Support for Parents
Colley Lane Primary Academy is a happy, friendly school made up of many hundreds of families and their children. As your child’s school, we aim to be at the heart of our community, as a frontline support network for all of our families. We can offer guidance and support to you during your child’s time with us in many ways. This may include offering 1 -1 Talk Time or small group sessions to pupils around common childhood challenges. For instance, we can work with you and your childlren to overcome issues with diet, confidence, emotions or behaviour and at the very worst times with bereavement and loss. At Colley Lane, we have a strong focus on Mental Health and Wellbeing, and we will help to support you and your children to maintain good mental health, whilst developing resilience and self-help strategies.
We know that sometimes, talking to someone who is ready to listen can be the best kind of support so please do contact school with any concerns about a child's, or your own, mental wellbeing if you feel you need help or support. We are able to make referrals for parents as well as children and will talk you through this process, should you need it, or support you to self-refer. Please find below a range of links to websites and agencies that may be helpful in supporting the physical, emotional, financial and mental wellbeing of you, your child and your family as a whole.
Parenting Support
Dudley Early Help
Early Help is support given to a family when a problem/s first emerges. This support can be offered at any stage during a child or young person's life.
In Dudley the Early Help Strategy ensures that the appropriate level of support is put in place for children, young people and families. You can refer yourself to your local family centre (contact numbers listed below) or call into school and ask to speak to Mrs Edwards.
| Local Family Centre | Address | Phone Number | |
|
Brierley Hill Family Centre |
18 Parkes, Brierley Hill, DY5 3DY |
01384 813322 |
fs.brierleyhill@dudley.gov.uk |
|
Halesowen Family Centre |
Lye By-Pass, Stourbridge, DY9 8HT |
01384 813954 |
fs.halesowen@dudley.gov.uk |
|
Stourbridge Family Centre |
Forge Road, Stourbridge, DY8 1XF |
01384 818780 |
fs.stourbridge@dudley.gov.uk |
|
Dudley North Family Centre |
Bayer Street, Bilston, WV14 9DS |
01384 813096 |
fs.dudleynorth@dudley.gov.uk |
|
Dudley Central Family Centre |
Selbourne Road, Dudley, DY2 8LJ |
01384 812440 |
fs.dudley@dudley.gov.uk |
Dudley Triple P Parenting programme
Triple P is a parenting programme, but it doesn't tell you how to be a parent. It's a toolbox of ideas and strategies for you to choose from as you know your children best and it’s all about making Triple P work for you and your family. Courses from 2-10 years and 11-19 years available.
The Solihull Approach – Online Parent course
The Solihull Approach online course is a well-established and trusted way of understanding more about your child. These courses cover from conception up to 19 years. Some topics include:
- The antenatal course - Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby
- The postnatal course - Understanding your baby
- Courses for parents - Understanding your child (0-19 years, main course)
- Understanding your child with additional needs (0-19 years, main course) and short courses.
- Understanding your teenager’s brain and Understanding your brain. For teenagers only!
The Arts of Change – Better Days Counselling
The AOC provide high quality counselling and therapy for children aged from 5 years upwards, young people aged up to 18 years and for all adults with no upper age limit. We offer personal therapy, individual counselling, couple counselling, groups and family therapy for all members of an entire family unit. We offer daytime, evening and weekend counselling/therapy sessions. The AOC specialise in Drama therapy, Family Therapy, Integrative Counselling, Mindfulness, Relaxation and Anger Management. However, we also offer other forms of counselling and therapy. You can self refer or we can help you refer through school.
This may help
This May Help, has been created to support parents and carers with concerns about their child’s mental health. The subjects covered on this website have been chosen by families and young people who have gone through their own mental health challenges. What helped them may also help you.
Place2Be - Parenting Smart website:
This website is FULL of videos and articles to help with a whole range of issues that children might face, from fussy mealtimes to dealing with grief.
