Support for Parents and Carers

The information below provides more information about what Carers Support Workers do and the contact list for Carers Support Workers and other support for Carers in Torbay.

Barnardo’s Exceed Service, DICE. A 4-week online Parenting Support Programme.

DICE Leaflet with QR Code

DICE Overview of Sessions

Barnardos main web page

About the service

Breathing Space is a voluntary support service. We can offer support to any parent living in Torbay, who has had a child removed from their care.

We also support some parents who are expecting a baby, when there are worries about the care of baby after birth. Our team will help you to decide which parts of your life you would most like support with and we will help you to make a plan.

It is important that you understand that working with Breathing Space is not a stepping stone to your child being returned to your care. But we hope that working with us will improve any time or contact you might have with your child. We also hope that we can help you to be in a stronger position to care for any child you might have in the future.

Breathing Space principles

Making positive changes happens best when we support parents to make their own plans for their futures. The best and most lasting support is here in our community. We will always help parents to access this support.

Parents tell us that short term support and changes to relationships with professionals is not helpful. We support change through lasting relationships. We want Breathing Space to work well for our parents, so we always involve parents in developing or improving our service.

Some of the key areas we can support with:

If you think you would like support from Breathing Space, please email us with your name and telephone number so that we can call you and have a chat.

Our email address is: Breathing.Space.Service@torbay.gov.uk

A charity that supports adults, children and their families diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder and adults, children and their families awaiting diagnosis.

They offer support, advice and pathways for treatment.

They run craft mornings and a drop-in centre in Newton Abbot.

You can message them on social media, where they will be happy to support you.

There is a lot happening after separating from your partner. It can often be a time of high emotion and high conflict.  

While you might be doing your best to protect your child from the impact of separation, children will often pick up on many of these emotions and experiences and might need to talk about the situation. Children can feel caught in the middle between their parents.  

With all that is happening during and after separation, some parents may be focusing on the routine of day-to-day parenting without really listening to what their children are telling them.  

Here you will find various links to projects around your area

Barnardo’s

Paignton Community Supermarket

Down-to-earth parenting advice you can trust. We’re on hand to support parents, when you need us. Browse our articles on the most common parenting questions from our experts. Or talk one-to-one with a qualified parenting coach about anything that’s worrying you. It’s all free, and no topic is too big, small, or embarrassing.

Sibs exists to support people who grow up with or have grown up with a disabled brother or sister. It is the only UK charity representing the needs of over half a million young siblings and over one and a half million adult siblings.

Please see our website www.sibs.org.uk for information and advice.
Or contact us at info@sibs.org.uk

A Special Guardianship Order (SGO) is a type of kinship care. The SGO Support team is available to Special Guardians residing in Torbay. We also support Special Guardians living outside of Torbay for up to 3 years post-order. SGO Support is available until your SGO child turns 18 years old, or until they are 25 years old if they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This support is provided with your consent and in line with your level of need.

As a Special Guardian, you will be provided with a SGO Support Plan. This is an important document which outlines your needs and that of your SGO child(ren) and provides clarity on support agreements made by the Local Authority – including any SGO financial allowance. Our team will review your SGO Support Plan every year to ensure this is meeting your needs.

Our team can provide you with support and resources tailored to your family’s needs at any time during the course of the SGO and we can assist you with accessing support through social care and other community services.

The areas of support available through the SGO Support team includes:

• Training, resources and knowledge
• Specialist support and advice
• Accessing therapeutic support and specialist assessment
• Benefits advice and financial support
• Accessing support in the community and peer support groups
• SGO Activities and Events
• Accessing independent advice and support (including family rights information and legal advice)

If you would like to talk to us about your support needs you can contact our team directly via email: sgo.support@torbay.gov.uk or call 01803 208100 and ask for the SGO Support team.

Free support for military parents.

Are you parenting with someone who you argue with a lot?
Is there conflict in your relationship?
Have you separated and you are struggling to co-parent without tension?

Research project

The study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and led by University of Exeter in collaboration with Kinship and supported by the University of Plymouth and Torbay Council. 

Research team

University of Exeter: Professor Felicity Thomas, Professor Katrina Wyatt, Dr Lorien Jasny. Dr Tom El-Hoss, Susanne Hughes, and two of our kinship carers in Torbay. 

Kinship: Dr Louise Sims

University of Plymouth: Dr Felix Gradinger

Study Status: Ongoing

Background

The main source of support for many kinship carers comes from family, friends and community groups. However, we don’t know who this more informal support is available to, what role it plays and how this differs with factors like kinship carer and child age., child needs, religion, ethnicity and location. 

