An invisible cord Not seen by the eye. It's not like the cord That connects you 'til birth This cord can't been seen By any on Earth. This cord does its work Right from the start. It binds you together Attached to your heart. I know that it's there I know that it’s true The invisible cord From your child to you. The strength of this cord Is hard to describe. It can't be destroyed It can't be denied. It's stronger than any cord Man could create It withstands the test Can hold any weight. And though you are gone Though you're not here, The cord is still there But no one can see. It pulls at your heart You are bruised … you are sore, But this cord is your lifeline As never before. Be thankful the cord Connects in this way Parents, grandparents and child Death or Child Safety can't take it away! Author unknown slight revisions made to the text.