Let’s face it, this year has been full of challenges and changes and we are not out of the woods yet. We thought it might be helpful for you to have a range of young peoples support and helpline information available to help with exam stress, next steps, back to school worries, anxiety and mental health issues, embarrassing problems, weird questions, and please-don’t-make-me-say-it-out-loud thoughts that young people may have!

Childline – Helpline: 0800 1111

childline.org.uk

Coping with exam results

Back to school time

ChildLine is a counselling service for children and young people.  You can contact ChildLine in these ways:  You can phone  on 0800 1111, send us an email, have a 1-2-1 chat with us, send a message to Ask Sam and you can post messages to the ChildLine message boards.

The Mix – Helpline:  0808 808 4994

themix.org.uk

Coping with anxiety about school and exams

Whether you’re 13, 25, or any age in between, we’re here to take on the embarrassing problems, weird questions, and please-don’t-make-me-say-it-out-loud thoughts you have. We give you the information and support you need to deal with it all.  We’ll connect you to experts and your peers who’ll give you the support and tools you need to take on any challenge you’re facing – for everything from homelessness to finding a job, from money to mental health, from break-ups to drugs.  We’re a free and confidential multi-channel service. That means that you choose how you access our support, without the worry of anyone else finding out. Whether it be through our articles and video content online or our phone, email, peer to peer and counselling services – we put the control in your hands.

Young Minds  – Parent’s Helpline:  0808 802 5544

youngminds.org.uk

Supporting a child returning to school after lockdown

National charity committed to improving the mental health of all children and young people, their Parents Information Service provides information and advice for any adult with concerns about a child or young person.

Youth Access

youthaccess.org.uk

YIACS provides a holistic response to young people’s social, emotional and mental health needs through a range of services provided ‘under one roof’, including social welfare advice, advocacy, counselling, health clinics, community education and personal support. Our members respond to over one million enquiries a year on a diverse range of issues, including homelessness, benefits, debt, mental health, sexual health and relationships.

Kooth.com

kooth.com

Kooth.com is an online counselling service that provides vulnerable young people, between the ages of 11 and 25, with advice and support for emotional or mental health problems.  Kooth.com offers users a free, confidential, safe and anonymous way to access help.

Student Minds

studentminds.org.uk

​Student Minds is the UK’s student mental health charity. We empower students with the knowledge, confidence and skills to look after their own mental health and support others through our national network of university groups.

Students Against Depression

studentsagainstdepression.org 

I feel anxious

Students Against Depression provides you with the resources you need to find a way forward from stress, low mood, depression or suicidal thinking.

Nightline

nightline.ac.uk

Find My Nightline

Nightlines provide emotional support to university students in distress. Now operating at over 90 universities and colleges, each individual Nightline is run by students for students at their university.  Nightline is confidential and anonymous;.

Papyrus – HOPELINEUK – 0800 068 4141

papyrus-uk.org

I’m worried about someone

Support for anyone under 35 experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person may be experiencing thoughts of suicide.

The Samaritans – Call 116 123

samaritans.org

Whatever you’re going through, we’re here to help 24 hours a day.  We won’t judge you and we won’t share what you tell us with anyone else.  Get in touch by telephone, email, letter and face to face in the UK and Ireland.

No Panic

nopanic.org.uk

Youth Hub

Aims are to aid the relief and rehabilitation of those people suffering from Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, other related Anxiety Disorders, including Tranquilliser & Drug Withdrawal, and to provide support to sufferers and their families and or carers.

 Smiling Mind App

Smiling Mind offers a unique web and app-based tool developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance to people’s lives.  Just as we eat well and stay fit to keep our body healthy, mindfulness meditation is about mental health and looking after the mind.

Other links you may find useful

https://www.studentminds.org.uk/

https://www.mrsmactivity.co.uk/top-tips-for-returning-to-school-after-lockdown/

https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/supporting-a-child-returning-to-school-after-lockdown/

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus/returning-school-after-lockdown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNTHB_zWGdA

https://www.youthaccess.org.uk/covid-19-resource-hub/covid-19-resource-hub

The Arts of Change Trust provides counselling and therapy services to disadvantaged and at-risk young people and adults, the main aim being to support people that face barriers to accessing mainstream provision. The Trust helps children, young people, adults, and families by providing counselling and creative art therapies including drama therapy, play therapy and art therapy, all delivered by professionally qualified experienced therapists.

The AoC Trust will be offering up to 6 FREE Counselling & Therapy sessions to people in the West Midlands who have directly been affected by Covid-19. This includes NHS staff, key workers, those that have lost loved ones due to the virus or who have felt trapped during the pandemic.

