Childline

Get support for a wide range of issues affecting young people. Visit www.childline.org.uk or contact them on 0800 1111 or email them through the website.

There is also a ‘For Me’ app: https://www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/for-me/ From advice to message boards, you can now get everything you need from Childline in an app. It's quick, easy and you can lock it with a PIN. By downloading the app, you're in control. You can talk to us whenever - and wherever - you need to.

No.5

No5 youth counselling service has launched a new website to signpost young people to services and resources to help them with their mental health. The Looking for Direction site has been designed and developed by local young people in collaboration with Reading FC Community Trust. The site is built to match young people, aged 11-25, with support and services across the RG postcode area based on age, location and what type of support they say they are looking for. Visit the site at: https://signposting.no5.org.uk/.

Mind

https://www.mind.org.uk/

‘Mind’ provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. 

Samaritans

This organisation offers confidential emotional support for anyone in the UK and Ireland. The service is available 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. Visit https://www.samaritans.org/ for more information.

Call free any time on 116 123 or email at jo@samaritans.org (response time 24 hours)

AFC Crisis Messenger
The AFC Crisis Messenger text service is a free, confidential, 24/7 text message support service for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or is struggling to cope. The service is staffed by trained volunteers who will work with you to take your next steps towards feeling better. We can help with issues such as anxiety, worry, panic attacks, bullying and depression and are here to talk at any time of day or night. 

If you need support, you can text AFC to 85258.

Sane

SANE is a leading UK mental health charity improving quality of life for anyone affected by mental illness - including family friends and carers. The support hotline is available afterschool 4.30pm-10.30pm. Visit http://www.sane.org.uk/ for more information.

SHOUT for support in a crisis

Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help.

Text Shout to 85258. Visit https://www.giveusashout.org/ for more information.

Students Against Depression

Students Against Depression offers information and resources validated by health professionals alongside tips and advice from students who have experienced it all themselves.

http://studentsagainstdepression.org/

YoungMinds

YoungMinds Crisis Messenger: If you are experiencing a mental health crisis you can text YM to 85258. You'll be connected to a trained volunteer in less than 5 minutes, who will listen, help you think through how you're feeling, and aim to help you take the next steps towards feeling better. Visit https://youngminds.org.uk/ for more information.

Kendrick School Counsellors
To support our students, we use an established Reading counselling service, No5. We have three experienced counsellors, Emma, Katie and Michelle, who provide 20 confidential one-to-one appointments per week. Students are able to access this service, free of charge, by emailing Mrs Hackett on JHackett@kendrick.reading.sch.uk Alternatively, they can ask any member of staff, such as their form tutor, Head of Year, Student Welfare Team member etc. who will pass the referral to Mrs Hackett, who manages the appointments. At times there can be a waiting list, but students will be seen as soon as possible.

No 5 Young People - 11-25 years
Sometimes life can feel very difficult and it can be hard to cope on your own, so at No5 we provide free, confidential counselling and support to children and young people aged 11-25.

Daisy's Dream - 0-18 years
Daisy's Dream offer free advice and support to children, their families and anyone who is concerned about a child affected by life threatening illness or bereavement.

Reading CAHMS 
Our Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) works with young people who are experiencing significant, severe and complex difficulties with their mental health.

Berkshire Child Anxiety Clinic - 7-17 years
At AnDY we offer assessments, treatment and research to children and young people who are experiencing difficulties with anxiety and/or depression. We will first offer you an assessment to identify the things causing you difficulties, before inviting you back to discuss our findings and, where appropriate, offer suitable treatment and research.

Berkshire Psychology - 0-18 years
Providing specialist psychological assessments and interventions across Berkshire and surrounding areas. Services are offered to individuals, couples, families, schools and organisations and include expert witness services, expert consultancy, training, supervision, educational and occupational psychology services. In addition to psychology services, we have a network of therapists from different backgrounds who can offer a variety of therapeutic approaches

ARC - 11-17 years (low cost adult counselling. Free for under 22)
We offer support for any issue or problem you bring to us and we will provide a safe, non-judgemental and confidential space for you to explore your thoughts and feelings. At ARC we can provide up to six sessions to young people from 11 years old. The sessions are with the same counsellor face-to-face or online via Zoom, at the same time and same day every week. The counselling sessions are held at our own premises in Wokingham or at Oakwood Centre in Woodley.

