Family Support
Playschemes
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Social Care Services
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Education Welfare Services
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Education Welfare Officers (EWOs) make sure that children attend school regularly and punctually and help families where this is a problem. EWOs are based in the Locality Teams. Please ring 0845 045 5203 in the first instance.
PSAs are based in Locality Teams and work with schools to support parents and to link with the schools’ own support and inclusion systems. PSAs can help parents and carers in a number of ways e.g.
- support over a child’s behaviour
- information about school matters
- home visits and “drop in” sessions
- access to parenting programmes
- finding other services to help
- opportunities to meet with other parents and carers through regular events.
Contact 0845 045 5203 in the first instance.
Contact Tracy Holliday on 01223 718435 or email tracy.holliday@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Relate offers advice, counselling, sex therapy, mediation, consultation and face-to-face support for people who are having relationship problems. The local office is at 3 Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge – phone 01223 357424. Website – www.relatecambridge.org.uk.
Family Learning offers opportunities for parents/carers and their children to learn together. Parents can update their own skills and in doing so, have a positive effect on raising their children’s achievements. To find out more about local courses and Family Learning Week events contact: Flora Sheringham, Family Learning Manager 01480 810020, email: flora.sheringham@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Romsey Mill is a Cambridge charity working with marginalized young people and families. Their main programmes are:
Transitions Helping young people move between primary and secondary schools.
Under Fives Comprehensive range of activities for young families.
Young Parents Intensive personal and parenting support to teenage parents.
Social Inclusion Supporting 13-20 year olds who are “hard to reach”, tackling anti-social behaviour and developing their social and practical skills.
Aspire Creating social space for young people on the autistic spectrum.
Romsey Mill is on the corner of Hemingford Road and Mill Road Cambridge. Phone 01223 213162 or website at www.romseymill.org.uk
Provides schooling for secondary age pupils who have been bullied or intimidated at a mainstream school. Tuition is one-to-one or in small groups and aims to boost the young person’s self-esteem by putting them in charge of their own learning. Students stay for varying lengths of time and are either reintegrated into their school or move to a new one. Phone 01223 357714 or visit www.redballoonlearner.co.uk
A national charity providing help for lone parents and their children. It organises events to make sure children aren’t excluded from activities and opportunities. The website (www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk) has factsheets and publications for downloading. Phone 0800 018 5206.
Parentline Plus have an anti-bullying helpline – 0808 800 2222. There is also the ACE helpline – 0808 800 5793. On the internet, go to www.direct.gov.uk and click on “Parents” then “Your Child’s Health and Safety” then “Common Parental Concerns”.
Helps divorced fathers to stay involved and active in supporting their children’s lives in ways which are responsible, safe and informed. Website is at www.dads-space.com
This website (www.dad.info) provides fathers with reliable and accessible information on health and other issues thus enabling them to become more involved in the lives of their children.
An online community (www.singleparents.org.uk) with information, advice and first-hand experiences to help single parents enjoy life.
A website – www.direct.gov.uk – covering a wide range of government information and services. The Parents section covers
- having a baby
- childcare
- preschool
- schools, learning and development
- adoption, fostering and children in care
- your child’s health and safety
- money and work entitlements
- parents’ and children’s rights
- crime and the legal system
- divorce, relationship breakdown and family courts
- family leisure and recreation.
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre has a website for parents and children – www.thinkuknow.co.uk.
If you are concerned that a child might be being abused or harmed in any way, please contact Social Care Services on 0845 045 5203 (01733 234724 out of office hours) or the NSPCC on 0800 800 500.
1. Cambridge
Cambridge City Council’s Housing Advice Team gives free specialist advice and assistance on all housing matters. Areas they can help with include
- looking for accommodation
- mortgage or rent arrears
- tenancy rights
- help for landlords
- advice for single young people
- relationship breakdowns
You can call in at their office (44 St Andrews Street Cambridge) or phone 01223 457934 or email housing-advice@cambridge.gov.uk.
YOUTH SERVICES
The Childrens and Young People’s Participation Service runs a wide variety of projects and activities for children and young people e.g.
• Scrapstore – source of recycled materials for young people to use in art, craft and play
• The Dec – mobile youth bus
• Girls With Attitude – weekly meetings with fun activities
• Royal T – young asian men’s group.
Full details on the website at www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/community-and-living/children-young-people
National Services
The “Guide for Parents and Carers” website at www.connexions-direct.com/parentcarer offers parents impartial advice on what services may be available locally for young people making decisions about their future learning and careers.
2byou provides support and friendship for young people who are discovering their sexuality. There are informal drop in groups for young lesbian, gay and bi-sexual people – phone 07808 189158. This is also the number for the confidential advice and support youth line. Website at www.2byouth.co.uk
JOBS, MONEY AND BENEFITS
A service, provided by Jobcentre Plus, helps parents in Cambridgeshire into work by linking then up with affordable childcare. Jobcentre Plus has Childcare Partnership Managers to identify the gaps and barriers in childcare provision that prevent parents from finding a job.
Visit the Jobcentre Plus website at: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk.
Contact: Linda Frost (Childcare Partnership Manager for Cambridgeshire and Suffolk Jobcentre Plus) – 01473 267814 or email: Linda.frost@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk.
The Department is responsible for a range of benefits and services to families including Child Benefit, Child Support Maintenance, Income Support and Disability Living Allowance. Their web site is at www.dwp.gov.uk
CABs provide information and advice on many matters, including benefits, debt, employment problems, housing problems, family law and divorce and consumer problems. They can also help with form filling, letter writing and representation at tribunals.
There are CABs at:
72-74 Newmarket Road, Cambridge (08448 487978, www.cambridgecab.org.uk).
CIAC offers advice relating to benefits, debt and employment issues. It is at 41 Mill Road, Cambridge – phone 01223 712222 email ciac@gn.apc.org
- behaviour difficulties
- family relationships
- keeping children safe
- general support and advice.
In the first instance, please telephone 0845 045 5203.