Introduction
PACT- at Eagle House is a charitable organisation just west of the A66 Between Mowden Park and Hurworth. Though it looks like a small holiday park, it is actually a long term intervention for families who are at risk of their children being moved to care or fostered. In a peaceful grassy site there are six or seven residential 'cabins', a small family centre and an office. This is a different approach to family support that enables access to green space and active play and recreation.
What happened?
I visited PACT (Eagle House) and was amazed at what they do and that they are not better known. It is more cost effective than finding foster care for children and gives families a fighting chance at addressing their problems and starting afresh. Families can stay on the site for up to two years and, during this time can access help from the support team on the site. The charity staff are typically familiar with the environment (ex police officers, ex social workers, ex teachers), the founders of the charity actually live on site and share their home with the Children's Centre.
Though it looks and feels idyllic, the reality for families is that they are fighting for survival as a unit. Not all make the journey. This was described as a 'last chance saloon' before they face family separation. The common issues are sited as Domestic Violence, substance abuse and poverty; the staff at PACT help to break this cycle. The site is completely dry and substance free. A one strike policy for families to stay and continue to gain support. Some adults find this too much of a departure from their chaotic lives, the site is too quiet and isolated, they miss their established social networks. However there must be huge comfort in knowing children can go out play in an open green space, complete with play park and toys must be massive. To further add to the calming nature of the site there is a gardening area / vegetable patch, alpacas and two pygmy goats.
Who was involved?
Charity Founders, Staff Team, Referral network including social care.
When?
Ongoing
Where?
Eagle House Darlington
How?
Through referral at the point where they are at risk of family separation.
Why?
It is a cost effective and outcome effective alternative to children being moved into Foster Care. There is a similar charity in Cumbria but the model is not widely established across the country.
So?
Physical activity is not a driver for the project, but they do support clients to be active if this is an area of interest or will have positive outcomes. There is scope for Active Play on the site and outdoor play provision for young children.
We could support by providing junior sports kit and ideas for active family play.
The provision at PACT will for some young people break the circle of poverty and poor lifestyle choices and enable them to have better futures.
As an update we have provided some child and parent friendly activity kit to the site. This is suitable for indoor or outdoor play and will hopefully enable parents to engage with their children and use physical activity as part of their journey. It is a simple bag of mixed throwing and catching resources.
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