Wellbeing & Family Support
Great Ouse Primary Academy is committed to ensuring and improving the well-being of all children. We will strive to ensure that children are active, healthy and have a positive physical and mental well-being.
Mental health & Wellbeing Policy
Great Ouse Primary Academy
Feeling Anxious or Worried?
HEALTH AND WELLBEING SUPPORT
ACT Early – Practical help and guidance for those concerned about a loved one who may be vulnerable to extremism or terrorism ACT Early | Prevent radicalisation Email: prevent@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk
Aquarius - Aquarius is an early intervention drug and alcohol service for young people aged 5-19 in Bedford. Support for under 18s effected by Substance Misuse in Bedfordshire (aquarius.org.uk)
Barnodo’s – national charity supporting vulnerable children Barnardo's | Children's charity | Barnardo's (barnardos.org.uk)
Bedfordshire Against Violence and Exploitation – information for parent/carers, and young people on what Child Sexual Exploitation is, how to spot the signs, and what to do if you’re concerned about it.
Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership – information on where to go for help and local support services. 24 hour Helpline 0808 2000 247. Get Help - Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership (bedsdv.org.uk)
CAFCASS – Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service Cafcass advises the family courts about the welfare of children and what is in their best interests | Cafcass
CAMHS – children and adolescent mental health service for East London, Luton and Bedfordshire CAMHS | East London NHS Foundation Trust (elft.nhs.uk)
CEOP – (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) – What to do if you’re worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online. CEOP Safety Centre
Child Accident Prevention Trust – Child safety advice for parents and carers Child Accident Prevention Trust | A safer world for all our children (capt.org.uk)
Childline – Children and young people can call the helpline on 0800 1111 about any problem, at any time – day or night. Childline | Childline
CHUMS – Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Service Home | CHUMS - Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Service
Cruse Bereavement Care – Offers support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. Free helpline: 0808 808 1677 Home - Cruse Bereavement Support
Frank – Confidential service offering advice, support with drugs and alcohol issues for all ages. Phone 0800 776 600
Kidscape – advice on how to deal with bullying Help With Bullying (kidscape.org.uk)
KOOTH – Online support for young people Home - Kooth
Mind BLMK (Bedford) – Mental health support and advice Bedford - Mind BLMK (mind-blmk.org.uk)
National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) – A UK charity providing children’s rights and socio-legal services. It offers information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children. The National Youth Advocacy Service | NYAS
NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) – UK charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. NSPCC | The UK children's charity | NSPCC
PACE – Parents Against Sexual Exploitation. Pace works alongside parents and carer of children who are – or are at risk of being – sexually exploited by perpetrators external to the family. Ivison Trust
PARENTLINE – A local text messaging service for parents and carers of children aged 0-19. 07507 331456
Papyrus – offers confidential advice and support if you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts, and information about how to make a safety plan.
Place2Be – A children and Young People’s mental health charity Improving children’s and young peoples mental health – Place2Be
Refuge – Freephone, 24 hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247
Samaritans - Provides emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listenTel: 0845 7909090
SHOUT – provides free, 24/7 text support for young people across the UK experiencing a mental health crisis. Text SHOUT to 85258
Think! Road Safety campaigns THINK! – Road safety
Thinkuknow is a website designed to raise awareness of the dangers of the internet Advice for parents and carers | Bedford Borough Council
Young Minds – Practical help for young people, whether that’s more understanding about how they are feeling or getting information on a mental health condition. The Young Minds crisis messenger text service provides free 24/7 crisis support, young people can Text YM to 85258
YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds
APPS TO DOWNLOAD FOR SELF HELP
Clear Fear – Clear Fear is an app which uses the evidence-based treatment CBT to focus on learning to reduce the physical response to threat by learning to breathe, relax and be mindful as well as changing thoughts and behaviours and releasing emotions.
Combined Minds – helps families and friends support young people with their mental health
Chill Panda – helps children better understand their stress and shows them ways to feel better using breathing techniques, yoga, exercise and calming games.
