Kinship local offer

Specialist support

At times, children, young people, and kinship carers may need additional specialist support. Find out more about the services available.

Contents

Neurodiversity

Support for people with ADHD in south Cumbria

ADHD North West provides free and personalised training for families. This is to:

  • improve wellbeing
  • build confidence
  • strengthen mental health
  • reduce isolation
  • help to understand ADHD and related conditions

Support services at adhdnorthwest.org

Support for autistic people in south west Cumbria

Autus Cumbria supports autistic children, young people and adults.

Support includes:

  • social activities and groups for adults
  • job seeking support
  • advice for parents and carers
  • responsive communication sessions
  • home visits and one-to-one sessions
  • talks, training and workshops

Support services at autuscumbria.org

Support for neurodivergent people in the Eden area

The Neurodiversity and Emotional Wellbeing Service is available in the Eden area. This has been developed with SEND Alliance Cumbria (SENDAC). SENDAC is an independent parent carer forum.

Kinship families in the Eden area can access the Neurodiversity and Emotional Wellbeing Service through Cumberland Family Hubs.

The service offers support for:

  • neurodiversity
  • emotional wellbeing

It is currently being piloted until November 2026.

Support services at cumberlandfamilyhubs.org.uk

SEND partnership drop-in sessions

Drop in sessions are available for parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities.

You can get advice from:

  • our SEND services
  • our Adult Services Transition Team
  • ADHD North West
  • Family Action
  • the Autism Pathway Navigator

Upcoming SEND partnership drop in session details

The teenage brain

Learn more about your teenager’s brain by visiting your local Best Start Family Hub or taking an online course.

The course helps you to:

  • understand how your teenager’s brain develops
  • interpret your teenager’s behaviour and emotions
  • nurture your teenager’s mental health
  • strengthen your relationship

Find out more about understanding your teenager’s brain at togetherness.co.uk

Emotional Health and Wellbeing

Our team offers advice, support and training for children and families.

Support may include:

  • consultations and review sessions
  • group training for carers
  • using Signs of Safety and Secure Base approaches

If you’ve already used general emotional health and wellbeing services and need more support, contact us for advice on next steps.

If your child has a social worker, speak to them about accessing further support.

In some cases, therapeutic support may be available through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund.

We offer emotion coaching training for kinship carers. We share upcoming training dates by email.

Kinship Team
Email: sgosupport@cumbria.gov.uk

Emotional health and wellbeing directory

Find services and resources to support children and young people’s mental health

Safety and relationships

Exploitation and risk

If you’re worried a child may be at risk of exploitation, speak to a professional who works with the family. This can include the child’s school. The professional will complete a checklist and share the information with Family Help.

Support may be then provided by the Support and Protect Against Child Exploitation (SPACE) team.

Read more about safeguarding at wfscp.org.uk

Healthy relationships

If you’re concerned about your child experiencing domestic abuse, you should:

  • speak to their social worker if they have one
  • speak to a trusted professional, such as a teacher

A social worker can provide personalised advice and put a safety plan in place.

A trusted professional will signpost to local support services in the community. They will contact the Multi Agency Children’s Hub if there is a concern about your child’s safety.

Real Love Rocks programme

Best Start Family Hubs offer the Real Love Rocks programme for young people. It supports them to understand their rights and make informed choices in relationships. This can be with:

  • friends
  • partners
  • family members
  • people in the wider community

The programme is delivered by Barnardo’s Safer Futures Trauma Services. You can access the programme by contacting your local Best Start Family Hub.

Find your nearest Best Start Family Hub

Useful contacts

Victim Support

Confidential help for children and young people affected by:

  • domestic abuse
  • crime
  • harassment

Telephone: 0300 3030 157 or 0808 1689 111 (24 hours a day)

Springfield

Support for men, women and children.

Email: help@springfieldsupport.org

Women Community Matters

Support for men, women and children.

Telephone: 01229 311 102
Email: reception@womenscommunitymatters.org

Safety Net

Support for men, women and children.

Telephone: 01228 515 859

The Birchall Trust

Support for men, women and children.

Telephone: 01229 820 828
Email: enquiries@birchalltrust.org.uk

Life story work

Life story work helps children and young people understand their past and their journey.

If you live with family members or carers and a social worker was involved before, they should have done something called life story work. This helps you understand your story and should have been shared with you and your parent or carer, your carer should be able to help answer questions you might have as you grow up. Sometimes, though, there may be questions they can’t answer.

You can contact sgosupport@cumbria.gov.uk for support in responding to your questions.

Moving into adulthood

Moving from children's services to adult services can sometimes be difficult.

If you need help or are unsure where to go for support, contact the Kinship Team: SGOsupport@cumbria.gov.uk

Young people aged 16 and 17 may still be able to get support from Children's Social Care if needed.

You can contact the Multi-Agency Children's Hub to explore what support is available.

Care leaver support

Some young people in kinship care may be able to get care leaver support.

This usually applies to young people who were cared for by a local authority before living with their kinship carer.

The support available depends on the young person's circumstances and care history. If you are not sure whether a young person is eligible, ask for advice from Children's Services.

For more information see the Care leavers local offer.