Four years ago social workers threatened to take Kim’s six children into care after police were called to another episode of domestic violence at the hands of her partner. This time two of the children had been hurt.

An injunction was taken out against him and social workers started court proceedings to take her children into care. They were placed on the “at risk” register.

“I was determined to keep the children. With the help of a very good social worker and solicitor I got to keep them. They asked if I would like a volunteer to help. I was surprised when they said it was a man – I had just managed to get rid of one who had caused me problems. But after John came round a few times we started getting on and the children liked him,” Kim, 35, told The Times.

John Cliff, 54, had taken early retirement from Lloyd’s of London and found himself with not enough to do. His wife suggested he got involved in charity work with children. He found a Community Service Volunteers advertisement on Bromley council’s website. “I was one of the first volunteers CSV took on,” he said. “Good things were going on in the house,” he found at Kim’s home. “It was a bit chaotic but there were lots of toys and the children painted after school.”

He helped her to sort out the problems, including two children’s schooling. Another child, who had a permanent cold, has been referred to a specialist. Mr Cliff also assisted in getting the garden cleared. He helped Kim to persuade social services to reschedule meetings so that she could fit in all the school runs. Four months later the children were taken off the register. “When I think about where I was and where we are now, I can’t believe it,” Kim said. “I have even given a presentation to a local authority about this scheme.”

csv.org.uk

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