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)
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The Neurodiversity Handbook
Hertfordshire County Council and the NHS are delighted to share with you the exciting and new Supporting your Neurodivergent Child handbook that has been developed for Hertfordshire parent/carers and professionals. The Neurodiversity Handbook has useful resources, support and signposting on a whole range of things relating to Neurodiversity.
The resource is accessible to all regardless of whether the young person has a diagnosis or not, and can be used at any point during a young person’s journey.
Hertfordshire Children and Young People's Neurodiversity Service Directory
This lists services, and their links, providing a combination of early intervention and more specialist neurodiversity support. A copy of this directory can also be found in the attachments below.
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.
Live Chat
Our Live Chat is available Monday-Friday at the following times for you to chat with one of our team about how you are feeling and what you might be struggling with:
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday
8am to 9am
12pm to 1.30pm
3.30pm to 7pm
You can use the chat to talk about:
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your feelings and emotions
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understanding your Autism/ADHD,
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building and maintaining relationships,
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available services and resources in Hertfordshire
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 - valuable information, advice, and support for families.
Hertfordshire’s Families First website provides valuable information, advice, and support for families. It covers a wide range of topics, including parenting advice, childcare, emotional and mental health, relationship support, and services for young people and much more.
If you need more help beyond your usual support network (such as health visitors, schools, or family centres), Families First can work with you to create a personalized package of support. It’s available to all Hertfordshire families with children under 18 (or up to 25 if they have a learning need or disability).
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.
Sibs - for Brothers & Sisters of disabled children & adults
We run www.sibs.org.uk – an online information service for children and young people aged 7-17, who have a brother or sister who is disabled, has special educational needs or a serious long-term condition.
Young siblings can:
- Get information about disability and conditions, and tips for enjoying life and dealing with feelings.
- Get help from our team with sibling issues at home and at school.
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 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/hct-childrens-wellbeing-practitioners-33494371787. See the attachment below for Autumn 2024 dates.
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:
Hertfordshire Talking Therapies
The online portal for mental health services in Hertfordshire and Mid Essex.
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) provides access to primary care psychological therapy services in Hertfordshire and Mid Essex through a wide range of confidential talking therapy treatments and employment support for adults with common mental health problems. The services are part of the national NHS Talking Therapies, for anxiety and depression programme.
See also attachment below - Primary Care Mental Health Update (August 2024).
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.
Click on the Supporting Links Icon above for the website which gives more information and their Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/supporting-links-15053924960 for booking their free courses.
Referral form - see attachments below.
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.
New - HCC Services for Young People Recruitment Hub
Services for Young People has launched a new Recruitment Hub, offering young people a seamless gateway to education, employment and training opportunities.
Services for Young People (SfYP) offers a diverse range of services and employment programmes for young people aged 16-25 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) and those aged 15+ who are at risk of not progressing into education or training. Our new Recruitment Hub brings all these services together in one place, making them more accessible and understandable to young people, their parents/carers and professionals who work with young people.
Please visit the SfYP Recruitment Hub now to find out about the comprehensive support and diverse range of employment programmes we offer and how they can be accessed.
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
