Family Support

Please take a look at the Early Help Directory for other services that may be able to provide support

#Wakefield Cares; Support & Advice for Families, Children and Young People

As England returns to a national lockdown, we've put together some useful resources to look after yourself while staying at home. Please take a look at the #WakefieldCares website or download the leaflet for information about support services at this time.

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.

Employment Advice

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.

Think Family Employment Advisors

Offering a range of practical employment support to families such as;

Attending accompanied home visits with Practitioners or meet families in a suitable location close to the family’s home, establish strong links with families to identify and overcome barriers to work
Supporting with benefit issues and queries
Promoting the benefits of employment by providing families with a direct employment advisory and support role using expertise of the local labour market, skills provision, and calculating better off in work calculations to demonstrate how much families may be able to receive when they have found work.
Supporting with creating a CV
Supporting and encouraging families to look for work using internet and completing employment application forms
Supporting families to enrol for suitable training available through Jobcentre Plus or other training providers
Working alongside Practitioners to reach the most appropriate outcome for the family

More information and referral contact details can be found on their newsletter.

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.

Income Related Free School Meals

Have your circumstance changed? Are you now entitled to Income related Free School Meals? Do you claim benefits? Check your eligibility and apply on line now using this link.

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

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

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.

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.

Young Minds

Mental health support for children and young people, including a parent helpline. Take a look at their website.

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.

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.

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.

YOUNG CARERS APP – We want your feedback & thoughts!

I'm excited to tell you that both the apple and android version of the Young Carers Support App is now live.

The free Young Carers Support App launched 16 March on Young Carers Action Day 2021. This first version is a collaboration between young carers, the West Yorkshire & Harrogate Partnership and Dr Knut Schroeder.

We are keen to gather feedback and hear the view of young carers and those colleagues who may be signposting young carers to the App. The feedback will inform and enable us to co-produce the final versions to be launched in May. The survey closes on the 16 April. Please could you share with your carers networks as appropriate please.

You can access the App here:

ANDROID https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.expertselfcare.youngcarers&gl=GB

APPLE https://apps.apple.com/us/app/young-carers-support-app/id1556955591

Alternatively you can search in the App store by typing Young Carers Support App (produced by Expert Self Care Ltd).

We would love to hear what young carers think and the team behind the app are happy to make changes to the content where needed.

The app development team would like to thank you for all your help and support in helping them to review the app. I hope that young carers will find this a useful resource!