Wellbeing and Community Support
Day-to-Day Support
St Gwladys Church Services
St Gwladys' Church Hall provides a welcoming and pleasant environment for our local community. Through the support and dedication of our staff and volunteers, our Hall has become a hub of activity. With weekly groups and special events taking place throughout the year, there's something for everyone at St Gwladys'.
St Gwladys' Church offers a range of support to our local community, including:
- Clothing Bank
- Household Essentials (including electrical items, bedding, and kitchenware)
Free Emergency Food Bags
Free* Child's Meal at Morrisons
Customers at Morrisons can enjoy a free kid's meal from the kids' menu by purchasing any adult meal over £4.50. This offer is available all day, every day, seven days a week, for any child under 16 at Morrisons cafés nationwide.
*Free kid's meal with any adult meal over £4.50.
Link: Find your Local Morrisons
Period Dignity
Caerphilly County, with funding from the Welsh Government Period Dignity Grant, provides free period products to families and young people.
Periods are a normal part of life and should not be a source of shame or disadvantage. Everyone in Caerphilly County who menstruates can access free period products through schools and over 90 locations county-wide. Available products include reusable and disposable options such as tampons, menstrual cups, period pants, and pads.
For more information or to request products for your organisation, contact rowler@caerphilly.gov.uk or call 07955 433254.
Period Dignity | Caerphilly.gov.uk
Cost of Living Support
Within the council, there is a range of services that are providing support to help our communities at this time. You can find a detailed list of these services on the Cost of Living Landing Page on the CCBC website. However, below is a summary of some of the specific cost-of-living support options currently available.
You or the people you support can contact the team via email, telephone or simply text SUPPORT to 07537 414443 and one of the team will contact you directly.
Telephone Number: 01443 811490
Email Address: caerphillycares@caerphilly.gov.uk
Link: Cost of Living Support and Advice | CCBC
Financial Hardship/Maximising Income
For anyone experiencing financial hardship, the Welfare Benefits and Cost of Living teams within Housing (Rents) can support residents with a wide range of issues relating to maximising their income, including support with accessing any additional benefits and grants that they might be entitled to (including potential direct financial assistance). Advisers can also provide advice on reducing energy costs in the home and providing access to fuel vouchers.
Fuel Vouchers
Residents struggling with the cost of topping up their pre-payment meter could be eligible for a fuel voucher, which can be used to quickly add credit to their energy supply (in partnership with Citizen’s Advice).
Foodbank
The Caerphilly Cares team offers support and funding to local food banks and staff can also make direct referrals for a foodbank voucher. The foodbank network extends across the Caerphilly County Borough and a referral can be made immediately to support someone in urgent need of food and other household essentials.
Mobile Phones
We are aware that some of our most vulnerable residents may struggle with accessing services due to a lack of a working phone. If you support customers/families who require a phone to remain in contact with you and other services, Caerphilly Cares may be able to provide a basic (call-only) phone and phone credit to help them stay in touch.
Data Sim Cards
For residents in need of data to help them engage with key services, CCBC Library Service in partnership with the Good Things Foundation offers pre-loaded data SIM cards to residents who are most in need. CCBC staff may refer customers to any library to receive a SIM card – they will need to attend their local library to request their SIM and will have to advise library staff which member of staff/team has referred them (Sims will only be given to customers who have been referred and who have identified need).
Housing and Homelessness Support
If you are aware of anyone experiencing difficulties with housing, including problems with their tenancy or even risk of homelessness, the Supporting People team are available to provide expert support and advice, including help finding housing, support with form filling, debts, benefits, eviction notices and rent/mortgage arrears.
Employment Support
The Council has a dedicated team to support people to find work. The Employment team can help people gain new skills, access training and improve their chances of getting a job by supporting them with things such as updating their CV, job searching, interview skills etc. We can also complete “better off calculations” if customers have questions or concerns about how working might impact their current benefits.
Community Connectors
The Community Connectors team aim to promote well-being, reduce social isolation, help people feel part of their community and promote independence. The team reconnects residents (18+) with their community by helping them to find suitable groups, linking them to other people who have similar interests and encouraging them to participate within their community. If you are aware of someone who might be isolated and would like to get connected in their community, please get in touch with Caerphilly Cares using the details below.
