Help, Support & Advice

Children’s Centres – children and family services, activities etc

Citizen Advice Bureau – wide range of support

Family Information Service to find Childcare and information on Paying for Childcare – Tel: 0151 511 7375 email: haltonfis@halton.gov.uk or visit Facebook www.facebook.com/haltonfis

Halton Borough Council – Contact Us – information e.g. Halton Direct Link addresses/opening hours, Contact Centre

Halton Carers Centre – Family Support provide support for families

Roomoo. advice & support – developed by young people for young people

The Communication Trust offer website links to a list of national organisations

The Isabella Trust aims to help improve the quality of life of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Processing Difficulties by supporting their Families and Carers

Cheshire Autism Practical Support CHAPS support families with Autism Spectrum Condition or Asperger’s Syndrome (diagnosed or not) Contact support@cheshireautism.org.uk   or if you require details of current activities contact Ruth Bradford on 0844 850 8607

• Attention Card
• Parents meetings
• Children’s activities Please note these are only open to CHAPS members
• Adult services
• Halton Parents Group

Halton Autistic Family Support (HAFS) Group

• HAFS Overview November 2016
• HAFS Flyer July 2016
• What is Autism – Overview
• Autism is?

• Halton Speak Out are a self-advocacy group helping people to speak up for themselves, feel confident, to say what they want and to make changes in their lives.
•  Contact a Family North West provide a freephone helpline, information and advice to families caring for children and young people with disabilities or additional needs
• Advocacy First support people (adults) living in the community
• NYAS – National Youth Advocacy Service provides independent support, advice and information to children and young people so their views and wishes are heard, their rights respected and assisted to give feedback or make a complaint.

Afasic support parents and represent children and young people with speech, language and communication needs, provide a free Helpline, email support, factsheets and access to local networks Tel: 01928 791476

After Adoption Yorkshire – counselling, advice, support and information to adopted people, birth parents and birth relatives

Child Bereavement UK – based in Runcorn, providing support and information to bereaved children, young people (aged 0-25) and their families within Halton, St Helens and surrounding areas Bereavement Services Leaflet including Referral Process

Barnardos Go4Ward (Tel: 01744 818930) – emotional health support for children and young people aged 5-18 years (25 for those with SEND) under the care of Halton Borough Council

Deafness Support Network – support deaf children 0–18 years/families with hearing loss – I’m Hear Leaflet and Referral Form

Dyspraxia Foundation provide information for parents and professionals including a helpline

Family Focused Support -Young Addaction Halton confidential service for those experiencing the effects of another family members’ substance misuse or mental health

Halton Young Addaction provide support for young people aged 10-19 years (25 for those with SEND) around reducing harm, Sexual Health Advice, Needle Exchange and Alcohol Awareness

Halton Young Addaction – advice, support or treatment around risk taking behaviour for children and young people 0-19 years and up to 25 for young people with additional needs – registered with a Halton doctor (GP)

Halton Integrated Recovery Service provides open access support to adults with issues around substance misuse (drugs and alcohol) including family and carer support if they are affected by substance use

HELPS  – subsidised home safety equipment for parents, carers and grandparents of children under 5 years old registered with a Halton Children’s Centres Tel: 0151 511 8409 or 0151 424 4686 or contact Carolyn McAuley 

Halton Adults with Learning Disability Support (HALDS)

Halton Carers Centre – information, activities and support – Information Book – Hospital Liaison Service Leaflet – Young Carers

Halton Disability Partnership –  Support and advice about living with a disability – by disabled people for disabled people

Halton Speak Out works with young people and adults with a learning disability to support their choice and control over their lives

Housing Solutions —– Shelter ——– Nightstop Communities North West (homelessness support)

SPARC (Supporting People Achieving Real Choice) support people with Learning Disabilities/family carers

The Buzz for children (8 to 11 years old)

The Buzz for young people (12 to 18 years old)

