Support for Parents
At Hawkedon we actively promote the wellbeing of our school community. There are many local organisations that can support with aspects of wellbeing. Please find links to some of these organisations under the 'Wellbeing and Mental Health' section to the left. If you are concerned about your child's wellbeing, then we would suggest talking to your child's class teacher in the first instance. You can also email our Inclusion Manager at admin@hawkedon.wokingham.sch.uk.
Wokingham has also recently launched a Wellbeing Hub for people who have concerns about the mental health of a child or young people. Schools can refer as can families themselves. This is a triaging service and can point families in the relevant direction to support their child. Further details about the Wokingham Wellbeing Hub can be found here.
For families that may require additional support, we can also refer for Early Help Support. Families can self-refer directly if they prefer. Details about the Early Help Service can be found here.
Taking care of your mind as well as your body is really important given the circumstances we all find ourselves in. Remember, for most of us, these feelings will pass. There are things you can do to help you keep on top of your mental wellbeing and cope with how you may feel, setting up a daily routine, exercising and eating well. Make sure you get further support if you feel you need it.
Place 2 Be Parenting Smart - Practical tips to support children's wellbeing and manage behavior.
Young Minds - The national mental health charity supporting children, parents and professionals.
MindEd - A free educational resource on children and young people's mental health.
CAMHS - NHS department for children and adolescent mental health service in Wokingham.
Every Mind Matters - An online tool and email journey to support everyone in taking action to look after their mental health and wellbeing.
NHS - Mental health advice for parents.
Mind - Support with mental health.
It is normal to have ups and downs with any relationship. If you or you know of anyone who may be experiencing difficulties or feel that:
- You change your behaviour because you’re frightened of your partner’s reaction?
- Your partner is becoming increasingly jealous and possessive over you or the environment?
- You’re walking on egg shells?
- You’re controlled, or isolated?
If you feel this relates to you or you are worried about someone else. Please speak up, it is extremely difficult to acknowledge personal issues, and unless you, or the person, are open about their experiences and feelings, acknowledgment and accessing support can be difficult and very challenging. This is why experts suggest speaking to them to check-in and help discuss your experiences and feelings. It may be that things are ‘not as bad as it can sometimes feel’ or it can be that you are experiencing some kind of domestic abuse.
NHS - find out how to recognise the signs and where to get help.
Cranstoun - Wokingham Domestic Abuse service is an integrated service for victims and children that delivers support throughout the Wokingham area.
Support for men - helping men escape domestic abuse
Family Lives
Online parenting course in six interactive blocks filled with techniques and ideas to help you become a more confident and happier parent.
The website also has a range of short videos with instant parenting tips on Family Lives’ Parentchannel.tv.
Family Lives forums are a safe space for families to share dilemmas, experiences and issues with others who understand the ups and downs of family life.
Free and confidential national helpline service for families. Offers emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life.
https://www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/online-parenting-courses/parents-together/
Family Lives helpline
0808 800 2222
Mind Ed for Families
Written by experts and parents together, this provides materials for parents and carers of children and teens struggling with mental health issues.
https://mindedforfamilies.org.uk/young-people/
Incredible Years: Therapeutic Evidence-Based Parenting Programme
Starting February 2024 - Incredible Years: Therapeutic Evidence-Based Parenting Programme
Wellbeing support
Place 2 Be Parenting Smart - Practical tips to support children's wellbeing and manage behaviour.
Support for Children and Parents from Hong Kong
Please find here a document - in English and in Traditional Chinese (Cantonese) - which lists sources of support for families from Hong Kong.
There is also information about wellbeing support available for children from Hong Kong.
EAL as a second language
Please find here guidance for parents of students who use EAL. It offers information on how to help children learn.
Transition to Secondary School
Please find here information on workshops for parents/carers of Year 6 students in primary school.
Housing – For many families the home environment, and issues around housing is an issue faced on a daily basis. Common issues include: overcrowding, dampness, mould and general maintenance and repairs. If you feel that your issue is not being addressed, please contact Transform Housing. They can provide a one-off support service or 1:1 support with housing-related issues. Help with financial issues, budgeting, rent or mortgage payments, debts, applying for welfare benefits too.
Transform Housing
One-off support service or 1:1 support with housing-related issues. Help with financial issues, budgeting, rent or mortgage payments, debts, applying for welfare benefits too.
https://search3.openobjects.com/mediamanager/wokingham/info/files/anvil_court_drop_in_leaflet.pdf
Foodbank
If you are struggling to access food, please self refer using either of the below links.
https://wokingham.foodbank.org.uk/get-help/
Get help with the cost of living
The Household Support Fund can help you pay for food, energy, bills and other essentials. It is open to:
- Families where children receive means-tested free school meals can get £20 per week during the school holidays until Easter 2024
- Anyone struggling to pay bills or buy food can apply for £240 or £120 depending on the size of their household
If you have already applied for the Household Support Fund you do not need to apply again. There is a range of help and support options you can use to help you this winter:
- Check the cost of living help hub, including our guides
- Help for people with children
- Help for single people
- Help for pensioners
- Help if you’re in an emergency
- SHARE Wokingham offers fresh produce, like bread and vegetables, for those who need it. These are surplus stock from local supermarkets. More than 2,000 people use it each week and it has saved more than 1,000 tonnes in food waste since it was launched a few years ago. View the food map to see SHARE's 15 locations and find your nearest.
