'Find your village' - a systemic response to supporting migrant families with young children

The experiences babies, toddlers and young children have affect how their brains grow and how they learn. Refugee families may experience specific challenges which affect wellbeing and limit children’s opportunities. The community people live in affects how happy and safe children and families feel, and how connected or isolated they become. Somali mothers in Bristol have told us about multiple challenges that may limit children’s opportunities for early play and social experiences. For families coming from societies where child-rearing is communal or collective, it may be especially important to consider what helps build a sense of community where they now live.
We have designed a peer-support volunteer intervention ‘Find your village’, combining (we hope) the best of Somali/African and European/Western ways of bringing up children. This aims to improve parents’ confidence and children’s experience, and improve access to local agencies. We are also using innovative ‘Walkabouts’ to explore ways disadvantaged migrant communities can influence statutory decision-making; and using filmmaking to illustrate refugees’ experiences of adversity and resilience.
This workshop will offer opportunities to reflect on:
-how neighbourhood and city systems can respond to the needs of migrant families
-what methodologies can support social and environmental change
-how video/film narratives might contribute to understanding and action in contexts of social disadvantage.