Wokingham CAHMS
CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. We are here to help children and teenagers with mental health difficulties. We will assess people's needs and then our team of professionals will provide appropriate support.

Wokingham Borough Council - Emotional Wellbeing Hub
The Emotional Wellbeing Hub is aimed at children and young people with mild to moderate emotional wellbeing needs up to their 19th birthday. This could include issues such as anxiety, friendship and relationship issues, low mood, or exam stress.

Berkshire CAHMS
Our children and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) works with young people who are experiencing significant, severe and complex difficulties with their mental health.

Youthline
Youthline provides a FREE, confidential counselling service for young people attending secondary school and adults who care for and support young people. We work across a number of locations within Bracknell Forest including our main base at The Lodge, Coopers Hill, and 10 secondary schools.

Bracknell CAHMS
CAMHS provides a specialist mental health service for children and young people. Community Mental Health Team (CMHT): CMHT provides a service for individuals including 16 and 17 year olds who are no longer in full time education and who are suffering from mental illness or severe emotional distress.

Adviza
A charity inspiring for 13–19 year olds in Berkshire people to make better decisions that help them progress in learning and work.   

Thinkuknow - education programme from NCA-CECIP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline

CEOP - for advice on making a report about online abuse

Support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online:

Internet Matters  

The National Grid for Learning 

Net-aware 

Parentzone 

Omegle - Parent Advice and Guidance

The BBC's Own It keyboard and app helps young people new to social media manage their well-being, whilst empowering children to make smart choices, and helping them to lead a positive life online.

The Own It app and keyboard lets children:

• get advice whenever they type
• track their feelings
• win badges as they reflect
• find help when they need it
• taking quizzes to learn more about themselves

Anna Freud - Managing Social Media
A  Managing Social Media booklet aimed to highlight some key social media issues and offers advice and guidance on how to minimise the impact of social media on your mental health. Click here for the resource.

CAMHS has put together a collection of apps that are designed to support young people, adults and families with their mental health and well-being. Some of these do need a paid subscription to use them while others have been made freely available during the Covid situation.

Click here for the list of Apps. 

Your Safety and Wellbeing at Reading Festival 

Anxiety is the feeling you get when you’re worried or scared about something. Some anxiety can be helpful as it can keep you safe from danger. But sometimes anxiety can make you feel like things are worse than they actually are and can feel overwhelming.

If you’re feeling anxious, you might:

• feel your heart beating really fast
• get scared, worried or tense
• get fidgety, or shake after something’s happened
• feel sick or get a funny feeling in your stomach
• struggle to think about other things
• have a panic attack.

Anxiety feels different for everyone, so you could also feel something completely different. It’s also normal to have times when you feel more and less anxious.

Almost everyone gets anxious sometimes, but if your anxiety is stopping you from being able to live your life or do things you normally enjoy then it’s important to get support

Coping with Anxiety - Childline

Anxiety and Panic Attacks - MIND

Anxiety - Anna Freud 

Daisy’s Dream

This organisation supports children and their families affected by both life threatening illnesses and bereavement, throughout Berkshire and the surrounding areas. Find out more details at www.daisysdream.org.uk or contact them on 0118 9342604 or at info@daisysdream.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care

Offering support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. Visit https://www.cruse.org.uk/ for more information. Free help line 0808 808 1677 or contact them at helpline@cruse.org.uk 

National Bullying Helpline

If you are struggling with bullying, harassment, cyberbullying or anti-social behaviour issues, this website will enable you to identify solutions and remedies along with practical help. Click here for more information.

Anti-Bullying Alliance

The Anti-Bullying Alliance is a coalition of organisations and individuals that are united against bullying. Click here for more information.

The Anti-Bullying Alliance’s Parents and Carers pack can be found HERE.

NSPCC

Read the NSPCC free information to help you to understand what bullying and cyberbullying is, how it affects children and young people and how you can respond to it. Click here for more information.

