Family Support
Please take a look at the Early Help Directory for other services that may be able to provide support
Help at the Hubs
The new service in your area to help you. A FREE service to help all deal with the impact of COVID on jobs and finances and much more. Download the leaflet for more information and find your nearest hub information here.
Adult Education
Wakefield Adult Education Service, District Wide
For many people, the last few months have been difficult and we want you to know that we are here to support you. Your circumstances may have changed and you may need to improve your skills for work or you may feel that taking up a new hobby or meeting new people will help your health and wellbeing, whatever your situation we have a range of courses which may help. If you need advice on where to go or what to do, our Careers Guidance Officers can offer you dedicated 1-1 support across the district to help you gain the skills you need or to support you into work. Take a look at the Wakefield Adult Education Course Guide September 2020.
Wakefield Adult Education Service has further expanded its successful FREE online learning programme with 6 new online courses. Take a look at what is available here.
Pregnancy
Baby Buddy App
Baby Buddy App is our free multi-award winning, interactive pregnancy and parenting guide. Baby Buddy is also designed as an intervention to support the communication and work of front line practitioners. Further information available here.
Childcare information
Families Information Service.
Providing information on childcare throughout the Wakefield District and how some parents can access free childcare for their 2,3 & 4 year old children. They also provide information on parenting and relationships, recreational and play opportunities and much more. Find out more here.
Employment Advice
Princes Trust
We are pleased to announce we are running some more online employability & wellbeing sessions.
Eligibility: It is available to 16 - 30 year olds, living within Yorkshire and Humber.
Location: Sessions will be held on Microsoft Teams (app is free to download). We will email the meeting link out to young people and they access the session via the link.
Course information: Sessions will be held on a rolling weekly basis, with employability sessions on a Tuesday and Wellbeing sessions on a Thursday.
Please note it is NOT necessary to attend every session, young people can attend whichever sessions they would like to or would find most beneficial.
Employability sessions will cover topics including: employability skills, CV building, interview techniques and communication. Wellbeing sessions will cover topics including: resilience, confidence, money management and relationships. After the programme there is the option to have up to 6 months of mentoring with a Prince’s Trust Mentor.
For further information click here. Click for information on Health and Social care and retail opportunities in Leeds
PEAT Project
Offering support for adults with learning disabilities to access work or education. Check the flyer for more information, Use the postcode checker to see if you are eligible for support
Step Up
Wakefield’s Employment and Skills Service, each of our STEP-UP advisers are specialists in looking for and sustaining work, careers advice and guidance or business support. Further information can be found on their website.
Wakefield District Housing – Community Employment Advisors
Any tenants wishing to use our service can contact the Community Employment Team on 01977 788825 or email CommunityEmploymentAdvisors@wdh.co.uk. For further information take a look at the website.
Financial Support
Cashwise
Need help with benefits, managing money or cooking on a budget then get Cash Wise. This is a financial support service for everyone living in the district.
Citizens Advice Bureau
An independent, local charity which offers free, independent impartial advice to the citizens of the Wakefield district. Find more information on their website.
Christians Against Poverty's Debt Service in Wakefield
We continue to offer our free debt advice to all residents of Wakefield, covering every WF postcode (other than self employed).
Appointments can be made via our freephone number on 0800 328 0006 or visit https://capuk.org/i-want-help
Attached below is a copy of our leaflet, which explains our service. Appointments available at the Portobello Community Centre or over the phone.
https://capuk.org/downloads/cap_debt_help/weighed_down_by_debt.pdf
Family Support
Change, Grow, Live
If you want to change your direction, grow as a person, and live life to its full potential, we’re here to help you. We’re here for you if you need help with challenges including drugs or alcohol, trouble with housing, domestic abuse, or your mental and physical wellbeing. Our services are free and confidential. Here is the website for more details
Home-Start
Home-Start provides a service which is district wide and is open to parents of children up to the age of 11 years.
