Hope and a Future Magazine Edition 12

A little encouragement goes a long way

Follow Mason’s journey as he finds hope after crisis through TLG Early Intervention.

Meet the Melluishes!

Rae Morfin catches up with Mark and Lindsay Melluish, Senior Leaders at St Paul’s Ealing, about their view on children’s wellbeing.

Moments of success

Join us in Warwick, as we hear how TLG Make Lunch provided crucial support to Alex’s family.

Stepping stones of Success!

Celebrate with our children and families, as they find hope and renewal. Delve into how every little moment of success adds up to huge transformation and see how life-changing encouragement can be!

What is

Success?

“We support and nurture young people to be the best that they can be.”

Iabsolutely love the quote above from one of TLG’s staff members. At the heart of TLG’s mission is the simple desire for every child to reach their potential.

Through all of our work, in partnership with churches throughout the UK, we are determined to give struggling children hope and a future!

Unfortunately, thousands of struggling children across the UK today are still facing an emotional wellbeing crisis without any support.

Wellbeing is the lowest it has been for over a decade, and 1 in 6 children are currently struggling with a mental health condition.*

A little encouragement goes a long way!

An interview with Mark and Lindsay Melluish

In this edition: 4 6

Moments to celebrate at TLG Make Lunch

The Entertainer’s Gary Grant on giving hope

Marcel’s journey to joy

Making an impact

‘Success’ is the term often associated with grand achievements – outstanding grades, a fastpaced career, money, popularity. But what if we could change the narrative around success? What if recognising success in our own lives meant celebrating every challenge that has been overcome, no matter how big or small? We would all likely feel much more confident and hopeful!

At TLG, we are in the privileged position of seeing numerous moments of success in the lives of the children we support, as we nurture them to be the best they can be. For many children, sitting through a whole lesson at school is considered a huge success. For others, making a new friend, finding a hobby they enjoy or growing in confidence are wonderful moments of success. These ‘small’ success stories, which are really momentous occasions in the lives of struggling children, are just as worthy of celebration as the bigger moments.

In this magazine, you’ll find inspiring stories of children’s lives being transformed as they receive vital emotional wellbeing support. You’ll see how recognising smaller moments of success can lead to radical transformation, as well as a vast improvement in a child’s emotional wellbeing.

*The Children’s Society

For a whole host of reasons, they are unable to learn and grow as they should. It’s a struggle to just get through the day. But what a difference it can make to have someone who is walking alongside them, supporting them through the challenges and championing every step of their progress. What a difference it makes to have someone celebrating their every success!

At TLG, we rely on our passionate supporters. Such generous donations enable us to journey alongside struggling children out of this emotional wellbeing crisis. If you are able to give, please fill out the form at the back of this magazine or visit our website.

I hope you’ll enjoy the stories in this magazine, from the amazing difference in Mason as he learnt how to manage difficult emotions, to the change in Marcel’s life as he found incredible hope. Thank you so much for your support.

Tim Morfin Founder and Chief Executive

A little encouragement goes a long way!

Atjust 11-years-old, Mason has already had a turbulent childhood. Mason was taken into care with his younger sister, with his Grandad and Step-Gran becoming their legal guardians. Sadly, his Grandad passed away a few years ago. Mason misses him and the rest of his family sorely.

flagged up for having aggressive tendencies and anxiety. They were worried he would drop out of school. He was disruptive in class because he wasn’t in a good emotional place to learn.”

taught me when I’m in a difficult situation.”

5,727 hours of Early Intervention coaching took place in 2021!

to help me. would say that I’m funny, generous and good at helping people!”

Mason feels especially proud that his teachers can see the difference in him. “My teachers have noticed how I’ve changed, they say that I can succeed at things. Their encouragement makes me feel good!”

“My teachers have noticed how I’ve changed, they say that I can succeed at things.”

Why does emotional wellbeing matter?

www.tlg.org.uk/early-intervention Hillbank

“I didn’t used to be able to cope,” says Mason. “I would feel very frustrated and take it out on other things. would shove people sometimes and I think I was a bit terrible. I was bullied which made me feel very upset and horrified at the names I was being called. I would get into trouble with my teachers sometimes and get very distracted in lessons.”

Mason started receiving support from his TLG Early Intervention coach, Beth, three years ago. “When first met Mason,” says Beth, “he had been

“Life before coaching was hard because didn’t have anyone to speak to about my anger,” says Mason. “But loved coming to school, even when it was a bad day. love

ICT and all the devices because I don’t have those at home. I love learning and my teachers!

With Beth, I can now talk about my anger and how to deal with it. remember the things she’s

“Life before coaching was hard because I didn’t have anyone to speak to or chat with about my anger.”

