COMMUNITY AND PARENTAL SUPPORT
Our Mental Health and Wellbeing lead is Mrs Caroline Phillipson and our Deputy Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead is Mrs Emma Woollon.
LOCAL FOOD HUBS
With financial belts beginning to squeeze that bit tighter, please see attached an updated list of local food hubs. If you would like any further information or support, please do not hesitate to pop in and talk to us.
| List of Local Food Hubs |
HITCHIN FOOD PROVISION
Hitchin Food Provision are continuing to support families with supermarket vouchers.
Please find attached the updated flyer which has the criteria and contact email details. The application form(formally referral) is also attached for your ease of reference.
CRITERIA
Please find attached the updated flyer which has the criteria and contact email details. The application form(formally referral) is also attached for your ease of reference.
CRITERIA
- For families with children living in Hitchin NOT in receipt of Universal Credits/benefits.
- Families who have been impacted by furlough, loss of employment or reduction in hours
- Families who are self-employed and cannot claim from the Governments self-employed income support scheme
| Hitchin Food Provision Application Form |
| Hitchin Food Provision flyer |
May half term activities
Please find the holiday activity summary for May half term. Further details and any flyers can also be found on the Hitchin Partnership website.
| Holiday Activities May Half Term 2022 Hitchin |
| May Half Term 2022 Activity Summary |
PASTORAL SUPPORT FORM
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If you are worried about your child beyond their learning and would like to discuss it to see what support is available, please complete the form.
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SEND Advice Line
Please see flyer for details on the SEND advice telephone line.
| SEND Advice Line Jan 2022 |
message from the police about e-scooters
| E-Scooter Flyer |
COMMUNITY DROP-IN SESSIONS
Good news! Settle will be restarting their drop-in sessions at Westmill Community Centre for all your housing queries every Wednesday from Wednesday 29th September between 9am and 1pm.
We are waiting to hear if Citizens Advice and the Healthy Hub will also be joining them for drop-ins; I will let you know as soon as I hear back - watch this space!
You may also be interested to know that Citizens Advice are now open again at Thomas Bellamy House (by Waitrose) on Thursday mornings, 9.30-12 (mainly pre-booked appointments but will triage anyone dropping in). Support via phone/ email/ video chat etc. is still available.
With the above services beginning to return, hopefully things are beginning to get back to normal.
We are waiting to hear if Citizens Advice and the Healthy Hub will also be joining them for drop-ins; I will let you know as soon as I hear back - watch this space!
You may also be interested to know that Citizens Advice are now open again at Thomas Bellamy House (by Waitrose) on Thursday mornings, 9.30-12 (mainly pre-booked appointments but will triage anyone dropping in). Support via phone/ email/ video chat etc. is still available.
With the above services beginning to return, hopefully things are beginning to get back to normal.
families first information
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Please see a promotional e-card* for the Families First** portal*** which is a source of help and advice for families across Hertfordshire.
For those of you lost with the terms above (understandably!), please see glossary below for ease of reference: * e-card - basically a poster **Families First - Hertfordshire's name for 'Early Help' *** portal - website/web page providing access or links to other sites |
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john barker place redevelopment update
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Please see the latest update from Settle.
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HERTFORDSHIRE LIBRARY SERVICE
Hertfordshire Libraries (https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/Libraries-and-archives/Libraries-and-archives.aspx) are offering their Ready Reads service and the BorrowBox app so children can still request books to help them escape to other worlds and read for pleasure (always good to support positive mental health). Children can also request books to help with their hobbies or to develop a new interest.
Sometimes children and young people need extra support to understand and talk through their feelings and worries. Hertfordshire Libraries stock a range of books in their Shelf Help collections to help children and young people explore their emotions and find some guidance for managing their feelings and fears.
And don’t forget, the library also stocks newspapers and magazines and a limitless range of books for adults too.
With access to such a wealth of books for free, why not take advantage and curl up for a good read!
Sometimes children and young people need extra support to understand and talk through their feelings and worries. Hertfordshire Libraries stock a range of books in their Shelf Help collections to help children and young people explore their emotions and find some guidance for managing their feelings and fears.
And don’t forget, the library also stocks newspapers and magazines and a limitless range of books for adults too.
With access to such a wealth of books for free, why not take advantage and curl up for a good read!
USEFUL CONTACTS
.Please click here for a directory of useful contacts including School Nursing Service, Single Point of Access Mental Health Team, CAMHS Crisis Service, Healthy Hub, Families First Portal, Citizens Advice, Mental Health Helpline, Safer Places Domestic Abuse Service, Samaritans
HITCHIN FOOD prOVISION
Please find attached an updated Food Provision flyer. The Food Provision Team are continuing to provide emergency financial support on a monthly basis. Please note the following criteria:
- Been furloughed, become unemployed, self-employed and not able to work or have significantly reduced hours as a result of Covid-19 lockdown.