Do you know exactly where your child is in the evenings and at weekends? Do you know every friend they have? Very few parents of teenagers will be able to answer ‘yes’ to both of those questions.
Schools and local authorities are growing increasingly concerned about the impact of County Lines on the young people in our area. This is a particular method of drug dealing which involves the exploitation of children and young people.

You probably think this isn’t relevant to your child. But it could be.

Reading is one of five cities where County Lines is known to be particularly active. It involves a network of very manipulative individuals who have tried and tested ways of coercing boys (usually) into drug dealing, putting them at risk of both criminal exploitation and violence. They do this by giving them phones, clothes, trainers, money and buying them food. They are made to feel special, respected and it gives them kudos all of which can be very seductive to a teenage boy. Girls also get pulled in and are often subject to sexual violence and exploitation. We know that this is happening in our community and you need to be aware that it could be happening to your child.

There are a variety of tell-tale signs but the most obvious are when a child has money, clothes, ‘phones but can’t explain where they came from. They are likely to return home late, stay out all night or go missing for short periods. They might go to areas away from home to meet up with people you do not know.

If you have any concerns about your child or someone else’s, please contact school or the local police for advice. Together we need to support our children.

For more information on County Lines, please click on the links below:

Children’s Society – What is County Lines?

National Crime Agency – County Lines

NPSCC – Protecting Children from County Lines 

ARC

This is a free and confidential counselling service based in Wokingham but also with offices in Lower Earley and Woodley. Find out more details at www.arcweb.org.uk or contact them on 0118 97 76710.

No5 Counselling

No5 offers confidential listening to support children and young people and those around them, through our free counselling service for those aged 10-25 in the Reading area.

www.no5.org.uk

Text: 07984 357551

Call: 0118 901 5668

Email: info@no5.org.uk

7cups

Free, anonymous and confidential online chat with trained listening, online therapists and counsellors. Visit https://www.7cups.com/ for more information.

Talking Therapies  

Talking Therapies is a friendly and approachable NHS service that offers support if you’re coping with mental health challenges like depression, stress, anxiety or phobias.

If you’re aged 17 and over and living in Berkshire, they can help you overcome the mental health challenges you’re facing. Find out more about Talking Therapies in Berkshire, and how they can help you here.

Deepfakes use a form of artificial intelligence called deep learning to make images of fake events, hence the name deepfake. Police forces have highlighted concerns raised by schools of children creating deepfakes in order to bully other students. 96% of deepfakes are found to be pornographic (with someone’s face onto a pornographic video), deepfakes may also make politicians appear to say something they haven’t. Such technology may influence what children perceive to be true online, the technology is likely to continue to improve making it very challenging to identify fake content online.

How to deal with the impacts of misinformation

If your child is active online, there's a good chance that they've come across misinformation. Give them the tools to effectively deal with it and get support.

Fact-check information together

If your child has fallen for false information, they might feel embarrassed. So, take the time to review the misinformation with them. Discuss what made them think it was real, and then show them the signs that it was false. Additionally, show them what you would do to check if the information was true.

Doing this exercise together can help them critically assess information in the future.

Encourage them to fix their mistakes

If your child shared misinformation with others, encourage them to take ownership of that mistake. They could make a follow up post (if on social media) to say that what they shared was false. Additionally, they could share the correct information. It’s important that they delete the misinformation where possible.

Offer support for their wellbeing

In severe cases such as scams or impacts on body image, children might need additional support. This could include talking with a counsellor or getting support from your child’s school.

These helplines can offer support as well:

• Childline
• Ditch the Label
• The Mix

Help them report misleading or false content

The platforms or apps your child uses likely have policies on misleading content. Some policies are more robust than others and will take down such content while others require a little more thought.

If your child comes across misinformation or misleading content, they should report it. Show them how to do this or do it with them. Even if they aren’t sure, the moderation team can assess the content to make the decision.

A study from the British Psychological Society found that the majority of children (71%) had at least one close friend as early as five years old. These connections can form rather quickly and develop with equal speed. At such a young age, it can be remarkable how suddenly two children can hit it off with one another. 

However, it is deeply important that children can recognise both the features of a healthy relationship, as well as the potential signs of a less healthy dynamic one.  This #WakeUpWednesday guide offers some top tips on reinforcing the formation of healthy friendships among children and young people. 

