Welcome to our latest newsletter

Dear partners and colleagues,

Welcome to another edition of Families First News and as always there’s lots going on.

The HENRY Healthy Families are running some free programmes giving support and tips for young families on getting a great healthy start for their young families. The Building Life Chances - Informal Youth Activities Grant Application is now open and we have more information on this opportunity and many more useful articles  and links to help you as professionals support the families you work with.

Again, in this edition, we are pleased to have a busy Learning and Development section with some good free training opportunities for partners including My Baby's Brain training dates along with fully funded Suicide intervention as well as training opportunities for you to share with families.

We hope you enjoy this edition of Families First News and please encourage your teams to sign up to receive their own copy!

As always, please do let us have your comments and suggestions for what you would like included in future editions by emailing familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

Happy reading!

Kind regards 
The Development Team

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Families First Awards - 2023

Our Families First Awards are a great way of celebrating the fantastic work that takes place across the early help services in Hertfordshire.

Our first Awards took place in 2019 and then the second Awards were postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic. So it would make sense to continue with the awards taking place every 2 years.

So the next Awards will be taking place early in Spring 2023!

This gives us all plenty of opportunity to really showcase the great work that has taken place and plan to celebrate the individuals and teams that have gone above and beyond in providing early help to families.

We are always open to ideas and suggestions on how to make this event fully inclusive and a great celebration, and of course innovative ideas to keep it low cost, but special ! Please email familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk should you have any ideas or suggestions.

Building Life Chances - Informal Youth Activities Grant Application now open!

Do you or can you provide youth activities in Hertfordshire that:

• are informal
• operate outside of school term time, and
• do not require pre-booking or fees to access?

We are now accepting applications for the Informal Youth Activities Grant as part of the Building Life Chances programme. This is a multi-agency programme addressing the impact of Covid-19 on Hertfordshire residents who are vulnerable.

The pandemic has been tough for many young people who may not have had the opportunity or confidence to meet with friendship groups informally and may now have increased anxiety affecting their wellbeing. Therefore, we welcome applications from locally based community activities for young people aged 12-17 years that run all year round.

Each district in Hertfordshire will be able to access £25,000 for 2022-23. Grants will be awarded for any amount up to the maximum amount for that district.

Please email buildinglifechances@hertfordshire.gov.uk for further information including an application form. The closing date for applications is 11.59pm on Thursday 31^st March 2022.

We want as many organisations as possible to have the opportunity to apply. Please share this opportunity as widely as possible with any organisations that you work with or that may be interested.

Please also keep your eye on our Grants page for other grants available.

A great start for babies and young children

The programme is for parents or carers of children aged 0 to 5 years old. It is free to join.

Everyone wants the best for their children, but with so much conflicting advice it can be hard to know what to do for the best as a parent, especially in the early years.

The HENRY Healthy Families: Right from the Start programme is running locally. Join the thousands of families across the country who have benefited from the support and tips it provides for young families.

Research shows that the key ingredients to ensuring babies and young children have a healthy start in life are:

• Parenting confidence
• Physical activity for little ones
• What children and families eat
• Family lifestyle habits
• Enjoying life as a family

The programme covers these 5 themes across 8 weeks and provides everything you need to help get your little one off to a great start.

Download the leaflet and find out more here:- http://www.henry.org.uk 

Plan for Children and Young People 2021-26 Animation

In our last edition we announced the publication of ‘Our Way Forward - Plan for Children and Young People 2021-26’ . We thought we'd show you this great animation which talks through the plan and the five ambitions.

To view the Plan, Strategic Priorities and an animation of the ambitions visit: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/planforcyp

Many of our strategies contained within this Plan and other key Children’s Services strategies are publicly available at: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/csstrategies

 

Have you heard about our Professional Promise?

We’re asking for 5 mins of your time to see if you have heard about Hertfordshire’s Professional Promise by please completing a super short survey before 28 February.

