Church

Discover 'Family Support Work'

An introduction to what FSW is and does!

One of the organisations that is supported by the Church and congregations here in East Dean, Friston and Jevington, is the Chichester Diocesan Association for Family Support Work, known more usually as FSW. It can best be described as the Church at work in the community, bringing help and love to families in distress.



Gift Shopping Made Easy

If you are looking for the perfect alternative present FSW last year launched a scheme where you can give a gift that really counts and can help change lives.
The Give a Child a Holiday gift card can be purchased in the following amounts:

£10 buys a day's outing
£15 a day's holiday
£60 a week's holiday
£150 a week's holiday for a family
A holiday break at Knowles Tooth (see below) can really make a difference to troubled families so please do consider one of these gift cards when next shopping for that difficult present - even better buy one for yourself!


How did it all begin?

The FSW can trace its roots to 1890 when the Chichester Penitentiary Association was formed to ‘protect and strengthen the weak and to raise the fallen.’ To help with this it established refuges and shelters for women throughout Sussex.
Enormous changes have taken place in the intervening years both in society and the Church, but the FSW has evolved, along with contemporary society, to offer support to parents and carers across the county in many ways, including counselling, budgeting, self-help groups, drop-in centres and short breaks at
Knowles Tooth.

Knowles Tooth is situated near Hurstpierpoint and was founded in 1975 with the aim of alleviating family distress caused by problems such as marriage breakdown, illness and bereavement, so working to help keep families together. One of its functions is to provide short breaks where lone parents, usually mothers, can relax in a safe and warm setting, enjoying their children and the company of others, recharging their batteries to better face the future. Equally for the children, the centre offers the freedom of play areas and open spaces, sandpits and swings, ponds and trees, where they too can find new friends and experience new challenges.

FSW funds its own social workers across the Diocese including places near to home such as Eastbourne, Hastings and Brighton.

Interested in becoming involved?
Ring Francine Judd on 01323-489636

Francine Judd
Telephone: 489636
Email: martin@judd17.wanadoo.co.uk

This page last modified on: 01 February 2010