Marie Blythe: 'Selfless' advocate for children struggling with complex needs

"I WAS on a path to train to be a teacher, but I knew that I wanted to reach a deeper level of emotional needs in children, and get them help and support where I could."

Those are the words of Marie Blythe, director, and therapeutic and safeguarding lead of the Bungalow Partnership in Middlesbrough. Supporting young people throughout the Tees Valley, play therapists, psychotherapists, counsellors and family mentors within this partnership, support young people from three to 18-years-old, providing a safe environment using various strategies, for those who are experiencing emotional distress and anxiety and are unable to cope.

Marie joined in 2013 as a play therapist, her specialism using play, the language of children, and play materials, to explore the difficulties in their lives.

"You try to see the world through their eyes," says Marie. "You try to gain their trust, showing an open friendly face, and reassuring them that they are not in trouble. We are not the experts, the child is. We try to find out through play, where the problems lie."

A young boy aged six was referred to Marie, as he had serious communication difficulties and couldn't engage in school. He didn't trust adults and didn't feel safe at school, but after three sessions, it became apparent that this young boy was suffering serious domestic abuse, night after night.

"We have to unlock the unconscious," says Marie. "A young child doesn't know that this behaviour is not normal. It's all they've ever known. They have learnt to cope with chaos, and play helps to release their thoughts. Through play we can make suggestions to the children and by asking what they think this person should do, they become in control of making decisions."

Teesside-born, Marie's mum was a dinner lady, and she describes her dad a brilliant plumber, but the worst businessman in the world.

"He was self-employed and sometimes he would come home without being paid," she says. "He couldn't take money from people who could not afford it. One day he came home with a typewriter someone had given him as payment. He was so kind and helpful to people and animals. He was a wonderful inspiration to me."

Educated locally, she attended sixth form college, the first in the family to do so, where she got a taste for psychology, sociology and human rights, and joined Amnesty International. Marie decided that university was not for her, so she got a job at Cleveland County Council in the accounts department. Here she saw the difficulties of people living on benefits and the emotional pressure they were under when they couldn't pay their bills. She developed a strong sense of social justice, and knew she wanted to do more to help people.

"I got a job at Marton Grove Primary School, which is now Beech Grove, and it changed everything for me," she says. "I was on the path to train to be a teacher, and I helped to set up a unit for children who were struggling with school, and I got involved with their back stories, and learned how to talk to them. I found out what they were facing, and how I could help them.

"My next job at Sunnyside was working within specialist units for children with different kinds of special needs, and supporting young people who care for family members. I learnt so much from the staff there. I was inspired. I watched children with real difficulties unfold and change for the better after just a few sessions, and I realised this is what I wanted to do, not to teach, even though I had got my teaching degree. The head teacher, Paul Scott, invested in me, and sent me to Barnsley to train."

She began working at Barnado's as a play therapist, joining the Bridgeway Project, a specialist support unit for children who suffer sexual abuse. She worked in schools, trying to reach out to children with low self esteem, looking after their emotional well-being, intervening early before the problems reached crisis point. After time in the Gateway service trying to help children whose lives were impacted by sexual and domestic abuse, she decided to go freelance.

"Working day after day with children who have suffered like this and have such complex and emotional needs is difficult, but so important," says Marie. "And children need to feel they belong, especially at secondary school. If they feel as though they are outcasts, that's how they develop as adults. However, going freelance enabled me to work with others with different needs too."

This led her to the Bungalow Partnership, joining former colleague and friend, Rod Lyall, the director and founder. They began working with four schools and now have more than 40 on their books, working with an excellent team who are out there in the community, helping families. They look at a range of support aimed at improving mental health, emotional regulation and resilience, often working with staff and children in inclusion units.

Rod's vision for the partnership is "if we can help, we should," and they have overseen growth from having 15 therapists to 40-plus, with demand for their services rising four fold.

When Rod died, Marie had a big decision to make. "I am not a natural leader, but I wanted to steer the ship," she says, "and I got the job. Rob was such a hard act to follow, and there is no such thing as a nine to five charity job. It was a baptism of fire, but I am supported by a wonderful team."

Members of the team describe working with Marie as "an absolute privilege", adding: "She's inspirational to all those around her and has a caring and empathetic nature. Marie will listen to any team member, and acknowledges and respects that everybody is unique and can all bring something different to the Bungalow Partnership."

When Covid struck, it brought even more problems for families. "We had to keep going," says Marie. "It was a critical time for families and we had to look after their emotional wellbeing through this. This is where our young and tech-savvy staff took the lead as we were now delivering virtually."

Currently Marie is busy with her team working with kinship carers, usually grandparents who look after their own grandchildren, when they have been removed from their own parents. Working with Redcar and Cleveland council, a special Guardianship Team was created to support wrap-around care for these families as a whole, supporting their needs and giving them access to social workers.

Marie's dedicated team summarised her achievements, saying: "Marie is selfless and always puts herself last. She wants the best for everybody and is a brilliant advocate for the children and will strive to get what's right for them. Don't ever change, Marie, we are all so proud to have you with us, and we know that Rod will be looking down and be delighted at the way the Bungalow Partnership has progressed."