Welcoming Spaces
A network of Welcoming Spaces (also previously known as Warm Hubs) across the county borough, which are usually totally free to use and provide a warm welcome to all. These spaces were a crucial space for many to stay warm through the winter months, but as we now progress through the summer many continue to provide a valuable resource within local communities. Some offer activities, advice and support or even hot food and drinks – but all provide a warm welcome and a friendly face. Welcoming Spaces open so far include libraries, community centres, church halls, sports clubs, and other places. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more about Welcoming Spaces within your area.
Parent and Child Support
Through collaborative engagement and support, we aspire to empower every parent and carer with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive personally, support their families, and actively contribute to the holistic growth of our community. #EmpowerED stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to nurturing a strong, supportive network where every individual feels valued, heard, and empowered to shape a brighter future for themselves and their children.
Parent and Child Support
Through collaborative engagement and support, we aspire to empower every parent and carer with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive personally, support their families, and actively contribute to the holistic growth of our community. #EmpowerED stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to nurturing a strong, supportive network where every individual feels valued, heard, and empowered to shape a brighter future for themselves and their children.
Family Support Services
Locally, parents and families can access various support services, including parenting workshops, playgroups, after-school programs, and family activities. Additionally, there are counselling and mental health services, resources for disabilities, and health clinics offering nutrition advice and health screenings. These services aim to help families thrive and build strong, healthy relationships.
| Families First | |
|---|---|
| National Youth Advocacy Service | |
| 'Care'-Philly News | |
| Heddlu Gwent Police | Youth Offending Services |
| Platfform | Platfform for Families |
| The Parent Network - CCBC | The Parent Network |
| Barnardos | Caerphilly Confident Parents, Stronger Families |
| Mind | Caerphilly Borough Mind |
| Healthier Together | S.P.A.C.E. Wellbeing Caerphilly |
| Young Minds | Mental Health Support |
| NHS | Better Health |
| Gwent Drug and Alcohol Services | Gwent Drug and Alcohol Services |
| Melo | Mental Health Support - Helplines and Services |
| Marie Curie | Wales Bereavement Information and Support Service (BISS) |
| Fearless | Anonnymous Crimestoppers |
Young Carers
Caerphilly Carers Team is there to provide information, advice and assistance to unpaid, informal carers. They run regular groups, events and activities to support carers in their caring role. Come along to Bargoed Support Group to meet other carers, have a drink and chat.
Supporting Your Child's Online Presence
Empower your parenting journey with National College! This free online platform offers a wealth of resources for parents and carers to support their children's education and wellbeing. Explore explainer videos, parent courses, helpful guides, and informative newsletters on crucial topics like online safety, mental health, and climate change. National College equips you to have informed conversations with your children, bridge the knowledge gap regarding their schooling, and ultimately strengthen their understanding of classroom topics. All resources are readily available online, anytime, anywhere, at no cost.
Key benefits:
- Increased knowledge and skills
- Enhanced communication with children
- Improved understanding of children's education
- Strengthened children's learning
- Easy and free access to valuable resources
To view the full range of guides and other useful information, visit nationalcollege.com.
Online Safety: Social Media
Emotional Support
Supporting your child's Mental Health
Throughout their education, children spend over 7,800 hours at school. With such a huge amount of time spent in the classroom, schools play a central role in promoting the health and wellbeing of the children within our care. Our curriculum, specifically our ‘Health and Wellbeing’ Curriculum, aims to ensure our children have the skills to thrive after they have left Heolddu. This includes providing an ideal environment for promoting good emotional wellbeing; identifying early behavioural changes and signs of mental distress, and giving children the strategies to manage their own emotions effectively.
The social and emotional skills, knowledge, and behaviours that young people learn in the classroom can help them build resilience and set the pattern for how they will manage their mental health throughout their lives.
