Information for Parents and Carers
Yardley District Early Help Newsletter - February 2022
BeeZee Bodies Family Weight Management Programmes starting in January 2022
Mental Health and Well-Being support
Winter Holiday Programmes
Our winter holiday programme will be delivered in over 180 venues across the City. Many are ready to take bookings now, some are still finalising their plans. Most programmes will run for 4 or 5 days from Monday 20th December. There will be a smaller number of programmes available after Christmas until schools return.
Our holiday activity providers will either be taking bookings directly or via the Coordinate system. Either way, if they are open for bookings you will find them listed on Coordinate.
Please check back regularly if you can’t find a suitable holiday programme near you as more are being added all of the time.
Our holiday clubs are designed for and targeted at children who are eligible for free school meals. You can book holiday activity programmes now in order to reserve your place. On 10th December, schools will issue a Free School Meal code to each eligible child. You may be asked to confirm this code with your provider at a later day if you book before you receive the code.
Mental health crisis helplines
If you're in crisis and need to talk right now, there are many helplines staffed by trained people ready to listen. They won't judge you, and could help you make sense of what you're feeling.
Click on the link below for people you can contact in an emergency.
Please do remember to let school know if you use any of the above services, so that we can further support you and your child. Thank you.
Healthy Start - 14 October 2021
If you're under 18, or on benefits, you may be entitled to FREE Healthy Start vitamins and food vouchers to use in local shops towards fruit, vegetables, milk, and formula milk. Healthy Start vitamins contain the appropriate amount of recommended vitamins A, C and D for children aged from six months to four years, and folic acid, vitamins C and D for pregnant and breastfeeding women. They are suitable for vegetarians and free from wheat, fish, egg, salt. They have no colours, flavours or preservatives and no gluten containing ingredients.
Each Healthy Start Voucher entitles the user to £4.25 of free food per week.
Babies receive £8.50 per week up to their 1st birthday
For further information ask your Midwife, Health Visitor or Children Centre. You can request an application form from the Healthy Start website https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/ or Telephone 0345 607 6823.
Healthy Start - 14 October 2021
Healthy Start - 14 October 2021
Healthy Start - 14 October 2021
Early Help
Brighter Beginnings
16 September 2021 at 10:00am
Brighter Beginnings: Helping your young child sleep.
A Contact workshop.
For parents/carers of children aged 0 to 5 with additional needs.
Hear other parents' experiences and learn new strategies.
Having difficulties getting your child into a sleep routine? Do they keep waking up? Is it a challenge to get them to sleep at all?
Gain a better understanding of sleep processes and why sleep problems may occur. Examine possible causes. Explore what might help. Find out where to get support.
To register, click on the following link:
To find out about our other workshops go to:
https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/family-workshops-and-events/
Take a look at the information below, which signposts charities and organisations offering things do as well as help and support.
Early Help Newsletter July 2021
Help and support, things to do and up coming events 2021/2022
Birmingham is your playground!
Looking for activities to keep you and your family entertained, fit
and healthy through the summer holidays? You’re in the right place.
From sports, live events and games that you can play anywhere, to exciting food recipes to try at home and a host of affordable arts and crafts, we’ve got the school holidays covered.
Live events
There’s so much going on across the city, in schools, leisure centres, youth clubs, community venues and parks. From quizzes, cookery skills and arts-and-crafts to indoor and outdoor games and sports to health-and-wellbeing activities, and nature trails, there is something for everyone.
Check out our interactive map to find out what’s happening near you.
Summer activity packs and food boxes
If your children can’t get to a holiday club face-to-face this summer, we can bring a bit of Bring it on Brum! to you! Find out if you could be eligible for free food and summer activity packs to be delivered to your home.
St. Giles - County Lines: Parents' Awareness Session
Kooth is a free, anonymous and safe online mental wellbeing community for children and young people, aged 11 – 25 years old across Birmingham. Kooth is easily accessible and young people can sign up or login into the service by going to http://kooth.com
KOOTH - Letter for Parent-Carer sessions
Early help is any intervention that tackles challenging circumstances early enough to prevent them from escalating. Early Help Teams work with various agencies using a multi professional approach to support children, young people and families.
Early Help can provide support with Mental Health, Healthy Relationships, Youth Support, Victim Support, Money Worries, Access to food and much more. For more information, please check the leaflet below:
From Birmingham with Love
We’ve all been through a tough time with Covid-19 and lockdown.
The following organisations have partnered to provide services and support, which might make life a little bit easier...Birmingham Children’s Partnership includes: Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Children’s Trust, Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, West Midlands Police and Birmingham Voluntary Sector Council.