HappiMe – Free app that helps to raise self-esteem, self confidence and happiness levels in children and young people
FOOD BANKS Bedford Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis
All Nations Church, Brickhill Drive, Bedford, MK41 7QF
Christ Church, 140 Dudley Street, Bedford, MK40 3SX
Holy Cross RC Church, 355 Goldington Road, Bedford, MK41 0DP
London Road Methodist Church, 96 London Road, Bedford, MK42 0NT
Woodside Church, Dover Crescent, MK41 9QH
Salvation Army, Commercial Road, Bedford MK40 1QS
Project 229, 229 Bedford Road, Kempston, MK42 8DA
COPING STRATEGIES
RELAXATION - Controlled breathing, meditation, yoga, aromatherapy, mindfulness.
LOOK AFTER YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH – Try to get enough sleep, eat well and regularly and get some physical activity (even if its just a short walk).
TALK TO SOMEONE YOU TRUST – Having someone that you trust to listen to you and show they care can help in itself. If you don’t have someone to talk to you can always call the Samaritans or Childline.
GROUNDING TECHNIQUES – The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding techniques uses all five of your senses. Name out loud: 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, three things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, one thing you can taste. You could also try colouring something or counting backwards from 100 in sevens (this requires you to really focus and concentrate).
Bedford Borough Council offer a wealth of support services for children and families. Please click on link below image to see full details of LOCAL OFFER.
https://www.familylives.org.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGvO-Wj0EcEZpM5luobs1g
Positive Parenting
Early Help's Triple P delivery is a FREE service, aimed at families with children aged 3 to 16 years. 20 practitioners/professionals have been trained to deliver a variety of universal programmes such as - personal consultations, group courses, larger public seminars and other self-help interventions, delivered in schools and local community venues, across a range of times and dates over the coming months.
The programme contains a variety of discussions, video clips, worksheets and booklets for you to take away.
Our aim is to empower and equip parents with key skills to better deal with the everyday and on occasions extreme parenting challenges. Giving parents the kind of solid parenting information and support that can reduce their distress and help prevent behavioural problems in children.
For further information on where and when Triple P is being delivered near you please contact martyn.lee@bedford.gov.uk, or call 01234 276147.
SCHOOL NURSING SERVICES
Our School Nursing service are delighted to offer a PARENTLINE for parents and carers to access advice on health and wellbeing matters. See details below and also click the link for more information.
CLICK HERE TO SEE ANIMATION FOR PARENTLINE
School and parents/carers need to work in partnership to nurture the wellbeing of all children. Below is a useful tool.
Growth Mindset
At Great Ouse Primary Academy we believe strongly in developing a GROWTH MINDSET attitude in all our students. The brain is like a muscle - when it is challenged and exercised, it gets stronger.
CHUMS
We work closely with CHUMS (emotional and well being service) and we are privileged to have workshops run by them at school.
Their website also offers excellent resources for supporting children's wellbeing.
PLACE2BE
Place2Be offer excellent support and resources - click on the mage below to visit their website.
CAMHS
Domestic Abuse
Early Help
Early help is about taking action early and as soon as possible to tackle problems emerging for children, young people and their families.
Early help means providing support as soon as possible to help families cope with difficulties and working together with other services to prevent bigger problems emerging.
Support can come from a range of services and organisations, for parents, children and young people of any age. Our aim is to provide the right action at the right time with the right support.
¤ Early help is a strategy to identify problems early on and ensure help is provided to avoid problems escalating
¤ It is a voluntary process, so the child and family can decline the offer of help
¤ All school staff have a responsibility to identify children who may need extra help
¤ An early help assessment is undertaken by a lead professional, who could be a teacher, SENCO, GP, family support worker or health visitor
¤ The assessment should be clear about the action to be taken and the services to be provided and the help offered should be coordinated
¤ Our local authority provides a range of services
Early Help Guide
Click below to find out what services Bedford Borough offer families (Local offer)
The Bedford Borough Early Help holds information on a wide range of services in Bedford Borough for children, young people and families. This includes sources of support, childcare, children's centres and children's activities.
DIAGNOSIS of ADHD/ASC Support:
The Diagnosis Support Pack (DSP) has been coproduced by families for families following a diagnosis of a neurodiversity, and contains information, resources and signposting in a variety of media (video's, infographics, animations), split into 14 sections - from sleep to medication, and lots more.
The pack has been co-produced with the help of parents, young people, local Parent Carer Forums, CAMHS, Education Psychology and other key partners.
There is also a useful video - please follow link below:
https://vimeo.com/636992132/eae8fd81e4
