Support Resources
We know that families are facing so many challenges at the moment with disruptions to school, work and family life.
Parent Info has some lockdown specific articles that we would like to share with you.
Ranging from top tips on how to cope with family life under lockdown to how to mark all those special occasions. Some expert advice and reassurance can go a long way at a time like this.
External Websites and Contacts
- Surviving Family Life Under Lockdown - Suggestions from top experts to help families best adjust to the new situation.
- The Hidden Benefits of Playing Video Games in Lockdown - Editor of AskAboutGames, explains how many video games offer positive experiences, including connection, education and calm.
- How to Celebrate Special Occasions During Lockdown - Thanks to technological solutions, families can explore creative ways to mark those special days in style.
- Screen time: should I be worried? - This guide debunks those screen time myths and helps families strike a balance that works for them.
Well-Being Parental Support Resources
Safeguarding and Well-Being External Websites and Contacts
- Young Minds A fantastic organisation offering free, confidential online and telephone support, including information and advice, to any adult worried about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person. You can also find a Confidential Parents Helpline - This has information about their campaigns, their publications and help and guidance for children & young people.
- Parents Survival Guide
Parenting isn’t always easy. Although it’s often amazing and rewarding to watch your children grow, and to help them learn to be independent, it can also be really hard work. - Parents Helpline
Young Minds offer free, confidential online and telephone support, including information and advice, to any adult worried about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person up to the age of 25. - A-Z of Mental Health
Reliable information for parents and carers about common mental health and behaviour concerns in children and young people aged 0-25. - NSPCC
The NSPCC’s Parents’ site recognises a big part of keeping children safe is making sure to look after their emotional and mental well-being. The site offers information on an array of topics including mental health and wellbeing; self-harm; sexual behaviour; and talking about difficult topics. - Royal Society of Psychiatrists
The main professional body for psychiatrists in the UK believes that everyone needs the knowledge to make informed decisions about their health and aim to produce information which is: evidence-based, accessible and up-to-date. Their online A-Z leaflets cover all areas of mental health. - NHS Live Well
Over 100 topics on healthy living. - Talk to Frank
An advice section of the site for parents offering up to date advice and information about drugs, providing access to live chat, email and telephone support, as well as leaflets, FAQs and links to other sites. - Alcohol Education Trust
A charity offering information and advice to help parents to discuss issues around alcohol with their children. - Thinkuknow
Thinkuknow is an education programme from the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Command. - Health Matters
Whether you’re a parent or a secondary school aged pupil in any of the nine boroughs where Health Matters deliver their school nursing services, here, you will find lots of health and well-being information to support you or your child’s health. You can also contact the school nurse directly through our ‘Ask a question’ service. - KIDS
KIDS are a national charity, founded over 45 years ago, providing a wide range of support services to disabled children, young people and their families. They support children with any disability from birth to 25 years of age. They offer their support to the whole family with the aim of giving disabled children a brighter future. - Childline
Childline is yours - a free, private and confidential service where you can be you. Whatever your worry, whenever you need help, however you want to get in touch. We're here for you online, on the phone, anytime. - Barnardo's
Barnardo’s believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. They will ensure their needs are met and their voices are heard. - Disrespect Nobody
The 'Disrespect NoBody' campaign is aimed at preventing young people from becoming perpetrators and victims of abusive relationships by encouraging them to understand what a healthy relationship is, to re-think their views of controlling behaviour, violence, abuse, sexual abuse and what consent means within their relationships and directs them to places for help and advice. - Oiimysize
Oiimysize is a youth-led project to raise awareness about how boys talk to girls and what is appropriate. - Anna Freud A free network that provides a trusted source of up-to-date and accessible information which parents can use to support the mental health and wellbeing of the children and young people in their care.
- Rethink Helps people affected by mental illness by challenging attitudes and changing lives. They directly support almost 60,000 people every year across England to get through crises, to live independently and to realise they are not alone. Their website is full of advice, support and resources.
- Mind A National Mental Health Charity who provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
- NHS Choices Moodzone Whatever you need to know about coping with stress, anxiety or depression, or just generally improving your emotional wellbeing. It offers practical, useful information, interactive tools, and videos to support you on your way to feeling better.
