Community Connector newsletter – helping families find support

Welcome to our latest Community Connector newsletter!

For our Summer edition we have focused on what we believe are the most pressing concerns for families. We have resources for parents and carers, special events and a Spotlight on Services section, highlighting local groups and Surrey services.

You can find more services, resources and information on our Family Information Service and Local Offer websites and Directories so please take a look.

We hope this newsletter will be helpful to you.

Page contents

Financial support

Food and essential items

If you are finding things difficult financially you can contact the services below, grouped by location. Including details of foodbanks:

Getting to a food bank

Access to Food provides funding to people struggling with the cost of living who may also have difficulty, due to disability or long-term health condition, getting to their local food bank. The scheme covers the cost of a taxi to a local food bank. To apply complete the form online.

Free period products

Surrey Libraries have recently celebrated three years of their Period Dignity campaign. Visit your local library to collect or donate free period products. Find out more on the Period dignity across Surrey webpage.

Finances

Our Family Finance page provides details of the support available to families. Including organisations offering financial support.

The following services may also be able to help:

  • Help for households is a government support page with information and advice relating to the cost-of-living crisis.
  • Turn2Us have a search tool for grants where you can see if you are eligible for support from charities. You can also check you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to, using the Turn2Us benefits calculator.
  • The Warmth Matters project aims to tackle fuel poverty across Surrey by providing energy advice and assistance. Along with community pop-up information and advice sessions, they operate a helpline, which offers advice to people who need help with their energy bills.
  • Are you looking to return to work in September when your child starts school? The Refresh programme can help with short courses and workshops about your CV, applications, interviews and more. Apply from 10 July.

Clothing, furniture and school uniforms

Our clothing and furniture shortlist has services that provide discounted items for low income families.

You can also contact our Health and Welfare Hub who give information about financial, health and welfare support.

Parenting Support

Parenting can be challenging for lots of reasons. The services below can help with support and advice.

  • Family Learning offer a wide range of free parenting courses from Surrey County Council, on topics like understanding children's behaviour.
  • All Surrey residents can register for free online guides for families. The guides cover a wide range of topics and include tips from childcare, education and NHS health experts. A brand-new course 'Back to School' has recently been added.
  • Family Lives also have a dedicated web page which provides tips on establishing a school routine.
  • Children and Family Health Surrey have a range of videos giving advice from experts on how to support children's sleep. These give tips on supporting your toddler, child or teenager including those with additional needs and learning disabilities.

Our Parenting courses and advice webpage has details of available courses.

Parents and carers wellbeing

Our Community Connectors find that parents' mental health is one of the most common topics of discussion in the community. This list of helplines and online support services for parents can offer advice and emotional support. They are free to access in your own time and can help you take control of your mental health.

The Passport to Wellbeing programme offers creative and wellbeing learning opportunities for those learners whose mild-moderate mental health conditions are affecting their day-to-day lives. These courses are delivered in a supportive and nurturing environment and provide an opportunity to learn new skills, achieve and have a positive weekly focus.

If you are concerned about yourself or a child's emotional wellbeing, you can contact the Young Mind's Parent Helpline on 08088 025544.

Summer safety tips

Children and Family Health Surrey have launched a new webpage full of summer safety advice. Read how you can keep children safe during the summer, including tips about sun, heat, cars, beaches, travel, prams, water, cycling and children with additional needs.

Visit the Children and Family Health Surrey website to find out more.

Baby summer safety from The Lullaby Trust

Personal safety

Our Personal safety outside of the home web page offers advice to parents and carer about personal safety and how to guide them to make sensible decisions will help them to be safe when they go out without you.

Internet safety

Our Internet Safety web page has tips and advice for parents and carers. Childline have also produced an online tool called Report Remove to assist young people in reporting online nude images and videos of themselves – and getting them removed from the internet.

Spotlight on services

Over the last month we have met with a variety of different services, who support families in different but similarly inspiring ways:

  • LinkAble is a Woking based charity that supports people with a learning disability and autistic people to create the life they want to live. Children, young people and adults can access a wide range of activities and opportunities that develop skills, confidence, and lasting friendships.
  • ActAbles Youth Theatre - Inclusive drama for young people with a learning disability and autism. For young people aged 10 -16 to unleash their creativity through music, movement and drama games. A great way to increase confidence in a safe and supportive environment, and you don't need any acting experience to join.
  • Work Wise is a free employment service available to any person with a mental or physical health condition, disability, or neurodivergence, who wants to work. Please note you need to be over the age of 16 and living in or registered to a GP in Surrey or Northeast Hampshire.

What's On

We have hand picked some of the great events and courses happening this month:

Find more events on our Directory.

Follow us

Keep up to date with events by following our social channels. We also post family groups, family centre drop-in sessions and much more. Why not take a look?

If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter, please let us know: surrey.fis@surreycc.gov.uk

If you think your team or service would benefit from meeting a Connector and finding out more about the opportunities the Family Information Service and Local Offer might present to families, please do get in touch: surrey.fis@surreycc.gov.uk

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