The Promise underpins the new SEND Strategy 2022-2025 and frames how professionals should support children and young people (CYP) with special educational needs and /or disabilities and their families, no matter which organisation or service is delivering them.

The launch of the new SEND Strategy provides a perfect opportunity to remind ourselves of the Professional Promise.  The Promise was co-produced a few years ago with Herts Parent Carer Involvement (HPCI) and colleagues from health, education and social care services. It’s possible that with staff changes and a pandemic, some professionals aren’t familiar with the Promise; that’s fine.  We will use the survey information to support services to get to know it.  We ran the same survey this time last year and only 25% of respondents had heard about the Promise.  We’re hoping this number has increased and hope that when completing the survey you will  think of examples of how you are fulfilling the Promise in your day to day work.  These examples could then be shared with families to increase their confidence in our services.

We’re asking staff across children’s services, education and health care partners to complete this survey, so apologies in advance if you receive a link to the survey more than once!

 

Finally, if you haven’t yet had a chance to digest the SEND Strategy 2022-2025, then please do so.  In short, the SEND strategy is for all staff in Hertfordshire, who support CYP with SEND 0–25 years, across education, health and social care.  It sets out the actions we are taking together to achieve five ambitions: tailoring, enabling, providing, collaborating and succeeding.  It also helps families and young people in Hertfordshire, to understand the actions the SEND workforce is making to deliver inclusive, person-centred services across SEND.

 

Thanks so much for your help.  The Professional Promise survey closes 28 February. 

What is HappyMaps?

HappyMaps is a charity developed by GPs and CAMHS professionals with help from parents and young people. We’ve pooled what we think are  some of the best mental health resources for parents and carers, and for young people and children, in one place.

In addition there is also a good professionals area with links to teaching and learning resources on Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Money Advice Unit has a bigger HERT

As part of the County Council’s Building Life Chances programme, the Money Advice Unit is able to launch a new service for children and families who are struggling financially. The existing Hertfordshire Economic Recovery Team (HERT) has been extended to include benefits advice and assistance to families who have suffered financial difficulties during the pandemic. Most families have experienced financial stress during this time which has been exacerbated by the increase in the cost of living, healthy food often not being affordable, changes in the benefit system and of course the increase in fuel charges.

The project aims to enhance the benefits advice available locally to aid their financial recovery and embed future financial security and literacy.

Launched in February 2022, working county-wide for 24 months, the project aims to reach 550 families to ensure they are in receipt of their full entitlement. Our advisers will deliver specialist benefits advice including casework, advocacy, and appeal representation as required.

To request a referral form please email:

mauadmin@hertfordshire.gov.uk

If you have any questions regarding the project or would like to arrange for one of our advisers to visit a group you support, please contact juliette.veal@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Also please see our article on the FREE online training available for professionals.

IAPT Psychological Wellbeing Webinars HPFT IAPT

We have made accessing support to improve emotional wellbeing even easier. The new webinar menu provides detailed information about our free webinar programme that can be easily shared with all residents.

Our webinar programme provides educational and practical help to support attendees to learn relevant Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques to make positive change in their life. All webinars can be easily booked for free on our website using our short sign-up form: https://www.hpft-iapt.nhs.uk/resources-and-self-help/webinars

The webinar menu includes information about all our available webinars including their benefits, key topics, and links to register.  We would encourage you to use this webinar menu as a quick and easy guide to support patient/clients to access our support. This resource can also be shared directly with clients, staff members and HR teams by email, on your website/intranet or via your social media channels.

One of our service objectives is to ensure that anyone who could benefit from our support is aware of what we offer and easily able to access it. We do this by sharing helpful resources with key stakeholders to support them to communicate information directly with patients/clients who would benefit from additional mental health support. 

Who are HPFT IAPT?

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) provides access to primary care psychological therapy services in Hertfordshire and Mid Essex.  These services are part of the national initiative, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), and include a wide range of confidential talking therapy treatments and practical support for adults with common mental health problems. 

Click here to watch our short animation video to find out more about our service.

