Building Belonging Programme (BBP)

Can BBP help me and my family?

The Building Belonging Programme offers a whole family approach as many families experience multiple challenges which can leave you feeling very isolated and alone. We aim to support you, strengthen your skills and build helpful connections locally within Elmbridge. We can offer you and your child/ren individual, family and group support.

If your child or child you are caring for is involved or exposed to criminal behaviour and they are between the ages of 10 and 18 years old, we can support you with the effects this may be having on you, them and your family.

For example:

• Are they becoming known to the police, for example, the police may have spoken to you or them about their behaviour in the community?
• Are you worried their friends who are becoming or are involved in antisocial or criminal behaviour and how this is influencing your child? For example, their friends are known to the police, and you think they are being encouraged to get involved.
• Are you, a member of your family or someone in your close family network involved in crime and you are worried about the impact this may be having on your child and family? For example, you or their sister, cousin, uncle or a close family friend is involved in antisocial or criminal behaviour, has been convicted of a crime or is in/been to prison.

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then we may be able to support you.

What can I expect?

• We'll only work with you if you agree.
• We'll spend time getting to know and listening to you to find out what's going well and what you'd like to be different.
• You'll be involved in making decisions about the support you and your family receive.
• You'll have one main support worker as we appreciate it takes time to get to know someone and build trust.
• Your worker will offer you and/or your child one to one support and work at your pace, in a place where you feel safe.
• We can also offer support in a group for parents/carers or your child who may share similar experiences.
• We can also offer support to your child's siblings.
• What you tell us is private and confidential unless we are concerned about your or someone else's safety.
• We will always discuss this with you and involve you with any decisions that need to be made.

What is expected of me and my family?

The BBP team ask that families are:

• Open to receiving support.
• Are available to attend meetings.
• Take part in the support activities suggested by the BBP team.

How can I ask for help?

If you would like some help from the Building Belonging Programme please speak to teachers or pastoral leads in school or college, social worker, health professionals or community organisations.

How do I request support from BBP?

We recommend having a consultation with a member of our team before completing a request for support.

To make a request for support please follow these steps:

• Seek consent from the family to make a request for support. Please make the family aware that we are a team of 7 organisations and we share information across the team.
• Complete a Request for Support form with as much information as you have available and send it to the Children's Single Point of Access (C-SPA). If you have spoken to us and we agree BBP are suitable, please add this to the request for support form. We cannot guarantee that this family will come to BBP – the final decision is made by C-SPA
• C-SPA will assess the request and forward appropriate requests to the BBP Team. We will confirm receipt and contact you about the next steps.

To request a consultation with the team please:

• Where possible please seek consent from the family. Please ensure the family are aware we are a partnership of 7 organisations, and we may share information and discuss the consultation within the team. If consent has not been obtained, we will discuss the child/ family anonymously.
• Email bbpteam@Surreycc.gov.uk with the Subject heading 'BBP Consultation'.
• The BBP team will confirm receipt and will contact you about next steps. Emails are monitored daily, Monday to Friday during working hours (9am-5pm).

If I need help, who do I contact?

If you have any questions please contact the BBP team directly via email, which is monitored Monday through Friday during working hours (9am-5pm). Email address: bbpteam@Surreycc.gov.uk

If you are involved or exposed to criminal behaviour and are between the ages of 10 and 18 years old, we can support you with how this may be affecting you.

For example:

• Are you becoming known to the police, for example, the police may have spoken to you about your behaviour in the community?
• Do you have close friends who are becoming or are involved in antisocial or criminal behaviour? For example, your friends are known to the police, and you are being encouraged to get involved.
• Is a member of your family or someone in your close family network known to be involved in crime? For example, you may have a sister, cousin, an uncle or a close family friend who is involved in antisocial or criminal behaviour, has been convicted of a crime or is in/been to prison.

If you answer yes to any of the questions above, then we may be able to support you.

What can I expect?

• We'll only work with you if you agree.
• We'll spend time getting to know and listening to you to find out what's going well and what you'd like to be different.
• You'll be involved in making decisions about the support you receive.
• You'll have one main support worker as we appreciate it takes time to get to know someone and build trust.
• Your worker will offer you one to one support and work at your pace, in a place where you feel safe.
• We can also offer you support in a group with other young people who may share similar experiences.
• We can also offer support to your parents/ carers and siblings to help you make the changes you want.
• What you tell us is private and confidential unless we are concerned about your or someone else's safety. We will always discuss this with you and involve you with any decisions that need to be made.

How can I ask for help?

If you would like some help from the Building Belonging Programme please speak to your teacher or pastoral lead at school or college, social worker, youth worker, school nurse or any other adult you are in contact with from a community organisation (for example sports/activity club).

You may also find it useful to contact the following organisations:

• Mindworks Surrey an emotional wellbeing and mental health service for children, young people, parents and carers, and professionals across Surrey.
• Fearless a website where young people can access non-judgemental information and advice about crime and criminality
• Young Minds information, advice and support to parents and carers who are concerned about their child or young person's mental health.
• Childline a free confidential service for children and young people up to the age of nineteen. It is available any time, day, or night. Children can talk to Childline on the phone, by email or through a 1-2-1 counsellor chat.

You can also find the details of many other helpful services and organisation on the Family Information Service Directory.