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Just Show Up

Now more than ever we need to Just Show Up for children and help get them back to school.

Can you ‘Show Up’ and challenge yourself this July?

From Monday 1 July – Friday 26 July we are asking individuals and businesses to show up and challenge themselves for 40 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for 4 weeks.

The activity you choose to challenge yourself with is your choice – read, run, duolingo, hone a craft, or you could take part in a team activity and support each other. Whatever you choose, have fun and help raise money to support children back to school.

It’s time to show up, before it’s too late for so many children.

Click here to set up your JustGiving fundraising page (small processing fees apply).

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Hear from our Patron Tony Adams about how you can show up this July

Showing up for 40 years

School-Home Support has been showing up for children and families for 40 years to tackle persistent absence in schools. Through thick and thin, we’ve shown up for our children and young people, supported their families, and advocated for changes in education policy and practice to help them get the most out of school.

Our work is far from done. According to recent government data, a shocking 1.56 million children are persistently absent from school, missing weeks, months and even years of their education and severely affecting their future life chances. This figure has doubled since the pandemic. There is a school attendance crisis that requires a once in a generation effort to solve.

As we mark our 40th anniversary, we reflect on the journey behind us and the challenges ahead. The need for our vital work has never been greater. Families are struggling and children are slipping through the cracks in the middle of this school attendance crisis. By just showing up to our campaign, you can help us to get more children in school and ready to learn, before their life chances are impacted forever.

Together we can help children like Benji

6 year old Benji was referred to School-Home Support practitioner Mike due to serious concerns around Benji’s attendance and housing situation. Benji and his mum Helen were living in temporary hostel accommodation that had limited cooking facilities, no TV and only a shared sleeping space. The family were in a substantial amount of debt, adding even more pressure to the family’s difficult situation.

The hostel was 3 bus journeys away from Benji’s school, and would take over 2 hours each way. Because of the difficult journey and the pressures of their temporary living situation, Benji’s school attendance had fallen to just 24%. Benji’s mum Helen struggled to engage with his school, and would often ignore calls or take a defensive stance when questioned by school staff about Benji’s attendance and punctuality.

How did School-Home Support help?

Mike first referred the family to the local borough Housing office to support them to find more permanent housing and set up a housing debt support plan. Mike also referred the family to Crisis due to their current situation in the hostel.

To support Helen with getting Benji to school, Mike worked with her on morning routines so they could be ready for the commute, as well as using the School-Home Support Welfare Fund to buy monthly travel passes to relieve the pressure of extra travel costs. In addition Mike was able to purchase Benji a new uniform.

Mike was able to build trust with Helen, speaking to her daily, reducing her anxious feelings around Benji’s schooling by making sure to text before phoning to ensure she knew he was going to call. He liaised with the school attendance lead to ensure they were also kept in the loop about the family’s situation.

Through the referral to Crisis, the family were allocated a new home, which is much more secure, and is only a 20 minute bus journey from Benji’s school. He is now attending school much more regularly. His attendance has increased to 82%, and is now much more engaged in school. Mike is continuing to work with the family to improve punctuality, and get to 100% attendance one week at a time.

“I’m trying to get things right for my baby but sometimes it’s hard to do it when everything else in your life is going wrong. Thanks for listening and not judging me.” – Helen (Benji’s mum)

Share your ‘showing up’ on Social

We’d love to hear from you throughout the challenge and encourage you to share your journey with us on social media, tagging School-Home Support on Linkedin, or @SHSorguk on Twitter, and using our campaign hashtag #JustShowUp.

Download resources for sharing your involvement in our campaign here, including a poster to display in your office, and tile to promote the campaign on social media.