The sessions can be held in multiple ways including face to face, telephone or Zoom video calls. The work is in association with The Big Lottery Fund who have given them a grant to support those in need

If you or someone you know needs their support then please get in touch on 01384 211 168 or email – support@theaoc.org.uk

Barnardo’s have a new service for children, young people, parents and carers who are experiencing crisis due to COVID 19.  If you are worried about a child or young person experiencing harm and increased adversity or are looking for advice and help there are 2 ways to access the service.  Submit a referral through their website www.barnardos.org.uk/see-hear-respond or contact them on 0800 157 7015.

Dudley CVS has been asked to lead on co-ordinating the community response to COVID-19 in Dudley borough, working with existing voluntary and community groups and the volunteer centre and connecting people that need support to assets in their local community.

Get involved and be part of this…

Organisations and groups:

If your organisation or group would like to be part of a virtual COVID-19 Support Network (more details below) to explore options for mobilising local support for vulnerable people, please complete and return this form via email to admin@dudleycvs.org.uk .

Individual volunteer:

If you are interested in registering as an individual volunteer to help support local vulnerable people, please complete and return this form via email to admin@dudleycvs.org.uk ..

Dudley CVS will be:

• Co-ordinating community action – The Dudley borough is well blessed with active voluntary, community and faith based organisations and volunteers that will be developing plans to support vulnerable people in localities. There will be an additional groundswell of local people wanting to play a role in supporting COVID-19 efforts. Dudley CVS will look to harness this support in a safe and effective manner ensuring efforts are well co-ordinated and duplication is minimised.
• Explore the establishment of six new virtual COVID-19 Support Networks, one in each of the following localities. Sedgley, Coseley and Gornal, Dudley and Netherton, Kingswinford and Amblecote, Brierley Hill, Stourbridge, Wollescote and Lye and Halesowen and Quarry Bank. We envisage these will involve colleagues from DMBC, the Police, voluntary sector organisations and groups, Fire Service, NHS and other colleagues. These will explore options for mobilising sector support for vulnerable and excluded groups.

• Providing information and key messages to local voluntary, community and faith based organisations about COVID-19 and understanding from them what assistance they need to continue to provide support particularly to vulnerable groups.

Dudley CVS is co-ordinating local COVID-19 efforts to help establish six COVID-19 Support Networks for each of the following geographical localities:

During August 2019 Dudley CVS Children’s, Young People and Families Team engaged 88 young people both male and female aged between 11 and 18 in conversations about feeling safe. To find out more about what they had to say read the report attached.

Youth Violence Reduction Strategy – 01 (002)

Here4YOUth info

We’re doing a consultation at Switch around Vaping and e-cig use, and are interested in the views of young people.  Hoping you might point any young people that may be interested in sharing their experiences in the direction of this questionnaire.

It can be printed off, or web based.  We have also posted it to Switch Dudley Facebook Page if Young People want to access if via the link there.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FGWFYLC

Also as a reminder Switch continue to offer smoking cessation to young people up to 18 years of age, if not accessed through school nurses.

FREE Modern Slavery Training
Safe and Sound invite you to attend FREE training sessions on Modern Slavery.

There are 2 ‘tiers’ to the training, information is below regarding which one you should attend depending on your role:

The 1 hour awareness session, is suitable for anybody in our partner organisations within the Dudley Borough, including the community, voluntary, faith and business sectors, who wants to gain a  basic understanding of modern slavery and human trafficking and where you should report if you have concerns
Aim: To provide a basic awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking

By the end of the session delegates will:

• Have a basic awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking
• Be able to explain the different types of modern slavery
• Know who to contact if you come into contact with a potential victim of modern slavery

To book your place please follow this link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/modern-slavery-briefing-session-tickets-66189286939 

The 3 hour training session is open to our partner organisations, within the Dudley Borough, including the community, voluntary, faith and business sectors.

This course is recommended for staff that may work with individuals and families but will refer any concerns to the MASH.

(This will also include Specialists / Designated leads who have particular specialist safeguarding responsibilities. Operational managers of services for members of the public including children, young people, families and vulnerable adults. Senior Managers responsible for strategic management of services for members of the public including; children, young people, families and vulnerable adults, Directors of Services and commissioners)

Aim: To raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking and highlight appropriate responses to potential victims

By the end of the course delegates will:

• Understand how you can contribute to fighting modern slavery in the UK
• Understand your role and responsibilities in tackling modern slavery
• Understand what support is available for modern slavery victims and
• Know where to refer potential victims and share intelligence

To book your place please follow these links

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/modern-slavery-training-session-tickets-66189736283

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/modern-slavery-training-session-central-dudley-tickets-66190815511