Research aims and objectives

The objectives are to:

1. Understand the shape and distribution of support networks available to diverse groups of kinship carers across the UK.
2. Undertake in-depth social network mapping and analysis across three diverse case study sites.
3. Identify protective factors which support kinship carers at different stages of the care process as well as areas where networks are weak or fragile. 
4. Establish how information on support networks which encompass family and friends, voluntary and community sector support and statutory support can more effectively inform kinship carer assessments and targeted support. 

What does the study involve?

Kinship will add questions to their national annual survey about social networks and how they help kinship carers to support their children.

We will undertake in-depth social network mapping and interviews with kinship carers in Torbay, Walsall and Newcastle. We will train and support kinship carers as peer researchers to help us carry out data collection. We will also speak to children’s social care teams in the three areas to understand how kinship carer social networks are taken into account during assessments and could be strengthened in support plans.

How can I take part?

1. Kinship’s annual survey – kinship carers from across England and Wales will be able to contribute to the study via questions within Kinship’s annual survey (Summer 2024).
2. Social mapping – kinship carers living in Torbay, Walsall and Newcastle will be invited to take part in the social mapping part of the study. This work started in Torbay in Summer 2024 and is expected to start in Newcastle and Walsall in Spring 2025.
3. Peer researchers – we will be recruiting, training and supporting kinship carer peer researchers to support data collection in Walsall and Newcastle.

Who can I talk to about the project?

If you are interested in taking part or have any questions, contact:

• louise.sims@kinship.org.uk
• T.El-Hoss@exeter.ac.uk

Watch this video to find out more about the online understanding your pregnancy course

New online course – Understanding your preterm or sick baby

Watch this video to find out more about the online understanding your baby course

Here’s a taster about the understanding your child’s feelings course

New online course – understanding the impact of the pandemic on your child

The Solihull Approach Parenting Group emphasises the need for emotional containment and the presence of a reciprocal relationship. This enables parents to think, within the group and at home, about sensitive and effective approaches to behaviour management. It also empowers parents, to build on their existing skills and develop a way of thinking to solve difficulties in the future.

This is an 11 week course and can be accessed via a referral from a professionals such as your health visitor or you can self refer.

Call us on 01803 210200 or email familyhub@torbay.gov.uk 

To self referral click here

A one to one support service that responds to the individual needs of the family; the child is at the centre of all activities/interventions.

Some of the activities we can help with are:

• Daily routines and family organisation.
• Budgeting and healthy eating.
• Support in accessing appropriate services or universal activities.
• Support parents to complete forms and applications.
• Positive behaviour management strategies.
• Establishing positive and secure relationships.
• Understanding children’s social, emotional and developmental needs.
• Developing supportive family and social networks.
• To raise aspirations and contributions into the community.

Attendance at child in need, child protection and core group meetings supporting the needs of the child.
This is a targeted service and we only take referrals from the Early Help Panel.

Home-Start offers a range of parent support services, including relationship support programmes and perinatal mental health groups, but their primary service is peer mentoring, befriending volunteers. A volunteer with parenting experience offers support to parents either in the home or via text, phone or video chat. The volunteer offers tailor-made, one-to-one regular support – usually on a weekly basis.

Telephone: 07307 873163
Website: https://www.home-start.org.uk/home-start-south-west-devon
Facebook: @HomeStartSouthandWestDevon
Email: homestart.shpt@gmail.com

Does someone rely on you? Are you an unpaid carer?

Lots of people care or support their relatives or friends. They may help with shopping or meals, attending appointments with them, or just making sure that they are alright. They may not see themselves as a carer or know about the support available to them.

Being a carer is really important and we want to help them, and the people they care for. Our commitment to this is in our carers policy, and in our action plan which will help us to achieve this.

Torbay Carers Service – Torbay and South Devon NHS FT

Contact us to see how we can support you in your caring role. 

