Useful Information

Click Here for the Targeted Short Breaks Newsletter

Southwark Parenting Service

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Southwark Local Offer - Strategy for Young People 0-25 Years with SEN and Disabilities

Southwark Council published a strategy for young people aged 0 to 25 years with special educational needs and disabilities in September 2022.

You can join the Southwark Strategy in Action online event and see a range of videos and presentations which will provide you with a snapshot of some of the work being done across a range of services and organisations

Visit Southwark Council's [localoffer.southwark.gov.uk] Local Offer pages to watch the videos each day this week.

Southwark have published helpful advice and information on the cost of living crisis - more details can be found here. 

The latest 'Cost of Living Support' newsletter can be found here. 

Heart N Soul run activities for children and young people with autism and other disabilities.  Find out about their latest activites here.

Southwark Council have a new ‘digital’ hub. The hub can be accessed at here (the website has been designed with smart phones in mind so the best user experience is when accessing it from a phone).

The aim of the website is to enable young people and families to find comprehensive, easy to navigate and up to date information about what youth related activities and services are available in the local area. More information can be found here.

For advice and organisations to help you, and your family save money, and listings of cheap or free activities - click here. 

Gendered Intelligence

  • Support group: Gendered Intelligence offers support for parents and carers of young trans, non-binary, gender diverse and questioning young people and children. Their groups for parents and carers take place twice a month. Coming to a group is a great opportunity to meet other parents and carers who understand your situation, share stories and advice and make friends. The parents and carers group are facilitated by an experienced member of the GI team. - Link
  • Parents and carers sessions: GI provide half day (3 hour) trans awareness sessions enabling parents and carers to broaden their understanding of young trans people’s experiences. The session is based around interactive exercises, encouraging participants to get involved in thinking through what gender means to us all and how you can better support your child / young person. GI will create a structured, but informal space for you to explore the topics and to ask questions. - Link

Resources for families

1:1 Support for Parents of LGBTQ+ Children: Free2Be work with parents and family members at all different stages of their journey - whether your child has just come out and you’re feeling confused or shocked, or whether your child is now an adult and has been out for years and you’d just like to meet other rainbow families

Proud Parents - Supporting Parents of Trans and Gender Variant Children: Free2B delivers a monthly support group for parents of trans and gender variant children. The group aims to support common parenting themes and concerns, as well as trans specific issues.

Online sessions: Free2Be are currently running 1 hour online sessions every Wednesday fortnight in response to covid lockdown - dates can be found on their website

Resources for families: Parent guide

FFLAG: Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

Dedicated to supporting parents and their LGBTQ+ children - Click here

Support: tans support, family, religion and many more - Click here

Parent’s groups - Click here 

Belief and faith parent support groups - Click here

Imaan supports LGBT Muslim people, their families and friends, to address issues of sexual orientation within Islam. It provides a safe space and support network to address issues of common concern through sharing individual experiences and institutional resources.

KeshetUK is a registered charity that aims to ensure that Jewish LGBT+ people and their families are included throughout Jewish life in the UK.

Resources:

Books for teachers and parents: Click here

Books for parents: Click here

Families Together London is a London-based support group and listening ear for the parents, families and friends of LGBTQ+ people. Some parents, families and friends may not find it easy that a child, family member or friend is LGBTQ+, and may find it hard to support them. Families Together London hold two meetings every month in London. Meetings are confidential, and offer a friendly and relaxed place in which to talk. 

Helpline: 01189403160, 07951104745, info@familiestogetherlondon.com

Library with books for parents and to give to children - Click here

Offers advice and support on a wide range of issues for all families including parents of LGBT children, such as supporting your child coming out - Parent Line Plus

Mermaids supports transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families involved in their care. They have online forums and hold residentials annually for trans children / young people and their families to come together.

In the link above you will find advice for common questions regarding having an LGBTQ+ child.

Local groups

Resources for Parents

Helpline 0808 801 0400 Monday – Friday: 9am – 9pm

National organisation campaigning for LGBT equality. Good source of information on a range of subjects from bullying, education rights and equality law -  Visit website.

Resources: Autistic and Trans Zine

Good source of information should your child be a victim of bullying. Includes advice and guidance on how to challenge your child's school if you are unhappy with their response - Click here

PFLAG is the United States' first and largest organization uniting parents, families, and allies with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer.

Despite being based in the US there are still amazing resources on their website that can help families understand and support their LGBTQ+ child better - Family Support

Extra Resources:

Being a Parent of a Trans Child - All Sorts Youth project

Magpie Dance - Free online dance classes

Magpie Dance, a dance charity that works with people with learning disabilities. We have an exciting opportunity for people with learning disabilities to take part in FREE online dance classes with our expert facilitators and live musician. Please see click here for further information.

Autism Voice is a registered charity working to enhance the health and wellbeing of people (children and adults) with autism and/or learning disabilities and their families from mainly the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities. They work to ensure autistic people from minority communities are recognised, accepted, included and valued as equal members of society. You can find out more about their work and read their latest newsletters here.

 

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In addition to the activities above which are part of Southwark’s Short Breaks offer, there are additional activities on the Local Offer funded by other departments and organisations. This includes Southwark’s Summer of Food and Fun, a programme for children and young people aged 4 to 16 years who get benefits-related free school meals and other clubs and activities for children and young people with SEND.

Find out about additional activities funded by different departments and organisations through our Local Offer here.

You can find specific 16 – 25 activities through the Local Offer here.

Southwark Parent to Parent Peer Advocacy

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METRO provides services to all people experiencing issues related to sexuality, identity, gender and diversity. Southwark Council is one of METRO’s funders. METRO’s LGBTQ Youth Lead for Southwark is Nicola Jones (07980 633 945, nicola.jones@metrocharity.org.uk)

The Spark LGBTQ youth group is now back in person every Wednesday evening in Camberwell.

METRO also offers 12 weeks of free counselling for 8-18 year olds based at their office in New Cross. Please contact Nicola for further information and discussion.

Information from the school nursing team

Evelina London Children’s Hospital has information regarding COVID-19 immunisation for young people 12 years and older. You can find out more here.

Parents of children 5-19 years can contact a school nurse via text for confidential health advice, appointments and support: 07520 631 130 www.evelinalondon.nhs.uk/parentline

This pack contains 30 days of self care activities to improve you wellbeing.

Soft Play Sessions for Pupils with SEND

The venues below offer specialised sessions for pupils with SEND and / or autism. 

  • Cookie island ( 0-2 years £4.50,  3-11yrs - £6.95 off peak*/£10.00 peak)
    https://cookiesisland.com/autism-send
    Location: Gallions Reach Shopping Park, 3 Armada Way. Beckton London E6 7ER

If you need support over the summer the contact number for Southwark All Age Disabilities Team is 0207 525 5372. 

You can contact Southwark Social Services 24 hours a day calling 0207 525 5000 and asking to speak with a duty social worker. 

Reading together at home is important for all pupils at Spa Camberwell. Follow the links below for Seven Top Tips. 

Whilst there are huge benefits to being online in order to stay connected to family and friends during this period, the government recognises many parents may feel concerned about the activities and content their children are accessing. This guidance outlines resources to help keep children safe from different risks online and where to go to receive support and advice.

COVID19: support for parents and carers to keep children safe online

Southwark have set up a helpline for residents and parents to call to access free digital skills training on 03333 444 019 (option 1).