Parent Support Groups & Networks
Much of the information below has been taken from the Herts Local Offer. For further details and additional support groups follow the link for the Herts Local Offer.
ADD-vance provide training, advice and support for the families of children affected by ADHD and/or autism. Please note, many of their courses are not currently run locally to Bishop’s Stortford, but they can provide a wide range of support.
This is a charity run by parents of children with autism and/or ADHD who work with and support other parents. Angels offers support meetings, workshops, a Facebook page and help with EHCP.
ASPECTS (5-19 years)
ASPECTS is a family and pupil support service who can help with a wide range of family challenges, including positive attitudes to school learning, attendance, risk of exclusion, behaviour at home and in school, transition, family relationships, housing, physical and mental health (including emotional wellbeing) and bereavement.
BeeZee Families
BeeZee Families is a completely free, award-winning healthy lifestyles programme for 5-15 year olds and their families. It is designed for families with children who are above the ideal weight for their age. Through the programme, families learn about healthy eating, fun physical activity, cooking sessions, top tips for healthy lifestyle and how to make healthy habits for life. Please visit https://beezeebodies.com/
Carers in Herts are a charity who provide advice, information and support to unpaid carers. They offer free support to carers of all ages who live, work or care in Hertfordshire.
Families in Focus offer parent network support meetings at different locations across Hertfordshire, professional training workshops and a Facebook page for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND, including Austism, ADHD and PDA and related conditions. They also run Siblings First project for siblings aged 4 - 10 years of brothers and sisters of children with additional needs and their parents.
If your child has additional needs, you can register them on the Hertfordshire Additional Needs Database (HAND). This is a free service and you will be issued with a digital membership card which you view on your phone or tablet. This gives you perks and discounts to lots of places for family days out in Hertfordshire. They also provide a termly newsletter.
Hertfordshire Family Centre Service (0-5 years)
Family centres support families, parents and carers through from before a baby is born right up until they reach school age. In the early years, a family centre is a key way to access lots of support for you and your child, and health services. They offer parenting support courses, breastfeeding support, help with accessing the right childcare, first aid courses, and lots more. Health visitors and school nurses are part of the service too.
Space is a Hertfordshire-based charity supporting parent/carers of children and young people who are on the autistic spectrum or have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or a related condition.
Further resources on mental health and wellbeing can be found in the Pastoral section.