Beth continues, “We do different creative projects together in our sessions and we have time to talk. One week he was upset because his peers could do their times tables but he was still struggling. So we looked at some flashcards together and the next week he came back beaming that he got all his seven times table right. These might seem like small moments to us, but they’re huge to a child. If you can just encourage children, it makes all the difference.”

“I used to feel like I might burst into smithereens but now I can keep up,” Mason exclaims. “I’ve changed a lot. used to be hard on myself. I couldn’t cope with my anger. But it’s changed since I’ve had Beth

“Yes, it’s been a real privilege to coach Mason,” says Beth. “My highlight was when one of his former teachers passed us in the corridor and stopped to tell him that she was so proud of him for the change in his attitude and how he had progressed. His whole face lit up!”

Moment of Success!

Part of healthy emotional wellbeing is feeling positive about ourselves! How fantastic for Mason to identify some of his wonderful qualities.

“My biggest achievement is managing my emotions better. Beth has been a star to me! I know what not to do and what is good to do.”

Mason has big plans for his future. “I’m a bit nervous about going to secondary school, but I’m excited too. After school, when I’m older, I would like to build houses for those who are poor.”

Watch Mason’s full story at tlg.org.uk/mason

Children’s wellbeing is the lowest it has been for over a decade, with 67% young people believing the pandemic will have a long-term impact on their mental health. Many children are unable to cope, battling poor emotional wellbeing alone.

Poor emotional wellbeing can have a huge impact on the lives of children and young people. Emotional wellbeing includes the ability to manage and respond to emotions healthily – to be resilient and in control. It is negatively impacted when children don’t have the right support network to journey with them out of crisis point. This crisis will have a lasting impact on children, potentially for the rest of their lives, unless they receive vital support such as that provided by TLG Early Intervention (EI).

EI provides struggling children with a safe space to talk about and process whatever they’re dealing with. EI coaches are trained to be trauma-aware and equipped with resources to help children understand the challenging circumstances they’re facing. Every little encouragement, every space to open up helps build children’s self-esteem and provide them with healthy coping mechanisms. This support is transforming lives up and down the UK!

Unconditional support

We caught up with Mark and Lindsay Melluish to hear about how their church has seen lives transformed through TLG Early Intervention and how they are passionate about the impact that local churches can make!

Mark and Lindsay Melluish are Senior Pastors at St Paul’s Church in Ealing, and previously part of the leadership team at New Wine. Lindsay also works with children and young people as part of the NHS’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Their group of churches run TLG Early Intervention. TLG’s Head of Therapeutic Support, Rae Morfin, caught up with them for a chat.

Rae: Hi Mark and Lindsay! We’re all feeling the impact of COVID and the other issues linked to that in our local communities. Tell us what you’re seeing in your neighbourhood, the struggles and the community response.

Mark: Hi Rae. Well, there are definitely growing levels of loneliness, mental health issues, poverty, debt, all sorts of things are becoming issues. Perhaps one of the biggest is mental health. One way we as a church have been helping children and young people through this is by partnering with TLG.

Lindsay: work in mental health with children at the high end of risk and I often think to myself, if only some of these young people had been able to access something like TLG, they may not have ever needed to come to a service like CAMHS.

“I often think to myself, if only some of these young people had been able to access something like TLG.”

Lots of children have really difficult times in their lives for different reasons and they just need somebody to come alongside them and support them. Somebody who’s not going to tell them off, who’s not going to judge them, they’re just going to be there for them in an

unconditional way. Something as simple as that, such as what TLG offers, can make all the difference for that child.

Mark: When I first came across TLG, I saw that it was professional and doing something that was reaching out and helping children, but at the same time supporting teachers. It’s a way we can offer more to schools so that teachers really do know that the local church is there for them in a professional way. think that this side of TLG is really important.

“It’s a way that we can offer more to schools so that teachers really do know that the local church is there for them in a professional way.”

Rae: And what’s the impact that you’re seeing?

Lindsay: One of the people who is coaching a child in the local school we’re linked with said this: ‘I was uncertain at the beginning how the child would respond to me, did they really want to be there? The answer has been a resounding ‘yes’. They were very open from the start and enthusiastic about the sessions.

The first meeting with another child sticks out in my mind because it was rather different from the others. He’d been getting into a lot of trouble at school, setting fire alarms off etc. The first session he came in with quite a lot of attitude, so it was important to spend a couple of sessions building rapport and trust. By the third session he was tearful and said he didn’t want to be seen as the naughty boy in class.’

Rae: Wow!

