As PEGS starts its second funded year of providing support to parents, carers and guardians, we wanted to share the highs, the difficulties and everything in between from year one.

This project has seen so much growth and learning and we as an organisation are so grateful and thankful to the Lottery for investing and believing in us and our vision. At the time we were a relatively new organisation with limited experience of the funding and grant world as well as delivering our front-line services, so to receive such a large fund, despite being early on in our journey was exciting and certainly greatly needed, as well as being daunting if not slightly scary. 

This project has enabled us to open a new office in Bretby Business Park, Derbyshire and employ more staff (including apprentices) all of whom are local to the area, meaning we have helped local employment grow too. We have a service manager, a referral team and a practitioner team along with social media support who complement the existing team in Shrewsbury.

We have had to pivot at times especially when demand was incredibly high, being able to adapt in this way has really helped us to learn and respond when needed. Our incredible team who are doing the do, often share their thoughts and suggestions which means they too are actively involved with the running of PEGS and our services and being the voice of those who need us.

These past 12 months have seen us increase our suite of services and access to our practitioner team, it has enabled us to deliver multiple workshops, programmes and bespoke support which includes advocacy. We have been able to introduce a virtual drop in provision for professionals so that we can offer support and guidance to them too. 

Our reach has excelled and we have been so lucky to connect with others outside of the UK and we are especially proud of our connections with Tabitha at Parent Real Talk and supporting her with her journey in America which has seen the initial steps of CPA being recognised in the state of Michigan. You can read more about this at the bottom of the page.

We have built some amazing friendships along the way and the support these individuals, organisations and the media show us is simply incredible – we are so thankful to the friends of PEGS who help us to continue our work whilst also raising the awareness of Child to Parent Abuse.

Right at the heart of all that we do are the parents, carers and guardians. We continue to ask them what they need or want from PEGS, ensuring that they have a voice in the support they access. PEGS will not be right for everyone and that’s okay, what matters is those who need support are able to access it in a way that works for them and their families without them having to meet criteria or have added pressure of trying to find funds to pay for help.

I set PEGS up not knowing what it would be, I just knew there had to be change, change can start with anyone of us at any time, scary – yes, unknown – yes but the passion I have to create change is what drives this forward. What we feed will grow, fear or faith? We get to choose and I choose FAITH.  Having people who believe in me, my vision and want to come on the journey with us as a team has been nothing short of phenomenal.  My 3 year ago self, during her time of need, thanks everyone for taking a chance, for standing alongside her and for believing in her. 

To the National lottery, especially Amanda who has held our hand over these past 12 months, thank you just doesn’t seem enough – ‘ Funding is more than just money, it is directly changing lives ‘.