Without Breaking the Cycle I would probably be dead. Now I have turned my life around thanks to them. 
About the project
At least 1.3 million children in the UK are growing up in families where their Mum or Dad (or both) has a chronic drug or alcohol problem.
The impact on children can be devastating. A feeling that their parents aren't there for them can result in problems with children's self esteem and relationships with others, whilst their parent's addiction means that some of their basic needs aren't met.
The programme uses an innovative approach to the problem of drug and alcohol addiction in the family and its impact on children.
How Breaking the Cycle works
Breaking the Cycle uses an empowerment model. Families engage in the scheme voluntarily and remain involved because they want to and not because they are being forced to by an external factor, such as a parenting order.
The worker is able to work with all members of the family providing support for the adults and children and because of their flexible approach, families are able to get the intensive help they need.
The family workers also help sort out many other practical problems by working closely with other agencies e.g. housing, schooling, debt agencies, doctors etc.
Case study
Mary, aged 26 and a heroin user, has a young child who is in care due to an unexplained injury. She is in fear of her life from her partner - the baby's father, who is a known drug dealer and she has been the victim of domestic violence.
Mary came to Breaking the Cycle office and told the worker that she wanted help to stop taking drugs, be free of her partner and eventually to have her child back - in a safe drug free environment.
In a period of several hours, the Breaking the Cycle worker had liaised with other agencies to:
- Get her a safe house for the night
- Filled in housing forms for long term accommodation
- Collected her belongings from her current accommodation
- Met her solicitor to attend court next day to obtain an injunction to prevent her partner to contact or harass her.
- Bought her emergency clothing and items
- Escorted her to the safe house.
This enabled her to take her first steps into a new life. The Breaking the Cycle worker has supported her over the long term - and she is now drug free and her child is back living with her in a safe environment.
The impact of our funding
The Breaking the Cycle pilot projects in Derby, Cumbria and Tower Hamlets worked with over 500 family members from 250 vulnerable families over three years. Many of the families involved were amongst the most challenging in terms of chaotic behaviour and multiple problems.
The programme has been independently evaluated by researchers at the Mental Health Research and Development Unit at the University of Bath and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS. The evaluators conducted in depth interviews with clients and Breaking the Cycle workers as well as other Agencies. Initial findings include:
- 81% significantly reduced their use of drugs or alcohol 81% put the needs of their children first.
- 86% significantly improved their skills as parents
- 84% improved financial prospects by looking for work, volunteering or on college courses.
- 77% families were more stable and less chaotic.
Comments from parents who have used Breaking the Cycle service
I am over the moon now that I know the children can stay together - all the support we have had (from Breaking the Cycle) has meant we have been able to keep going.
It's a lot better now that I have stopped taking drugs. I feel like I have wasted six years of my life but I am going to give my son a better future than I had, and to love him and listen, like my Mum (also a drug addict) never did when we had problems.