BBC Bitesize Parent's toolkit
Parents' Toolkit is the place for mums, dads and the whole parenting community to find stories, expert advice and fun activities that will help you support your child in a changing world.
Parent talk
1:1 chat and advice
The Sleep Charity
The Sleep Charity provide advice and support to empower the nation to sleep better. Parents and carers can call the helpline between 7pm and 9pm, Sunday to Thursday. In some areas there are local services, to find out if there is one in your area contact: info@thesleepcharity.org.uk
Financial Help / Support
Help for households
Countries around the world are facing rising goods and energy prices, inflation and cost of living pressures after the pandemic and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. We know people are worried so the government is offering help for households. Visit this website to see what cost of living support you could be eligible for, from Household bills to childcare and travel help.
Cost of living help
You may be able to get a payment to help with the cost of living if you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits. If you are eligible, you will be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits. Click on the link to find out what help you may be entitled to.
Dudley MBC Cost of living help and support
Help and advice on what support you can access from your local council.
Black Country Food Bank
Helps vulnerable individuals and families in crisis through the provision of emergency food and toiletry supplies while a longer-term solution is developed
Dudley Winter warmth scheme
Advice on accessing energy discounts and cheaper tariffs. Advice on boilers, heaters, blankets, and how to stay warm this winter.
Dudley’s Warm Welcomes (A place to keep warm this winter)
As the weather starts to turn colder and with energy bills on the rise, local people can feel reassured to know that there are places across the Dudley borough where they will receive a warm welcome this winter. Dudley CVS has coordinated a community-led response with the boroughs voluntary and community sector to develop a network of ‘Warm Welcomes’ spaces to support local people during the cost of living crisis and increases in energy costs.
Citizens Advice Bureau
Help and advice with all areas of money and debt.
Fuel Bank
Support with energy costs in the event of an emergency or if you are unable to afford to top up your meters. This is a self-referral service and you may need to meet certain criteria.
Brierley Hill Baby Bank
Providing Baby essentials to parents who may struggle to otherwise provide these. You will need a referral from an NHS professional or your local family centre.
Dudley Free school meals
If your child is in Reception, years one or two, you will automatically be entitled to free meals under the new 'Universal Infant Free School Meals' criteria. However if you claim certain benefits you may be entitled to continue receiving free school meals. You will need to submit an online claim for this.
Support with your Mental Health
NHS
Public Health England's 'Every Mind Matters' initiative
Black country Mental Health
Mental health charity that aims to improve, promote and enhance a better quality of life for people living across the Black Country affected by poor mental health.
Mental Health Foundation
Provides details on services and organisations that offer help and support directly to people with mental health problems.
NSPCC
Mental Health and Parenting.
Young Minds
Website support
MIND
Parenting and Mental Health support
NHS
Mental Health support
Anxiety UK
Provides support if you are dealing with anxiety
Blurt
Support for all those affected by depression
CALM
Free and confidential helpline and webchat – 7 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who needs to talk about life’s problems
Childline
Childline is a service provided by NSPCC. Trained Childline counsellors are there for young people 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Talking to Childline can be the first step that gets a child's life back on track. And young people can get help and support with any issue they're going through, no matter how big or small
Give Us Shout
Anxious? Worried? Stressed? Get 24/7 help from our team of Crisis Volunteers
MENCAP
Support and information for people with a learning disability and their families
OCD Action
Provide support and information to anybody affected by OCD
Out of the FOG
Helping family members & loved-ones of people who suffer from personality disorders
PAPYRUS – Prevention of young suicide
Support for young people under the age of 35 with thoughts of suicide, or those concerned about young people with thoughts of suicide
Rethink
Advice and information for those suffering severe mental illness and their families or carers
Samaritans
Emotional support to anyone in distress or at risk of suicide
SANE
SANE is a leading UK mental health charity. We work to improve the quality of life for anyone affected by mental illness. Please explore the icons below to find out how we help people
Stand Alone
Support and raise awareness about adults that are estranged from their family or children