Brighter Futures
The Brighter Futures programme is intended to support and equip families who have been affected by sexual violence or abuse to strengthen positive relationships with their children through a better understanding of trauma and parenting skills.
The programme is specifically for families and carers where anyone in the family has experienced any form of sexual violence (including childhood sexual abuse, rape or sexual assault) at any time in their lives.
The Brighter Futures programme has been designed specifically to raise awareness of all forms of sexual violence and abuse, including online safety and ways of recognising and understanding signs of abuse, to enable families and carers to safeguard children in their care.
The programme increases understanding of how victims/survivors respond to sexual violence and abuse, whether adult or child, and helps families explore the impact of childhood sexual abuse and sexual violence on parenting and wider family relationships.
Working with families
Brighter Futures aims to enable families and carers to make confident, informed choices that they feel are right for the children in their care.
The Brighter Futures programme is available for families in Thurrock who have been referred by Thurrock Social Care because:
- An adult in the family has experienced sexual violence, either as a child or more recently, and this has had an impact on parenting, including safeguarding children in the family’s care.
- A child in the family has experienced sexual violence, or is at risk of further sexual violence, and parents or carers would benefit from a greater understanding of the impact of sexual violence and abuse, including practical parenting techniques. (Please note, referrals should not be made for children displaying sexualised behavior unless there has been a disclosure of sexual violence.)
- An adult in the family is the subject of allegations of sexual offences or has been charged or convicted of sexual offences and the parent or carers would benefit from a better understanding of the impact of their actions and how to safeguard children in their care. (Please note, the Brighter Futures programme does not offer direct work for anyone who is accused of, under investigation for, charged with, or convicted of, any sexual offences.)
Making a Brighter Futures referral
Referrals to the Brighter Futures programme should be for the whole family. We can only accept referrals for parent(s) with their child(ren). Please complete the online referral form for organisations for each member of the family individually.
The Brighter Futures worker will make contact with the parent or carer and, following an initial assessment, will agree a support plan with the parent or carer that takes into account their family’s specific needs.