Family Link

Be Summer Ready ​ Links

Adult mental health

• South Gloucestershire Talking Therapies – Vitaminds: Therapeutic interventions including counselling and group courses, in line with people’s differing needs, age 16+.  Self-referral via the website: wellaware.org.uk  Tel – 0333 200 1893 NHS Talking Therapies – North Somerset & South Gloucestershire (vitahealthgroup.co.uk)

• Samaritans: Free, confidential emotional support for those experiencing despair, distress, self-harm or suicidal feelings.

Tel: 116 123 (free, from any phone, 24/7). Website: www.samaritans.org Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen    Email: jo@samaritans.org

Family/parenting support

• Solihull – online parenting resources for parents, carers, grandparents and teenagers in South Glos.  This is free lifetime access to a range of e-learning and online resources which span from pregnancy to 19 years.  These courses can be worked through at a pace which suits the individual, with the aim of increasing parental knowledge and confidence around child development through all stages of the parenting journey.  The courses aim to nurture emotional health and wellbeing so that our children can thrive as kind, sociable and emotionally aware people throughout their lives.  inourplace | Solihull Approach – South Gloucestershire | inourplace
• NHS website: Advice for parents on a range of parenting issues, including talking to teenagers, fussy eating and teenage aggression. Website: Live Well – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• Parent Buddies is a confidential, universal, one-to-one listening service offering short-term support depending on family need. Volunteers are trained to provide parents/carers with listening, and signposting to specialist services. HOME | My Site (parentbuddies.co.uk)
• CCP – Caring for Communities and People – Offer outreach support for families at an early help level. Families can self-refer. Home (ccp.org.uk)

Financial support/offers

• Information on different ways of getting support with the cost of living rising Cost of living help | BETA – South Gloucestershire Council (southglos.gov.uk)
• Household support fund | BETA – South Gloucestershire Council (southglos.gov.uk)

The government has provided funding for us to support people who are struggling to:

• buy food
• pay energy bills
• cover other essential costs linked to energy and wider essentials (including sanitary products, warm clothing, soap, blankets)
• Places Kids Eat Free in the Summer Holidays 2024 (moneysavingcentral.co.uk) is a website that tells families restaurants where kids eat free throughout the holidays.  

Financial support and wellbeing | BETA – South Gloucestershire Council (southglos.gov.uk)

Support for families who have children with additional needs

• SEND and You – SAY: Local SEN and disability information service (SENDIAS) – Information and support around Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, for children, young people and families. (previously Supportive Parents) 

Tel: 0117 9897725 Mon-Fri 9.30 – 4.30 (answerphone at other times), Email: support@sendandyou.org.uk  

Website:  Home – SEND and You

• South Glos Parents and Carers: Information and groups for parents who have children with a disability and/or additional needs. Offers a weekly drop in for parents and carers, support groups, workshops, counselling and events. They also run the Parent Carer forum in South Gloucestershire to collect feedback and views from families with disabled children. Website: South Glos Parent Carers (sgpc.org.uk) Email: team@sglospc.org.uk
• JIGSAW Thornbury Support families who have children who are 0-25 years and have any additional needs or disability. This can be anything from learning needs such as dyslexia to complex disabilities or medical problems. Many children who come have no diagnosis. Weekly support group for parents, carers and children + training courses on a range of topics. Telephone: 01454 416381 Website: JIGSAW Thornbury | For Children with Additional Needs and Disabilities – SEN Lending Library, Events, Meetings, Bristol Area and the South West.
• Gympanzees: ‘pop-up’ Leisure Centre – dedicated centre for children and young people with disabilities and their families.  They currently run an easter and summer pop up session. Website Pop Ups – Gympanzees

Useful websites for Transition support/returning to school

inourplace | Solihull Approach – Moving up

• a reminder that families have FREE access to all of the courses from Solihull, which can be accessed here: co.uk/south-gloucestershire/

My child is anxious about school transitions or changes – Support for Parents from Action For Children

School Anxiety and Refusal | Parent Guide to Support | YoungMinds

Supporting school transitions | Resources | YoungMinds

Transitions : Mentally Healthy Schools

How Parents Can Help With Secondary School Transition | YoungMinds

Supporting Children To Return To School.pdf (multiscreensite.com)

Young people’s mental health

• Off The Record: Free, self-referral counselling service for young people age 11-15, who are experiencing low mood, depression, anxiety, phobias, self-harm, eating problems and/or anger. Young people can call, email or text, and services operate in Patchway, Kingswood and Yate. Also offer parent support groups and sessions. Can also see Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information and up to date groups and activities.

Tel: 0808 808 9120. Text: 07896 880011. Website: Home – OTR (otrbristol.org.uk)  Email: hello@otrbristol.org.uk

• Kooth: Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people 11-18. Monday – Friday 12pm – 10pm, Saturday – Sunday 6pm – 10pm. On Kooth you can: Chat to our friendly counsellors; Read articles written by young people; Get support from the Kooth community; Write in a daily journal. Website: https://kooth.com/ Home – Kooth
• Explore.kooth.com/go-somewhere-good/
• Childline: Free counselling via online webchat, and free support/advice available 24/7 via confidential helpline, and emails via the website.  Tel: 0800 11 11. Website: www.childline.org.uk   Childline | Childline
• Young Minds national charity offers confidential online and telephone information and support for anyone worried about the emotional, behaviour, or mental health of a child/young person up to 25 years of age, including ADHD, Autism and Aspergers. Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544    Website: YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds
• Young Minds Crisis Messenger Service for free 24/7 support across the UK of you are experiencing a mental health crisis. Text YM to 85258.