Celebrating one year of Dragonfly
In April, we marked one year of our flagship prevention project, in Portsmouth: Dragonfly, Moving Forward Together. This project is part of our aims as a charity to ensure families and communities have greater access to family-led decision-making support, without thresholds and barriers. We launched Dragonfly in April 2025, following our engagement with the community and other organisations working with families in the city - and we are delighted to now share our Year 1 Impact Report.
You can download the full report, or read some highlights below.
To help us reach more people, consider donating, fundraising or volunteering. Get involved today.
Dragonfly, Moving Forward Together
Our first year offering open-access family-led decision-making support to Portsmouth families
Thank you to our Year 1 funders who have made this project possible, enabling children, young people and their families to access family-led decision-making support when they want and need it - The National Lottery Community Fund, The Rayne Foundation and Southern Coop.
What is Dragonfly?
The Dragonfly project is an open door, preventative service. We work with families in Portsmouth who are experiencing challenges, changes, or conflict. Our team facilitates flexible yet structured, family-led decision-making conversations to address issues early and plan a way forward.
Through this approach, we aim to reduce the risk and impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences for children and young people who are not receiving support from Children’s Social Services.
Who have we worked with?
47 families have asked for help from the project
229 people have been involved
28% of families live in the PO1 post code areas
53 children and young people involved; 44% of children and young people are aged 5-11
47% of parents are aged 26-35
87% of families are White British
44% of people involved are neurodivergent
68% of families experience challenges related to co-parenting, relationship breakdown or divorce
65% of referrals came from our community partners.
What impact have we made?
Families involved in Dragonfly have gained a family-led plan addressing their key concerns, incorporating children’s wishes and feelings. Some also saw improved family communication, and improved communication with other professionals working with them. Where relevant, families have also engaged with other services or been supported to access high-level support.
95% found it helpful
95% felt able to talk and share
95% felt the plan will achieve what they wanted it to
95% felt the facilitator was impartial
95% felt young people’s views were considered
You can read Rhiannon’s story over on our stories page to hear direct from someone we have worked with through the project.
Our future plans
In Year 2 and beyond we hope to…
Welcome a new practitioner to the project so that we can work with more children, young people and their families
Remove our age-cap so we can work with children and young people of any age, from pre-birth upwards
Broaden our geographical reach to reflect the new Southeast Hampshire authority; including Gosport, Havant and Fareham
Increase co-production with children, young people, families and the wider community to ensure we are meeting their needs
Adapt our services in response to feedback and learning, offering more flexible, ongoing and skill-based support
We would like to thank Tesco Stronger Starts and the Charlotte Bonham-Carter Charitable Trust for their recent Year 2 funding, as well as The Rayne Foundation for their continued support. This funding will help us meet the needs of the children, young people and families who come to us for help. We will continue to seek vital funding to ensure that we can provide accessible, family-led decision-making services for families when they need and want them.
What people have said
“I have been asking for support for three years. Today was the first time I felt fully heard and that a plan was going to be put in place to help us.”
“As parents their resources were limited, and they tried everything they could… I feel this project will make a difference and create more of a family unit.”
“The Dragonfly meeting made a huge difference for us. Since the meeting, things have improved significantly for us as a family. Having everyone working together has made a real difference to our day to day lives.”
“This will be life changing… we’ve all been struggling for a long time… now I feel there’s hope”
How you can get involved
Donate to the Dragonfly Project to help fund our services
Start a fundraiserto raise vital funds for the project
Volunteer to support us to grow, develop and raise awareness of what we do
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn to help more people discover and support our work
Subscribe to our mailing list to stay up to date with our developments
Whatever you are able to do to support Daybreak, we are incredibly grateful. Thank you on behalf of all those we work with.