We know some families are finding things particularly difficult at the moment due to the covid-19 pandemic. With education settings not open to all, parents and carers are finding themselves with new pressures and it is really important that you take care of your wellbeing and mental health, as well as that of your child or young persons. We have put together a helpful list of places where you can reach out for extra support.
If you are finding things difficult at home we would encourage you to speak directly with your child/young person’s education setting and ask them what types of support they can also offer. Education places are still open to vulnerable children/young people and we expect education settings to work with their families when allocating places and to consider individual needs.
Click here to visit our designated page for all carers on the Portsmouth City Council Website. You will find a variety of information covering assessments, crisis help and services.
Portsmouth Carer Centre office is closed for face to face visits but parent carers can contact Portsmouth Carers Centre by phone, email or Messenger.
We will call a carer back, provide emotional support, discuss their coping strategies, self-help tools or we will just listen. We might only advise or refer carers to access other organisations for more in depth support ( such as Positive Minds or Talking Change)
Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/portsmouthcarerscentre
Telephone number – 023 9285 1864
E-mail – carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Solent Mind offer Mental Health Support services across Portsmouth and Hampshire. They have recently launched a designated Coronavirus well being helpline .
In addition to this they have made two weekly online groups that you can access from home on a computer, tablet or phone through web chat platform, Zoom. The groups take place:
Wednesdays, 12pm – 1pm
Thursdays, 7pm – 8pm
Click here to find out more
Positive Minds Portsmouth provide trained wellbeing advisers who are there to offer informal support for anyone who feels low, worried or hopeless in Portsmouth.
They provide both 1:1 and group support. Most of this is currently being offered remotely and via Zoom.
Click here for contact details and to find out more.
Cerebra have created a Parent Carer Emotional Well Being Guide. This contains lots of information on looking after your own well being when you have a child or young person with a learning disability.
Click here to download the guide.
Top Tips to improve your mental well Being.
Snap Charity
A coronavirus guide to manging your child’s and your own anxiety during these challenging times.
Click here to read the guide.
‘Listening Ear’ service which provides free 1-1 support for parents via a telephone appointment with a family support adviser, at a time that suits you. They can help with emotional support, strategies for reducing your child’s anxiety and challenging behaviour or help you with structuring the day. https://contact.org.uk/news-and-blogs/introducing-our-new-1-1-listening-ear-service-(1)/
Virtual Family Workshops – Contact’s popular free workshops programme is now online. Topics include: Money matters, Encouraging Positive Behaviour, Wellbeing for you, and Managing your child’s sleep.
Click here for more information on the workshops.
Click here to visit Contact’s Family wellbeing page for more information, advice and useful links.
Please don’t forget if you are struggling to speak with someone you can email the Local Offer directly and we will always try to signpost and support you to find the right services.
Click here to return to the main Covid-19 information page.
During these unusual times, some children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities may become anxious and confused. They may be out of their usual routines, be missing familiar support and might also need to access medical treatment outside of the home. All of this can impact on family life.
