Russell

Russell helped GL11 establish a successful Dad’s Group for struggling fathers and their families.

Today Russell’s life looks very different.  He knows that he has help available with practical and financial difficulties, and he is part of a community of local fathers who offer mutual support, and activities.

But back in December 2020, Russell got a life changing shock.  This divorced HGV driver in his early 60s, living alone in a studio flat, learned from Social Services that his 4 young children from a previous relationship were in urgent need of his care.  Their mother had become mired in addiction, and was no longer able to care for 4 children under 10.

Russell was determined to keep his children out of residential care, and so agreed without hesitation to provide a home for all of them. Social Services were able to provide a three-bedroom house for the family, but Russell had to give up work to care for the youngsters.

“We moved in a week before Xmas – no furniture, nothing.  But friends rallied round, and we quickly got some second-hand basics together.”

The new year brought huge financial difficulties and when Russell confided in the Health Visitor,  she put him in touch with GL11. 

Immediately, GL11 staff were able to help with an emergency Food Bank delivery, followed up by a regular weekly fresh food, delivered as part of GL11’s Friday Food service for families in severe hardship.

“GL11’s Benefits Advisor was also a huge help. She helped me reduce my monthly bills and helped me apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment to make the rent manageable.”

A member of GL11’s Wellbeing Team spent time talking to Russell and he opened up about all the difficulties he was dealing with.  His children had never known a stable home or normal behavioural boundaries, so there were many challenges to his parenting skills. 

Russell suggested that a “Dads Group” might be helpful for him, and other fathers, to come together and share their challenges, and GL11 responded to this community need. The GL11 family group for Dads now runs weekly, with Russell and his little daughter being regular attenders. 

“It was very important for my daughter to get socialising, meeting other kids her age.   So now she has started going to GL11’s “Messy Mondays” and they helped me to find another playgroup locally for her on another day of the week.”