HAPpy Camps back for Easter

From Monday 4th to Thursday 14th April, HAPpy Camps will be running again all over Hertfordshire.

Bookings open on Monday 14th March, at which time families will be able to use the activity search tool to find the most appropriate activities their children. All camps will offer a minimum of four hours’ of physical and enrichment activities, food education and an all important hot meal!

HAPpy Camps is the name for the Holiday Activity and Food programme (HAF) across Hertfordshire. Each Easter, summer and winter school holidays, camps run by our network of trusted professionals will be available for children to attend, and experience a variety of new and exciting opportunities like foraging, trampolining, crafting, music making, drama and so much more.

HSCP Learning & Development Programme

The latest Learning Hub Newsletter is now available. The Hubs are scheduled for March 2022 on the topic of The Impact and Dynamics of Domestic Abuse.

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Catherine McArevey from HPFT has developed the Multi-agency Checklist (MAC Tool) – Could this be Neglect?

This tool is designed to be a precursor to the Graded Care Profile. As outlined on the tool, if any questions are ‘red’ then it is suggested that practitioners consider the use of the Graded Care Profile tool. The tool can be used at any contact with a child in any setting and can be used even if there is limited information available.

The tool is also available on our Neglect Hub Neglect Hub | Hertfordshire County Council

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We use this regular page to give you some quick links through to the HSCP learning programmes:-

You can view the latest HSCP/HSAB Autumn 2021 Newsletter is now available on here – Newsletter Autumn 2021

Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership - Learning Management System (event-booking.org.uk)

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To understand our thresholds a bit more, view the Continuum of needs (hertfordshire.gov.uk) 

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Year of Learning

Information for professionals and volunteers | Hertfordshire County Council

Dec 2021 - Medical Neglect

Nov 2021 - Management of Suspicious Bruises/Marks in Infants Under 6 Months Policy

Nov 2021 - Neglect

Sept 2021 - Child Sexual Abuse

June 2021 : Harmful Sexual Behaviours 7 minute briefing

May 2021: Female Genital Mutilation 7 minute briefing

My Baby’s Brain training - more dates

You can now book onto upcoming My Baby’s Brain (MBB) training. MBB introduces practitioners, who work with children aged 0-3, to the key principals of neuroscience and how they can help parents, children and babies form strong attachments that will encourage healthy development.

My Baby’s Brain has been running in Hertfordshire since 2011. In that time, the challenges that families face have evolved, particularly because of the current pandemic. To ensure parents continue to be supported at the earliest opportunity, Early Help Commissioning have worked with partners KCA to refresh My Baby’s Brain training to allow for a greater depth of learning for professionals with additional focus on resilience and managing toxic stress. 

Now online, this training is a 3-stage learning programme combining webinars, e-learning and small group tutorials. 

Choose your learning strand A or B and click on the relevant link below to register:

Strand A – My Baby’s Brain Universal: for all professionals working with young families 0-3 years old.

1. Tuesday 29th March at 10am (90 mins) - Webinar
2. Tuesday 19th or Thursday 28th April at 10am (90 mins) - Tutorial

Strand A registration link

 

Strand B – My Baby’s Brain Targeted: for all professionals working with vulnerable and targeted families.

1. Wednesday 30th March at 10am (90 mins) - Webinar
2. Wednesday 20th or Tuesday 26th April at 10am (90 mins) - Tutorial

Strand B registration link

For more information and helpful resources, please see My baby's brain | Hertfordshire County Council. You can also find details on our MBB programme.

 

More dates for the fully funded Suicide Intervention Training

Hertfordshire County Council has commissioned Harmless to deliver a bespoke, CPD accredited Suicide Intervention course which is free for workers throughout Hertfordshire.

