Basildon Parents4Parents

☀️ The countdown is on...

Can you feel it? The school year is in its final stretch, the evenings are light until gone nine, and there's that unmistakable summery buzz in the air. 🌳

We know the holidays can feel like a mountain to plan for — but just for a moment, let's enjoy the little wins this time of year brings. The ice lolly dripping down a chin. Bare feet on the grass. That gloriously slow Saturday with absolutely nowhere to be.

It doesn't have to be a packed itinerary or a big day out. Some of the best memories are made in the back garden with a paddling pool and a cheeky chippy tea. 🍟

So tell us — what's the one simple summer thing your family looks forward to most? A trip to the seaside? Strawberries straight from the punnet? We'd love to hear. 💛

As a charity, we are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Liam, the beloved son of our wonderful former volunteer, Katrina.

Katrina has given so much of her time and compassion to supporting families through Basildon Parents4Parents over the years, and at this unimaginably difficult time, we wanted to let her know that she and her family remain in our thoughts.

Katrina is raising money for YoungMinds in Liam's memory. If you are able to donate or share her fundraising page, we know it would mean a great deal to her.

At Liam's funeral, the vicar shared something that has stayed with many of us. He said that when he first began taking funerals 30 years ago, he would conduct around two funerals a year for young people like Liam. Today, he sadly conducts one every two weeks. It's a sobering reminder of how important it is that we continue to talk openly about mental health, support one another, and ensure that no one feels they have to face their struggles alone.

Katrina, thank you for everything you've done for our community. We are standing with you and your family, and we're sending you all our love.

💙 If you'd like to support Katrina's fundraiser for YoungMinds, you'll find the link below.

memoryspace.mind.org.uk

🎵 Sound Bath Experience Feedback 🎵

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our recent Sound Bath Experience. It was a beautiful opportunity to pause, relax, and focus on wellbeing in a calm and supportive environment.

We're so grateful for the wonderful feedback from those who attended, with many describing the session as relaxing, healing, calming, and something they would love to experience again. 💜

A special thank you to the Merkur Community Fund for helping us provide wellbeing activities for local families and carers in our community.

💜✨🎶

It's Carers Week! 💛

So this one's for YOU.

The parent who packed the right snack, in the right pot, in the right order — because today that mattered.

The one who did the school run in the rain, made it look easy, and only had a little cry in the car park afterwards. 😅

The one who learned what a SENCO is, what an EHCP is, and roughly seventeen other acronyms nobody warned you about.

You don't wear a badge. You rarely get a thank you. But what you do, day in and day out, is the quiet, brilliant, unglamorous work that holds a whole family together.

So consider this your badge. ✨ You're doing far better than you think.

Pop the kettle on — you've earned five minutes. ☕

👉 Tell us one little thing you're quietly proud of this week. Big or small, we'd love to hear it. 👇