The idea for the vOUCHers stemmed from a simple conversation with my 10 year old. At the start of the 2020 lockdown, I spent time talking through Internet safety with my children aged 10 and seven. Building on their school’s teaching, I thought I’d nailed it, ready for the online learning that was to follow. For three weeks all seemed well, until one night my eldest, as I tucked her up in bed as I routinely did every night, announced that she had something to tell me. Her look was of fear, her words shaky. All sorts went through my mind. “Go on,” I said, “I’m listening.” She took a deep breath.

“Mum, I went on a website I shouldn’t have.” I gave her silence and space to allow her to tell me more. She went onto explain that she’d accidentally clicked on a pop up site. I was relieved that as she told me, it transpired to be an innocent site. No harm done.

“Are you mad at me, Mum?” I hugged her and said no, and that I was pleased that she’d told me. It clearly bothered her. “When did this happen?” I asked. Last week she said, “But I was afraid to tell you because you’d told us the rules of being online and I broke them. I thought you’d be angry.”

This had worried her all week she said. She’d tried a few times to pluck up the courage – and I had no idea.

This led me to think. If my own daughter held this very simple and in fact, a very innocent fear from an action that in this case led her to no danger, what of others who have similar secrets, or indeed secrets of a grander, more serious scale. Potentially of trauma, fear and real danger, but who dare not tell anyone.

Having worked in children’s homes, as a class teacher and a special educational needs coordinator in school, and now more recently as a specialist teacher with an additional role of leading academic progress of children in care for an authority, I am fully aware of secrets that can be both small and innocent or be huge and trauma inflicting. How many are kept through fear because the person either does not get that chance to tell or does not have the space to disclose. So the idea of allowing any person the opportunity to tell a trusted person, without the initial use of verbal communication, that they want time to talk. To ask that someone not to judge but be there. Small or big, a chance to talk about what is happening or has happened no matter what it is. To allow the chance for them to talk without the fear of the other person telling them off. To feel that they have space and support. So they feel that they are no longer alone.

It was at this point I decided to speak to Mark, a fellow Samaritans listening volunteer and an experienced graphic designer, who has worked for the film industry and currently writes and illustrates both fictional children’s picture books as well as factual books. I shared the idea of a coupon type book that could help everybody get the emotional support they feel they need. Mark, loving the idea, felt we should name the project vOUCHers, which I felt was a great idea. He then set about creating the visual identity and style. We then, between us, wrote the book, with me creating the vOUCHers and Mark the introductions to each section.

This all resulted in what you see before you today, unique vOUCHers that asks the receiver something special. And the chance for the giver to be listened to in a safe space. We hope that by gifting this book to some you care about you are telling the receiver: “I am here for you. No matter what you tell me.”

Mark and I both hope this book and its supporting website will give everybody the opportunity to talk, feel listened to in a safe environment, where time and no judgement is provided. Therefore, fulling its purpose of providing support for any pain that is caused by an emotional OUCH!

Jennifer

September 2020