Please see information regarding Harmless CIC Suicide Intervention training dates fully funded by Herts CC for March. As you are probably aware Hertfordshire are part of the Zero Suicide Alliance striving to tackle the multicomplex socioeconomic issues that can lead to suicide and as such I wanted to make you aware of this excellent opportunity to be part of this change along with all of the outstanding work you do within your area and how seriously you take the mental and physical wellbeing of your communities. I am from Hertfordshire and devastatingly lost my partner to suicide in 2016, so know all too well the need for better education around suicide, and with a high focus on male suicide, which is why I am now working for Harmless CIC, trying to ensure Hertfordshire and beyond become a safer place to be, a place where people have to tools to engage with those in crisis and where those in crisis can reach out without fear of judgement or stigma, so with that in mind please see details of the sessions and Eventbrite booking links below.

We wanted to make contact with you regarding our fully funded Suicide intervention training session that is taking place live online for professionals, frontline workers and volunteers in your area who are in contact with those at risk of suicide. We are excited to be able to offer to your staff or volunteers a free place to attend.

We are Harmless, a national user-led organisation that provides a range of services about self-harm and suicide prevention specialising in training, as well as support, information and consultancy. We are pleased to say that we have been commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council to deliver a bespoke and CPD accredited Suicide Intervention course for workers throughout Hertfordshire. We thought that the training may be of interest and do hope you can attend, and/or share this new training to your networks. Information below and attached.

Suicide Intervention course

• CPD accredited, certificate on completion, live online via Zoom
• Recognise suicidal behaviours
• Practically support people
• Manage difficult situations
• Know what to say to people who are suicidal
• Offer the right support
• Consider specific COVID-19 related risk factors

Please register and book yourself onto the session date that works for you.

March 2022

1. 2^nd March 2022 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-hertfordshireherts-suicide-intervention-training-online-tickets-250134447867?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
2. 4^th March 2022 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-hertfordshireherts-suicide-intervention-training-online-tickets-250135501017?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
3. 8^th March 2022 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-hertfordshireherts-suicide-intervention-training-online-tickets-250136824977?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
4. 15^th March 2022 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-hertfordshireherts-suicide-intervention-training-online-tickets-250139242207?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
5. 18^th March 2022 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-hertfordshireherts-suicide-intervention-training-online-tickets-250140205087?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
6. 24^th March 2022 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-hertfordshireherts-suicide-intervention-training-online-tickets-250141819917?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

30^th March 2022 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-hertfordshireherts-suicide-intervention-training-online-tickets-250140746707?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

News from Step2Skills

• Step2Skills newsletter edition 2: In case you’ve missed, it our January to April magazine is live and available at locations across Hertfordshire. The online version is available to read here and features details of upcoming courses along with news and events from across our services. (Front cover image attached)
  Issue 2: Step2Skills News - Issue 2 - January to April 2022 by Step2Skills - Issue

• New Job, New You: This ACCREDITED course from Step2Skills, taught online across 8 weeks, can equip you with the employability skills needed to increase your chances of employment. It’s free for eligible Hertfordshire residents, details of which can be found on our online booking system at: Our courses (hertfordshire.gov.uk) 
  
  
• Do you have a disability, sensory needs or autism and are you looking for paid work? Do you know someone in this situation? You may not be aware that Step2Skills runs the Supported Employment service (formerly known as Work Solutions and in its 31^st year of running) and the team specialises in finding and supporting clients in Hertfordshire to stay in paid work. To find out more, visit www.step2skills.org.uk/SupportedEmployment (poster for the service attached)
  
  
• Step2Skills is listening and responding to Hertfordshire residents and is pleased to now be running a highly popular range of arts and crafts courses in Bishops Stortford. So far, the courses have been selling out very quickly but with this course planned for June this year, if you fancy trying something new, this is your chance to book your place on our Eco Friendly Fabric Flowers course. The booking link is here: Our courses (hertfordshire.gov.uk) (poster attached)
  
  
• Step2Skills is here to support Hertfordshire residents with overcoming barriers that are holding them back from education or work. In this instance, through our Building Better Opportunities programme, Maneet was able to access counselling sessions to help her overcome her bereavement before she could move on to study, grow in confidence and secure employment. (picture attached of Maneet’s story)

Unemployed and want mentor support with Step2Skills? Visit www.step2skills.org.uk/BBO

 

Money Advice Unit - FREE Online Training

The Spring/Summer training programme from the Money Advice Unit.

