Blog
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Our 10th Christmas Appeal
As we begin our efforts to bring happiness and joy to some of the most vulnerable children and families in our community, we are asking for donations using the QR codes found on our Appeal posters. We also have money collection tins at various locations in the community, and we are grateful for all the companies and businesses that support our cause. Our schools will be collecting donations of gifts for the children and young people from babies up to 19 years old, and we would like to thank every family, every child, and every staff member who continues to show kindness and love to others during the seasonal period in a time where all of us are feeling the pinch in our household budgets. Together we can make this a fabulous success; as you all have in previous years gone by.
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Wondering what’s on for Summer 2023? Watch this space
EBSA – Emotional-Based School Avoidance
Funded Parent/Carer information workshop event
Is your child feeling anxious about school?
Are you struggling to get your child to go to school and don’t know where to turn for help and advice?
Would you like to gain a better understanding of EBSA and learn strategies to support your child? If so, come and join us for an informal workshop/drop-in on EBSA
(Emotional-Based School Avoidance)
Come along, have a coffee and chat with a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, a Senior Family Support Worker and a SEND Lead
Venue: Wormley Primary School Community Building Cozens Lane East, Broxbourne, Herts. EN10 6QA
When: Wednesday the 14th June. Time: 12.30 – 2.30pm
Please ring to book a space on 01992 303331 Opt 5
Delivered by the HABS Family Support Team and Strength in Mind Mental Health provision Working in partnership with DSPL4
HOLIDAY SUMMER SPORTS CAMP 2023
When can I book?
Bookings for Summer HAPpy camps will go live at 12noon on Monday 26th June.
Where are camps being run?
Camps will be run all over Hertfordshire, so please use the filters in the activity finder above to search by location, child’s age, disability and date. If you have any questions about a specific camp, please contact the camp provider directly once the camp menu has been published on Monday 26th June. Information about camps will not be shared before this time.
How do I know if my child is eligible to attend a HAPpy Camp?
Children who are in school years Reception to Year 11, who attend a Hertfordshire school and are in receipt of benefits related free school meals are eligible to receive a code and attend HAPpy Camps. You can check your eligibility by clicking here. See website for more details.
WATER SPORTS SUMMER CAMP 2023
ESSA Water Activities Centre is a charity that is run by qualified volunteers, primarily for young people but can cater for adults too. We are able to provide taster sessions and courses in a RYA training centre, British Canoeing Delivery Partner, Approved Third Party Provider for the Combined Cadet Force and holds an AALA licence. We are situated on a 22 acre lagoon in Nazeing, set in the Lee Valley Country Park, adjacent to the River Lea and has easy access for river sessions; classed as B1 water. Call: 01992 447 989 or head to website for further activities and details/ prices. Water summer camp begins 17th July, sessions must be booked and paid for in advance. Water activities will start at 10am and finish at 4pm. Children may be dropped off from 9am and can be picked up anytime between 4pm and 5pm. Surround care must be organised in advance. Please contact the booking line if you would like surround care.
Please bring a packed lunch. We do have a small tuck shop if you would like to bring money for snacks.
All equipment is provided. Please bring a change of clothes, towel, suntan lotion, sunglasses and wet shoes.
Minimum age 8 years.
What is Healthy Start?
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.
If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. We’ll add your benefit to this card every 4 weeks.
To see if you are eligible and to apply click the link for the website here.
You can use your card to buy:
- plain liquid cow’s milk
- fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
- fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
- infant formula milk based on cow’s milk
You can also use your card to collect:
- Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old
https://www.hertsfamilycentres.org/events/whats-on-at-family-centres-in-hertfordshire.aspx#district
SUMMER COVER – FAMILY LIVES
As the summer holidays approach please let your staff and parents know that support is available from Family Lives national services during the holiday period as below.
We offer a confidential and free* helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously known as Parentline). Please call us on 0808 800 2222 for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. If you don’t get an answer first time please do try again. Helpline opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm. Weekends 10am to 3pm
Our online chat service is open on Monday between 1.30pm to 9pm, Tuesday to Friday between 10.30am to 9pm. You can contact us about any family or parenting issue. To start a chat, you can click on the ‘Live chat’ button when the service is available. Please note, the service is closed on weekends and bank holidays. Email: askus@familylives.org.uk about any parenting or family issue. Please note we are unable to respond to legal or medical issues, and we are not connected to social services.
Forum
Our forums are a safe space for parents to share dilemmas, experiences and issues with others who understand the ups and downs of family life. If you are concerned about a post or experiencing technical issues, you can email us.
https://www.facebook.com/FamilyLivesHertsandBeds
Youth projects in your area
We help young people with the issues that are important to them such as jobs, careers and education, relationships, sexual health, confidence, self-esteem, substance misuse, staying safe from exploitation, and independent living skills. Enabling young people to learn new skills, increase their knowledge and develop confidence, self-esteem and resilience.
