Coventry Youth Justice Service - Video and audio transcripts

As a parent you know life is going to bring a share of surprises but nothing could have prepared me for the cold shock of that call it was the place my child had been arrested and so there I was in a cold dark interview room scared and feeling totally out of my depth

just when I thought it was all over I got an unexpected call from Coventry youth justice service saying they were going to work with me and Bobby and suddenly all those helpless feelings came rushing back. Mandy arranged to visit me and Bobby at home she's a Coventry youth Justice service parenting officer not the police she showed me how they offer support with the Friendship group where I could meet other parents and carers that know what you're going through I was nervous but the warm welcome soon put me at ease I found I wanted to talk even though I didn't have to it was such a relief to be understood encouraged and supported Mandy even offers one-to-one sessions outside of the group helping with relationship building family meetings and mediation and general emotional support I love the group it's my time where I'm supported as an individual as well as a parent and in turn I support the other group members too we all look out for each other it was so important to work through it with people who understood how I was feeling now what happened with Bobby is just a part of my life I love my child I needed to walk alongside him when times got tough working with Mandy helped me to do that I only wish I had it by my side from the start