We offer: 

• Free Health and Wellbeing Checks 
• A free flu jab each year 
• Links to Carer Support Workers and Carer Support Groups
• Discounts, finance and benefits advice 
• Free Hospital Parking* *Conditions apply

For more details, ask your Carer Support Worker, call 01803 66 66 20, or email signposts@nhs.net

Ask us about a free Carer’s Passport

Torbay Carers Service

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Paignton Library

Paignton

TQ4 5AG

What’s Your Problem are a non-profit organisation that offers friendly, confidential help and support to ensure that all people have equal and fair access to justice and support. Their team is available Monday-Friday, from 9.00am-3.00pm, and can offer support to access justice and legal advice for family matters such as divorce and child arrangements, and welfare rights advice for housing support and benefit entitlement.
Telephone: 01803 524044
Website: https://www.whatsyourproblem.org.uk/
Facebook: @whatsyourproblemtorbay
Email: info@whatsyourproblem.org.uk

Family Support for those with a child under five years
A one to one support service that responds to the individual needs of the family; the child is at the centre of all activities/interventions.

Some of the activities we can help with are:

• Daily routines and family organisation.
• Budgeting and healthy eating.
• Support in accessing appropriate services or universal activities.
• Support parents to complete forms and applications.
• Positive behaviour management strategies.
• Establishing positive and secure relationships.
• Understanding children’s social, emotional and developmental needs.
• Developing supportive family and social networks.
• To raise aspirations and contributions into the community.
• Attendance at child in need, child protection and core group meetings supporting the needs of the child.

This is a targeted service and we only take referrals from the Early Help Panel.

Solihull online course – Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing
If you are either interested or worried about your child’s mental health and wellbeing, then this course is for you.

This course ‘Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing’ is unusual as it introduces you to mental health and wellbeing in Part 1…, then you leave this course and complete ‘Understanding your child’ …and then come back to Part 2 of this course.

If you have already completed ‘Understanding your child’ then you don’t need to do it again (unless you want a refresh or to look at it from a different angle).

Enter the code TAMAR to access it for free.

Solihull online course – Understanding your child with additional needs
This online course is for parents with a child with additional needs. It is for parents, relatives and friends of children who may have a physical or learning disability or who may have autistic traits. In the UK, you may be within the SEND (Special educational needs and disability) system. Some parents describe their child as differently abled, or neuroatypical.

This course is in 2 sections. Level 1 lays the foundation for understanding your child. Level 2 looks at some particular aspects of parenting: sleeping and anger management, together with more about how we interact with each other. Understanding this can make it easier to work with your child’s behaviour as well as supporting their development. Once you finish Level 1 you can progress to Level 2 if you’d like to.

To access this course for free, just enter the code TAMAR.

Solihull online course – Understanding your baby
This course gives parents information about their baby’s brain development and their baby’s physical and emotional development. It shows how important their relationship with their baby is for the baby’s development.

It integrates the traditional information given on a postnatal course with this new approach to developing your relationship with the baby. It looks at the baby’s sleeping, feeding, crying, playing and childcare options.

The course was developed by Health Visitors working with health professionals in the Solihull Approach team. Enter the code TAMAR, fill in a few details to create an account. You can then sign in to your course.

What is a Family Group Conference (FGC)?

An FGC is an opportunity that is open to all children, young people and their families across Torbay who are experiencing any kind of difficulties. It is completely voluntary, and you can access the service without the need for a referral.

The FGC service helps families to hold their own meetings which are completely family led and recognises the children, young people and their families as the key decision makers in the planning. You will be supported by an independent coordinator who can make all the arrangements with you to enable your meeting to happen and they would ensure all relevant people attend. Your meeting would include people who are important to you and your children. This can be family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, community members and professionals that support you. You are fully involved in the planning of the meeting and identifying who should attend.

We would always encourage children and young people to take part in their FGC whether that is in person or via a person called an advocate who will share their wishes and feelings on their behalf. An advocate is independent and is there to support the child or to be their voice when they cannot attend. All children aged five and above can access the advocates.

Why do we offer this service?
We believe that families can make good, safe and supportive decisions about the care of their children and with the help of the extended network around you, you can get the help and support you need to improve your situation for you and your children.

It is important that you and your family have a voice and can tell professionals what support you do have and what else you need to ensure your children are kept safe and well and are supported to grow and develop into healthy adults.

Why is this different to other meetings?
An FGC is completely family-led and offers families the opportunity to take the lead in the planning. You as a family write your own plan and everyone, including the children have a say in what that looks like.

An FGC is an informal meeting which is held in a neutral venue agreed between you and the coordinator. We want your meeting to be as relaxed and comfortable as possible and will provide you with refreshments during your meeting.

The FGC service is an independent service which sits within Torbay Early Help Service. We are not involved with any decisions being made about your children. We are there to help to arrange and facilitate your meeting for you.

