Information and Advice

Caleidoscope CIC is not for profit community organisation supporting families with autistic children. They offer individual support, training for parents and professionals as well as inclusive classes for children such as Art and Lego. On their social media page, there are weekly competitions for the children to get involved in.

"We offer professionalism in relaxed, non judgmental environment.

Our mission is to break the stigma of autism, raise awareness and promote social inclusion."

https://caleidoscope.org.uk/index.html

The Capel Stay and Play toddler group runs on Tuesday mornings, from 9am to 10.30am, term-time only. It is a small and friendly group held and run by Scott-Broadwood C of E Infants School at 106 The Street, Capel RH5 5JX.
The aim is to provide a fun and stimulating environment for young children to play and learn while their Mums, Dads or other Carers chat to staff and feel supported in their parenting.

Outreach support will be available here on the first Tuesday of the month (term-time only).

For more information or if you have any questions please speak to the school - 01306 711181.

The NAS (National Autistic Society) EarlyBird and EarlyBird Plus programmes are intensive programmes aimed at parents of children with a diagnosis of autism and are held at Dorking Nursery School Children's Centre. They are run by Surrey County Council and presented by Portage Teachers, Educational Psychologists, Autism Outreach Teachers and other Specialist Teachers. 

To find out more about the NAS EarlyBird and EarlyBird Plus programmes in Surrey, please contact Vicky Jones on 07747 595155 or email her on training@linden-bridge.surrey.sch.uk.

This 2 hour workshop will focus on First Aid for all the family including babies and young children and will be delivered by “Daisy First Aid”

The workshop will cover issues such as: Adult, child and baby CPR and recovery positions, head injury, fevers and seizures, choking and fractures.

It is ideal for pregnant mothers and new parents as well as those with older children.  Non mobile babies can attend with parent, no crèche available.
Cost £20 per person.

To be put on the waiting list, please contact:
Family Centre on 01306 740095

The Dorking Area Food Bank - Helping Local People in Crisis

The Trussell Trust runs the largest network of foodbanks in the UK, giving emergency food and support to people in crisis. Thirteen million people live below the poverty line and in the last year we gave 1,182,954 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis.

The Foodbank is open at The Christian Centre, Church Street, on Tuesdays 4.45pm to 6.15pm (new time from May 1st) and Thursdays 2.30-4pm.

Families can ask for a foodbank voucher from both our Goodwyns Road and West Street sites as well as from CAB, Health Visitors and St Johns Primary School. 

SUMMER HOLIDAY PERIOD - We can give families vouchers to help you get through the summer holidays with the children at home. Please drop in to our Goodwyns Road Centre if you need a voucher.

Held at Goodwyns Road every 2nd Friday of the month (term time only). Information session run by the CSH Community Nursery Nurses. For information and to book, please call the health team on: 01372 384 300.

Information, advice and guidance to help support bereaved children and young people and those facing the loss of a loved one during the Coronavirus outbreak. Jigsaw support families across Surrey, West Sussex and surrounding areas.

https://www.jigsawsoutheast.org.uk/

Referrals are currently being taken over the phone or by email – please call Jigsaw on 01342 313895 if you need support or advice. The dedicated Helpline will be staffed between 9am and 12pm weekdays. *Outside of those hours please leave a message or use the contact form and they will respond as soon as possible.

Alternatively you can email: info@jigsawsoutheast.org.uk

Learn with me - child development tips for parents and carers of 0-5s. It will help get your child off to a great start through fun activities...and its all free! Just visit... http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/people-and-community/family-information-service/education-and-learning-advice-for-families/early-learning

There are lots of baby and toddler groups all around Dorking and Leatherhead.

Here is the most up to date list of them all: Baby & toddler groups in the Dorking & Leatherhead areas

Mary Frances Trust are the mental health and emotional wellbeing charity for adults in Surrey, supporting people for as long as they need, inspiring them to find ways to restore and maintain their mental wellbeing.

"We work hard to challenge mental health stigma and promote emotional self-care."

https://www.maryfrancestrust.org.uk/

During the current climate, it can be difficult to know what to do during pregnancy.

Below are some links from SASH (Surrey and Sussex Healthcare) with advice and outlining the support and services they are still able to offer parents to be:

Self referral maternity form: https://www.surreyandsussex.nhs.uk/self-referral-maternity-form/

Maternity care during the Coronavirus: https://www.surreyandsussex.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Covid-19-patient-info-leaflet-2.pdf

A video from SASH Maternity: https://www.facebook.com/666080096901548/posts/1563167783859437/?vh=e

SASH Coronavirus maternity helpline number (for non urgent queries relating to Coronavirus): 07971 937588, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

Portage is a specialist teaching service for pre-school children from birth to 3½ years, with significant developmental delay or complex needs. The Portage service supports families making regular home visits (usually weekly or fortnightly) to support children's development through play. Portage teams work very closely with all the other relevant professionals supporting the child and family to ensure everyone is working towards shared goals. The length of Portage home visiting support varies depending on the needs of the child, lasting between 6-18 months. The service also provides support to ensure successful transition into nursery. Children who are around 3 years old and present with social communication needs are offered an alternative home visiting programme (CAPP) which is a 6 month programme.

