North Tyneside CCG VCS grant Project overview Our

North Tyneside CCG VCS grant

Project overview Our pilot prevention project worked with primary schools in the area, (with whom we are already engaged), to deliver a range of workshops and support groups to parents, children and young people to improve their physical and mental health, using our Barefoot Professional model to increase participation and engagement

Aims & objectives The aims were to: • Develop a new community-led suite of workshops and support to address Mental Wellbeing and Sex and Relationship Education • Co-produce the workshops and activities with schools, children and their families • Establish what works in respect of increasing physical and mental wellbeing and promotion of positive selfcare and coping strategies. The objectives of the project were: • To increase awareness in physical and mental wellbeing, including sex and relationship education, amongst families and children • To increase awareness of the risk factors that can lead to poor mental and physical ill-health • To increase self-esteem and confidence in children and young people to make the right choices • To engage young people as Barefoot Buddies in order to improve access and engagement amongst children • To develop young people as Barefoot Buddy mentors in health and wellbeing

Targets • Children will receive direct support 30 • Families will benefit from direct support / workshops 60 • Children will benefit from training sessions 200 • Families will benefit through increased awareness 200 • Teenagers will be trained as mentors 5

What's worked well • Some in school work has been allowed to continue • In school sessions delivered include a range of delivery styles • The Whats. App group established for parents • Members of the groups have supported their peers • Innovative ways to engage and / or share information • Video calls via platforms such as Zoom and Whats. App • A range of activities and resources distributed • Children currently being supported by Family Gateway that have a diagnosis of ADHD or suffer from low confidence and / or self esteem • Families received links and were signposted to various sports or physical activity sessions • One member of the original group formed at Denbigh Primary School has successfully applied for a role with Family Gateway and is now supporting families in her role as a Family Entrepreneur.

Issues encountered & adaptations made Issues: • The Covid pandemic • Escalation of mental health needs – parents and children • Schools denying access Adaptations: • Using video calls or seeing families in the gardens/doorsteps • Small group sessions conducted in a safe Covid secure environment • More focused 1: 1 sessions delivered

Progress Outcome Target number Progress to date Children will receive direct support 30 58 Families will benefit from direct support / workshops 60 30 Children will benefit from training sessions 200 This had been scheduled to be done via school assemblies which are currently on hold. Families will benefit through increased 200 awareness 143 Teenagers will be trained as mentors 4 5

Participant feedback “Some of our children come from very difficult, chaotic households. There is no service to refer these children to. In school we do our very best to thrive these children as much as we can but sometimes it just takes that outside person who will be able to listen to and get through to our children. AP excels at this. She is an asset to Family Gateway. There is a clear change in the behaviour of the children once this support with AP has started, the children appear calmer and therefore more ready to learn. This has a knock on effect on the rest of the children in class who also are free to learn in a calmer classroom. AP also has a support group with some mothers from our school. The mothers absolutely love this group. They have all gelled together with the help of AP who is a calm, approachable, understanding person they can all turn to for advice, but who also encourages them to advise and support each other which is clearly working. The mothers have said it's like having therapy every week and they literally cannot wait for the sessions. In a nutshell, the support we receive from Family Gateway in the form of AP is invaluable”. Denbigh Primary School

Participant feedback “Family Gateway has helped me so much during the lockdown whilst I have been stuck at home with three children. They have helped me with food since these three think I have a never ending amount of it, and emotional support when I have been feeling down. We have a group chat for the people who were doing the mental wellbeing course and it’s been amazing in trying to stay positive. It really makes me believe we have a nice community in Howdon” “Would like to say the help from Howdon Hub for the lockdown has been incredible. I have seen more families looking happier nearby since and have heard no friends complain of having no food, since Howdon hub set up the fund to help feed the vulnerable. It’s helped me find a routine with feeding the kids healthy meals, be less stressed and helped me financially”. “Also, the mental health group on Whats. App has really helped, it’s something I can reach to when I am feeling overwhelmed and low”. “You have been amazing when I felt overwhelmed. Where the doctors did not help with my mental health, you got me in touch with the social prescribing service. Although I haven’t phoned them during this, it showed me that somebody cared. I am so grateful to have a family worker who understands me and understands the kids going back to school / nursery during this time would make my anxiety sky high. Other professionals may not have taken that into consideration”. “The difference has been huge and I can’t imagine coping this well without Howdon Hub in the community. ”