Child Services

Students Against Depression

Students Against Depression is a website offering advice, information, guidance and resources to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking. Alongside clinically-validated information and resources it presents the experiences, strategies and advice of students themselves.

Website – www.studentsagainstdepression.org/

Bridge the Gap

Founded in 2017, Bridge the Gap are a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the mental health of children, parents and teachers in Derby City and beyond.

Bridge the Gap offer a range of subsided or free drop-in sessions, workshops, courses and training opportunities covering a wide range of issues including emotional development and exploration, behaviour and sleep. They also have mental health professionals who are able to offer 1:1 support for children who are struggling as well as offering private regular parenting consultations and support.

Website – www.jwbridgethegap.com
Phone – 07907 885935

Build Sound Minds (Action for Children)

Build Sound Minds provide specialist early interventionist support for children and young people aged 0-17 (Early years, Primary, Secondary) who are likely to present emotional and mental difficulties but do not meet the thresholds for more specialist services such as CAMHS.

The Build Sound Minds service is commissioned by Derbyshire and Derby City Clinical Commissioning Group.  They can therefore accept referrals for any children or young people who are registered with a GP Surgery in the Derbyshire and Derby City CCG area

Website – minds.actionforchildren.org.uk

CAMHS (Derby City)

The child and adolescent mental health service is committed to providing comprehensive and targeted treatments, delivered in the heart of our communities, which positively impact upon the emotional and psychological wellbeing of children and young people.

The specialist CAMHS teams provide services for Derby City residents and employ a range of highly qualified and specialist clinicians and therapists. They maintain close links with adult mental health services, early interventions service, youth offending teams and Breakout, Derby City’s young people’s substance misuse service. CAMHS assessments and subsequent care delivery are geared towards ensuring speedy access to the right level of service for the individual and family needs. They also provide a flexible out-of-hours service, including after school and evening services.

Website – www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk
Phone – 0300 790 0264

Change4Life

Change4Life is a public health programme in England which began in January 2009, run by Public Health England. It aims to help families make small, sustainable yet significant improvements to their diet and activity levels, with an overall goal of ensuring healthy eating and good diets.

They have a large range of activity ideas, tips, recipes, tools and resources to help families and those around Children and Young People to help them make smart choices regarding their food.

Website: www.nhs.uk/change4life

Child Bereavement UK

‘Child Bereavement UK’ help children and young people across early years, primary and secondary settings (up to age 25), parents, carers, and families, to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies.

They also provide training to professionals, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.

Website: www.childbereavementuk.org
National Helpline: 0800 02 888 40

Email Contacts:
General: [email protected]
Helpline: [email protected]
Training: [email protected]

Young Minds

Young Minds works closely with young people and their families to campaign on issues which impact on young people’s mental health.

They operate a range of services including a helpline offering free advice and support to any adult who’s worried about the behavior or mental health of a young person.

Young Minds also offers training and consultancy to professional who with children – including teachers, doctors, and mental health services.

Website – youngminds.org.uk
Phone – 0808 802 5544

Sunshine Support

If you are a parent/carer or professional who’s responsible for a child or young person with special educational needs, then Sunshine Support are there to help. They provide independent information, advice and support to parents/carers and professionals of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN, SEND).

The provision includes access to independent SEND professionals whose specialisms cannot usually be provided through local government and health authorities. 

Website – www.sunshine-support.org
Contact – www.sunshine-support.org/contact

Derbyshire LGBT+

Derbyshire LGBT+ describes itself as Derbyshire’s only LGBT specific support service. They are here to support anyone who is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender or anyone, whether Early Years, Primary, Secondary or after who is having issues with their sexual orientation or gender identity, including family and friends.

They also run a wide range of training and consultancy services for professionals (teachers, support staff etc.) in Education settings. This includes specific and bespoke help and guidance for teachers and managers.

Website: www.derbyshireLGBT.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01332 207 704

Derbyshire Autism Services

Derbyshire Autism Services is a small charity, working across Derbyshire. They offer information, advice, guidance and support to children, young people and adults affected by autism, with or without a diagnosis, and their families.

Website – www.derbyshireautismservices.org
Phone – 01773 741 221

Papyrus

Papyrus is a national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. They exist to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives by shattering the stigma around suicide and equipping young people and their communities with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour.

Papyrus provide a confidential support and advice service for young people (Primary, Secondary or otherwise) who are struggling with thoughts of suicide, or for anyone worried about a young person. Papyrus also engage communities and volunteers in suicide prevention projects and deliver training programmes to individuals and groups. This includes equipping local councils, healthcare professionals and school staff (teachers, school managers/leaders) with suicide prevention skills.

Website – papyrus-uk.org
Phone – 0800 068 41 41 (Text – 0778 620 9697)
Email – [email protected]

First Steps

First Steps is a Derbyshire eating disorder charity. They support people all over Derbyshire and the surrounding areas who are affected by eating difficulties and disorders; this includes parents, partners and families. The majority of staff and volunteers have personal experience of an eating disorder either as a sufferer or as a parent/carer or friend and can understand the difficulties that eating disorders cause.

