The beginning of the year finds us back at home and engaging in remote learning again.
Although we are all experiencing the same storm, we are not all in the same boat and everyone will be responding to this situation in different ways.
If you are struggling, please remember that you are not on your own and that there is always someone that you can talk to whether that is a member of staff, your family, a friend or someone from one of the many support services available.
Learning Managers are available whilst school is closed. If you would like to arrange a chat, please let your form tutors know through GC and they will pass it on to Mrs Hart and Mrs Shilcock.
Below are some of the local and national support organisations that you can contact if you need anything or want to talk to someone.
There are also many things that you can do to help look after yourself.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/newsbeat-52411394
https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/
Assembly: https://youtu.be/zisXE4KlLAI
You may also find some useful info here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/childrens-mental-health-week/zk37bdm
Have you had your daily dose of happiness chemicals? – click here to find out more
LOCAL SUPPORT:
Kooth is an anonymous, confidential, safe, online wellbeing service offering counselling, information and forums available for young people in Herefordshire.
We understand that there are challenging times ahead, but I would like to let you know that Kooth is still here for virtual support, and although there are now new lockdown restrictions in place, Kooth will continue to operate as normal throughout this period so please do continue signposting your students to the service.
The service is available every day of the year during the following times:
Between 12 noon to 10pm (Monday to Friday) or
Between 6pm to 12 midnight (Saturday and Sunday)
Young people can log on to kooth.com on their smartphone, laptop or tablet.
Kooth frequently asked questions VIEW HERE
Strong Young Minds -01432 269245 or e-mail symproject@thecldtrust.org
Hereford Foodbank-01432 352674
West Mercia Women’s Aid
http://www.westmerciawomensaid.org/ If you are worried or frightened by your partner or ex-partner, a family member or someone close to you 24hr helpline 0800783159If you are worried or frightened by your partner or ex-partner, a family member or someone close to you, please ring our Helpline for support, advice and information about your options
https://www.wmrsasc.org.uk/ WMRSASC is a free, confidential and non-judgemental support service for survivors who have experienced any form of sexual attack, whether physical, verbal or emotional.
Addaction Herefordshire offers information, advice and support for people with drug and alcohol issues every weekday, and on alternative Saturdays. There is a young people’s service for those aged 11+. Our recovery-focused service has bases in Hereford as well as outreach via partner organisations. We aim to support people to overcome their issues and develop the skills necessary to go on to live a fulfilling life in recovery. We also support the families of people with substance misuse issues.01432 802 487
https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk
HOPE support services. Hope is a registered UK charity that since 2009 has been supporting young people aged 11 to 25 when a close family member is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, such as cancer, Covid-19 or other disease. https://hopesupport.org.uk
WISH: Wellbeing information and Signposting for Herefordshire https://www.wisherefordshire.org/
SUPPORT FOR YOUNG CARERS
The BBC estimates that there are about 700,000 young carers in the UK
You’re a young carer if you’re under 18 and help to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem.
If you’re a young carer, you probably look after one of your parents or care for a brother or sister.
You may do extra jobs in and around the home, such as cooking, cleaning or helping someone get dressed and move around.
You may also give a lot of physical help to a brother or sister who’s disabled or ill.
Along with doing things to help your brother or sister, you may be giving them and your parents emotional support, too.
It can be hard work being a young carer. Sometimes other children don’t understand your responsibilities and you have less free time than others.
Many young carers cope well with caring, especially if you have support from other family members and it’s important to look after yourself. You have the right to be looked after too and there are lots of places and people you can go to get help.
There is support for you if you think you are a young carer and would like to talk to someone. You can speak to a member of staff at school and they will arrange for Mrs Hart or Mrs Shilcock to talk to you. If you would like to talk to someone about being a young carer at the moment you could email one of your teachers and they will pass it on to Mrs Hart.
In Herefordshire you can also follow the link below to access young carers support workers
https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200147/social_care_and_support/416/carers/2
You can find information using theses links too
https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/looking-after-yourself/young-carers/
The most important thing is to know that you aren’t alone and that you can talk to someone.
NATIONAL WEBSITES
YOUNG MINDS– www.youngminds.org.uk
ANXIETY UK-support@anxietyuk.org.uk
HEALTH for TEENS www.healthforteens.co.uk
NSPCC www.nspcc.org.uk
CHILDLINE 0800111 www.childline.org.uk
PAPYRUS https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
APPS YOU MAY FIND USEFUL
CALM (https://www.calm.com/breathe)
HEADSPACE (https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app)
FLORA (https://flora.appfinca.com/)
Coronavirus – information for teenagers
Information for parents and carers
Coronavirus – helping your teenager to cope
https://www.barnardos.org.uk/blog/how-help-your-teenager-staying-home-during-lockdown
SAFEGUARDING
If you have, any safeguarding concerns about a student or their family please phone:
MULTI AGENCYSAFEGUARDING HUB- 01432 260800 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
POLICE: Non-emergency 101 or if an emergency 999
The Early Help Hub – The Right Help at the Right Time. This is a brand new service to support children and families with the right help to address the needs of the family. If you or your family need advice, guidance or support with any issue, including relationship difficulties, financial worries, domestic abuse or emotional and mental health wellbeing, we can help you to access the right help at the right time. This will help you to work through the difficult times and support you to get your family back on track.
Call the Early Help Hub team on 01432 260261 (available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, closed on bank holidays or visit their webpage Family support – Herefordshire Council
By following this simple checklist, you can start to protect them and decrease the risks they face:
The beginning of the year finds us back at home and engaging in remote learning again.