Mark: So that’s what it does and if the church can provide that, what a fantastic way to help support the local community.

Rae: Amen, that’s so great to hear. Thanks for sharing with us today Mark and Lindsay, so good to chat with you.

TLG’s National Speaker Team is back in 2022!

Local churches are the beating heart of TLG. We are passionate about the unparalleled role the UK Church plays in supporting struggling children and their families, so we absolutely LOVE joining you during your church services and events.

A TLG speaker will encourage your congregation with stories of struggling children finding invaluable HOPE, just like those in this magazine.

Discover God’s heart for the fatherless and the brokenhearted. Be inspired by hearing how God is using his Church to transform the lives of children and young people.

Be challenged to change the story!

Watch Mark and Lindsay’s full video interview with Rae Morfin here and find out more about how TLG can equip you and your church to support children’s emotional wellbeing:

www.tlg.org.uk/meet-the-melluishes

Give your service or event an inspiring twist and book a TLG speaker today!

www.tlg.org.uk/speaking-events

Your business can become a

building futures for struggling children through monthly donations of any amount

Moments to celebrate at Make Lunch

TLG Make Lunch enables and equips churches to bring hope to struggling children through holiday lunch clubs. Through Make Lunch, churches provide vital support to some of the most vulnerable children in their local communities and build relationships with families in desperate need of a helping hand Families like Alex’s, who faced difficult challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alex’s dad, Adam, was self-employed at the beginning of the pandemic which meant the family couldn’t claim any additional government support when the UK went into lockdown. “He then got a job at a supermarket, but his hours were suddenly cut which had a big impact on us as a family,” says Marie, Alex’s mum. “We had to start to go without things that we would normally have and cut down on the usage of things around the house to save on our bills.”

Marie and Adam have three children, Maddy (age 13), Alex (age 7) and Montana (age 1). They faced a rollercoaster of emotions as the arrival of Montana meant they faced a stressful move to have enough space, with illness and accidents making life more difficult. “For the kids it had a big impact, mentally and everything,” sighs Marie. “Lockdown was hard for me,” Alex agrees.

However, the family received a lot of support

Moment of Success!

though their local Make Lunch club at St. Paul’s in Warwick. “The first time I came to Make Lunch I thought it was lovely and welcoming,” says Maddy. “It was very friendly and there was a good atmosphere. It’s a lovely place to be around!”

Making friends can be difficult for a lot of children, especially when they have a lot going on in their lives. It’s fantastic that Alex felt comfortable enough at Make Lunch to relax and play with other children.

Marie continues, “Alex struggles to make friends sometimes, but here he’s able to get on and he blends in with everybody in a really nice way.

“Coming to Make Lunch has helped all my children thrive in themselves.”

“The church offered to drop round food for me during lockdown which was a big help as well. I feel more confident about the future now, which looks happier thanks to support networks like Make Lunch. They’ve been so helpful.”

“Make Lunch has been a time of real joy and connection. We feel blessed to welcome children and families into church in this way, and into our wider church family too.”

- Audrey, TLG Make Lunch Coordinator

Since the start of the pandemic, over 300 churches have delivered a staggering 59,111 Boxes of Hope including the equivalent of 1,303,846 meals and much-needed wellbeing resources to struggling children and families.

Every moment matters...

Our crucial COVID response, TLG Box of Hope, has enabled us to provide practical support during a time of increasing living costs. The boxes have been reaching families across the UK this winter with urgent food supplies, household essentials and vital wellbeing support.

Alex enjoys Make Lunch very much. “I’m always very excited to come to Make Lunch. I can play and have fun and eat as well! I’ve made a friend called Luke and we like to play together. I love to play with the Lego and the train tracks the most.”

For parents, carers and children alike, worrying about how they will afford food and other essentials takes a huge toll on emotional wellbeing – on top of the other struggles of everyday life. But local churches up and down the UK have been reaching out to their communities this winter, and will continue to do so over subsequent winters, providing for families’ practical needs and, crucially, meeting emotional wellbeing needs too.

Every doorstep chat is a moment of encouragement and hope for those who are struggling. Every box delivered is making an impact.

“Not having to worry about finding food decreased my stress, the support helped me recover from my mental health condition.”

- Alecia, supported through Box of Hope

“Think of the impact that can be made!”

Gary Grant is the founder the UK’s most loved toy store, The Entertainer, which he started when he was just 22. A TLG Hope Giver himself and a key supporter of TLG’s work, Gary spent some time with us sharing some of his story.

or me, school was really tough. In the 60s, dyslexia wasn’t really recognised, so was seen as ‘the naughty boy’. I remember standing outside a lot of classrooms, getting kicked out of lessons and being told I was disruptive.

But I did want to succeed. When I found things I loved or could understand, I was away! For me that was maths, I didn’t need a calculator because it just made sense to me.

What love about the stories from the children supported through TLG, is that TLG is looking for that nugget of gold in every child. Not trying to find what they’re not good at, but what can be watered to help them grow.

Through TLG, struggling children – just like I was - have someone getting alongside them to spend time with them. To help them with whatever situations they’re dealing with and being really interested in them. If someone had taken just half a minute to find out what I had been struggling with, they wouldn’t have said ‘you’re a naughty child’ or ‘you’re just disruptive’, they would have found out

more about me and wouldn’t have had to face those challenges alone. We shouldn’t judge children on whether they’re going to be a great accountant or solicitor, when they might be an artist or an athlete. Whatever is good about that child, they should have the opportunity to thrive. All children want to hear – all I wanted to hear – was ‘well done’. I know that’s what TLG does.

“What I see in TLG is people standing in the shoes of so many youngsters, believing in them and supporting them.”

Unfortunately, TLG can’t run on air! They need passionate supporters who provide regular income to enable all their fantastic programmes to run. That’s why TLG’s Hope Giver family is so important. When hundreds or thousands of us each join TLG as Hope Givers, linking arms together, TLG can go from strength to strength and more children’s lives can be transformed.

More than just a school...

is amazing the difference a cup of coffee and a chat can make in the development of our young people.

Through extensive experience, we know that when a student arrives at a TLG Education Centre they are often processing a variety of needs and issues. They need extra care and attention that they perhaps wouldn’t have received elsewhere.

Our wonderful Education Centre staff constantly go above and beyond to offer this, but with children in the UK facing increasing challenges, we considered what else we could do.

What I see in TLG is people standing in the shoes of so many youngsters, believing in them and supporting them. A word of encouragement or a positive affirmation changes everything. Looking back over my life, I can see the stepping stones of where people have nudged me along and how those people helped me get to where I am today. That’s what TLG does for today’s generation of children who are struggling.

Thousands of children are in crisis today, their wellbeing has been badly impacted by the pandemic. We must join together to reach them. If you’re able to support TLG, please do so by becoming a Hope Giver!

Hope Givers are our generous supporters who give a monthly donation to see children given hope and a future!

www.tlg.org.uk/hope-giver

And so, the TLG Pupil and Family Champion was born. Piloted at TLG Bradford Education Centre in partnership with the Light Church, Hannah, the Pupil and Family Champion, is someone the students know they can speak to about any challenges. Hannah is fully accessible to the student’s family, who can contact her anytime they need support.

Whether a student is going through a particularly traumatic time, parents or carers are feeling strained and need someone to talk to, or if the family is

“It’s a great way to show these young people how valued they are and how loved they are by our church.”

Hannah, Pupil and Family Champion at TLG Bradford Education Centre

struggling financially; Hannah is able to offer additional emotional support or help the family access the wider support they may need.

“With all that is going on in the world, the families are needing more and more support,” says Hannah. “So my role allows the teachers to focus on the children’s education and I am someone who can give that extra care and attention. I can go for a coffee with families, hear the issues and refer them onto any extra help they may need like a foodbank. I have the time to play games with the students and provide an extra space for them to hang out and chat if they need to. It’s made a big difference!

Hannah continues, “As a Pupil and Family Champion, I am the link between the centre, the families and the church. We have already had more people from church interested in coming into the centre, to hang out with the young people or to support in lessons. It’s a great way to show these young people how valued they are and how loved they are by our church.”

The role has been such a success that we are looking to roll it out across all our Education Centres!

Marcel’s transition to secondary school did not go smoothly. He experienced several fixed term exclusions for persistent disruption, which resulted in Marcel being placed into a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU).“However, the staff at the unit said the challenges Marcel faced meant he needed specialist help and support. They sent him home,” says Linda, one of Marcel’s teachers at TLG.

“I found it hard to focus and I was distracted,” Marcel reminisces. “I would get sent out or put in isolation, but I found lessons difficult and I struggled to understand. Then got kicked out of school for a long time.”

Before he eventually received an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

(ADHD) diagnosis, Marcel faced bullying and physical attacks. Linda continues, “The PRU decided they would teach Marcel online while they decided where the best place for him to be was. Due to the pandemic, Marcel ended up spending 18 months online at home without interaction with his peers.”

“When I was at home was bored and upset,” says Marcel. “I was stuck in the same 4 walls. All day in that room… waking up, working by myself, then going to sleep again, it was very sad.”