- Will work with parents, with low level needs, offering early intervention to overcome physical and emotional barriers to: accessing services, reducing social isolation, loneliness and social inactivity.
- Offer families opportunities for cooking together on a budget, to enhance skills and assist with budgeting.
- Inform, support and signpost children eligible for FSM to activities, services and resources, which lessen the impact of poverty on the family.
- Offer activities for families and children, and work with other partners to offer free or low cost, activities and opportunities.
- The core service will also train parents who wish to become peer support volunteers for other families in the district.
- This leads to an individual learning plan which can enhance a CV and demonstrate employability.
- Please take a look on their website here. Or find them on Facebook
Barnardo’s; See, Hear, Respond
Support for children adversely affected by lockdown/exposed to harm to receive support to prevent escalation of difficulties
Please find the referral portal here.
Families under pressure – Maudsley Charity
During this stressful and cooped-up time, don’t let the pressure of parenting get you down. Try these simple tips and tricks, formulated by researchers and NHS mental health experts, which are backed by science and proven to work with families.
Self support for children
Please take a look at our Children and Young People zone.
Health
Infant crying – advice for new parents
Infant crying is normal and it will stop! Babies start to cry more frequently from around 2 weeks of age.Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby and the crying will stop. Is the baby hungry, tired or in need of a nappy change?
It’s okay to walk away if you have checked the baby is safe and the crying is getting to you. After a few minutes when you are feeling calm, go back and check on the baby.
Never, ever shake or hurt a baby. It can cause lasting brain damage and death.
Some advice can be found in these short films. Support can be found via the website.
Wakefield 0 - 19 service
The 0 – 19 service are still very much here to support the health and wellbeing of everyone, in your family and continue to be available for breastfeed, weaning, bed wetting and child development and emotional difficulties.
The Team can be contacted on 01924 310130, Monday to Friday 9 till 5. Lots of information and support can be found on the website. Information about the teams current offer can be found here.
Housing
Energy & Homeowner Support
The Energy and Homeowner Support team have various schemes running throughout the year that could support you with the cost of heating and insulation improvements. For some schemes you may even qualify for the work to be completed free of charge. Each scheme will have different qualifying criteria so even if you have not been eligible before this may change with different schemes. There are various Energy and Homeowner support schemes listed here.
Including Interest free loans up to £7000 for home improvements, fully funded heating systems for those most vulnerable to the cold and fully funded gas central heating systems for those who do not have any central heating in their homes. For advice and tips on getting ready for winter take a look at the September newsletter.
Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP)
Offering local residents a FREE of charge service to help you save money and keep your home warm and cosy.
LEAP provides qualifying residents with:
- Energy advice, hints and tips
- Energy tariff checks and help with switching suppliers, which could save over £280 a year
- FREE simple low cost energy saving measures, which can save the average household £30 on their energy bills a year
Take a look at the leaflet for further in
formation.
Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing
Andy Man’s Club
A talking group which provides a place for men to come together in a safe environment to talk about issues/problems they be have faced or are currently facing. See the website for more information
Wakefield Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in Wakefield can talk to you about mental health concerns. If you’re a young person aged 16 to 17, a parent or carer of a child or young person, or a professional such as a GP, teacher or social care worker, you can get in touch now: www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/camhs-wakefield
Also available CAMHS a guide for young people, families and carers. Wakefield CAMHS have developed a resources area which has lots of information and downloadable workbooks, leaflets and materials to help support you, or your child.
Children and young people may understandably be concerned or worried by what they see, read or hear in the news, online or at school regarding coronavirus. There are ways in which you can support them to understand what is currently happening click here for some resources
Mental Health Support Line
This free 24/7 helpline provides mental health support for anyone registered with a GP in Kirklees, Calderdale, Wakefield and Barnsley.