To find out more about the Portage service or to discuss a referral, please contact Jo Matthews or Rachel Le on 01737 737777.

NEW Virtual Postnatal Peer Support Groups, Home Start Surrey

These parenthood support groups are relaxed, informal and fun!

The group is run as a Zoom meeting (which you can access via your computer or smartphone) and are confidential.
It allows you to talk if you want; no one has to talk if they don’t want to.
Along with a trained Counsellor we will have a child-care professional or specialist in to talk on most of the weeks.

Some of the subjects we will cover are: 
Welcome to the world 
Breastfeeding 
Sleeping patterns and issues 
Paediatric first aid 
Baby massage techniques 
Attachment and colic 
Accessing local services

To sign up, fill in a self referral form on our website www.homestartelmbridge.org.uk

If you have any questions before the group starts, you are very welcome to contact us on: enquiries@home-start-elmbridge.org.uk

We can offer advice about Speech and Language development at any of our stay and play sessions. If you would like to find out more about how to support your child's language development we also run various workshops and have several leaflets that might help. Drop in to the Centre and ask to speak to Helen for more information.

We can offer advice about speech and language development at any of our play sessions, if you would like to find out more about how to support your child's speech and language development, we also run various workshops and have leaflets that might help.

Children learn to talk at different rates. If you are concerned about your child's development, we can give advice and ideas to try at home and follow up with other services if needed. Please ring to find out more on 01306 740095

Weekly online support

The Surrey Wellbeing Partnership (a group of voluntary sector organisations working together to help improve the wellbeing of Surrey children, young people and families) is working together with the NHS to empower parents to meet the emotional needs of children, young people and families during the pandemic. They have teamed up with Dr Kathryn Hollins of Surrey & Borders Partnership Trust. Kathryn is their local expert - she is a Consultant Parent, Child and Family Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, specialising in parenthood, pregnancy and family relationships.
Each week on their Facebook page, Dr Kathryn Hollins will be sharing ideas and tips on how to meet the emotional and developmental needs of our children during this difficult time.

Please follow the links below and join this fantastic group:
https://m.facebook.com/Surrey-Wellbeing-Partnership-103386114667958/
https://m.facebook.com/groups/2699180707025547/?ref=pages_group_cta

Surrey FIS - Surrey Family Information Service - useful, free & impartial local service for families with children 0-25

Gov.UK - Information on a range of services including Job Centre Plus, housing, benefits, childcare & parenting, citizenship & living in the UK, money & tax, and disabled people

Childcare Choices - find out about the government's new ways to help parents with childcare costs. Whether you have toddlers or teens, you could get support

30 hours funded childcare for working parents - Family Information Service info

Gingerbread - provides expert advice, practical support and campaigns for single parents

Fatherhood Institute - UK's fatherhood think-and-do-tank

Dorking Schools' Partnership - network of local schools providing help and information

Think U Know - guidance for parents on how to keep children safe from sex abuse, both on and offline

Parent info - provides high quality information for parents about their children's wellbeing and resilience in the digital world

Parent information leaflet - Where and how to seek help when your child is unwell

CAPT - Child Accident Prevention Trust - free child safety advice

Surrey Against Domestic Abuse - offers help and support for anyone in the county affected by domestic abuse

FEET Funding - find out more about free funding for two year olds to attend nursery provision 

To find out more about two year funding in Surrey, watch these two video clips:-

• Why parents love childcare for their 2 year olds
• Parent using a nursery in Surrey

Find a Dentist - find an NHS Dentist near you

Sexual Health - find NHS services near you

Immunisations - NHS advice on immunisations/vaccinations

Children and Family Health Surrey - NHS nursing and therapy services for children and families across Surrey

Parent Zone - Experts in digital family life - Advice and information to help parents keep children safe online, eg parental and privacy controls, how family-friendly are the games and apps your kids like to play? and more

CEOP - Child Exploitation and Online Protection command (National Crime Agency). Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online? Report it to one of CEOP's Child Protection Advisors.

Forms for protecting and safeguarding children - If you are a professional involved in protecting and safeguarding children in Surrey these are the forms you will most commonly need.

The WEA are running a series of FREE online (via zoom) courses in partnership with East Surrey College for residents in the East Surrey area, covering Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead, Tandridge and Epsom & Ewell. These courses requires participants to pre-register with Richmond Fellowship (Mental Health Charity) to obtain a pin number.

Visit: redhillcc@richmondfellowship.org.uk or Tel 01737 771282 then visit www.wea.org.uk to enrol.