We are pleased to be able to offer an increased number of courses in this programme. This is due to funding we have received from Building Life Chances and a number of these courses will be delivered on or behalf by The Benefits Training Company. The booking process remains the same though  - please complete the attached booking form and return to MAUtraining@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

Please note that places are restricted to two people, per course, per organisation and booking is on a first come, first served basis. 

Please use the electronic booking form; electronic signatures are accepted.

If you are a Training Manager booking on behalf of staff; please remember to provide the attendee(s) direct email address as well as your own, as this is where the calendar invites will be sent to participants. If all details are not provided, your booking request will not be processed.

 

Remember we also have a free online Universal Credit course available at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits

 

Brook Traffic Light Tool Training

Brook’s nationally recognised Sexual Behaviours Traffic Light Tool and training provides a highly visible, multi-agency response that helps professionals to identify, understand and respond appropriately to sexual behaviours in young people.

Aim:

The training and accompanying Tool equip professionals to make consistent and informed decisions that neither stigmatise nor criminalise young people. Participants will learn about healthy sexual development, understand key laws relating to sexual behaviour and gain knowledge on enabling robust and meaningful conversations around harmful sexual behaviours that cause concern. 

Audience:

The HSCP have purchased 200 licences, with the training being delivered by two partner agencies. Therefore, we will be limiting the number of licences allocated to partners.  Ideally, the delegates should be Safeguarding Leads within individual agencies who can support their colleagues/team when there is a need to use the Brook Traffic Light Tool. Once trained, delegates will receive a licence to access the Brook Traffic Light Tool, which they can use to support their colleagues/teams in identifying harmful sexual behaviours.

Joining:

As we are limiting the number of licences per agency, can Agency Leads please identify who in their agency they would like to put forward via email -hscpcourses@hertfordshire.gov.uk – giving their preferred date of training and a backup date. We will let the successful delegates know and will also keep a waiting list for any places that agencies do not require.  

The dates/times for the training are below – each training sessions is 3.5hrs.

10 Mar 2022	1pm to 4:30pm	Facilitator: Claire Cooper
28 Mar 2022	9am to 12:30pm	Facilitator: Orla Burke
25 Apr 2022	1pm to 4:30pm	Facilitator: Claire Cooper
26 Apr 2022	9am to 12:30pm	Facilitator: Orla Burke
4 May 2022	9am to 12:30pm	Facilitator: Orla Burke
13 May 2022	1pm to 4:30pm	Facilitator: Claire Cooper

 

Spot the Signs & Emotional Wellbeing - training for professionals

Spot the Signs & Emotional Wellbeing is a fully-funded programme offering training and workshops to children and young people (CYP), CYP’s parents/carers and professionals working with CYP.

The programme provides psychoeducation, emotional resilience and signposting support to empower young people and the adults around them to feel confident enough to manage their mental and emotional health.

All sessions can be delivered in-person or online upon your request.

You can find more information about the training available.

Workforce development

Families First - Performance Data Report

You may be interested to view our Families First Performance Data report for the period January 2021 - December 2021.

The report looks at Families First Assessments that took place within the period and highlights the presenting needs and outcomes broken down by district along with information about other support for families.

 

Amazing Feedback from Families!

This page is going become a regular article to showcase snippets of feedback which show the great appreciation for the work we do to support families:-

Intensive Family Support Team - Watford

"I'm not really sure where to begin, when trying to express my gratitude towards your services and Roisin O'Hagan.

Roisin was amazing, down to earth and just what my family needed. She called, messaged and emailed. Most importantly she was down to earth, norma and had our backs! We felt listened to, understood and Roisin stood up for us when it mattered.

She is a credit to your service! We'll miss her and her melted chocolate biscuits!"

