Cathy came to our project in Barrow-in-Furness feeling like she was at breaking point. Her daughter’s anxiety and self-harm had taken over daily life, and the stress was beginning to affect everyone at home. Her younger child had started showing signs of distress, and eventually Cathy had to take time off work just to cope.

With support from SAFA, one of our South Cumbria partners working with us through the Thrive Commission, she found a space to talk and breathe. She learned how to stay calm during difficult moments and began to understand that her child’s behaviour stemmed from pain, not defiance. Together, they explored new ways to manage confrontation, rebuild trust, and create consistency at home. Cathy’s partner joined the sessions too, and together they found practical tools that suited their family: setting gentle boundaries, talking things through, and making school mornings less stressful. It didn’t change overnight, but gradually, home became calmer and more hopeful.

Barrow is a close-knit community, full of people who look out for one another, but life here isn’t always easy. Around one in five children grow up in families living on low incomes, and in some wards, it’s closer to one in three. Barrow also records one of the highest rates of self-harm admissions in England, meaning that in almost every street, someone knows a family who has been through that crisis. The town’s suicide rate, one of the highest in the North West, is another painful reminder of the pressures people here face. These are not just numbers; they reflect the real-life experiences of Cathy and many others like her. They show why early, family-based support isn’t a luxury but a necessity.

 Spring North coordinates the Thrive Commission across Lancashire and South Cumbria, working with partners like SAFA to ensure help reaches families before situations escalate. When parents feel supported and children feel understood, entire families begin to recover, and hope starts to grow again.