- Living in Hitchin or surrounding Hitchin village.
- Have applied for Universal Credits as a result of unexpected changes in employment and are waiting for first payment.
- This provision is possible due to grants, local organisations and charities and public donations.
- If you have any questions or are finding things tricky, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Woollon.
- Supermarket e-vouchers are issued monthly through self-referral.
- Please note there is a Food Provision email : foodprovision-hitchin@wilshere.herts.sch.uk
. Please also be aware that, even if we are not able to meet with parents directly at this time, we are still here for you. If you are struggling financially, please do come and see us, as we might be able to help or can certainly signpost to someone who might. To contact Mrs Woollon, please ring or email the office, or catch her at the school gate.
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FAMILY SUPPORT RESOURCES
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This file contains information about local Family Support Resources.
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coffee morning
As those of you have previously been part of our community will know, Mrs Phillipson and/or Mrs Woollon have held an informal coffee morning once a month where Parents/Carers have had a chance to unwind and chat after the morning drop-off with a theme sometimes thrown in for good measure! Given the current situation of not being able to have any visitors inside school, we have been puzzling over how we can carry these on without putting anyone at risk. With this in mind, we are reaching out to you, as Parents/Carer to see if anyone has any ideas! We would welcome any suggestions, so please do get in touch via the school office, phone or in person, or at the Moss Way gate.
nursing service
| Nursing Service 5.5.20 |
operation encompass
| Operation Encompass Poster |
| Operation Encompass Letter |
community provision
This flyer tells you about free counselling for parents and families.
| Community Provision Launch |
cOURSES, FORUMS AND WEBINARS
Below are a letter and a flyer about online parenting courses.
Below you will find details of a webinar you can access which gives helpful support for parents of school age children.
| Webinar information |
food rescue hub
Hitchin Food Rescue Hub is back open now! If you have visited before, you may find there have been a few changes as The Hub is now operating under a more "grab and go" concept, due to social distancing. They have also changed location and added a new venue/day. Please see below for more details:
- Half Moon Pub, Sun Street, Hitchin, Thursdays from 9.30-11.30am
- Our Mutual Friend Pub, Broadwater, Stevenage, every Saturday morning 10am - 11.30am
Please also note that some limitations have been introduced - visitors can have two bags only at this time (one for fresh produce and fruit and the other for anything else they have got) and they request a donation of £5.
- Half Moon Pub, Sun Street, Hitchin, Thursdays from 9.30-11.30am
- Our Mutual Friend Pub, Broadwater, Stevenage, every Saturday morning 10am - 11.30am
Please also note that some limitations have been introduced - visitors can have two bags only at this time (one for fresh produce and fruit and the other for anything else they have got) and they request a donation of £5.
BEST BEFORE KITCHEN
The Family Centre are pleased to confirm that the Best Before Café will continue at Oughton Family Centre every Friday.. Families will be able to access foods destined to go to landfill, which are past their best-before dates but are still suitable to be eaten.
Oughton Family Centre will be holding this each Friday morning in the new year and would like to offer it to families in need in the local area first.
Food will be available between 9.45-11.30am without charge - just pop along *. Don't forget to bring your own carrier bags.
* On first visit, you will need to complete their registration form but this can be done when you arrive.
Oughton Family Centre will be holding this each Friday morning in the new year and would like to offer it to families in need in the local area first.
Food will be available between 9.45-11.30am without charge - just pop along *. Don't forget to bring your own carrier bags.
* On first visit, you will need to complete their registration form but this can be done when you arrive.
FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR PARENTS
health newsletters
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SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army in Letchworth provide the LETCHWORTH ARK COMMUNITY DROP-IN every Thursday from 9.30 - 11.30am. This is a community drop-in providing practical and emotional support. They can also provide basic things most people take for granted: warm clothes, bedding, personal items and a hot meal and a chat.
If clients require professional advice or help, Salvation Army can support and signpost as necessary.
Please contact 01462 677263 for more information.
They also have Employment Plus attending the drop-in every other week - see poster.
If clients require professional advice or help, Salvation Army can support and signpost as necessary.
Please contact 01462 677263 for more information.
They also have Employment Plus attending the drop-in every other week - see poster.
| Employment Plus Poster |
useful support links
| Parental Support |
HITCHIN PARTNERSHIP
Hitchin Partnership provides a family support service to schools in Hitchin and the surrounding villages. They work alongside families giving practical support and user friendly parenting strategies.