HABs Family Support

"I would just like to say a big thank you for your support this year it means a lot to my family. Your support has made sure that my home is warm & allowed me to make sure my kids have the Christmas they deserve. I would also like to thank you for the presents for my kids they will love them."

East Herts, Broxbourne & Welwyn

Update from Broxbourne, East Herts & Welwyn Hatfield early help services:-

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Broxbourne Community Awards

The 2022 Broxbourne Community Awards will again recognise the achievements of the Broxbourne community, but will have particular focus on those members of the public who have made a significant contribution during the pandemic.

Fill out this form below to nominate your local heroes. Nominations close at midnight on 31 January 2022.

https://www.broxbourne.gov.uk/BOBawards

Services for Young People 

You can view the details of the Services for Young People projects, services and opportunities for young people, which will commence in January 2022 by downloading these leaflets:-

SfYP - Broxbourne 

SfYP - East Herts

SfYP - Welwyn Hatfield

View the latest Broxbourne & East Herts Bulletin here

View the latest Welwyn Hatfield Bulletin here

Full services can be viewed at- Services for Young People

A further project they will be delivering this term is the project for Young Parents and Young Parents to be.  Projects will be taking place across Hertfordshire.  In our area this will be delivered each Thursday 2-4pm, at our Waltham Cross Young People’s Centre Stanhope Road, Waltham Cross, EN8 7DJ

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The Job Smart team can help you improve your chances of securing a job by giving FREE support! Find out more here: 　Job Smart employability programme.

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CHEXS offers an award winning 30 week bespoke programme designed, tested and implemented to support children and young people's common mental-health concerns as well as their overall wellbeing.

The charity was founded by our CEO Pete Maiden 10 years ago following a career in the Navy, you can read more about this on our History of CHEXS.

CHEXS works by using a two stream approach, our Children an Young People team follow a structured programme of age-appropriate activities for learning and coaching outside of the classroom, which enables them to improve their wellbeing, succeed and build confidence.

All work is based upon protective behaviours, coaching and promoting positive mental health.

Our Family Support Team works in tandem with our Children and Young People team, offering inclusive parenting workshop groups sharing a wealth of experience, advice and guidance in a relaxed environment, coupled with our one to one support sessions for parents. Our team are on hand to help and regularly refer a child or parent into one another. Email admin@chexs.co.uk to self-refer to our team.

By working with this unique whole family approach, CHEXS helps parents build strong, positive relationships and trust with their child. In turn, the young people are coached and mentored through a variety of innovative projects designed to build self-esteem, teamwork, problem-solving and tangible skills. The projects instill a sense of purpose, meaning and aspirations for the future.

Our focus on resilience equips young people to face everyday challenges and achieve their potential for a better future.

**** EXCITING NEWS​​​ ****

• CHEXS has recently won a NATIONALaward from the Children & Young People Now Awards 2021 for their coveted 'Charity of the year' This is amazing recognition for the team who have worked tirelessly over the last year helping and supporting families during the most difficult of times.
• We have also won a Hertfordshire Inspire award from Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce for their 'Business of the year award'and we were also given a 'highly Commended' for our people development.  

 

If you feel we would be able to offer you support please get in contact with us on 07970 498 966 or you can visit our website at WWW.CHEXS.CO.UK or follow us on Facebook @CHEXS

Dacorum & St Albans

Update from Dacorum and St Albans early help services:-

Services for Young People

Information is now available on our Easter Holiday programme for young people on free school meals or low income.

Download the Dacorum leaflet here

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Colourful Minds

Colourful Minds are delighted to announce that applications are now open for the next Colourful Minds creative therapy and wellbeing course, which will start in March and run for 24 weeks, plus a taster session.  The course is free for adults aged 18+ living in Dacorum with mild to moderate mental health conditions, such as anxiety and stress or due to isolation.

