Beacon Family Services

25/08/2025

Doesn't it feel good to go slow? Charlotte Jenkins explains why slowing down to play helps your child think, learn, and connect - https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/why-slowing-down-to-play-helps-your-child-think-learn-and-connect/

You don’t need to do anything fancy. You don't need to direct the shape of play in a structured way. Just slow down, join their play, and give your child time. There is no right or wrong way to play with a leaf. If your child plays with a tree stump, they can enjoy and learn from the experience whether they climb onto it, count the rings, or sit on it like a king or queen.

Charlotte offers gentle questions and conversational points you can share with your child to help them play with a sense of agency and calming control, feeling safe and connected as they try things out at their own pace.

07/08/2025

What happens when a child lies, and should parents be worried? Read our latest blog - https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/why-does-my-child-lie-to-me-a-therapists-advice/

Pamela Meyer, in her TED Talk How to Spot a Liar, says adults lie about twice a day often to protect feelings, avoid conflict, or shape how we're seen.

Children do the same. They’re working out what others know, what’s safe to say, and how to manage fear or get needs met. When a child lies, they are developing their social awareness and learning how to take someone else's perspective. They might be compared with Brer Rabbit, using trickery for protection, not defiance.

For children who’ve experienced relational trauma, who may have been removed from birth families, moved between carers, or had safety threatened, truth can feel dangerous.

Our CEO Charlotte Jenkins offers further insights in the blog along with 5 super-useful strategies to bear in mind when a child lies. After all, what could be seen as a red flag may actually be an opportunity for growth...

06/08/2025

"Why You, the Parent, Matter More Than You Think" - Read the latest blog from our CEO Charlotte Jenkins: https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/why-you-the-parent-matter-more-than-you-think/

It's natural to feel worried you've missed something big when you've tried all the parenting books and advice, and yet relationships still feel difficult or stuck. However, you don't need all the answers right now. The way you see, understand, and respond to your child has incredible power, even when things feel out of control.

In the blog you'll find some small shifts in thinking and reflective exercises that aren't a rush to "fix" things but can add up and help to make us feel closer to our child and better about ourselves as parent or caregiver. They build trust, safety, and the kind of relationship that helps children grow and thrive.

05/08/2025

EVENT: You can virtually meet our Incidental Artist Marley Starskey Butler in an online studio visit to Eastside Projects on Thursday 11 September 1 – 2pm! Find out more and book your ticket here - https://eastsideprojects.org/events/online-studio-visit-marley-starskey-butler/

In this informal lunchtime conversation, Marley Starskey Butler and Artist Curator Gavin Wade will talk through Marley’s approach to the invitation to be an Incidental Artist and their findings so far.

Marley has spent the last nine months embedded in Beacon Family Services in Sutton Coldfield. As well as spending time with our team they have been observing our use of Theraplay® and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) techniques which help children and parents or caregivers living in adoptive or fostering families start to make sense of their family’s world and nurture their relationships with one another.

As Marley moves from their research phase towards the production of artwork, which will be made public in January 2026, we’ll find out where their “listening to the noises and watching the doings” has led them!

PLUS: If you'd like to find out more about Marley's work with Beacon Family Services, we've included a link to their interview in the comments...

31/07/2025

Download your free guide to sensory activities for your child before bed, with thanks to Little Dreams Consulting Birmingham ! https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/9-sensory-play-activities-before-bed/

We would like to thank all the parents who attended our pilot child sleep workshop hosted by child sleep consultant Leanne Wilkinson in June. As well as dispensing useful advice and offering free consultations to attending parents, Leanne has addressed how some neurodivergent children can benefit from quite physical activities before bed, particularly ones that involve deep pressure or movement.

A neurodivergent child’s nervous system can get overwhelmed from the day’s sensory input. Sensory play activities providing calming and organising sensory input can help them regulate their nervous systems and find a calm and balanced state in preparation for sleep. And sometimes those activities can take the form of jumping, stomping, running, big bear hugs or tug of war games - but if it works, it works!

Leanne Wilkinson has provided a downloadable PDF of sensory activities to try with your child before bedtime which we are pleased to share with you all. It could help your child sleep like a superhero!

30/07/2025

We are hiring! Associate Therapists in Birmingham are warmly invited to join our team - https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/work-with-us-team/associate-therapist-jobs-west-midlands-birmingham/

We think we are a great place to work, and if you have relational and play based skills such as Theraplay® and DDP then we'd love to hear from you.

If you’re new to our work, Beacon Family Services is a social enterprise supporting parents and families in the West Midlands to strengthen emotional relationships, and we are always open to applications from self-employed trauma and attachment practitioners!

We often work with parents and foster carers to provide specialist therapy focused on recovery from trauma and attachment rupture. We are currently evolving our services to support even more families, including our newly formed offer to children in care for Walsall Children’s Services.

Does this sound like you or someone you know? Please spread the word and get in touch via the application form in the link if you feel we’d be a good fit for your next steps. We look forward to reading your applications!

