Children and Young People

Healthier Together

The Healthier Together programme relies upon patients and healthcare professionals working together to improve how local healthcare is delivered.

The website provides advice for parents, young people and pregnant women, and clinical resources to support healthcare professionals – which means that your child is likely to receive consistently high-quality care, irrespective of which healthcare professional they see.

Website: www.what0-18.nhs.uk

Available Health For Teens In Need Of Support

For advice and support, please see the below document.

Available Health For Teens In Need Of Support Information 

Classroom Accommodations for Kids with Sensory Issues

Most kids with mild sensory problems and no other issues do just fine learning and socializing at school with a bit of understanding, extra support, a sensory diet, and a few simple accommodations. You may be able to work this out informally with your child’s school. However, a child with sensory processing disorder (SPD) may need more help to thrive in the classroom and elsewhere at school (the cafeteria, gym, art class, etc.).

Keech Hospice Care

Do you have a child with a life limiting condition. Call 0800 035 6497 (free advice line for specialist support). Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Website: www.keech.org.uk

FUTUREHope

FUTUREhope is a free, confidential service working holistically with young people aged 11-19 across Hertford and Ware. Their primary goal is to empower young people to have hope for their future and reach their full potential through their four key areas of work: outreach, education, support and development. 

Website: www.future-hope.org.uk

Hertfordshire Student's Union

A charity run by students, for students. The charity provides information for students on things such as events, jobs, representation as well as support and advice services.

Website: www.hertfordshire.su

Supporting You

Supporting You is a 7-week programme which equips young people with the tools to help themselves to strengthen their resilience and emotional well-being. The programme is suitable for young people that are aged 11-17 and beginning to exhibit behaviours or suggest themselves that they are starting to be affected by low mood, stress or anxiety such that it is beginning to interfere with the enjoyment of life and normal activities. They must have no current intervention or support in place from any other agency for emotional wellbeing or mental health issues, they do not meet the criteria for a CAMHS referral and are able to commit to attending a 7 week Supporting You programme in their local area. 

The Youth Booth

This is a small charity which funds a range of projects for young people in Hemel Hempstead. The projects include youth clubs for children which offer a variety of activities.

Website: www.theyouthbooth.com

Tilehouse Counselling

Tilehouse Counselling is a charity that provides professional counselling and therapeutic group work for adults and young people (13-19). They work from their base in Hitchin where they have six comfortable counselling rooms. They also offer some appointments for young people at the Stevenage One Stop Shop and Roysia Surgery, Royston. 

Website: www.tilehouse.org

YC Herts

YC Hertfordshire provides youth work projects and programmes, information, advice, guidance, work related learning, outdoor education and support for young people. YC Herts can help young people with the issues which are important to them such as jobs, careers and education, relationships, sexual health, confidence, self-esteem, substance misuse, staying safe, housing and independent living skills. 

Website: www.ychertfordshire.org

Young Pride in Herts

Young Pride in Herts offers support, info and advice to the young LGBTQ community and those who may be struggling with their sexuality or gender, in Hertfordshire. If you need support, want to get involved in changing services in the county or are a friend/parent or carer who needs advice, please contact them through their contact page.

Website: www.youngprideinherts.org

Berkhamsted Town Hall Tots

A warm and friendly drop-in playgroup for under fours. Crafts, free play, snacks, singing, and tea and coffee for the grown ups.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TownHallTots

Email: townhalltots@gmail.com

Contact for families with disabled children

Contact support families with the best possible guidance and information. For every shape and size of family, whatever they need and whatever their child’s disability.

Telephone: 0808 808 3555

Facebook: @contactfamilies

Twitter: @contactfamilies

Website: www.contact.org.uk

Email: info@contact.org.uk

How To Calm A Child With Autism

Techniques for avoiding and managing meltdowns.

Website: www.verywellhealth.com

Treating Sensory Processing Issues

Specialized gyms help over-sensitive (or under-sensitive) kids.

Website: www.childmind.org

Estate Planning for Parents of Children with Autism

As people grow older, especially parents, they begin to think about the future, and how their children will be provided for after they’re gone. For parents of children without developmental disabilities, this is easier, as those children can typically provide for themselves.

Website: www.justgreatlawyers.com

NESSie

NESSie provides arts therapies and counselling to support children and young people with positive mental health in schools and educational settings across North Hertfordshire and Stevenage. NESSie provides a wraparound service delivery model to ensure children and young people are accessing the right level support to meet individual needs. 

Website: www.nessieeducation.com

Vaccination planner

Download a personalised vaccination calendar, which highlights the dates your child needs to have their vaccinations by.

Website: NHS: Vaccination Schedule

Looking After Your Mental Health And Wellbeing During Coronavirus

For support, advice and information about looking after your Mental Health and Wellbeing during the Coronavirus, please read the below document.

Looking After Your Mental Health And Wellbeing During Coronavirus Information

Beezee Bodies: Free Courses to Help your Family be Healthier

Beezee Bodies run free, fun, family-focused courses to help you and your children make healthy habits for life!

