Support Links for Families
We know it can be overwhelming sometimes for families to try and find the right advice and support around SEND, so we have included some links of local and national charities and organisations that you might find helpful. They all offer specialised support and advice around specific areas of SEND or emotional well-being, as well as delivering a variety of tailored courses and workshops.
Further national and local links can be found under the 'additional links' page.
Hertfordshire Neurodiversity Support
(See Add-vance below for The Neurodiversity Support Hub Advice Line)
ADD-vance - The ADHD and Autism Trust
ADD-vance Website The ADHD and Autism Trust
Free Online Workshops for Herts parents/carers: Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/add-vance-14054405963
The Toolbox - online ADHD & Autism Support for Children & Young People
https://thetoolbox.mindler.co.uk/
A dedicated website aimed at children and young people for ADHD and Autism support, offering inspirational content, self-help tools, and interactive livestreams. The website has an anonymous live chat which provides a safe and supportive environment for young people to ask questions or to discuss their feelings
Anna Freud - "Building the mental wellbeing of the next generation"
Family Centres - supporting children, young people, their parents, families and carers.
Families Feeling Safe - An award-winning Social Enterprise, delivering high quality Protective Behaviours training, courses and workshops.
Families First - The term used in Hertfordshire for services that work together to support families who need extra help. These are also known as early help services.
Families in Focus - a Hertfordshire-based community interest company which provides training information and therapeutic and emotional support to parents.
Family Lives - provides targeted early intervention and crisis support to families.
Hertfordshire Community Trust - Children's Wellbeing Practitioners - workshops and resources
Children's wellbeing Team - Workshops for parents/carers
Webpage, including useful resources: https://www.hct.nhs.uk/service-details/service/childrens-wellcbeing-practitioners-21/
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT) Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners regularly run a variety of workshops focused on children and young people's emotional wellbeing and mental health. Some workshops are for the parents/carers of primary school aged children and others are directed at adolescents although parents can also attend these. The workshops aim to provide support, guidance, some strategies and tips to try to improve children and young people's mental health.
The workshops are free to attend and currently take place on Microsoft Teams. The workshops available can be found on the Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners Eventbrite page (see link above).
The service has also produced a two-part recorded webinar to help with anxiety about going to school. Please take a look at the links below:
Just Talk - a collaborative campaign designed to promote the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people (CYP) in Hertfordshire
Just Talk is a multi-agency programme, steered by young people.
Hertfordshire's Local Offer
The Hertfordshire Local Offer lets parents and young people know what special educational needs and disabilities services are available in Hertfordshire, and who can access them.
Herts Haven Café - a free welcoming drop-in space for children and young people
Herts Haven Cafés are a free welcoming drop-in space for children and young people across Hertfordshire to access support for their emotional wellbeing. Sessions in Stevenage on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays - see website for more information.
Stevenage Herts Haven Café
Our Stevenage café runs from the Bowes Lyon Young People’s Centre three times a week. It is a free welcoming drop-in space for children and young people to access support for their emotional wellbeing. It’s a space where you can simply be yourself!
Our team is here for you with no judgment, offering the expertise to listen and provide support. Additionally, we can provide practical tips to help you cope with anything that you may be worried about.
No referrals are necessary; feel free to join us and access the help you require.
NESSie - Supporting the positive mental health of children and young people.
Online mental health support for Children and Young People in Hertfordshire.
SPACE for Neurodiversity.
Promoting Strong Family Relationships (see Family calendar for free courses).
The Wellbeing Junction
Promoting and nurturing emotional, physical and mental wellbeing by providing a range of support to equip children, teenagers and parents with self-care tools and skills to thrive.
See flyer below for contact details and more information.
SEND Community Activities Directory (all ages). This is a valuable tool for finding local activities and support groups in the community.
Carers in Hertfordshire
Support, information and advice to unpaid carers.
You are a carer if you look after a family member, friend or neighbour who without your support would not be able to manage. They may have a physical or learning disability, dementia, mental health problems, may misuse drugs or alcohol or may be ill or frail.
Anyone can become a carer: Carers come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be of any age.
The person may live with you or elsewhere, may be an adult or a child but if they rely on you for support, then you are a carer.
Lumi Nova - Helping children with fears and anxieties
Lumi Nova Tales of courage is a free therapeutic goal-based game aimed at 7-12 year-olds which can help them with problems such as mild to moderate anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem, stress and any other worries.
The Lumi Nova team has created a short explainer film to help professionals, parents and carers know how it can support children.
HCC Services for Young People - Youth work projects for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Services for Young People runs youth work projects specifically for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in all districts of Hertfordshire.
Stevenage - The Megamix Project provides opportunities for young people aged 13 to 17 with SEND to make friends and join in with activities including sports, cooking, arts, and music. Our Youth Workers offer support with emotional wellbeing, healthy lifestyles and staying safe, nutrition and cooking, and managing money.
FOLLOW: An easy-to-use set of simple ideas to help support your child's speech and language at home. You'll find top tips on using the key strategies in everyday activities.
https://www.stevenagedspl.org.uk/page/?title=Support+Links+for+Families&pid=36