22/07/2025

We are collaborating with campaign group Action against ASGSF changes to give parents and carers impacted by ASGSF funding cuts a voice. This survey is an important call for evidence seeking to hear how your experiences of the delays, changes and cuts to the ASGSF have impacted your children and family. Please do fill in and share. The more evidence we can collectively gather, the greater the case to present to Government.

Survey link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcZeZSxMztEIfWJq_JkURt37uuSz5z9_LptMdiX5vqbKK_ww/viewform

Gateway Psychology Family Futures The Family Place The Child Psychology Service

18/07/2025

The latest fabulous Pondering play and therapy podcast features our CEO Charlotte Jenkins chatting with host Philippa about play-based therapy and how play relates to stress and the nervous system. We hope you enjoy the podcast and give Pondering Play a follow!

🌿 New Episode Alert: Pondering and Play Therapy 🎙️
This week, host Philippa Kelly sits down with the incredible Charlotte Jenkins—founder of Beacon Family Services and co-founder of the innovative parenting app Lumin&Us

💬 From her beginnings as a frustrated social worker to becoming a champion of play-based therapeutic support, Charlotte shares her journey of transforming family life through connection, nervous system regulation, and empathy-driven parenting.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Discover how simple, consistent moments of therapeutic play can ease family conflict, build stronger bonds, and boost emotional resilience in children.

✨ Whether you’re a parent, therapist, or professional supporting children’s mental health, this episode is packed with practical tools and heartfelt insight.

🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform!
🔗 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2422439/episodes/17131177-ep28-play-and-the-nervous-system-an-interview-with-charlotte-jenkins

17/07/2025

Presenting a brief guide to how we work with challenging behaviour in children - https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/understanding-challenging-behaviour-in-children-guide-for-parents-and-carers/

When your child’s challenging behaviour escalates into situations where you might be fearing for your own safety and that of your child, it can make you feel helpless and isolated. All too often, your personal social networks and career end up being put to one side so that you can focus on caring for your child, which can lead into an even deeper sense of isolation. However, you are not alone.

Here’s how we help parents and carers to reduce conflict, support the child, de-escalate behaviour and enhance resilience with tailored therapeutic support.

Every child is unique, and we understand the complexities involved.

16/07/2025

If you care for a child (or children) through adoption or special guardianship, please take 10 minutes to fill in our short survey - https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/post-adoption-special-guardianship-support-survey-have-your-say/

The Department for Education is introducing major changes to how post-adoption and special guardianship support is funded, including:

🔺 Ending the £2,500 per-child allocation for specialist psychological assessments

🔺 Reducing the therapy funding cap from £5,000 to £3,000 per child

🔺 Removing match funding for children with the most complex needs

These changes are being presented as a way to make funding available to more families. However, they have been developed without consultation with families or service providers, and plans are already underway to test new delivery models through local authorities and Regional Adoption Agencies.

Your voice matters to us. We are sharing this survey with the families we support so we can take your views to local councillors, MPs, and national decision-makers, ensuring that any reforms reflect real-life experience.

You have the right to remain anonymous and we will treat your answers with respect and in confidence.

In taking part in the survey, you can help Beacon Family Services advocate for a support system that truly reflects the realities and needs of families like yours.

15/07/2025

What is neurodiversity? And how might it relate to you and your family? https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/what-is-neurodiversity/

"Finding clear, reliable information about neurodiversity isn’t always easy. One day, a post popped up on my Instagram promising to "help spot" if a taxi driver was neurodivergent – a reminder that much of what we see online can be misleading, stereotyped, or even harmful."

Neurodiversity is constantly referenced these days, and sometimes in misleading ways steeped in stigma.

Stripes? Spots? Or maybe even question marks? At Beacon Family Services, we know that whether you’re a spotted ladybird, a striped one, or something in between, you belong. This blog by our CEO Charlotte Jenkins considers the nuance behind 'neurodiversity' and 'neurodivergence' from a therapist's perspective, and how that might relate to families - especially where a child's past trauma may be concerned.

Here at Beacon Family Services, we don't believe in a one-size-fits all approach, because every child and every family is unique 🙂

For those families to whom it's relevant, Charlotte recommends the book An Introduction to Autism in Adoptive and Fostering Families by Dr Katie Hunt and Dr Helen Rodwell.

10/07/2025

How do we help families? Find out in our newly launched Social Impact Report for 2024 😊- https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/funders/

We think that you all have a right to know exactly what we do and how our money is invested in supporting families, which is the heart of our mission. That’s why we are proud to share our latest report with case studies, comprehensive overviews and all the nitty gritty details.

WHAT WE ACHIEVED:

⚡79p of every pound was invested into directly supporting families

⚡ We reached over 2,000 children

⚡ Our work helped to save the NHS an estimated 4.1 million

A big round of applause to all the families who have used our services and all the professionals and organisations who have worked with us and supported us in the last six years. Together we are united in our mission to make a difference.

At the heart of our work is a belief that every child is unique; an individual, part of a family, and a member of a wider community. We’re proud to work in partnership with families and professionals to offer support that’s flexible, accessible, and deeply rooted in empathy and evidence.

You are welcome to read the report, and warmly invited to spread the news about our services providing early accessible support to families in the West Midlands and beyond.

➡️ Read the full report: https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/funders/

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