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The Lilias Graham Trust
Thornhill, Stirling
Helping to provide better futures for children and their families through supported short breaks
The Lilias Graham Trust has a house in the country in Stirlingshire, where families living in poverty and social exclusion can go for a supported break aimed at building the family’s capacity to overcome stress and alienation. Families have to be paid for by social work depts or other agencies. The aim is to strengthen the family and support each member to bring about personal change and growth. Among other support, the Lilias Graham Trust provides a Play Therapy Service which benefits the family and also provides a clearer picture of the extent to which the strengths and needs of the family are being met. Families stay in self-contained suites in very pleasant country surroundings, and activities are based on the family’s needs, with communal activities as well. The focus is on the needs of the individual family, and families are visited before the stay and followed-up after, or signposted for further support to a related agency.
The Cattanach Charitable Trust made a grant of £5,000 towards core funding in 2006 and continues to maintain a relationship with the Lilias Graham Trust with the possibility of repeat funding. While this grant was made before outcomes and targets were specified by the Trust, expected outcomes are based on a pre-visit assessment by staff and consist of:
- improved relationships within the family as demonstrated by parents interacting, playing and talking more to the children and each other, and parents and children enjoying each other’s company.
- reduced levels of anger and aggression within the family and with other people.
- improved relationships with statutory agencies, including social work and schools, as demonstrated by improved attendance at school, attendance at meetings with social work and teachers.