The service supports people who are, At risk of developing mental health problems. Diagnosed with common mental health problems, Known to mental health services. Experiencing mental health distress orSeeking information, advice and support. The 24 hour, seven days a week telephone number is: FREEPHONE 0800 183 0558
Team Mate, Wakefield Trinity
Team Mate’ is a men’s mental fitness and well-being programme that will run on a weekly basis at the Mobile Rocket Stadium with specialist support from Turning point. The Team Mate programme using the power of rugby league will help break the stigma and challenges of mental health within males. Sessions will run on a Tuesday evening starting on 29th September and Friday mornings at the Mobile Rocket Stadium.
We would invite all men to contact us for further information and register to become one of our Team mates here at Wakefield Trinity by contacting james.stephenson@wakefieldtrinity.com For further information take a look at the website.
HealthWatch Wakefield
HealthWatch Wakefield have introduced a new dedicated mental health tab on their website. This page offers local and national places for support along with other news items and updates. Click here to visit their new page
Wakefield's Safe Space
Are you struggling with your mental health? Are you feeling isolated and alone? Do you need someone to talk to in confidence? We offer hope in a crisis. Our lines are open from 6pm till midnight, Fri – Sat, Zoom & Telephone support available call 07776962815. Click here for poster.
Well Women
Provides holistic, non-medical approach to women’s health and wellbeing through a range of services including counselling therapies, complementary therapy and wellbeing groups and courses. Self-referrals have now reopened. take a look at their website here.
Young Minds
Mental health support for children and young people, including a parent helpline. Take a look at their website.
Relationships
Coping with Stress and Drinking- Online course.
Coping with stress and drinking is a short online programme which parents can work through together to discuss what causes stress and arguments in their relationship, and learn skills for managing difficult situations more effectively. A series of animations, activities and short films bring to life real examples of what can cause stress at home, and what couples can do to cope better.
Safeguarding
Wakefield Safeguarding Children’s Partnership
Take a look at the parents & carers section for useful information about Early Help, CAMHS, bullying, E-safety, Mental Health and Wellbeing etc.
School Uniform & Clothing Support
Small Steps Uniform bank
We provide uniform for families in Wakefield district with a focus on Primary School age children. We can also help children at local Secondary schools, but this can take more time due to the demands for logos and sizing challenges as children grow. We provide all uniform completely free of charge. Take a look at our website for further information.
The Bag Fairies
Offering bags of help to those in need. So far we have helped 140+ families struggling to make ends meet, or escaping violence, or just coming off the streets and having to set up home. We offer help in supplying clothes, shoes, school uniform, bedding, curtains, towels, small kitchenalia which are all picked from donations of second hand clothing which are given to us by local residents and local organisations. No referral is needed. We help anyone who genuinely needs help. All we ask is that requests are made through our Facebook page. All requests must be picked up within 2 weeks or we have to put the package back into our stock as other families may need those items. We cannot collect or deliver. Find us on Facebook.
Stepping Stones Baby Bank
We are a non-profit organisation that aims to support families in Ossett, Horbury and surrounding areas with baby essentials to ensure that no child goes without. By doing this, we play our part in reducing landfill and encouraging sustainable living.
Take a look at their website or find them on Facebook.
Walk in Wardrobe, St George's Community Centre, Lupset
St George's are a locally focused independent charity recognised as a community anchor working to provide positive change in the Lupset area. The Walk in Wardrobe is one of many areas of support on offer providing free clothing, shoes, toiletries etc. Currently by appointment only.
Find them on Facebook, Twitter and on their website.
SEND
My Local Offer, Wakefield
Providing support and information for families with children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and/or a disability. Find out about activities and groups you can join in with here.
Wakefield Parent Carer Forum
The second edition of the Wakefield parent Carer newsletter can be found here.
Sleep Advice
The Lullaby Trust
The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families. Further information available on the website.
Youth
Wakefield Youth
We work with and for young people to fully prepare them for adulthood, equipped with the personal and social skills to be valued and engaged as citizens, capable of making positive choices and accessing opportunities. Take a look at the website.