For more information, visit: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/love
Child Exploitation Prevention
Child Exploitation Prevention
Emergency and ongoing help for Birmingham
Support for families
Emergency Help during Lockdown
SEND briefing parent webinar
Supporting your autistic child/young person during the Pandemic
Support for parents/carers of children with autism
Access to Education are offering support and guidance to parents and carers of children with autism
https://accesstoeducation.birmingham.gov.uk/parents-autism-covid19/
Autism West Midlands offer a range of support services to families and carers of autistic children including an information helpline, family outreach workers and support groups.
https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/
If you have any worries or concerns, the school team which supports your child's school for children with an autistic spectrum condition (Communication and Autism Team) are available to discuss these with you on: CATParentEnquiries@birmingham.gov.uk
Mrs. Lockley, our SENCo, is also contactable via: enquiry@birmingham.sch.uk
Spurgeons Young Carers Leaflet - We are here for you!
Domestic Violence Disclosure scheme:
What is the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme? Also known as Clare’s Law, the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) aims to give you the opportunity to make inquiries about the person you are in a relationship with if you are worried that they may have been abusive in the past.
The guides below provide information on how to make enquiries if you are in a relationship with someone you are worried about, or a friend or family member of someone who is.
Domestic Violence Disclosure scheme - Victim's Guide and Third Party guidance
Pause
Parent Link:
Autism:
Food banks
The following organisations provide valuable help to individuals and families in our local area.
Some organisations do not require you to have a food voucher to visit them.
If you are in need of food, or any other form of support, please contact us and we will do all that we can to support you.
Acocks Green Foodbank
The Acocks Green Foodbank is open Tuesday to Friday between 10am and 12pm.
You do not need a food voucher to visit them.
They are located at Acocks Green Christian Centre, Rear of 100 Westley Road, Acocks Green, B27 7UL and can be contacted on 0121 707 2853.
The Trussell Trust
The Trussell Trust operates a nationwide network of food banks.
To find out how to get a voucher, contact your local food bank and they will be able to tell you which referral agencies they work with.
Your local Trussell trust food bank can be found online at:
https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/
NCPCC - Talking PANTS
Talking PANTS teaches younger children important messages like their body belongs to them and they should tell an adult if they're upset or worried.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/underwear-rule/
NSPCC helpline
The NSPCC helpline provides help and support to thousands of parents and carers.
Whatever the issue, they're there 24/7 to keep children safe.
Their helpline staff will provide expert advice and support.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/our-services/nspcc-helpline/
CEOP online safety
CEOP is full of people who want to help you.
They work to keep children safe from sexual abuse and sexual grooming online.
They are there to help and advise you but if you feel that you or someone you know is in
danger then please call 999.
You can report to them if something has happened online which has made you feel unsafe,
scared or worried.
https://www.ceop.police.uk/ceop-reporting/
Barnardo's
Barnardo’s transforms the lives of the most vulnerable children across the UK through the work of their services, campaigning and research expertise.
They believe they can bring out the very best in every child whether the issue is child poverty,
sexual exploitation, disability or domestic violence.
PACE
'Keep them safe' is a free online learning tool from Pace and Virtual College
which has been accessed by more than 29,000 parents and professionals (as of March 2016).
This 20-30 minute e-learning training course is a valuable source of information to: find out more about child sexual exploitation; learn the signs and indicators of when a child might be being exploited; understand the impact child sexual exploitation can have on families and know what to do if you suspect a child might be at risk of this abuse.
https://paceuk.info/training/keep-them-safe/
Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board
The safety and welfare of children - or child protection - is everyone's business.
Child protection means protecting children from physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect. It also means helping children to grow up into confident, healthy and happy adults. The parents and carers section of the BSCB website is about assisting parents or guardians in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
If you are worried about a child or young person in Birmingham ring Children's Advice & Support Service on 0121 303 1888, or in an emergency the Police on 999
http://www.lscpbirmingham.org.uk/index.php/parents-a-carers
NCT
NCT support parents by giving them accurate, impartial information so that they can decide what’s best for their family, and they introduce them to a network of local parents to gain practical and emotional support.
They offer support with information and support in pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
They campaign to improve maternity care and ensure better services and facilities for new parents. They also help to give every parent the chance to make informed choices and want to make sure that everyone has access to their services and activities.
MIND
When you’re living with a mental health problem, or supporting someone who is, having access to the right information - about a condition, treatment options, or practical issues - is vital.
MIND can help you find that information.
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/