What does an FGC look like?
An FGC is split into three parts:
1. The information giving stage – this is where any professionals will be invited to attend your meeting to share any information and tell you about any support you could access and use in your plan.
2. Private family time – during this stage, all professionals will leave the room to allow you and your identified network (your family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, or community members) to have open and honest discussions about the current situation in private. You will also put together your plan during this stage of the meeting.
3. Agreeing the plan – Once you have finished putting together your plan, the professionals will be asked to come back in so that we can look at your plan together and make sure that we have all the relevant information and timescales for when things will be done, for e.g. if a professional has offered to refer you to a service, we would ask them to provide a date of when they will do it by. The coordinator will help you to make contingency plans in case any part of your plan is disrupted by unforeseen circumstances, for example if someone is unwell and cannot do what they said they would do.

Once your family plan is agreed, the coordinator will ensure that your plan is written up and sent out to everyone that attends your meeting so that everyone knows what was agreed.

The coordinator will also make arrangements with you for a review of your plan within 12 weeks to see how things are going. You will be able to continue with your current plan if it is working well or make amendments to it if needed.

Contact us on 07824 537242 or email FGC.referrals@torbay.gov.uk

Culture Reframed understands how daunting it can be to raise kids in a culture where they are bombarded with sexual images, including porn. That’s why they have created a Parents Program — a complete, best-practice toolkit — that will give you the skills and knowledge you need to raise porn-resilient kids.

Our Early Help Service is available to children and their families and is made up of two types of services that combine in different ways to form Torbay’s Early Help offer.

Here is the link to the assessment portal where you can register and complete an Early Help Assessment

These are universal services and targeted services.

• Universal services include: Post-16 education, schools, early years settings, housing and finance advice and support, family hubs, children’s centres and youth centres, GP surgeries, libraries, maternity services, specialist public health or community nurses and community connectors
• Targeted services include: Early Help Panel, Family support, health professionals, mental health services, special education needs support services, jobcentre plus, school attendance and exclusion support, domestic abuse services, alternative provision, housing services, police, substance misuse services and targeted youth services.

Our Early Help Universal offer covers an umbrella of services which are available to all children and families. Please click here to open more information and how to contact that service.

• Housing & Cost of living surgeries
• Youth Homeless Prevention Service
• Family Group Conference
• Parenting Drop ins
• Parenting Teens Group
• Reducing Parental Conflict/EPIC partnership for whole family support
• Youth Service

The course covers nine topics to help you with independent living. During the course you’ll explore housing, finances, how to look after yourself and how to stay safe whilst living independently. Click the link below to get started.

Start the course

Illegal money lenders or loan sharks as they are more commonly known are criminals and they will lend money to almost anyone at extortionately high interest rates (100% a week is the norm) and will use a variety of tactics such as intimidation, harassment, threats and violence to ensure that the borrower continues to pay with no end date to the loan.

In the period 2016 – 2021, Devon was the nations “hotspot” for loan shark activity and Torbay in particular had numerous arrests made and several prosecutions.

Anyone who owes a loan shark money needs specialist help and support which only the Stop Loan Shark Team can provide and they can be contacted (anonymously if needs be) either by calling their 24/7/365 Helpline on 0300 555 2222 or via their Live Chat facility on their website www.stoploansharks.co.uk
And most importantly, anyone who has taken a loan from a loan shark has NOT committed any offence at all.

Need advice with benefits, housing or finances?

Please attend one of our Housing and Cost Of Living Surgeries running from family hubs across Torbay where you can speak to a Benefits Adviser and Housing Officer.

Benefits
Checking what benefits and financial support you might be able to get to help with your living costs

Housing
Support with your housing needs, signposting and liaison with housing services.

• Dealing with notice to quit and the eviction process.
• Illegal evictions.
• Tenancy rights.
• Devon Home Choice.
• Housing standards and dis-repair

Surgeries are held once a month with appointments available at the following times, so please book the date and time that suits you. This will save you waiting to see an advisor.

• 9:00 – 9:30
• 9:30 – 10:00
• 10:00 – 10:30
• 10:30 – 11:00
• 11:00 – 11:30
• 11:30 – 12:00

To see the diary pages and make a booking click here.   Select the location you prefer to see the dates and times available.  If you are unable to attend your booking, please let us know so we can assist other families.

Working in partnership with local agencies to help with the practical needs of families and babies within Torbay. We provide baby clothes, food, toiletries, toys and some pieces of equipment through a referral process for babies and children up to three years old!

We believe that every family deserves access to the financial education and support they need to plan for their child’s future. We’re here to help you navigate the complex world of special educational needs & disabilities and create a plan that works for your unique situation.

