Support for children and young people
Children and families can access everyday support available to all families in the community. Kinship families may sometimes need additional support, especially where children have experienced difficult or traumatic circumstances before living with their kinship carers.
Healthy Child Programme (0-19)
The Healthy Child Programme (0-19) supports children and families from pregnancy through to age 19, helping children to grow, develop, and stay healthy.
Support may include health checks, immunisations, developmental reviews, and advice to support parenting and healthy choices.
In Westmorland and Furness, the programme is delivered by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) through:
- the Health Visiting Team (ages 0-5)
- 5–19 Public Health Team (ages 5-19)
More information and contact details are available at the:
HDFT Children’s Health Service website
You can also download the Growing Healthy app.
E-School nurse
The 5-19 Public Health Team also offer E-School Nurse video clinics which are available on a Tuesday and Thursday.
These are online health support and advice appointments for parents, carers and professionals who are supporting children or young people aged 5-19 years old and are worried about their health and wellbeing.
You will be able to talk to the nurse over a live video link using Attend Anywhere. The link is private, secure, and confidential.
To make an appointment:
Telephone 01228 603 973, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 4pm.
Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme
If you receive free school meals for your child, or you care for a relative’s or friend’s child (meaning you’re a kinship carer under any of the definitions above), you can access and book free holiday activities and events.
Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme
Online safety
It can be hard to keep up with new social media apps, emojis, and trends. For tips on helping your child stay safe online, visit:
Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership: Online safety
Best Start Family Hubs
Best Start Family Hubs offer a wide range of groups, activities, and support for families, from pregnancy through to the teenage years. As well as parenting and wellbeing support, Best Start Family Hubs can help you access information and guidance on financial support, benefits, and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) services.
To find out more about what’s happening at a Best Start Family Hub near you, please visit:
Westmorland and Furness: Family Help
Alternatively, email/telephone contact details:
Best Start Family Hub, Kendal West
Email: slakesfamilyhubs@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Tel: 01539 713 070
Best Start Family Hub, Barrow
Email: barrowfamilyhubs@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Tel: 01229 407 384 (Barrow Library) or 01229 408 190 (Ormsgill)
Best Start Family Hub, Penrith
Email: edenfamilyhubs@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Tel: 01768 899 901
We are integrating kinship carer support groups into Best Start Family Hubs. Further discussions will take place between Family Hub staff and kinship carers to better understand their needs and how the hubs can provide effective support.
Details of the support groups will be published on Kinship care or alternatively you can email the Kinship team sgosupport@cumbria.gov.uk for information.
Kooth
Kooth is a free and confidential, anonymous online counselling service for young people aged 10-19 across Westmorland and Furness.
It is a safe place for children and young people to go and explore a variety of emotional health and wellbeing issues. It offers a range of support including supervised forum, magazines, articles, a chat function with counsellors of booked sessions with counsellors.
At times, children, young people, and kinship carers may need additional specialist support. Find out more about the services available: