DayBreak Family Group Conferencing

Advocacy Research Completed

In 2005 the Daybreak Brighton & Hove project commissioned two independent researchers, Perpetua Kirby and Sophie Laws to look into how families experienced family group conferences when the children involved were represented by professional advocates, comparing their experiences to families where the young people involved did not have advocates. They have recently been able to publish the results of the research as 'Under the table ... or at the table". Their research findings were disseminated to professionals who had participated in the research at a recent conference in Brighton. You can download a copy of the research summary, or email us for a copy of the full version of the research.

Bluebird Project takes to the skies

Daybreak has recently received funding from Comic Relief to set up a new branch in its family group conference work. The Bluebird project, based in Hampshire, will be using FGCs and restorative practice in cases of elder abuse. This pioneering project will be helping older people to be heard at meetings through using advocates and supporters and will aim to find family based solutions to protect older people from abuse.

The project is being run by Linda Tapper, an experienced family group conference practitioner. For more details please see the Bluebird Project's entry on the Projects Page

Daybreak and Usmev ako Dar

Marilyn Taylor, Daybreak's Chief Executive and Lis Gohrisch, Project Manager of Daybreak's Dove South Project recently made links with a Slovakian Family Group Project, Usmev ako Dar. The project was started 15 years ago, towards the end of the Soviet era, by a group of students and its main aim is to reconnect some of Slovakia's many displaced children with their families. The purpose of Daybreak's visit to Slovakia was to train potential coordinators - they ended up training a group of 120! Their particular focus was to enable practitioners to persuade others that FGCs are a safe and effective tool, whilst overcoming the vested interests of the established systems.

Marilyn and Lis reported that it was a privilege to have worked with a group of people who had risked so much to help children and their families and who have so much energy and drive.

New Deputy Chief Executive Officer

The Daybreak FGC central organisation have recently appointed Sarah Curl as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Sarah's particular focus will be rationalising Daybreak operations as the organisation grows and expands. She comes to Daybreak after a career spent in youth and voluntary sector work. You can read more about Sarah's background here.

Sarah Curl, Daybreak's Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Brighton & Hove News

As the Project gains ever more momentum in Brighton & Hove, Daybreak have just appointed a new full time coordinator, the first for the project, where work has previously all been carried out by self employed sessional coordinators. The new coordinator is Mike Sells who joins us from Phoenix Futures, where he worked as a drug rehabilitation worker.

The website of Daybreak Family Group Conferences. Charity no. 1077607 Company no. 378026

The name 'Daybreak' is translated from the Maori word 'Puao-te-ata-tu'. This was the title of the report from which the concept of family group conferences first began.