Website – Firststepsed.co.uk
Email – [email protected]
Phone – 01332 367571

Samaritans

Samaritans is a national charity dedicated to reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection that can lead to suicide. Samaritans operate a free helpline, email service, and branches designed to provide support 24/7.

Samaritans has also produced resources providing information about the emotional health of young people aged 16-24, covering the latter stages of Secondary School and after. Information can be found here.

Website – www.samaritans.org
Phone – 116 123
Email – [email protected]

Kooth

Kooth is a free, online counselling, support and advice service for children and young people aged 11 to 19. Users can access Kooth’s counselling team as a ‘drop in service’ (as and when required), or book weekly, structured sessions with a named therapist.

Kooth also offers Peer-To-Peer moderated forums, an online magazine, and a range of self-help tools.

Website – www.kooth.com

Harmless

Harmless was established at the beginning of October 2007 to respond to the needs of people who do or are at risk of self-harm and suicide. It is a national voluntary organisation for people who self harm, their friends, families and professionals.

Harmless offer a number of different resources available for download, coping strategies, workbooks and questionnaires.

Website – www.harmless.org.uk
Email – [email protected]

Kidscape

Kidscape works directly with and provides support for Primary and Secondary school children and families experiencing bullying. They operate an advice line, whilst also providing training (CPD courses) for professionals in how to challenge and prevent bullying in schools. Courses cover a range of topics from basic safeguarding to online safety and peer mentoring.

Website – www.kidscape.org.uk
Phone – 0207 823 5430

Mermaids

Mermaids provides a helpline aimed at supporting transgender youth up to the age of 19, their families and professionals working with them. The helpline offers; emotional support; a gateway to the parents and teens forums and signposting to training and resources.

The Mermaids Helping is open Monday – Friday, 9AM – 9PM (times may vary on Bank Holidays)

Website – www.mermaidsuk.org.uk/
Phone – 0808 801 0400

Mind

Mind is a mental health charity which provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. 

They can have a wide range of resources, tools, contacts and guides to support parents, carers, teachers or other staff with any mental health concerns they have, as well as a full range of information available for children and young people themselves.

Mind primarily support secondary age children and young people aged 11-19.

Website: www.mind.org.uk
Telephone: 020 8519 2122
Email: [email protected]

Mental Health UK

Mental Health UK provides a range of support for employees experiencing mental and emotional health difficulties including local volunteer-led support groups. Their “On the Inside” information packs, which they estimate have a reach of around 5.4 million people, are now complemented by an online digital platform found on their website.

Mental Health UK also provide a range of training and consultancy services for organisations and staff, covering topics such as:

  • Mental Health first Aid
  • Mental Health in the Workplace for managers
  • Mental Health awareness
  • Mental Health Champions
  • Wellbeing, Mindfulness & Resilience

Website – mentalhealth-uk.org
Email – [email protected]
Phone – 0207 840 3008

SafeSpeak

SafeSpeak is a confidential service run by Relate for children and young people. SafeSpeak offer a safe place to talk to a specialist counsellor about anything that’s worrying children and young people aged 5-18 years.

They also operate a LiveChat service for those who prefer chatting online or can’t attend face-to-face.

**Please be aware that SafeSpeak is now a paid for service**

Website – SafeSpeak
Phone – 01332 349117

Sleep Council

The Sleep Council exists to help everyone get a better nights sleep. For 25 years they have been sharing information and resources about what to do, what not to do and where to go to get further help for restorative rest.

They offer:
– Practical advice and support to help you adopt healthier sleep habits
– Raising awareness of a good night’s sleep to health and wellbeing through key awareness events
– Campaign for change so that everyone has access to sleep support – whether that’s through health services, employment or education.

Website: sleepcouncil.org.uk
Email: [email protected]

Stem4

Stem4 is a charity that promotes positive mental health in teenagers (Secondary) and those who support them including their families and carers, education professionals, as well as school nurses and GPs through the provision of mental health education, resilience strategies and early intervention.

This is primarily provided digitally through our innovative education programme, pioneering mental health apps, clinically-informed website and mental health conferences that contribute to helping young people and those around them flourish.

Stem4 primarily helps with issues surrounding Anxiety, Depression, Self-Harm, Eating Disorders and Addiction.

Website – https://stem4.org.uk/

STePS (Derby City Council)

STePS is the Derby City team for autism.
On the linked webpage you will find out about autism and what support is available from the local offer for your child or young adult.

There is a directory of services to browse which is useful to find out about things to do, childcare and education.

Website – STePS (DCC Local Offer)
Phone – 01332 641 400

Winston’s Wish

Winston’s Wish supports bereaved children, young people, their families, and the professionals who support them. They were the UK’s first childhood bereavement charity and have been supporting bereaved children since 1992.

They provide specialist child bereavement support services across the UK. This includes in-depth therapeutic support in individual, group and residential settings, as well as a Freephone National Helpline, training for professionals and specialist publications.

Website: www.winstonswish.org
Helpline: 08088 020 021

Email contacts:
General: [email protected]
Support: [email protected]