Triple P: Positive Parenting Programme (help with your child’s behaviour or learn new parenting skills) -Referral by a professional – Self-referrals not accepted

Working Families  – Information for parents of disabled children

Valid Food Voucher must be presented from one of these listed agencies

• Foodbank – Runcorn for Runcorn residents 
• Foodbank – Widnes for Widnes residents

Benefits/Allowances/Grants

• Benefits and Welfare Advice
• Carers Allowance
• Family Fund (UK’s largest charity) – grants to families raising disabled or seriously ill children/young people for help with essential items e.g. white goods, clothing, computers/tablets, sensory equipment and short breaks – Leaflet and Poster
• Free School Meals
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Easy Read Guide – What it is and How to claim it
• PIP Mythbuster and Toolkit
• Universal Credit overview
• Young Carers Break – local grants

Guides

• Children’s Savings and Bank Accounts – some local branches provide support in setting these up including parental controls
• Entitled To – are you missing out on benefits? DWP Entitled To Information Leaflet
• From Child to Adult – Guide to Disability  and Family Finances
• Personal Budgets
• Personal Budgets Policy 2016
• Personal Budgets Parents and Young People’s Summary Dec 15
• Welfare Rights Fact Sheet

Information, Advice & Support

• Citizens Advice Bureau
• Halton Credit Union if you live or work in Halton you are eligible to apply to become a member
• In Control
• Money Advice Service
• Runcorn Debt Centre  free help to people in debt – check to see if you live in a postcode supported area

A statutory service providing independent, impartial advice, guidance and support to children, young people and their parents around matters relating to special educational needs and/or disabilities; including matters relating to health and social care

• Information, Advice and Support
• Advice around preparing for meetings – Information Leaflet
• Young Person Leaflet

Easy Read Guides

• Our Services Explained
• Confidentiality
• EHC Plan Explained
• Personal Budgets Explained
• HSP Easy Read-Local Offer

Children’s Social Care – ring for help and advise

Tel: 0151 907 8305 (Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-4.30pm)
Tel: 0345 050 0148 (during out of hours and at weekends)

Adult Social Care – ring for help and advise if you are worried about an 18-25 year old

Tel: 0151 907 8306 (24 hours a day)

• Halton Hate Crime Resources Factsheet 27.7.17 – Reporting, Raising Awareness, Victim Support & School Resources/Support
• Hate Crime Reporting
• Hate Crime information and advice
• Safe in Town Scheme – Look out for the sticker in shop windows if you feel afraid out in Halton

• Halton Anti-Bullying information, support and advice
• Childlne is a private and confidential service for children and young people up to the age of 19
• Speak Up Not Down gives a voice for disabled young people in Halton with both learning and physical needs
• Anti-Bullying information – National Network of Parent Carer Forums
• Safe in Town Scheme – Look out for the sticker in shop windows if you feel afraid out in Halton

Video’s

• Parent and Carers Guide to the Internet can help you with those tricky conversations with your children around keeping your family safe online
• Keeping up with the Joneses
• Child Exploitation and Online Protection
• CEOP Reporting Centre for staying safe
• Get Safe Online
• Sexting
• Internet Matters
• CEOP’s Thinkuknow
• Digital Parenting Guide
• Keeping Kids Safe Online – O2/NSPCC
• What’s the Problem? For young people in trouble due to inappropriate or illegal online behaviour
• Underwear Rule
• PACE – Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation and Parent’s Guide
• Grooming – signs to spot it happening

• Halton Trading Standards
• iCAN is a free email alert service which you can sign up for through Trading Standards to warn about scams by email, cold callers and doorstep callers
• No Cold Callers – Window Card and Letterbox Sticker you can print off for your home, or printed copies are available at Halton Direct Links
• Telephone and Mail Prompt Card  you can print off and keep by the phone as a handy reminder on how to protect yourself against scammers, or printed  copies available at Halton Direct Links