Bristol Family School CIC
'Putting families at the heart of learning communities.'
“A child who is better understood will understand parents and teachers better.”
- Peter Fonagy
Bristol Family School (BFS) is a not-for-profit social enterprise set up as a Community Interest Company (CIC).
BFS was founded in 2019 to introduce the provision of Multi Family Groups (MFGs) in schools in Bristol.
We are passionate about the value of MFGs in schools, and of the importance of early and preventative interventions for children, young people and society.
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BFS works with the two most influencing areas of a child's life: the family and the school.
This is the organisation’s distinguishing offer.
WHO WE ARE
Our core team consists of Clinical Psychologists, a former teacher now Psychotherapist, and a child group specialist.
We're also lucky to have support from our wider team for the general management of the company.
We have extensive experience of working in schools and delivering mental health interventions to vulnerable children and their families.
Juliet Holder
Founder, Director & Clinician
Dr Juliet Holder is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist who has worked over a 25 year period with children and adults with mental and physical disabilities. She has worked within the NHS in both London and Bristol. Juliet’s clinical work has specialised in child disability, involving assessment, treatment and consultation to children and families affected by complex emotional, behavioural and mental health issues relating to disability. All her work involves at its heart the impact of trauma on families and professionals, and is a multi-disciplinary and agency collaboration. More recently, Juliet has migrated from the NHS to education, and has worked as a consultant in a special education trust in the Bristol region for two schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Her work there has been systemic, working to support staff with their own wellbeing as well as the mental health needs of the pupils. In addition to clinical work, Juliet has been an external examiner on the University College London doctoral clinical psychology training course. She also has taught on the Royal Holloway doctoral training course, and the University College London Masters course in Developmental Psychoanalytic Theory. Having completed a research doctorate at University College London/Anna Freud Centre with Professor Peter Fonagy and Howard and Miriam Steele on intergenerational patterns of attachment and theory of mind, she is experienced in the use of qualitative research methodologies, and is trained in a number of specialist attachment research and clinical tools for both children and adults. She has presented her research at national and international conferences and has supervised students. Juliet has maintained close ties with the Anna Freud Centre, and currently collaborates with Neil Dawson and Brenda McHugh from the Pears Family School/Anna Freud Centre, through the introduction of Multi Family Groups to Bristol, and related projects.
Emily Doe
Multi Family Group Specialist
Emily Doe is an Author and Artist with a background in therapeutic movement education and facilitating groups including multi family groups in a SEND setting. Emily joins the Bristol Family School as a Multi Family Group Facilitator. Having lived experience with her own daughters at school, Emily is passionate about community support for children and their parents who may be struggling in the classroom and at home.
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Leanne McEvoy
Director & Clinician
Leanne is a Senior Clinical Psychologist with a particular interest in working with groups. Initially training at the University of East London, systemic and social constructionist ideas form the wallpaper to her work. Recently back home in Bristol after an 8 year stint living and working in Melbourne Australia. Leanne was the senior clinician co-ordinating and facilitating the group programmes at The Melbourne Clinic Day Programmes. Leanne is also a certified Mindful Self Compassion teacher and you will often find her facilitating this wonderful group programme in the community. As well as in her private practice where she specialises in the consequences of complex trauma and adult mental health. She has a strong focus on strengths, values and preferred stories of life and identity to promote recovery, healing and growth and provides a nurturing, creative space which offers warmth, humour and safety. When not at work you can find Leanne hanging out with her husband and two children enjoying friends, food, camping and nights by the fire.
Kate Swainson Price
Executive Director of Special Projects
Kate was one of the original Directors that set up the Bristol Family School CIC (BFS) in 2019. Drawn to the project through experience as a former teacher, a parent, and of school governance (begun in 2015 and ongoing, including former Chair of Primary School, Governor rep on Steering Board of schools partnership network, currently a Member of a Primary School and Ambassador at Secondary School), Kate supported Founder Dr Juliet Holder, with the initial Community Interest Company administrative set up in 2019. She went on to work as Company Secretary alongside her role as Director. Passionate about the work BFS are doing to support children and their families in schools; and with an eclectic professional background in education, fundraising, communications, and singing for wellbeing, Kate now works on special projects to promote and support the development of BFS' innovative vision, in addition to her full time role working in administration at a Bristol Secondary school.
James Town
Director & Clinician
James is a psychoanalyst, and has a private psychotherapy practice where he works with adults and young people. He has also worked therapeutically with younger children in placements in primary schools. Before this, he has many years of experience of the education system from teaching in a range of schools across Bristol. Working with Bristol Family School is an exciting opportunity to bring together different strands of this experience to support children and their families in a school setting.
Freya Allport
Website Developer and Videographer
Freya is a filmmaker, and a website and social media designer. She supports organisations to tell their story, and to expand and develop. She's also a dancer, and she facilitates nature-based and socio-environmental projects with youth groups in their community. She has a background as a Teaching Assistant for children with special educational needs (SEND).
Between us we have over 40 years experience working with children, parents & schools in varied environments.
Gerald Jones
Volunteer Data Manager
Gerald is an educationalist who has worked in lifelong learning for over 30 years, helping adults, families and their communities to flourish. He has been a senior manager and principal at colleges and in local authorities across London, building regional partnerships beyond the education sector, employers and councils for greater impact. Sector leader of the national adult education network (LEAFEA), he draws on methods and metrics from the social sciences to demonstrate the value and outcomes of adult education and family learning to the DfE and other funders. He also loves philosophy, and is the co-author of sixteen books, including the best-selling Philosophy in Focus series for Hodder.
"Bringing mental health and psychological support for children and their families together in schools."
Parent's Feedback
"I am happier and it makes people around me happier."
Children's Feedback
"I like
coming here and
I love the
activities."
Impact on class/mood
"It was just nice. Well it sort of helped me improve my mood.
(The groups have made) quite a big difference.
It's made me have a better day.
And I think Multi Family Group could carry on in other places."
"The groups are cool with a K."
Fun
"Mostly it's to improve your targets and get better at what you can't really do without stressing."
Learning Skills
" It makes you feel more calm in class when you go back."
"I think the groups are going really good because you can then focus in class… you're going to be calm and fine and you get to just feel happy when you go back (in class)"
"I hope you sometimes do it in a secondary school."
Fun
"I get a break from having to hear people getting called names. Everybody's nice to each other."
Escape
May Park Primary
"He has had more focus in class.
He is able to manage his interactions with adults now and can talk calmly, explaining what has happened without walking off or getting cross.
He has also formed more friendships over the past few months (with adult support)."
May Park Primary
"She is beginning to talk more confidently in class and will have a go before seeking help. There is a noticeable difference in her being able to seek help and getting upset when she can’t do something."
Teacher's Feedback
How can we help you?
Find out more about Multi Family Groups?
The trauma-Informed and theoretical foundations
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