- Follow these top tips for households on how to lower your energy bills this winter. Or you can try:
- The council’s new home energy advice service to see how to lower your bills
- See if you’re eligible Great British Insulation Scheme is offering free or cheaper insulation to reduce your home’s energy bills
- Check if your home is eligible for a Heat Pump Grant a part of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme – up to £7,500 on offer towards the costs
- We’re encouraging people to register with power, water and gas suppliers if they are potentially vulnerable this winter. These are known as priority services, which mean you get help faster if you are cut off or additional warnings if there are outages like loss of water pressure or power cuts
- The Winter Warmers scheme can help you get free items, if you’re struggling with the cost of living. This includes things like air fryers, slow cookers, heated airers and more. These will lower your energy usage and bills
- Contact Citizens Advice, Wokingham, to find the most appropriate support for your situation. Use the online referral form or call 0808 278 7958, Monday to Friday.
Benefits Agency
It's important to make sure that you get all the help that you're entitled to. These pages give you information on benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran. There is also information about council tax and housing costs, national insurance, payment of benefits and problems with benefits.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/
https://www.gov.uk/browse/disabilities/benefits
https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators
The Money Advice Service
Working out what benefits or tax credits you’re entitled to can be tricky, especially with recent welfare changes. Find out where to get free expert advice online, face-to-face or by calling an advice helpline
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/where-to-get-help-and-advice-about-benefits
Bereavement Support - Information and resources to support bereaved pupils and parents.
Bereavement UK – Help children, young people, parents and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies
Daisy’s dream – A local charity supporting children and their families who have been affected by the life-threatening illness or bereavement. They can offer group support for children and families, free events to share experiences or 1:1 support via referral
Winstons’s Wish - A charity that helps children, teenagers and young adults (up to the age of 25) find their feet when their worlds are turned upside down by grief
Sue Ryder – For adults struggling with grief, an online bereavement service offering free and professional video counselling
Supporting your child's behaviour
If you are struggling with your child's behaviour, Wokingham are offering the following courses:
Supporting Behaviour - Wednesday 24th April
Changing Behaviour, Changes Behaviour - May 2024
Understanding Anxiety Workshop for Parents - Thursday 2nd May
Sleep Support
If your child is having problems with sleep, Wokingham are offering the following courses:
Sleep & Anxiety - Wednesday 10th July
Events and support for carers
Support for carers of those with learning disabilities and/or autism
CAN Information Network newsletter March 2024.pdf
SEND Voices Wokingham (Parent Carer Forum) DATES for Spring Term '24 -
SEN Support in School & Effective Communication ~ A Parent’s Guide
- Does your child have Special Educational Needs?
- Do you know what school should do to meet your child's needs?
- Are you confident about meeting with the school to discuss your child's needs?
This SENDIASS training course will help you to understand what you can expect from a school and how to build a good working relationship so that everyone works together to meet the needs of your child.
Date: Monday 11th March
Time: 10.00 - 12 noon
More details about all these FREE training courses can be found on our website here: SVW Events. All the courses will be run by Julie Monahan and the team from Wokingham SENDIASS via Zoom.
Who are SEND Voices Wokingham?
SEND Voices Wokingham are the Parent Carer Forum for Wokingham Borough. You can find out more about what we do and becoming a member on our website here: www.sendvoiceswokingham.org.uk or you can email info@sendvoiceswokingham.org.uk. Membership is FREE to ALL parent carer living in the Wokingham Borough who have a child aged 0-25 years old with ANY Special Educational Need or Disability. Members will receive email updates with updates on events, training courses, consultations, surveys and information. Currently all member are also eligible for a FREE Max Card*.
*The Max Card is the UK’s leading discount card for foster families and families of children with additional needs age 0-25. Families can use their Max Card at venues across the UK to get free or discounted admission http://www.mymaxcard.co.UK/.
An update from SEND voices Wokingham parent carer forum
SEND Voices Wokingham would like to thank everyone who joined the Zoom update with Wokingham Borough Council and Health on Thursday 1 February 2024 to hear about SEND improvements locally.
You can read about this and about other areas that SEND Voices Wokingham have been involved with on their website in their Spring Half-Term 1 Update.
The date for the next Zoom update with Wokingham Borough Council and Health will be on Wednesday 15 May from 7 to 8.30pm. If you would like to join this session, or for more information about membership, please email info@sendvoiceswokingham.org.uk .
Funtastic Kids is open at Hawkedon from Tuesday 28th May to Friday 31st May (closed Bank Holiday Monday, 27th May).
Funtastic Kids have lots of fun activities planned, from arts and crafts to sports and games! Sports and creative themed timetables can be found on their website. Hawkedon's theme this May is: Around the World!