Website: beezeebodies.com/for-families

Moving with Special Needs Kids

Moving is at once stressful and exciting. When you are moving with children, you face a number of considerations that others don’t have to face. When you add a special needs child to the mix, you have a lengthy list of addition things you have to do to make the transition as smooth as possible. Here are some tips to help you with the moving process, ensuring that your child’s needs are met throughout it.

Website:www.yourstoragefinder.com

Childhood illness visual guide

Use this visual guide to help you identify common conditions and illnesses that may affect your child. Includes conditions such as measles, slapped cheek syndrome, chicken pox and warts.

Website: NHS: Visual Guide for Childhood illnesses

Hertfordshire Charity for Deprived Children

A Hertfordshire Charity for Deprived Children awards small grants to children living in the administrative county of Hertfordshire who are facing difficulties that compromise their well-being and self-worth.

Website: www.mgtact0.wixsite.com

National Citizen Service Programme

National Citizen Service (NCS) supports 15-17 year-old’s to learn new skills, gain exciting new experiences and contribute to their local communities. It is run locally by highly experienced organisations who have been carefully selected for the outstanding work they do with young people. 

Website: www.ncsyes.co.uk

The Boys Brigade

The Boys’ Brigade engages with over 50,000 children and young people providing opportunities to meet together in their communities and engage in a range of fun and developmental activities. They believe that empowering children and young people is important and do this by involving them in decision making at all levels of the Boys Brigade and giving responsibility appropriate to their age and aptitude. 

Website: www.boys-brigade.org.uk

 

Thirst Youth Cafe - Bishop Stortford

They believe that in order to influence or change something you first need to engage with it. Therefore, in order to engage the young people of Bishop’s Stortford they look to use Thirst Youth Café as a place for Young People to build strong and trustworthy relationships with positive and responsible role models.

Website: www.thirstcafe.com

YCT

YCT is a counselling and therapeutic support charity. They specialise in supporting children and young people aged 5 – 25 years, their families and the professionals who work with them. YCT work from community venues and schools, academies, colleges, alternative education provisions and specialist schools across Essex, Hertfordshire and Greater London. 

Website: www.yctsupport.com

CHIPS Playscheme

Children’s Integrated Playschemes (CHIPS) offer play and social opportunities for children with additional needs aged 3 to 19 living in East Hertfordshire and the Borough of Broxbourne. Brothers and sisters are strongly encouraged to join as they believe that all children should play together, regardless of their needs.

Website: www.chipsplay.org

Youth Talk

A confidential counselling service for young people aged 13-25 who live, work or receive education in St Albans and the surrounding district.

Website: www.youthtalk.org.uk

Who not What

Who not What is a group of young people who have come together to represent the voice of the young lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and questioning community of Hertfordshire. They are looking at services available throughout the county and will be working towards improving these services for young LGBTQ people aged 13-24 who live, work or are educated in the county. They conduct regular consultations to hear the views and opinions of young LGBTQ people aged 13–24 who live, work or are educated in the county.

Website: www.ychertfordshire.org/youth-work/young-peoples-democracy/who-not-what

PALMS (HCT)

PALMS (Positive behaviour, Autism, Learning disability and Mental health Service) works across the county providing a specialist multi-disciplinary approach to children and young people aged 0-19 who have a global learning disability and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorder and their families. PALMS clinicians comprise a ‘virtual team’ delivering a consistent service in a variety of community settings.

Website: www.hct.nhs.uk

How to Create a Safe, Sensory-Friendly Backyard Landscape for Your Child With Special Needs

Playing outside is one of the greatest joys of childhood. Stepping out the back door into sunlight, fresh air, and freedom can provide a feeling of liberation unlike any other. There are extra considerations when your child has special needs, but time outside still can offer tremendous therapeutic benefits, especially for children with autism or similar conditions that may keep them confined indoors in highly structured, climate-controlled environments for most of the day.

Website: www.wikilawn.com

Playskill

Playskill is a local charity that runs parent and child term-time groups for pre-school children with special physical needs. Groups are run by a skilled team, including a Paediatric Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Speech and Language Therapist. They are based in Watford and Hemel Hempstead and welcome interest from all local areas, including Three Rivers, Dacorum, St. Albans and Bushey. If you are local, but outside of these areas, please do contact them to confirm whether you are within their radius. 

Website: www.playskill.org

Potential Kids

Potential Kids is voluntary non-profit organisation based in Hatfield, aiming to help young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities up to age 25, their siblings and families by providing social/activity groups. They offer after-school and weekend activity sessions for young people aged with special education needs and disabilities. These also give parents the opportunity to meet, relax, have a coffee and some downtime, whilst their young people socialise, learn and play.

Wesbite: www.potentialkids.org

Vista St Albans

St Albans Plus and Vista can provide a Counsellor to support a child or young person aged between 5 and 19 years regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation. The counselling sessions enable them to explore their feelings in a secure environment and enable them to move past their problems and build firm foundations for a secure future. 

Website: www.vistastalbans.org.uk/children