We offer workshops, support groups and one-on-one consultations to help you navigate the financial and care services available.

We direct you to a team of experts that can help you create a financial plan that meets your unique needs. From savings plans to Life Cover, Child ISA’s, Trusts, Protection, Wills and Pensions.

Our community is here to support families on their journey towards financial security.

• Facebook community page – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557827217524
• Our instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sendprotect/
• Our Linktree – https://linktr.ee/sendprotect

We often collaborate with local and national organisations and host events in an inclusive  environment that fosters communication, friendships and support.

Teaching your children about money from a young age helps them develop the skills they’ll need as adults. We can show you how to talk to 3- to 11-year-olds about money. This doesn’t need to be complicated – children can learn about money from being involved in everyday activities.

The Torbay Community Helpline is a one-stop-shop for access to advice, information and referral to a whole range of support in the community and beyond.

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

Torbay Food Alliance is a partnership of local community organisations, working together to support people who are struggling to afford food. Find out where you can get support.

A social supermarket (sometimes known as an Affordable Food Club) is a kind of shop which provides people with food and essentials at a large discount.

Advising Torbay is a collaboration between organisations working together to support Benefits advice in Torbay. Each partner already delivers some form of Information, Advice and Guidance in their areas. We came together to support sustainability across all our organisations and to develop some new features to Advising Torbay to support our local communities.

Information, advice and guidance on benefits, form filling, appointments and drop ins as well as training to organisations across Torbay.

CAP can help if you are struggling with debt or unemployment, need some help breaking free from habits or learning new life skills.

You are entitled to a ‘Sure Start Maternity Grant’ of £500 from the Department of Work and Pensions if you are on benefits to buy essentials for when your first baby is born. You can talk to your Personal Advisor and midwife about these grants and other support that might be available to you.

You will be able to get free NHS dental care in the UK while you’re pregnant and for a year after the baby is born.

In England, you’re entitled to free prescriptions while you’re pregnant and for a year after the baby is born.

This scheme aims to support households in the most need, particularly families with children and pensioners who would otherwise struggle with energy bills and food.

To apply for Household Support, you must:

• be over 16 years of age
• live in Torbay
• be on a welfare benefit/tax credit or have a disposable income of less than £50 per week

Awards will normally only be given to people liable for fuel costs. Exceptions do apply to people who are homeless.

If your partner or someone in your family is hurting your mind or your body that’s not OK. Support is available.

Refuge work to support women and children experiencing domestic abuse. They offer a freephone 24-hour domestic abuse helpline.
Telephone: 0808 2000 247
Websites: https://www.refuge.org.uk/ and https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
Facebook: @RefugeCharity
Email: helpline@refuge.org.uk

Look at how the brain generates thoughts, feelings and physical sensations, pleasant and unpleasant.

Brain Gym Training offer

Brain Gym- https://www.reallifepsychology.org/brain-gym  will help look at how the brain generates thoughts, feelings and physical sensations, pleasant and unpleasant. It will explore the role of attention, breathing, imagery, the body, and the relationship we have with ourselves and people around us in fostering good mental health.

Brain Gym is designed as a guided self-help course where we will introduce tried and tested practices to bring some perspective and balance to our thinking and dampen overwhelming emotions. These practices form part of an emotion regulation toolkit that can help us respond skilfully to the various challenges life throws at us.”

Article Mental Health Alliance wrote about it: https://www.mentalhealthdevon.co.uk/news/2022-11-17/real-life-psychologys-brain-gym-a-model-to-help-understand-and-regulate-emotions

If you or your service feel offering Brain Gym would be beneficial for your service, group, or organisation in offering it to people within our community to help support good mental health, then register your interest.

This is currently being offered for FREE and is a day’s training.

If you are interested of have any questions, please email Stephanie Hood stephanie.hood2@nhs.net

Postnatal depression affects more than 1 in every 10 women within a year of giving birth. It can also affect fathers and partners.

Is the way that you are feeling affecting your daily life? Are you struggling to cope, feeling low, anxious or overwhelmed by your thoughts and feelings? Are you living with a health condition that is making you feel tired, frustrated and worried? You are not alone and we can help.

Sands works to support anyone affected by the death of a baby; improve the care bereaved parents receive; and create a world where fewer babies die.