Emotional wellbeing is a clear indicator of academic achievement, success, and satisfaction in later life. Evidence shows that mental health and wellbeing programs in schools can lead to significant improvements in children’s mental health and social and emotional skills. wellbeing provision in schools can also lead to reductions in classroom misbehaviour and bullying.
Mental health is a state of wellbeing, in which an individual realises his or her own ability, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make contributions to his or her own community.
W.H.O, 2014
What is mental health?
How do we promote good mental health and wellbeing?
Our approach to mental health and wellbeing aligns with the 5 ways to wellbeing approach:
1. Give
Showing acts of kindness within the school is supported by our school vision and values. We also support an annual charity through our School Senedd and as part of our positive approach to behaviour management, pupils are also rewarded with ClassCharts points.
2. Connect
Relationships are key to wellbeing and relationships between staff, at every level, and children are strong. Staff take the time to build relationships with children and their families.
3. Be active
Children to participate in 2 hours of quality PE a week as well a range of extra-curricular programmes
4. Take Notice
Our staff promote wellbeing activities through Nurture groups and School PSE and wellbeing weeks. Staff also take notice of changing behaviours within children to ensure early detection and intervention if a problem begins to arise.
5. Keep Learning
Our curriculum is diverse and engaging for children. The schools ‘Health and wellbeing curriculum also gives children access to new skills outside of the national curriculum, including outdoor learning in the Duke of Edinburgh award.
What do we do when concerns arise around Mental Health and wellbeing?
A pupil's voice is crucial in understanding difficulties in mental health and wellbeing. As a school, we recognise that no mental health difficulty is the same and that listening to the voice of the child and the family builds the foundation for support. We follow a multi-step approach:
1. Understand the difficulty through talking and listening.
2. Develop an individualised plan to support the child and the family in school and meet regularly to review the plan and the progress.
3. Use interventions if appropriate including:
- Nurture Group
- ELSA time
- Five Point scale etc.
4. Make referrals if necessary, including to SBC, School Nursing Service and Llamau mediation service.
5. Support both the child and the family ensuring parents and carers have the strategies needed at home.
Helping families understand mental health and wellbeing in children and adults
Anxiety is common and everyone experiences anxiety some of the time. Some of the ‘normal’ anxiety children and adolescents may experience is explained in the table below. It is important to note that there is no ‘right’ amount of worry. Worry becomes a problem when it stops an individual from living the life they want to live or leaves them feeling demoralised or exhausted.
| Developmental Age | Normative Fears |
|---|---|
| Infancy (0-2 years) |
|
| Early Childhood (3-6 years) |
|
| Middle Childhood |
|
| Adolescence |
|
Mental Health Linked to COVID-19
Some children and young people have enjoyed being off school, while others have found it challenging with the coronavirus outbreak keeping them at home and away from friends. Others may be coming to terms with personal challenges such as loss or changes to their living situation.
As restrictions lift in some places, they might also face difficulties in being back at school or have worries about getting or passing on the virus. It’s also still uncertain what further changes we all may face.
Feelings like these will gradually ease for most, but there are always steps you can take to support them emotionally and help them cope with the problems they face.
(NHS)
On the COVID–19 section of our website, there are several texts that you may wish to share with your child to deepen their understanding of viruses in an age-appropriate way.
What to do if you are finding things challenging:
Parenting or caring for a child or young person can be tough. It’s important to make sure you look after your mental wellbeing, as this will help you support yourself and those you care about.
Try to recognize and acknowledge when you’re feeling low or overwhelmed. Struggling with something or experiencing mental health problems does not make you a bad parent or carer.
It’s completely normal to be worried, scared, or helpless during difficult times, and feeling this way is nothing to be ashamed of.
Is there a friend, fellow parent, or carer you trust enough to tell how you’re feeling? Maybe there are family, friends, or colleagues who could support you or give you a break. Talk to the school as they could help support you by directing you to help services.
There’s plenty of help out there. You should never feel like you have to cope on your own.
Useful Links to Support Mental Health and wellbeing:
- NHS | Children's Mental Health
- NHS | How to Access Mental Health Services
- Mind | The Mental Health Charity
Parenting Support Group