We have previously run successful 12 week courses on Zoom and we are now trialling a 24 week course. This aims to further improve wellbeing outcomes of those that attend and is in response to feedback and evaluation. The course is funded by Dacorum Borough Council, and delivered by a qualified Art Therapist from Herts Inclusive Theatre (HIT).

A taster session will be held on Zoom on Friday 4^th March from 10.30-12.30pm – a chance for applicants to find out if the course is right for them.

This will be followed by a 24 week course on Zoom, running from Friday 18^th March until Friday 14^th October.
(there will breaks for Easter holidays, the Jubilee bank holiday and the month of August).

The sessions will provide an opportunity to explore creative art in a supportive and confidential group setting. No experience is needed to take part and everyone is welcome. Applications are via referral from a GP, health professional or a support agency/worker.

Please contact kerry@hit-theatre.org.uk for an application and referral form. For details you can also visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/colourfulminds .

 

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Dacorum Healthy Hub

The Healthy Hub have a very useful newsletter - sign up to get your copy here:- Healthly Hub Sign Up - Dacorum Borough Council

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Workshops for young people this autumn – last year Dacorum District Council planned to run a Beatboxing Project for young people that had to be cancelled due to COVID. We are now looking at running a few workshops with the same artists this autumn, who run a very successful Beatboxing Academy in South London. The workshops may not be Beatboxing (the nature of this is not particularly COVID-safe due to the spitting involved!), however possibly rapping or music/performance related.  If you have a group of young people who may benefit from these workshops and working with these brilliant South London artists, please get in touch. We are also looking to deliver these as pilot workshops for a possible larger project at a later date, in consultation with the young people taking part: Email annie.smith@dacorum.gov.uk

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DSPL 8 run a number of courses for parents, carers and professionals. Click here to see a list of the current available courses, together with details of how to sign up. 

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Herts Mind Network

• Herts Mind Network are continuing to provide essential mental health support in Hertfordshire by adapting our services to best protect our clients, carers, volunteers and staff. Our Wellbeing Centres are open and staff teams are also providing support through phone, Skype and online provision. Please get in touch with us on 02037 273600 if you would like more information about our service provision or visit our websites (www.hertsmindnetwork.org and www.hertsmindnetworkcyp.org).
• Please note the Spot the Signs & Emotional Wellbeing project can also offer bespoke sessions that may have a cost to them. If the sessions on our Training & Workshops don’t meet your audiences need, get in touch and we can have a chat about how we can potentially meet the need you’ve identified in a particular school or area for example.
• The ‘Young people’s online hangout for YP aged 15+’ is currently no longer running as it was felt this met a need for young people who were unable to connect f2f during the lockdowns. Should a need for this service re-emerge, it’s likely we will reinstate this.

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Family Centre Service

You can view the Family Support Service leaflet for professionals here

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Watford, Three Rivers & Hertsmere

Update from Watford early help services:-

We are please to bring you the first edition of the Watford FC CSE Trust Health and Wellbeing Newsletter. This allows you to find out information about Watford FC Community programmes and how to refer in. Please share with your colleagues where necessary. If you require any further information on any of the programmes please don’t hesitate to contact the direct programme lead or email Healthadmin@Watfordfc.com.

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Employability Courses being run by Saracens Sports Foundation suitable for 16 - 25 year olds with learning difficulties and / or physical disabilities living in London & Hertfordshire.

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Caring Dads (HACRO)

Caring Dads actively taking referrals for the next Caring Dads courses in Watford. The course start date – January / February 22 – depending on the number of successful referrals. For more info please contact Caring Dads - HACRO email: caringdads@hacro.org.uk and referral form can be found here

We are also taking referrals for Dedicated Dads - the 6 x 1 hour virtual 1:1 course. This is not a replacement for Caring Dads but, for some dads, is the only way they can engage. There is currently a 2 month waiting list.

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Youth Link

Youth Link aims to work with various sectors in our local community to create connections to relevant and safe provisions for Children and Young People.