The BTA is a charity that supports women who suffer birth trauma – a shorthand term for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after birth. Their website also includes an information and support page dedicated to dads and partner, both as supporters of mums and as having experienced birth trauma in their own right.
Telephone: 01264 860380 (Mon-Fri, 10.00am-5.30pm)
Website: https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/ and https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/for-parents/fathers-partners-page
Facebook: @TheBTA
Email: support@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk or enquiries@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk

“The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database, providing individuals with the ability to search for mental health support that is local to them. This includes: local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services.
Website: https://hubofhope.co.uk/

Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Their website contains useful information on a range of mental health problems, including postnatal and antenatal depression, perinatal mental health problems, postpartum psychosis, and postnatal depression and perinatal mental health problems experienced by dads and partners, as well as drugs, treatments and tips for everyday living. Mind also offer a range of online support services, as well as local groups.
Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich Mind have also published a downloadable leaflet, setting out advice on “Better mental health for new dads, partners and non-birthing parents”.

For more information on the services offered at Devon Mind, please visit their website or Facebook page.
Telephone: 01752 512280
Website: https://www.devonmind.com/
Facebook: @MindDevon
Email: hello@devonmind.com

Telephone: 0300 123 3393 (Mind Infoline – Mon-Fri, 9.00am-6.00pm, not including Bank Holidays)
Website: https://www.mind.org.uk/
Facebook: @mindforbettermentalhealth
Email: contact@mind.org.uk

The PANDAS Foundation (Pre And Post Natal Depression Advice and Support) offers free support and advice to any parent who is struggling with their mental health. It also provides support for their families.

There is a specific Facebook page for dads, including a link to a closed Facebook support group. To find your local PANDAS group, click on this link: https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/how-we-can-support-you/support-groups/.

Telephone: Helpline: 0808 1961 776 (11.00am-10.00pm daily)
Website: www.pandasfoundation.org.uk
Facebook: @PANDASFoundation and @pandasdads
Email: info@pandasfoundation.org.uk

Tommy’s is the largest charity funding research into the causes of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. They also provide information for parents-to-be to help them to have a healthy pregnancy and baby, as well as advice on mental wellbeing. As part of their ‘Pregnancy Hub’, they have specific pages of information and advice for dads and partners.
Telephone: 0800 0147 800
Website: https://www.tommys.org/ and https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/dads-and-partners
Facebook: @Tommys
Email: mailbox@tommys.org

The Sapper Support Helpline is staffed by veterans 24/7 to help those suffering from PTSD, anxiety, depression, bi-polar or PTS.
Telephone: 0800 040 7873 / 0800 040 7783 – or text 07860 018733

Are you feeling distressed, frightened, overwhelmed, or that things are too much for you? Don’t know where to turn to get mental health support? Are your usual sources of support closed for the night? The Moorings @ Devon offers out-of-hours mental health support to anyone aged 16+ in the Devon area, from three locations in Barnstaple, Exeter, and Torquay: Torquay

Address: Torbay Business Centre, Lymington Road, Torquay TQ1 4BD,

Open 6pm-midnight every day (including weekends and bank holidays).

Contact to book: 07483 991 848 or Email: devontorquay.mhm@nhs.net

Website: https://www.mhm.org.uk/the-moorings-devon

Independent alcohol advice, information and tools to help people make better choices about their drinking.

AA provide support groups and online forums for individuals struggling with alcoholism.
Telephone: 0800 9177 650
Website: https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
Email: help@aamail.org

EDP Drug and Alcohol Services is the registered charity that delivers the Together Drug and Alcohol Service across the whole of Devon. They offer all sorts of programmes and activities to support recovery both for the individual and for their family, together with prescribing options and a needle exchange. To find details of your nearest service, please visit their website.
Telephone: 08002 335444
Website: http://www.edp.org.uk/together/
Facebook: @EDPDrugandAlcoholServices
Email: info@together-devon.org.uk

Second hand smoke is dangerous, especially for children. Find out how to protect against second hand smoke.

Torbay Recovery Initiatives – part of the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust – provides help, support, advice and treatment for those with problematic drug and/or alcohol use and anyone affected by drugs and alcohol misuse. For more information on the services provided, including how to refer, please visit their website.
Address: Walnut Lodge, Walnut Road, Chelston, Torquay TQ2 6HP
Telephone: 01803 604330
Website: https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/drug-and-alcohol-service/
Facebook: @TorbayDrugAlcoholService

Advice and information on a range of employment and training issues for people of working age

We enable people to identify and overcome their barriers to live a more fulfilled life.

