Family Wellbeing
The sections below offer a range of advice and support which families may find helpful. These cover parenting courses and guides, positive mental health, bereavement, family relationships as well as sources of practical support.
East Sussex County Council also has a page dedicated to supporting families with the cost of living. This page can be found here.
The Department for Work and Pensions has produced a leaflet explaining how to get help with childcare costs, to remove the barriers that prevent parents from accepting a job offer or starting self-employment.
Zones of Regulation
As a school we use Zones of Regulation to support our children's emotional health and wellbeing. Here is a link to the PowerPoint we shared with parents at our Parent Workshop on this subject.
Parenting Guides, Groups and Courses
LOCAL LINKS
Parenting courses and advice https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/children-families/family-support/parenting
The East Sussex Parenting Guide and Rother What's On are full of information, webinars, discussion groups and courses for parents.
The Rother Family Hub runs Baby Groups and Under 5's Groups.
Sidley Family Hub is running a Dad's Group on the last Saturday of each month from 9.30-10.30am. This is a free group for Dads and male carers with children under 5.
Sidley Family Hub is running a free after school club for Reception to Year 6.
Family Hub, East Sussex is a new group that offers a wide range of support from emotional wellbeing to dealing with financial, housing or employment challenges.
NATIONAL LINKS
Family Lives https://www.familylives.org.uk
Open for Parents https://www.openforparents.org.uk
Positive Mental Health
We understand that all of us at some point would benefit from support to get through difficult times in our lives. Below are some links to local and national services to support with wellbeing and mental health. Recently, we hosted a 'Me and My Mind' workshop for parents in school; the parents who attended found the workshop very useful - here is the powerpoint to share with you all.
LOCAL LINKS
The Mental Health Support Team is offering 'Me and My Mind' online workshops about 'Supporting Primary School Children with Anxiety and Worry' and 'Supporting Your Child with Transition to Secondary'.
Sussex Mental healthline https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/sussex-mental-healthline
The Sussex Mental Health Line provides support and information and can be contacted on 0800 0309 500 and further information can be found on the Sussex Partnership website.
East Sussex Combat Stress https://1space.eastsussex.gov.uk/Services/2433/Combat-Stress
East Sussex Health in Mind https://www.healthinmind.org.uk
Recipes 4 Wellbeing from Sussex NHS https://www.sussexcamhs.nhs.uk/resources/resources-for-families-carers-and-professionals/recipes-4-wellbeing
The School Health Service provides a confidential text messaging service for parents and carers of children and young people aged 5 to 19 and young people aged 11 to 19, the telephone number is 07507 332 473. They also have a School Health One Point telephone line which is 0300 123 4062 and an online referral form https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/forms/school-health-service-east-sussex-referral-form/.
NATIONAL LINKS
NHS Mental Health page https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/social-care-and-your-rights/how-to-access-mental-health-services/
Kooth is an online mental health community with safe and anonymous support https://www.kooth.com/
Shout is a service to support young people having difficulty with mental health. It is a free 24hour text service https://giveusashout.org/
Mens Health Forum https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk
Anxiety UK https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Young Minds https://www.youngminds.org.uk
E-Wellbeing https://e-wellbeing.co.uk/services/e-motion
Childline - call 0800 1111 or https://www.childline.org.uk
Samaritans - call 116123 or https://www.samaritans.org
Bereavement
The following charities support families and children who have suffered bereavement:
LOCAL LINKS
St. Michaels bereavement service https://1space.eastsussex.gov.uk/Services/2215/St-Michael-s-Bereave
Dragonflies https://www.fsncharity.co.uk/projects/dragonflies-bereavement-project
NATIONAL LINKS
Child bereavement UK https://www.childbereavementuk.org
Cruse https://www.cruse.org.uk
Winston’s Wish https://www.winstonswish.org
Family Relationships
East Sussex Young Carers (ESYC) support young carers aged 5 to 18. Email: info@eastsussexyoungcarers.org.uk or telephone: 0300 111 1110
The Sibling Service (SIBs) supports children aged 6 to 17 who have a brother or sister with a disability. SIBs arrange activity days and social events and help to build local support groups.You can contact the SIBs Team here https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/children-families/family-support/young-carers/siblings
Getting a Good Night's Sleep
We all know that sleep is incredibly important for good physical and mental health. Primary aged children generally need around ten to eleven hours sleep a night. Children can sometimes find getting to sleep hard. Great Ormond Street Hospital has produced an easy read guide to good sleep, which can be found here.
Practical Support
The East Sussex School Health Service offer virtual drop-ins for parents and carers of school aged children. You will be able to speak to a school nurse in person Tuesdays and Thursdays 10.00am to 3.00pm and 6.00pm to 9.00pm. You can make contact via https://nhs.vc/east-sussex-school-health or by text 07507 332473.
Greener Futures is an ESF funded project focusing on employability support and green space volunteering for adults not in work who live in the areas of Bexhill, Sidley, St Leonards and Hastings. Please find a link to their website here and information on employability support and a mini-course Gardening for Beginners.
Bexhill food bank https://1space.eastsussex.gov.uk/Services/2658
Benefits advice https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/social-care/benefits/help
Housing and homelessness https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/children-families/family-support/housing-money
Support for Eating Disorders
B-eat provides help lines, online support and self-help groups for adults and young people to beat eating disorders. Young people’s live chat Tuesday and Thursday, 5 - 6pm.
Tel: 0845 634 7650 or text 07786 20 18 20
Email: fyp@b-eat.co.uk
Website: www.b-eat.co.uk