Parent Support

Hitchin Partnership CIO - Family Support Services Providing a quality family support service with experienced Family Support Workers. Support is provided on a referral basis through school.

Services

NHMEF Legal

Summary of Activity NHMEF 2023

NHEMF English Maths Homework club

HITCHIN FOOD PROVISION TEAM - We continue to support families and individuals in Hitchin. We provide support through professional referrals (Family Support Workers, Social Workers).

MAY HALF TERM NHDC 612 Healthy Hub food providers 2022 V3 2

Help to manage the cost of living :  Help to manage the cost of living | Hertfordshire County Council

https://www.hertshelp.net/hertshelp.aspx

Family Support Infographic FINAL 03 12 20 JPEG

CAB pic 1

Healthy Minds Network have launched a new early intervention and prevention helpline for children and young people aged 10-17 in Herts. The helpline will provide a safe , non-judgemental space to talk to a Young People Advisor or Mentor who will provide emotional support, advice and information, signposting and discuss coping strategies. For opening hours and more information please visit the website https://www.hertsmindnetwork.org/young-peoples-helpline .

Helpline number is 01923 256391.

Domestic Abuse support

How to get support

If you are in immediate danger you should still call 999. If you feel you cannot speak, you can alert us silently by dialing 999 then pressing 5 5. You can also report non-urgent matters silently via our web chat service through www.herts.police.uk.”

We are encouraging victims of domestic abuse to contact Herts Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (IDVA) on 0300 790 6772 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) who will conduct an initial risk assessment to signpost to the correct services. Or, if you require emergency refuge accommodation, you can call Safer Places specialist domestic abuse service on 0330 102 5811 (24/7 availability). These services can support anyone 16 years or over.

Alternatively, you can contact Hertfordshire’s victim service team at Beacon, even if you don’t want to report the incident at a crime. You can call a case manager in confidence on 0300 0115 555 and press option 3 (Monday-Friday 8am-6pm and Wednesday 8am-8pm) or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For information and advice for yourself or someone you’re worried about, you can go to www.hertssunflower.org. The website is a helpful local resource for anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse or those carrying our abuse who want support to change their behaviour. You can also speak to someone from the Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline, in confidence, for help, advice and support on 08 088 088 088 (open weekdays 9am-9pm and weekends 9am-4pm)

For further information and support visit :-

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-and-domestic-abuse

Foodbank Appeal - for full details please see the attached letter (Parents Tab). The demand for food has increased dramatically which has had an impact on what the Foodbank can provide owing to a dramatic fall off of public donations. If you are able to support with monetary donation please see their website: www.letchworth.foodbank.org.uk.

Families First Portal - Hertfordshire Directory

Home | VAWG (campaign.gov.uk)

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Services for Mental health and wellbeing (hertfordshire.gov.uk)

HMHRT Parent Resources Phase Resources - see pdf link below for all links: https://phase-hitchin.org/resources

Hitchin Youth Trust and the Rotary Club of Hitchin Tilehouse has brought together representatives from Hitchin Primary and Secondary Schools to discuss the support needed for our young people returning to school after lock-down. The plan was to bring together the skills, knowledge and expertise of local organisations to provide the best possible mental health and wellbeing support for the children. Sharing resources and collectively agreeing a way forward seemed the most efficient way to reach as many young people as possible without duplication. Local support organisations and charities were keen to be involved and a group was formed called the Hitchin Mental Health Recovery Team (HMHRT). The charities involved are Hitchin Partnership CIO, Grit, Stand-By-Me, Phase, Tilehouse Counselling, NESSie and The Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living.

Feedback via the school representatives guided the team to put together a staged support plan to provide support to adults (staff and parents/carers) first to enable them to support the children.

The team has been fortunate to have secured funding from Hitchin Youth Trust, the Rotary Club of Hitchin Tilehouse and NHDC to be able to put parts of the initial support in place with online groups and activities for staff and children. Feedback has been positive – examples of some of the comments from the children: -

“It had helped me find coping mechanisms and have a safe space to talk about everything. It gave me something positive in lockdown”.

“I am now able to cope better with lockdown and it helped me open up about my Mum, they made it really easy for me to talk”.

However, with new lockdown we know there will unfortunately be an increasing need for mental health support for children, students, teachers and parents.

David McIntosh, Chair of the HMHRT thanks all the organisations involved and their support to date for this much needed help during the pandemic. Additionally, he said “School leaders, teachers and support staff are doing an extraordinary job right now. While they are trying to catch up on lost learning time, they find themselves helping pupils, and some families come to terms with the impact of the pandemic. Many may have anxieties and worries of their own, but they put them to one side and put the young people first. We want to say thank you”.

See attachments for most recent newsletter

DSPL Information, Workshops & Signposting

North Herts DSPL 1 Weekly - a roundup of training, information, and events in our area (nhdspl.org.uk)

SUPPORTING YOUR FAMILY

If you are at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old you could be entitled to Healthy Start Vouchers worth £4.25 per child per week (£8.50 if under 1) to spend on milk, plain fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables, and instant formula milk. You can also use them to buy pulses and canned fruit and vegetables as long as they have no fat, salt, sugar or other flavouring added. The vouchers can be redeemed at local retailers. If you are entitled to Healthy Start Vouchers you will also get free vitamins designed to help pregnant and breastfeeding women and growing children.

To be eligible you should be in receipt of certain means-tested benefits. Check your eligibility on www.gov.uk/healthy-start. Pregnant under 18 years olds qualify whether or not they are entitled to a qualifying benefit.

There are over 5,000 pregnant women and young children missing out on £221-£442 per child per year to spend on healthy food, so it’s important to be aware of this useful source of support.

Take-up of the vouchers is very low, around 45 percent of those eligible, so it is important to check eligibility as soon as possible to prevent missing out. Application leaflets are available from GP’s surgeries or baby clinics. Alternatively, a form can be obtained by ringing 0345 607 6823 or by downloading and printing one from www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthy-start-vouchers/how-to-apply/

To access free information about benefits and check your eligibility, visit the benefit-checker on Hertfordshire County Council’s website: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits

NHS Mental Health

This document is attached below, please click on the document for the links

Self help (hpft.nhs.uk)

Hertfordshire Partnership (hpft.nhs.uk)

Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen

Childline | Childline

HOPELINEUK | Papyrus UK | Suicide Prevention Charity (papyrus-uk.org)

The NHS website - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

CAP debt

To go to website: CAP - Job Club, Life Skills, Help with Debt

SEND Duty Line

Useful Links

https://nessieined.com/events/

^{HERTFORDSHIRE FAMILY CENTRE SERVICE:}

https://www.hertsfamilycentres.org/events/whats-on-at-family-centres-in-hertfordshire.aspx

North Herts DSPL

Foodbank

Hitchin Volunteer Army

Angels Support Group

Up on Downs Support

North Herts Minority Ethnic Forum

Documents/Files:
WELLBEING INFORMATION FOR PARENTS	317 kB
CRISIS SUPPORT	270 kB
CAP - Life Skills, Job Club, Help With Debt	714 kB
Money and Debt Help	223 kB
PARENT AND CARER RESOURCES - MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY (Covid Pandemic)	726 kB

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