CONTACT Director: Helen Genty Email: kithnkincic@gmail.com Phone: 07815 442 408 Website: https://www.kithnkincic.org

THE AGENCY Kith ‘n’ Kin is a newly formed CIC developed as a response to the issue of child to parent violence. Those involved bring experience from the field of Youth Offending. Referrals are now being accepted for programmes beginning in September 2021.

CRITERIA There is no restriction in terms of the age of the child. Parents of very young children will be invited to discuss the issues first to assess suitability. Families from the Tonbridge area.

REFERRAL / ASSESSMENT Referrals are accepted from professionals or parents. Contact the organisation for more details and forms. Parents will be contacted to discuss suitability and the best way of accessing the support.

THE SERVICE This service is for parents / carers only, though it is hoped to form links with local services offering support to young people.

Kith ‘n’ Kin offers a 2-part programme with opportunities for ongoing support.

1) A peer support group for parents to reduce isolation, help build supportive networks, introduce new perspectives and reflection, to increase safety and learn de-escalation, to learn relaxation techniques and to have the opportunity to meet representatives from other agencies. This element of the programme lasts around 10 weeks.

2) Teaching Non-Violent Resistance as an approach to parenting. The focus is on safety, strengthening the parent -child relationship, practising self-care, making a clear stand against violence, promoting and demonstrating a positive authority, cultivating a network of supporters and enlisting them in the task of standing up against violent behaviours, and recognising that this will be a long task.

3) Once the programmes have been completed, there will be opportunities to check in and bring problems and experiences for further discussion. It is hoped that parents will feel inspired to become parent facilitators themselves.

EVALUATION This is a new service, but uses principles of NVR, a practice which is now well established and which has been shown to be effective. The practitioner team previously used this approach at Medway YOT and the group was recognised as an example of notable practice in the 2020 HMIP Inspection of youth offending services in the area.

Data entered July 2021