The Reflection Project

Reflection Space Barnet

After receiving funding from Young Barnet Foundation’s Space2Grow#21 Fund, The Reflection Project proudly launched a pilot project at Reflection Space Barnet, offering 1:1 in-person therapy service for Muslim-heritage children and young people and parent consultations. This pilot took place over six months between 2022 and 2023.

My Family Group

Throughout 2023, the Reflection Project contributed to the My Family Group (including My Adoption Family and My Foster Family) to help adopters and foster parents understand mental health issues commonly faced by adopted and looked-after children, and how to provide appropriate support. This included a roundtable: The needs and challenges of Muslim children in care, and contributions to the Muslim Adoption Toolkit.

Somali Bravanese Welfare Association

In 2022, The Reflection Project has supported the SBWA in facilitating online groups and holiday workshops for children and teens (aged 6-16) to explore the emotional impact of the pandemic. We are also developing a series of parent-focused workshops to encourage the discussion of the challenges faced by their children and provide valuable tools for effective support.

Wellbeing Workshops for Parents

Working in collaboration with the Center of Excellence, a non-profit committed to enhancing connections within communities, The Reflection Project piloted a series of workshops for parents/carers. These workshops, initially focusing on the Somali community, concentrate on children’s mental and emotional health. They serve as a space where parents engage in discussions with both experts and one another, fostering non-judgmental conversations about the impact of mental health issues on family life, and boosting parents’ capacity to support their children.

Reflective Discussion Space for Social Workers

This pilot programme ran from July 2022 to March 2023. It was created by My Adoption Family for social workers in the adoption sector, and facilitated by Dr Rachel Abedi of The Reflection Project. It consisted of a series of six 90-minute sessions at 6-8 week intervals, and took place online.

The programme was for social workers who work with Muslim and Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic adopters or potential adopters. It provided a supported ‘safe space’ in which to reflect on the challenges of the work, including the emotions it can provoke and the impact on the individuals and networks involved.