Although we are all experiencing the same storm, we are not all in the same boat and everyone will be responding to this situation in different ways.
If you are struggling, please remember that you are not on your own and that there is always someone that you can talk to whether that is a member of staff, your family, a friend or someone from one of the many support services available.
Learning Managers are available whilst school is closed. If you would like to arrange a chat, please let your form tutors know through GC and they will pass it on to Mrs Hart and Mrs Shilcock.
Below are some of the local and national support organisations that you can contact if you need anything or want to talk to someone.
There are also many things that you can do to help look after yourself.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/newsbeat-52411394
Have you had your daily dose of happiness chemicals? – click here to find out more
LOCAL SUPPORT:
Kooth is an anonymous, confidential, safe, online wellbeing service offering counselling, information and forums available for young people in Herefordshire.
We understand that there are challenging times ahead, but I would like to let you know that Kooth is still here for virtual support, and although there are now new lockdown restrictions in place, Kooth will continue to operate as normal throughout this period so please do continue signposting your students to the service.
The service is available every day of the year during the following times:
Between 12 noon to 10pm (Monday to Friday) or
Between 6pm to 12 midnight (Saturday and Sunday)
Young people can log on to kooth.com on their smartphone, laptop or tablet.
Kooth frequently asked questions VIEW HERE
Strong Young Minds -01432 269245 or e-mail symproject@thecldtrust.org
Hereford Foodbank-01432 352674
West Mercia Women’s Aid
http://www.westmerciawomensaid.org/ If you are worried or frightened by your partner or ex-partner, a family member or someone close to you 24hr helpline 0800783159If you are worried or frightened by your partner or ex-partner, a family member or someone close to you, please ring our Helpline for support, advice and information about your options
https://www.wmrsasc.org.uk/ WMRSASC is a free, confidential and non-judgemental support service for survivors who have experienced any form of sexual attack, whether physical, verbal or emotional.
Addaction Herefordshire offers information, advice and support for people with drug and alcohol issues every weekday, and on alternative Saturdays. There is a young people’s service for those aged 11+. Our recovery-focused service has bases in Hereford as well as outreach via partner organisations. We aim to support people to overcome their issues and develop the skills necessary to go on to live a fulfilling life in recovery. We also support the families of people with substance misuse issues.01432 802 487
https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk
HOPE support services. Hope is a registered UK charity that since 2009 has been supporting young people aged 11 to 25 when a close family member is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, such as cancer, Covid-19 or other disease. https://hopesupport.org.uk
SUPPORT FOR YOUNG CARERS
The BBC estimates that there are about 700,000 young carers in the UK
You’re a young carer if you’re under 18 and help to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem.
If you’re a young carer, you probably look after one of your parents or care for a brother or sister.
You may do extra jobs in and around the home, such as cooking, cleaning or helping someone get dressed and move around.
You may also give a lot of physical help to a brother or sister who’s disabled or ill.
Along with doing things to help your brother or sister, you may be giving them and your parents emotional support, too.
It can be hard work being a young carer. Sometimes other children don’t understand your responsibilities and you have less free time than others.
Many young carers cope well with caring, especially if you have support from other family members and it’s important to look after yourself. You have the right to be looked after too and there are lots of places and people you can go to get help.
There is support for you if you think you are a young carer and would like to talk to someone. You can speak to a member of staff at school and they will arrange for Mrs Hart or Mrs Shilcock to talk to you. If you would like to talk to someone about being a young carer at the moment you could email one of your teachers and they will pass it on to Mrs Hart.
In Herefordshire you can also follow the link below to access young carers support workers
https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200147/social_care_and_support/416/carers/2
You can find information using theses links too
https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/looking-after-yourself/young-carers/
The most important thing is to know that you aren’t alone and that you can talk to someone.
NATIONAL WEBSITES
YOUNG MINDS– www.youngminds.org.uk
ANXIETY UK-support@anxietyuk.org.uk
HEALTH for TEENS www.healthforteens.co.uk
NSPCC www.nspcc.org.uk
CHILDLINE 0800111 www.childline.org.uk
PAPYRUS https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
APPS YOU MAY FIND USEFUL
CALM (https://www.calm.com/breathe)
HEADSPACE (https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app)
FLORA (https://flora.appfinca.com/)
Coronavirus – information for teenagers
Information for parents and carers
Coronavirus – helping your teenager to cope
https://www.barnardos.org.uk/blog/how-help-your-teenager-staying-home-during-lockdown
SAFEGUARDING
If you have, any safeguarding concerns about a student or their family please phone:
MULTI AGENCYSAFEGUARDING HUB- 01432 260800 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
POLICE: Non-emergency 101 or if an emergency 999
The Early Help Hub – The Right Help at the Right Time. This is a brand new service to support children and families with the right help to address the needs of the family. If you or your family need advice, guidance or support with any issue, including relationship difficulties, financial worries, domestic abuse or emotional and mental health wellbeing, we can help you to access the right help at the right time. This will help you to work through the difficult times and support you to get your family back on track.
Call the Early Help Hub team on 01432 260261 (available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, closed on bank holidays or visit their webpage Family support – Herefordshire Council
A checklist for parents and carers
As a parent/carer you’ll probably know how important the internet is to children and young people. They use it to learn, play, socialise and express themselves in all types of creative ways. This may be through sharing photos and videos, blogging, gaming, or even developing their own apps. It is a place of amazing opportunities.
By following this simple checklist, you can start to protect them and decrease the risks they face: