Children's services: Does every charity matter?

Maria lives in Southwark, south London. Originally from Uganda, she isHIV positive. So are her children. While her eldest child is becomingaware of illness in the family, her four-year-old son Sam is prone totemper tantrums, lacks confidence and has mobility problems. Mariaadmits she finds it hard to cope and wants help to increase herconfidence in parenting.

Thanks to the support of a small charity in London she's now gettingthat help. "The service from Positive Parenting and Children is the onlysupport I have for the children and myself," explains Maria. "Theirfamily support worker has helped to support my family a lot, especiallythrough recent problems. Sam has really improved, and there are onlyoccasional tantrums. His confidence has increased. He's doing things hehas not done before and I feel a lot less stressed and more able to copewith him."