Healthy Friendships 

Berkshire Women’s Aid

An organisation for women fearing or experiencing abuse, at home or in a relationship. Contact their helpline on 0118 950 4003 or visit www.berkshirewomensaid.org.uk for advice or more information.

BEAT

Provides helplines, online support and a network of UK-wide self-help groups to help adults and young people in the UK beat eating disorders. Visit www.b-eat.co.uk for more information or contact their Youthline (under 18s) 0808 801 0711 or their studentline (all students) 0808 801 0811.

MIND

Many people experiencing a mental health problem will speak to friends and family before they speak to a health professional, so the support you offer can be really valuable. Click on the links for help and information from MIND on:

What emotional support can I offer?
What practical support can I offer?

What can I do if someone doesn’t want my help?

What if they believe things that seem very unusual or scary to me?

What can I do if it’s an emergency?

How can I look after myself?  

ANNA FREUD

We understand it can be hard to know what to do when someone you care about is going through a rough patch, so we have put together some tips and advice, with the help of Common Room and young people from mental health support group Hearts & Minds. 

Click here for information on how to talk to someone you're worried about, how to look after yourself during this time and how to seek help from an adult if you become seriously worried. In each section, you can read quotations that come directly from young people who have experience coping with similar situations.

Stonewall
A charity which provides information and support for LGBTQ+ communities and their allies. Visit www.stonewall.org.uk for more information.

Support U
Based in Reading – a dedicated support team and specialist resources for LGBTQ+ people and those affected by LGBTQ+ related issues. The team can assist with concerns ranging from employment to sexual health and coming out to counselling. Visit www.supportu.org.uk for more information.

Anna Freud
A resource to support the mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex young people. Click here for the resource.

The booklet accessible via this link has been produced by educate.against.hate in conjunction with HM Government to explain the important and relevance of Prevent, Channel and Counter-Extremism efforts to parents and carers of young people.

Any child could be susceptible to extremist narratives. There are some factors that may make some children more susceptible than others. Extremist groups tap into young people's insecurities and claim to offer answers and promise a sense of identity that young people often seek. As part of their recruitment strategy, extremist groups also work to undermine the authority of parents and guardians.

This guidance will help you:

• understand what Prevent is
• understand what Channel is and the support available for young people who may be susceptible to radicalisation and extremism
• understand key terminology and definitions relating to extremism and radicalisation
• understand how to initiate and engage in difficult conversations with young people
• identify potential indicators of radicalisation in young people
• identify potential factors that may make some young people more susceptible to radicalisation
• understand where to go for support if they feel a young person may be at risk of being drawn into radicalisation 

Anna Freud
Created by Anna Freud, this resource walks young people through a series of steps, helping them create a detailed self-care plan that works for them

Click here for the resource.

YoungMinds
Self-care’ is a phrase you’ve probably come across, but what does it really mean?

Judging by what we see in adverts or on social media, we might think it’s all about candles, yoga and luxury bath bombs. We might think it costs a lot of money and takes a lot of time. And we might feel like it isn’t for us. But is that really what it's all about?

In its simplest form, self-care is just the little things we do to look after our own mental health. It’s about trying to listen to how we are feeling and understanding what we need, even if it’s difficult, so we can care for ourselves.

This could mean taking a timeout when we're feeling overwhelmed; it could mean making time to do an activity that we know makes us feel good; or it could be as simple as making sure to do the basics like eating and sleeping well when we're struggling.

For more information on self=care and how to make it work for you, visit the Young Minds website here

Part of Youthscape. SelfharmUK is a project dedicated to supporting young people impacted by self-harm, providing a safe space to talk, ask any questions and be honest about what's going on in your life. Visit www.selfharm.co.uk for more information.

Information about self-harm: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-and-symptoms/self-harm/

App to help with self-harm: https://calmharm.co.uk/

Brook

Free & confidential sexual health & well-being service. Visit https://www.brook.org.uk for more information.

Advice and guidance on how to help young people stay safe from conflict and violence.

