Smile by the Sea

As part of Williamsons Solicitors 125th anniversary, we have been working with the HEY (Hull and East Yorkshire) Smile Foundation to help members and organisations of the local community. One of our charitable activites has been to provide the Johnson family with a beneficial, family holiday.

After a referral by Children’s and Young Peoples Services, Hull Churches Housing Association began supporting the Johnson Family earlier this year, primarily looking after the wellbeing of the family and working on routines and boundaries.

Mum, Alison together with her son, Billy (13) and four daughters Jessie (16), Amy (12), Pippa (8) and Evie (4) have been living in an unstable family environment for a number of years as a result of domestic issues between the children’s parents.  Only recently has the family broken away from the instability and are now living in a small, cramped (but stable) house. The children are unable to visit their father which has caused a great deal of upset as they are struggling to understand and come to terms with the situation.

Due to the finances being under the control of the father, the family is struggling the access any funds such as tax credit and child benefits, making day to day life extremely difficult which in turn is having a huge impact on the family’s emotional wellbeing.

Having never had a family holiday, we were delighted to be able to offer them a short break funded by the Smile by the Sea programme. The family have recently returned from a 3 night stay at the Blue Dolphin Holiday Park in Filey.

Stephen Howard, a Family Support Worker from the Hull Churches Housing Association, described how excited the children were and that “they have all had a great opportunity to create memories that will last them for a lifetime as none of them will forget their first holiday and the fun they have had as a family… The children’s single mother has also benefitted from the holiday and appears to be coping better as her wellbeing has improved.” The family are very thankful for the help and support given.