Where There’s a Will, There’s Always a Way

How are we helping?

As part of the “Where There’s a Will, There’s Always a Way” programme, we provide professional guidance and support to families in resolving their own issues. The family is accompanied by an expert from the programme who, in cooperation with the family, prepares an action plan to resolve their situation, conducts monthly interviews and, if necessary, also conducts a home visit.

All families who find themselves in distress can ask for help, whether due to loss of employment, inability to cover incurred debts or current expenses, or the occurrence of extraordinary circumstances, such as family breakdown or illness or death in the family.

Families are only eligible for assistance if they fill out an application form, which must also be confirmed by a professional service (Social Work Center, school or kindergarten counselling service), and submit appropriate documentation which makes them eligible for the inclusion in the programme. You will find the participation form and inclusion conditions at the top of the page.

PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAMME

We conduct an individual introductory interview with each family when they join the programme, during which they are given space to share their story and distress with a professional. We introduce them to the various forms of assistance we provide and agree on an individual plan in cooperation with the family, setting goals that help them resolve their issues faster and in a more efficient manner.

With families involved, we conduct regular monthly discussions in order to monitor the achievement of the goals adopted in the individual plan.

Available activities

Family members have the opportunity to participate in the following activities:

• Advice and information: We are available to users by phone and e-mail at all times. In the time between two monthly discussions, this is a way for us to keep in touch with families and resolve any dilemmas.
• Material assistance: once a month, each family receives an extensive package of food, hygiene supplies and other household supplies (e.g. laundry detergent, cleaning products, etc.). If necessary, they can also receive clothes, shoes, toys and school supplies from our warehouse.
• Financial assistance: the financial commission examines the requests of families and allocates funds based on their needs to pay for urgent living expenses, such as: operating costs (electricity, plumbing, power), rent, security, health insurance, school supplies and aids, medical devices, etc. The approved funds are available to the family in their fund in the ZPM account, which is supervised by an expert, and they send us their bills for the agreed-upon purpose.
• Financial advice: financial advice is also provided to each family that submits an application to the financial commission. They must make a financial plan in which they record all income and expenses of the family and any debts. Together with a professional, they then review the current financial situation of the family and make a plan to resolve their financial distress. We teach the family how to best use the family budget so that they do not go deeper in debt, and explain to them how to deal with debts (repayment of instalments, write-offs, etc.).
• Field work: when we deem it necessary, we also conduct a field visit with the family. In this way, we gain a broader insight into their plight and make it possible for their individual case to be treated in a more appropriate manner. It often turns out that families live in much greater distress than initially estimated, but do not dare to talk about it because of shame.
• Therapeutic treatment: if families experience mental distress, they receive therapeutic treatment. With one of our therapists, they undergo a cycle of 12 therapies to strengthen their mental health. If necessary, the cycle can be repeated several times.
• Free legal aid: our lawyer is available to all users of the programme. She helps them solve legal issues, understand official documents, and fill out different applications.
• The “Find your Way!” workshops: we also have a set of workshops for families, through which they can gain useful knowledge in the field of household management and personal hygiene, upbringing, mental health, financial management, and functional and digital literacy.
• Free leisure activities: we enable families to participate in various leisure activities and events to help them spend some quality leisure time, expand their social circle and relax.

Families that become a part of the programme are the only families that can participate in the “Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way” programme activities in order to help them find a way to resolve their situation and connect to one another. The activities are carried out in cooperation with professionally qualified associates with experience in the field of child, adolescent and family issues, as well as in the field of social security.

All activities are organised with the purpose of strengthening the key elements that help them resolve their situation. By actively participating in these programmes, families gain new knowledge or upgrade their existing knowledge, thus paving the way for a better future.