- Big White Wall A safe online community of people who support and help each other by sharing what’s troubling them, guided by trained professionals. Available 24/7, Big White Wall is completely anonymous so you can express yourself freely and openly. Professionally trained ‘Wall Guides’ ensure the safety and anonymity of all members.
- Relate Are the UK’s largest provider of relationship support. The website has a free Live Chat service, where anyone can chat in real time with one of their trained counsellors completely confidentially.
- Rise Above A new website developed by Public Health England to boost resilience among 11-16 year olds by teaching them the skills needed to make better decisions in ‘risky’ situations such as smoking, drugs, drinking, relationships and sex.
- Parent Gym An evidence-based parenting programme involving a series of six sessions proven to increase parents’ skills and confidence and so improve the behaviour and wellbeing of their children.
- The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust Was set up in 1997 in memory of Charlie Waller, a young man who took his own life whilst suffering from depression. Shortly after his death, his family founded the Trust in order to educate young people on the importance of staying mentally well and how to do so.
- The Mix Whether you’re worried about your mental health, or someone else’s, they have everything you need to know about mental health, from anxiety and depression to self-care and counselling.
- Young Stonewall The site for all young people to find out about issues affecting lesbian, gay and bisexual people at home, at work and at school.
- Mermaids Supports gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care. Transgender and gender-variant children and teens need support and understanding, as well as the freedom to explore their gender identity. Whatever the outcome, Mermaids is committed to helping families navigate the challenges they may face.
- MindEd Provides free, completely open access to online education available on tablets, phones or computers – to help adults support wellbeing and identify, understand and support children and young people with mental health issues.
- Doc Ready A digital tool that helps young people to prepare and make the most out of mental health related GP visits. It helps young people to know what to expect during a GP.
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The Royal College of Psychiatrists Parents and Youth Info Index Provides specifically tailored information for young people, parents, teachers and carers about mental health.
- The Children’s Society Fights child poverty and neglect, trying to help all children have a better chance in life.
- Papyrus Are the national charity for the prevention of young suicide.
- The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) Is leading a movement against male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK.
- Family Lives Provides a 24 hour helpline, advice website, live chat and parenting/relationship support groups. They respond to questions on all aspects of family life that include all stages of a child’s development, issues with schools and parenting/relationship support. They also respond when life becomes more complicated and provide support around family breakdown, aggression in the home, bullying at school, teenage risky behaviour and mental health concerns of both parents and their children.
- Kidscape Works UK-wide to provide individuals and organisations with practical skills and resources necessary to keep children safe from harm. The Kidscape staff equips young people with practical knowledge and skills around personal safety, as well as reducing the likelihood of future harm.
- Counselling Directory Has a nationwide database of qualified practitioners, alongside lots of useful information on mental health.
- Selfharm.co.uk Is a project dedicated to supporting young people impacted by self-harm, providing a safe space to talk, ask any questions and be honest about what’s going on in your life. These pages will tell you a bit about us as well as pointing you in the right direction if you need to contact us or find out more about our policies and procedures.
- National Online Safety They believe in empowering parents, carers and trusted adults with the information they need to hold informed and age-appropriate conversations about online safety with their child, should they feel it is needed. Every Wednesday they produce guides to focus on specific platforms/risks which they believe trusted adults should be aware of.
- Every Mind Matters Is Public Health England Campaign encouraging adults to be more aware of their mental health and helps them to discover simple steps to look after their mental health and wellbeing.
- Teenage Cancer Trust Have a range of high quality education resources for schools around what cancer is, signs and symptoms, the importance of healthy living, sun safety, HPV vaccine, the impact of a cancer diagnosis and other topics.
- Kooth Is your online mental wellbeing community. Access free, safe and anonymous support.
- Thinkuknow Is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline.
- Childnet A website full of information and resources to help you support your child/ren to have a safe online experience.
- Young Minds - Supporting Your Pupils Through the COVID-19 Pandemic Tips, advice and wellbeing resources to support pupils, staff and parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.