The pandemic affected Marcel’s mental and emotional health too. Marcel was later referred to a TLG Education Centre.

“I was so excited to come to TLG!” says Marcel. “It’s fun being around children my age because I didn’t get that for a very long time. I feel happier and I can socialise. I felt safer at TLG.”

Moment of Success!

Finding connection! When children struggle, it is often when they are lonely. When we have strong supportive connections, like Marcel found at TLG, we are more likely to see an improvement in emotional wellbeing.

“I was stuck in the same four walls for 18 months. All day in that room… waking up, working by myself, then going to sleep again. It was very sad.”

Marcel continues, “We get support in the lessons and it’s much easier to understand. The environment helps me, there are less of us and we are all well attended to. I can stay more focused.”

“He settled in really well,” says Linda enthusiastically. “He’s been learning how to get on well with other young people and he’s been a joy to be around. He loves English and drama –

“TLG motivates you and helps you change your life for the better.”

he loves to perform! We’ve seen him come on leaps and bounds.”

“I think TLG has given Marcel and his mum hope. When first spoke with his mum about TLG she was very enthusiastic about him coming. She really does appreciate the support that we’ve given Marcel.”

Marcel beams, “TLG is an environment which is really supportive. I know which areas I’m good at and where I can improve. TLG motivates you and helps you change your life for the better.” He continues, “My plans for the future – there are a lot! I’m interested in being be a music teacher.”

“Thank you, TLG!”

Do you know what’s fun, challenging AND a great way to transform lives? You guessed it, a fundraising challenge for TLG!

Rachel and the team at TLG Reading took on the Grim Challenge to raise money for TLG. She says: “The young people and families we work with face daily challenges, so as a team we took on a ‘Grim Challenge’ - an 8-mile run through mud and water during the winter!”

They made it to the end of the challenge (acquiring a lot of mud along the way!) and raised over £1,700 to support struggling children. Well done team!

“The young people and families we work with face daily challenges, so as a team we took on a ‘Grim Challenge’!”

Could you take on a challenge to help transform the lives of children like Marcel? We would love to support you in any fundraiser you choose to take on. Whatever you’re able to raise will go a long way as we help children find hope and a future this year and beyond. www.tlg.org.uk/teamTLG

Tasso Baptist Church TLG Education Centre

impact!Making an

Across TLG, children are seeing transformation every single day –finding ‘success’ in the big things and the small things. Whether it’s passing their exams or sitting through a whole lesson at school, we’re so thankful for every ‘win’ the children supported by TLG are experiencing.

Please join us to pray for:

Children as they learn to recognise success

We pray that children would recognise where they have been successful and where they have grown: such as when they are able to manage a strong emotion well, when they are a good friend, or perhaps when they get the grades they needed. God, would you help every child feel encouraged by the steps of progress they have made.

Our church partners

We pray for TLG church partners as they continue to support children facing some of the most challenging circumstances. Father, would you help volunteers, church leaders and teachers to have patience and kindness as they walk alongside children.

Education Centres

We pray for children starting at TLG Education Centres or returning to mainstream education. We pray that children experiencing change this year, whether starting or leaving TLG Education Centres, would settle quickly and feel comfortable and happy in their new environment. We pray for our two new centres, in Torbay and The Wirral. Would struggling children supported in these centres know your love and would your hope pour into their lives.

We rely on our generous Hope Giver community to reach children just like Mason, Marcel and Alex, Maddy and Montana, who you’ve read about in this magazine. But we URGENTLY need people like you to become a Hope Giver or increase your monthly donations so we can respond to the wellbeing crisis children are facing alone.

Just £2 a month will help transform a life for good.

cash / a cheque (made payable to TLG) for the amount above. or, please call me about my one-off donation on: on the 1st 15th (please tick) of each month, until further notice. The first payment will take place in (month/year)): M M Y Y

to give a one-off donation of:

have made in the last four years. I understand must pay enough income tax and/or capital gains tax each tax year to cover the amount of Gift Aid that all charities and community amateur sports clubs claim on my donations in that tax year, and I am responsible for paying any difference. Name(s) of

Children are facing an emotional wellbeing crisis. A crisis which risks having a devastating and lasting impact on their futures unless we act today.

At the heart of TLG is the unwavering belief that local churches have the power to transform lives. We’re all about supporting churches to bring hope and a future to struggling children and families.

We know that in every village, town and city across the UK there are churches just like yours ready to impact the community. Will your church join us? Find out more about partnering with TLG: tlg.org.uk/your-church FREE Online training to help you and your church spot the signs of emotional distress in children and adults, and respond to them effectively.

TLG has over 21 years experience in