Find out more in these downloadable leaflets:-

Youth Link Information Sheet - CYP

Youth Link Information Sheet - Partners

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North Herts & Stevenage

Update from North Herts/Stevenage early help services:-

Mind in Mid Herts

Sopwell Peer Support (view poster)

This programme is part of Sopwell Wellbeing, a local initiative to help residents affected by the pandemic.  We are offering a range of services to provide emotional, social and practical community- based support to strengthen wellbeing.

Please click on the link below to find out more or email training@mindinmidherts.org.uk:

www.mindinmidherts.org.uk/mental-health-training-and-workshops/building-stronger-communities/

Walk and Talk groups (view poster)

Walking and being with nature holds many benefits for your mental health.  Evidence shows that regular exercise helps improve your mood, get a better night’s sleep, reduces stress and anxiety, increases your energy, improves your confidence and self-esteem.  Why not join our FREE Walk & Talk groups in St Albans (Mondays 1-2pm), Welwyn Garden City (Mondays 11am) and Baldock (Thursdays at 10.30am).

Happy Hour – Online talking group (view poster)

Happy memories; bring with you; pictures, items and memories from any time in your life, and tell us a story about it! Sing songs: Bring a song that has a positive memories or your favourite song and why, feel free to sing along.  Talk about people or animals you have encountered in your life that have influenced how you think, feel and are. You can bring pictures along to help share your story. Every Thursday at 2pm.  For more information contact tara.johnson@mindinmidherts.org.uk

LGBTQ plus group (View poster) – restarted after the pandemic

If you are part of the LGBTQ plus community in Hertfordshire and would like support with your #Wellbeing or are looking to connect with others, you can join our LGBTQ plus peer support group last Tuesday of every month 4-6pm in Stevenage.  Email admin@mindinmidherts.org.uk for more information.

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Wellbeing Drama for Young people - Aged 18 - 25? 

This FREE programme using theatre techniques is for those experiencing stress, anxiety, depression and anything else effecting their wellbeing. You don’t need any experience to take part, everyone is welcome from absolute beginners to the more experienced.  Starting Tuesday 1 February for 8 weeks 5.30 to 7.30pm at the Wellbeing Centre in Stevenage

Studies have shown that taking part in an arts activity has a positive influence on mental health and general wellbeing. It can increase self-esteem and confidence, reduce feelings of isolation and give those involved a sense of personal achievement.

The programme is being led by a professional Trestle artist and in partnership with Mind in Mid Herts. Each session will explore a combination of theatre and mask techniques.

Move for Mind

Show yourself and your neighbours some love this winter by joining our 30 day exercise challenge. Swim, walk, skip, dance...it call counts!

Mind in Mid Herts are supporting 40% more people than in previous years!  Please help us fund vital mental health services by doing our January fitness challenge. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/moveformindinmidherts

Mind in Mid Herts

Mind in Mid Herts are offering a mix of virtual and face-to-face support.  They offer one to one support, social support & friendship groups and active groups, including – Wellbeing group, Art group, Women’s group, football, Walk & Talk.  They have recently started Young People’s Counselling and a Befriending service.

Spectrum/CGL

Offer support for people with Drugs & Alcohol issues. 4 hubs – Stevenage & North Herts, Watford, Hatfield and Hertford.  Also have co-located teams that work across the county e.g. Young People’s team, Hidden Harm (young people effected by parental substance misuse), Criminal Justice team (working in prisons), Family Safeguarding team.  Back to face-to-face working with clients via groups and one-to-ones in the Hub.  For referrals Click here>

The For Baby’s Sake Trust

Trauma Insight Training will be rolled out from Monday 6^th December.  Two sessions will take place every month via the Safeguarding Children Partnership (lunch & learn events), this is supported by funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner to the Home Office domestic abuse perpetrator fund.  Funding has also been used to sustain and extend For Baby’s Sake services across Hertfordshire.

The Citizens Advice

The Stevenage Citizens Advice recently shared some data for Stevenage at the Families First Partnership Group and this presentation can be viewed here.

Please submit any updates to familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk