Family Support in the Community:
Neurodevelopmental Parent Helpline
This out of hours advice line is available for families with a child on the "Wait List" or accessing support for ADHD or ASD from CAMHS (Mindworks). 5pm – 11pm
Tel: 0300 222 5755, choose option 1 or 2
Please note the parent helpline is for behaviour/parenting issues, not risk support.
Children and Family Health Advice Line
Families with children from birth to 19 years old can call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
The advice line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) and provides support on all aspects of child health, development and parenting. The web page is: Children and Family Health
Surrey Family Mediation Service
SFMS is a charity which was established nearly forty years ago with the sole purpose of providing assistance to those dealing with the breakdown of a family relationship. They have a panel of fully qualified family mediators who are available, usually at short notice, to provide information, guidance, assistance and signposting to those dealing with family breakdown. They regularly assist with issues including:
- Contact arrangements for children.
- Living arrangements for the whole family following a separation.
- Child maintenance.
- Financial settlements.
- Domestic abuse / allegations of domestic abuse (although this is in a purely signposting capacity).
For families who are on very low incomes or who are receiving benefits such as Universal Credit, income based ESA or Income Support, they can provide legally aided services, meaning it will be totally free to the client. Click on the link to see the website which contains more in depth information about what they do: Surrey Family Mediation Service
Keeping Children Safe On-Line
The website thinkuknow provides information and advice to parents on how to keep their children safe on the internet. There are videos to watch and an activities page for ideas about how to talk to your children.
Support from the Guildford Family Centre
"Our Family Support Team are working across the whole Guildford Borough, providing support to families with children aged 0-11 years old. Our team is here to offer support and guidance to help you get the best out of family life. We aim to work in partnership with families to empower each individual to reach their full potential. We provide a variety of courses and targeted sessions providing support with parenting and children with special educational needs and disabilities.
We know that sometimes you need dedicated support that helps your family. Our Family Support Workers do just that – offering home visits and one-to-one meetings at the Family Centre. This gives you the chance to tell us about the challenges you’re facing, and to let us help you find a way through. We do this in lots of ways – by encouraging you to get specialist help if you need it, and referring you to the right people so that you can take positive steps towards a happy, more secure family life."
Visit their homepage:
Guildford Food Bank
The North Guildford food bank at St Clare’s, Park Barn, the New Hope Centre, Bellfields and in Merrow (at the Bushy Hill Community Centre) has been set up to provide temporary help for individuals and families in the Guildford area who are in need. Working alongside local agencies and churches, they want to ensure that no-one goes hungry. They receive non-perishable food from local churches, supermarkets, schools and businesses to make up food parcels to give to families who are experiencing short term financial difficulties.
To get a food parcel you will need an online referral – please contact HSLW@burpham.surrey.sch.uk for details.
Parenting Courses
Children are rewarding, stimulating and fun, but looking after them can be stressful and challenging! The Nurturing Programme (sometimes call the Parenting Puzzle) helps deal with those challenges so that you can have a calmer, happier life.
If there isn't a course available that suits your timings, the course is available on line at: Nuturing Programme via NetMums
For an on-line parenting course in your choice of language try the Solihull Online Parenting Course (the access code is ACORN):
Family Learning
There are lots of courses available provided by Surrey Adult Learning including how to understand the maths our children are learning, and helping parents with EAL. Click on the poster and follow the links.
information on EAL course dates and times is here: EAL Courses
Family Support from Home start
What does Home-Start do?
Through trained parent volunteers we support local, struggling families with at least one child under 6 years who may need emotional or practical support, to give their children the best possible start in life. Examples of need might be postnatal depression, social isolation, multiple births, disability (of parent or child), family breakdown, bereavement, and domestic abuse. Families are referred by health visitors, social workers and other professionals and they can also self-refer.
Citizens Advice Bureau
Citizens Advice Bureau: For Information on what the CAB do click here: What do we do? and for information about the local Guildford CAB Guildford CAB
Surrey Family Information Service
FIS is a free impartial information and signposting service for families with children aged 0 to 19 (up to 25 years for those with additional needs). The role of the service is to help families get the most out of the information and services available in the community and online: Family Information Service
Childline has a website for children under 12
You'll find helpful info on things like: bullying, family, friends, feelings, school, abuse and staying safe. Further information: Kids Childline