For more information about SfYP including the local offer for young people and contact details for all the teams, please visit www.servicesforyoungpeople.org or email sfyp@hertfordshire.gov.uk
To contact individual teams:
sfyp.hertsmere@hertfordshire.gov.uk
sfyp.broxbourne@hertfordshire.gov.uk
sfyp.dacorum@hertfordshire.gov.uk
sfyp.eastherts@hertfordshire.gov.uk
sfyp.northherts@hertfordshire.gov.uk
sfyp.stalbans@hertfordshire.gov.uk
sfyp.stevenage@hertfordshire.gov.uk
sfyp.threerivers@hertfordshire.gov.uk
sfyp.watford@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Summer Reading Challenge 2023
Hertfordshire’s summer reading challenge will be back for 2023 with a new theme, watch this space for details when announced https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/Libraries-and-archives/news-and-campaigns/summer-reading-challenge.aspx
For more details visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/libraries , call 0300 123 4049
Follow us on www.facebook.com/hertslibraries
The Henry Online Healthy Families Programme is an early intervention supporting families with children under 5 years to adopt healthier lifestyles.
The programme is completely free for families and runs online for 1 hour each week over 8 weeks. Over the 8 weeks, we cover the following topics using a partnership approach which is strengths-based and solution-focused.
- Session 1: Let’s get started (what’s a healthy person? Goal setting)
- Session 2: Balancing acts (balance of foods and looking after self in terms of ‘me’ time)
- Session 3: Needs and demands- parenting strategies
- Session 4: Tuning into mealtimes- healthy habits
- Session 5: Time to be active
- Session 6: Eating Healthily- lunchboxes, Portions and food labels
- Session 7: Let’s focus on feelings (listening and empathy)
- Session 8: The way forward (celebrating what parents have achieved and handing out certificates)
Our Hertfordshire HENRY programmes will be starting the week commencing 24th April 2023 at the following sites:
- Tuesdays @ Broad Water Family Centre, Stevenage, 12:30 – 2:30pm
- Wednesdays @ Online, 12:30 – 1:30pm
- Wednesdays @ Online, 5:30 – 6:30pm
- Thursdays @ Grovehill Youth Centre, Hemel Hempstead, 10am – 12pm
Please also click here to download the referral form which includes information about families who are eligible for the programme.
To deliver community support services to people in need, in accordance with Hearts Helping Herts Constitution Objects.
“To promote social inclusion for the public benefit in particular but not exclusively by the provision of *SUPPORT SERVICES and SOCIAL GROUPS* to address food inequity, loneliness and social isolation amongst those living in the Borough of Broxbourne and the surrounding areas who are socially isolated as a result of their age, infirmity, ill-health, disability or social circumstance.
A SOCIAL GROUP PROJECT FOR PEOPLE EXCLUDED FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD DUE TO PHYSICAL AND/OR MENTAL ILL HEALTH.
We offer access to a warm welcoming group surrounded by the beauty of nature in Cedars Park to support loneliness, depression, anxiety, and other common mental disorders – with opportunities to meet new friends in the community.
HOW SOCIALISING IN NATURE CAN BENEFIT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING?
Our Meeting of Minds Social Group takes place in nature (Cedars Park) to help:
> Improve your mood
> Reduce feelings of stress and anger
> Help people to take time out and feel more relaxed
> Improve physical health
> Improve confidence and self-esteem
> Reduce loneliness
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1 in 4 people will experience poor mental health each year in England (www.mind.org.uk).
We are passionate advocates for change here, therefore, we deliver the Meeting of Minds Craft Café to empower our residents with the hope of shifting attitudes that create stigma and discrimination around poor mental health-related illnesses!
- delivered 15 counselling sessions this week to our secondary schools.
- presented a Mental Health networking event
- given out £200 of funding for essential items
- provided a new fridge, freezer, washing machine to a single Mum. Plus essential household items for her and her son.
- supported 24 families with support.
- placed another counsellor in one of our schools offering free therapy
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information
Current guidance from Public Health England
Current advice is that those who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) should take particular care to follow social distancing measures. This group of people includes those who, for example, are:
- aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
- under 70 with an underlying health condition (i.e. anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds)
- pregnant
This is not an exhaustive list.
Hands. Face. Space.
There are three simple actions we must all do to keep on protecting each other.
- Wash hands – keep washing your hands regularly
- Cover face – wear a face covering in enclosed spaces
- Make space – stay at least a metre apart
What to do if you have symptoms
Book a test if you have one of the following symptoms:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
To book a test, visit Gov.uk.
How long to stay at home
Guidance on how long you need to self-isolate for depending on different circumstances can be found on the NHS website.