Whether you’re a teenager or an adult, it’s never too late to learn. We provide safe and fun learning environments, tailored around you!
01803 551 551
https://eatthatfrog.ac.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/eatthatfrogcic
info@eatthatfrog.ac.uk

A 1:1 mentoring service offering support with life skills that involve numeracy, such as budgeting, hobbies, work income etc.

This service is available for free to anyone in Torbay who has not yet achieved a level 2 in Maths or numeracy and is over the age of 19.
01803 201332
https://icandothat.co/#what-we-offer

DaddiLife – A parenting website for dads which includes advice, tips and help on family, health, lifestyle and much more.

DigiDAD is an online e-learning platform full of father friendly content for young dads and the professionals who work with them. Co-created by North East Young Dads and Lads, young fathers and professionals, the 0-6 months parenting section features engaging bite-size cartoons which can be used as a course:

• I’m a dad now – do’s and don’ts
• How to hold your baby
• Changing a nappy
• Breastfeeding and bottle
• Give the bairn a bath
• Safe sleeping

A fun resource for antenatal or postnatal young parent groups! There is also a set of videos for young dads covering court proceedings and social care

Dads Matter UK provides support for dads worried about or suffering from depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Website: www.dadsmatteruk.org

Facebook: @dadsmatteruk

Andy’s Man Club is a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the UK and online. The Club want to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and to support men through the power of conversation.
Website: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/
Facebook: @andysmanclub
Email: info@andysmanclub.co.uk

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement for men against mental health issues and male suicide. Their helpline is for men in the UK who are down or who have hit a wall, for any reason, and who need to talk or find information and support.
Telephone: 0800 585858 (Mon-Fri from 1.00 pm-11.00 pm)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net (with webchat from 5.00 pm-12.00 am)
Facebook: @theCALMzone

HeadsUp is an online campaign to help men get happy and stay happy. It has been set up to help men identify and deal with issues that tend to crop up in life from time to time. The website also offers help to friends and family of a man they might be able to support.
Website: www.thisisheads-up.uk

PANDAS now also host online Zoom support groups for dads. If you are a dad and are feeling the strain of parenting, or simply want to connect with other dads, then this is the group for you. The calls take place between 8.00pm-10.00pm every other Monday. The calls are drop-in, so feel free to join and leave the call when it suits you within that timeframe. The group will be hosted by PANDAS’ amazing, fully-trained, dad-volunteers, and you will be able to chat to other dads who may be experiencing a similar journey to you. You will also be able to offer support to other dads. PANDAS hope that this group will be a chance to reduce isolation and get more support. For further details on dates and to sign up, please visit the EventBrite link.
Website: https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/how-we-can-support-you/online-support-groups/

Essential suicide prevention for everyday life, the Stay Alive app is an award-winning suicide prevention resource and is free to download onto an Android phone or iPhone.
Website: www.prevent-suicide.org.uk

The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families. Their website also includes a specific page setting out safer sleep advice for dads.
Telephone: 0808 802 6869 (information line) or 0808 802 6868 (bereavement support)
Website: https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/ and https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/dads-zone/
Facebook: @LullabyTrust
Email: info@lullabytrust.org.uk or support@lullabytrust.org.uk

Dad.Info was established in 2008 as a new generation men’s lifestyle channel and the leading voice for dads, and is now Europe’s largest advice and support website for fathers. The team at Dad.Info want to celebrate the changing role of dads with engaging, helpful, practical, entertaining resources and content for every stage of the journey. It is home to the largest connected community of active, involved dads through its interactive forum, providing great peer-to-peer support and advice for what can be one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, life experiences.
Website: https://www.dad.info/
Facebook: @dadinfopage

Dads in Mind is a dad-specific support service run by Bluebell Care. The team have been supporting dads for over a decade through all aspects of perinatal mental ill health, including depression or anxiety, birth-related trauma, supporting their partner’s ill-health, or struggling to adapt to life with a baby. Their service includes one-to-one support over the phone, via text or online, as well as opportunities to meet face-to-face for those living close to their Bristol base.
Telephone: 0117 922 0746
Website: https://bluebellcare.org/our-services/dads-in-mind
Facebook: @Bluebellsupportingfamilies
Email: hello@bluebellcare.org

Dadsnet offers advice, support and knowledge on practical parenting and fatherhood through a community of dads. Their website includes a useful ‘New Dad Survival Guide’.
Website: https://www.thedadsnet.com/
Facebook: @TheDadsnet