Stay True to You booklet 

Support to explain the difficult concepts associated with current events – news delivery designed for children and young people and provided by Newsround

Advice for children and young people if they are upset by the news – provided by Newsround

Presentation on Talking to Children about War and Conflict

Source: Place2Be
When war or conflict is in the news, it can cause feelings such as fear, sadness and anxiety for children, young people and adults. Place2Be’s Educational Psychologists share their advice on how to talk to children and young people about war and conflict, and support them if they’re struggling with the news.

As teachers, parents and carers, it is impossible to protect children from frightening and confusing world events, such as war and conflict. We can, however:

• Create a sense of safety at home and school
• Find ways to cope together with uncertainty
• Be hopeful for peace and safety for all
• Be compassionate
• Look after our own wellbeing and seek support as we support others

When talking to children and young people about war, it is important to take into account their age, stage of development and whether they have special educational needs, additional support needs or other needs that may make them more vulnerable.

Here are some things you may find helpful:

• Try to find out what your children already know about the situation, and how they found out about it. Reinforce the importance of getting their news from a reputable source, such as the BBC. You could look at reliable news sources together.
• Encourage young people to access a range of media content that they normally enjoy. This will help guard against overexposure to news and ‘doom-scrolling’.
• Children may be exposed to explicit images that can trigger fear responses. Let them know that you are open to talking about what they have seen or heard.
• Be open to talking with children about the war, but say that you may not have all the answers. If you are unsure, say that you don’t know. Acknowledge uncertainty and validate the feelings that arise from uncertainty. For example, “It sounds like you are unsure and are worried about what could happen next”.
• Young children may not talk directly about war, but their fears might come out in play. You can join their play to help them explore their feelings.
• Ask children about their feelings about the war. For example, they may feel worried, frightened, angry or confused or a whole range of other emotions. Listen to their feelings and acknowledge them as valid, rather than minimising them.
• At the same time, reassure your child that parents and carers at home, and teachers at school, are there to keep them safe and that many people around the world are working hard to try to resolve the conflict.
• Encourage children to think about the things they can be more certain about and influence, and to look after their own wellbeing. For example, they can still play, learn, be with their friends, listen to music, play sport etc.
• Children with existing mental health needs and/or SEND/ASN may need some extra support. This resource from Phoenix Education Consultancy may be useful.
• Children who have family and friends in war-torn countries may feel particularly upset. Children from all communities will need compassion, support and to feel safe. You may need to monitor how people in school (and beyond) are responding to classmates, colleagues and families from the communities most directly affected.
• Be aware of children and families who are refugees and have fled conflict, as recent events may be particularly poignant for them.
• If children want to help, encourage their concern and compassion. This might include raising funds, campaigning for peace, posting messages of hope etc.

Children who have members of their families in the armed forces are likely to fear for the safety of their loved ones. Be mindful that these children may need additional space, time and support. Further information and resources are available from Little Troopers 

Action for Children 
It is common for parents to worry about their children trying smoking, alcohol or drugs as they get older. However, in recent years, more young people have been using e-cigarettes, known as vaping. Children are trying vaping younger than ever, and the risks are less well known than with other substances. 

If you think your child might be vaping or you’re worried they might start, it’s important to understand what it is and what the risks are so you can talk to them about it. Most children and young people do not vape or smoke on a regular basis over a long period of time, but they might try it. Keeping them informed about the risks, will help them to make healthy choices for themselves.

Action for Children have published a page on the matter – please follow the link here to find out more.

You may also like to read the BBC article ‘How dangerous is vaping – and why the concern over young vapers’ here

NATIONAL ONLINE SAFETY INFORMATION ON VAPING
They’ve helped thousands of people successfully quit smoking; in laboratory tests, they’ve been found to be up to 95% less harmful than cigarettes; and they’ve been hailed as “a game changer for public health” by one independent review. So why exactly are vapes and e-cigarettes still regarded by many experts as controversial and potentially dangerous?

In terms of young people, the issue is availability. Vapes (containing nicotine) aren’t supposed to be sold to under 18s: a fact at odds with the rising number of school-age users and the products’ colourful packaging and child-friendly flavours. This National Online Safety guide summarises what trusted adults need to know about the potential dangers of vaping for young people.

WHAT PARENTS AND CARERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VAPING

THE DANGERS OF VAPING