FNF is a leading UK charity that supports dads, mums and grandparents to have personal contact and meaningful relationships with their children, following parental separation.
Telephone: 0300 030 0363
Website: https://fnf.org.uk/
Facebook: @familiesneedfathersuk
Email: admin@fnf.org.uk

FNF Exeter
Telephone: 01392 682699
Website: https://fnf.org.uk/exeter and http://www.exeter.fnf.org.uk/
Email: exeter.meetings@fnf.org.uk

Dads House aims to support dads to ensure that children remain the priority after divorce, separation or bereavement.
Telephone: 07765 183504
Website: https://www.dadshouse.org.uk/
Facebook: @dadshouseuk
Email: info@dadshouse.org.uk

Gingerbread supports single parents to live secure, happy and fulfilling lives. The organisation:
• provides information to help single parents support themselves and their family
• runs programmes to equip single parents with the skills and opportunities to gain employment
• campaigns and influences policy to reduce stigma against single parents and to make services more accessible to all families, whatever their shape or size.
Their website contains lots of information regarding finance and co-parenting, and they also have a helpline.
Telephone: 0808 802 0925 (helpline)
Website: https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/
Facebook: @gingerbread
Email: groups@gingerbread.org.uk

This organisation offers affordable camping holidays for single parents and their children.
Website: https://singlewithkids.co.uk/single-parents/camping-uk/
Email: events@singlewithkids.co.uk

We welcome self-referrals from parents, carers, and young people over the age of 16. If you would like to know more, please complete the contact box and one of our Family Group Conference coordinators will give you a call. You are not obliged to proceed if you feel that a Family Group Conference is not for you, at this time, once you have spoken to us.

If you would like to submit a self-referral, please complete the self-referral form and return to FGC.Referrals@torbay.gov.uk

What is a Family Group Conference (FGC)?

An FGC is an opportunity that is open to all children, young people and their families across Torbay who are experiencing any kind of difficulties. It is completely voluntary, and you can access the service without the need for a referral.

The FGC service helps families to hold their own meetings which are completely family led and recognises the children, young people and their families as the key decision makers in the planning. You will be supported by an independent coordinator who can make all the arrangements with you to enable your meeting to happen and they would ensure all relevant people attend. Your meeting would include people who are important to you and your children. This can be family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, community members and professionals that support you. You are fully involved in the planning of the meeting and identifying who should attend.

We would always encourage children and young people to take part in their FGC whether that is in person or via a person called an advocate who will share their wishes and feelings on their behalf. An advocate is independent and is there to support the child or to be their voice when they cannot attend. All children aged five and above can access the advocates.

Why do we offer this service?
We believe that families can make good, safe and supportive decisions about the care of their children and with the help of the extended network around you, you can get the help and support you need to improve your situation for you and your children.

It is important that you and your family have a voice and can tell professionals what support you do have and what else you need to ensure your children are kept safe and well and are supported to grow and develop into healthy adults.

Why is this different to other meetings?
An FGC is completely family-led and offers families the opportunity to take the lead in the planning. You as a family write your own plan and everyone, including the children have a say in what that looks like.

An FGC is an informal meeting which is held in a neutral venue agreed between you and the coordinator. We want your meeting to be as relaxed and comfortable as possible and will provide you with refreshments during your meeting.

The FGC service is an independent service which sits within Torbay Early Help Service. We are not involved with any decisions being made about your children. We are there to help to arrange and facilitate your meeting for you.

What does an FGC look like?
An FGC is split into three parts:
1. The information giving stage – this is where any professionals will be invited to attend your meeting to share any information and tell you about any support you could access and use in your plan.
2. Private family time – during this stage, all professionals will leave the room to allow you and your identified network (your family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, or community members) to have open and honest discussions about the current situation in private. You will also put together your plan during this stage of the meeting.
3. Agreeing the plan – Once you have finished putting together your plan, the professionals will be asked to come back in so that we can look at your plan together and make sure that we have all the relevant information and timescales for when things will be done, for e.g. if a professional has offered to refer you to a service, we would ask them to provide a date of when they will do it by. The coordinator will help you to make contingency plans in case any part of your plan is disrupted by unforeseen circumstances, for example if someone is unwell and cannot do what they said they would do.

Once your family plan is agreed, the coordinator will ensure that your plan is written up and sent out to everyone that attends your meeting so that everyone knows what was agreed.

The coordinator will also make arrangements with you for a review of your plan within 12 weeks to see how things are going. You will be able to continue with your current plan if it is working well or make amendments to it if needed.

Contact us on 07824 537242 or email FGC.referrals@torbay.gov.uk