Welcome

Welcome to the October edition of the Partner and Community Focus Newsletter.  In this edition we have focused on well-being, particularly for children and young people, and how we can help to increase their resilience.

As usual we have also included upcoming training and other events and activities which we hope will be of interest to you and your colleagues.

If you know of anyone else that would like to receive the Partner and Community Focus Newsletter, they can sign up on the website: Partner and community focus news – Norfolk County Council

Brief overview of contents this month

Events and Information:

Bonfire Night
World Diabetes Day
Anti Bullying Week
Road Safety Week
Free Books
Recovery Innovation Fund
The Arnold Clark Community Fund

Focus on Health and Wellbeing:

The Mix
The Anna Freud Centre
Mental Health & Wellbeing Top Tips

Training, learning and development

Norfolk Youth Against Bullying
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Free Mental Health Champion Training
Anxiety Toolkit
Healthy Relationship (Couples, Children, Teenagers & Families)
Every Relationship In Norfolk Matters
Self Neglect & Hoarding Webinar

Friday 5th November is bonfire night

Fireworks can be fun but they can also be dangerous. So here are a few  interesting facts, some safety advice and links to organisations that you can share with the families you work with.

Did you know: 

• Fireworks can travel at speeds up to 150 mph, the cruising speed of some biplanes
• It is illegal to sell fireworks to under 18’s
• If three sparklers burn together, they will do so at the same heat of a blow torch used for joining metal
• Until 1959, it was illegal not to celebrate bonfire night in the UK
• Bonfire night was originally called “Bone Fire”
• Throwing a firework is a criminal offense and you can be fined up to £5000 for doing so

Whilst many people love bonfire night and the excitement of the fireworks, whether at home or at an organised event, it is worth remembering not everyone does and pets in particular can be very distressed by all the noise it brings. So remember to keep your pets locked safely indoors and follow the health and safety rules to ensure you have a safe and fun filled evening.

Only adults should deal with setting up firework displays, the lighting of fireworks and the safe disposal of fireworks once they have been used (and remember, alcohol and fireworks don’t mix!).

Children and young people should be supervised, and watch and enjoy fireworks at a safe distance. Follow these top 10 tips for a safer fireworks party:

1. Plan your firework display to make it safe and enjoyable, and check the time you can legally set off fireworks
2. Only buy fireworks which carry the CE mark, keep them in a closed box and use them one at a time
3. Read and follow the instructions on each firework using a torch if necessary
4. Light the firework at arm’s length with a taper and stand well back
5. Keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks
6. Never return to a firework once it has been lit
7. Don’t put fireworks in pockets and never throw them
8. Direct any rocket fireworks well away from spectators
9. Never use paraffin or petrol on a bonfire
10. Make sure that the fire is out and surroundings are made safe before leaving.

Early Years Settings: https://www.eyalliance.org.uk/how-keep-children-safe-bonfire-night

Childminders: https://www.childcare.co.uk/information/bonfire-night-children-safety

Child Accident Prevention Trust: https://www.capt.org.uk/firework-safety

World Diabetes Day – 14 November

100 years after the discovery of insulin, millions of people with diabetes around the world cannot access the care they need. People with diabetes require ongoing care and support to manage their condition and avoid complications.

The centenary of the discovery of insulin presents a unique opportunity to bring about meaningful change for the more than 460 million people living with diabetes and the millions more at risk.

To find out more about diabetes, including the Global Diabetes Walk, visit About WDD | World Diabetes Day or Diabetes Community, Support, Education, Recipes & Resources

Anti bullying week 15 – 19 November

What’s Happening This Year?

Anti-Bullying Week is coordinated In England by the Anti-Bullying Alliance and takes place from 15 to 19 November 2021 and it has the theme One Kind Word.

Kindness is more important today than it has ever been. The isolation of the last year has underlined how little acts of consideration can break down barriers and brighten the lives of the people around us. This is one of the reasons, that ‘One Kind Word’ has been chosen as the theme of Anti-Bullying Week taking place from 15 to 19 of November 2021.

The week will begin with Odd Socks Day supported by CBBC and CBeebies star Andy Day and his band Andy and the Odd Socks – for more information on Odd Socks Day visit 

Odd Socks Day (anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk)For lots of ideas for activities check out  50 ideas for Anti-Bullying Week.pdf (anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk)

Road Safety Week – 16 – 21 November 2021

Road Safety Week runs from November 16th to November 22nd. The week, organised by ‘Brake’, a road safety charity, is an annual event and the biggest road safety awareness event in the UK. You can register with Brake to run a road safety event, and they will send you an electronic action pack to aid you in your event.

During Road Safety Week, thousands of organisations, schools and communities take part, with road safety demonstrations, events, awareness video screenings, talks and more. Each year the event has a theme.

During Road Safety Week, the police often do roadside checks of vehicles for safety, highlighting the dangers of poorly maintained vehicles and offering advice to drivers, or running speed checks and reminding the general public of how speeding is a major cause of accidents and contributor to deaths through road accidents.

Schools can take advantage of road safety week to teach children about the highway code for example, or safety when crossing roads, cycling proficiency tests, and the importance of cycle helmets and high visibility when cycling.

https://www.brake.org.uk/road-safety-week

Free Books

Sir John Timpson CBE has written three useful little guide books on Attachment, based on 30 years’ experience as a foster carer.

These three books are available FREE from any Timpson, Max Spielmann or Johnsons the Cleaners store.

A Guide to Attachment

Aimed at foster families and anyone who wants to learn more about the disorder, John explains how Attachment difficulties can impact on a child’s behaviour and their ability to socialise and learn successfully. The book highlights some key signs to look out for that may signal a child has Attachment disorder.

How to Create a Positive Future

Aimed at young people with Attachment difficulties, this little book offers some simple hints and tips that young people themselves can put in place to help them thrive and create a positive future as they grow.

Looking After Looked After Children

Educating the educators is one of the primary aims of the Alex Timpson Trust. This handy little guide for teachers is just the first step in raising greater awareness of Attachment in schools. Feel free to pop into one of our stores and share with a teacher you know.

The Alex Timpson Trust is the official company charity of the Timpson Group. The charity’s main aim is to help schools better respond to the emotional needs of looked after (fostered and adopted) children.

Alex Timpson Trust – Timpson Group (timpson-group.co.uk)

Recovery Innovation Fund

The Recovery Innovation Fund offers funding of between £300 and £3000 to community groups and small charities in Norfolk whose income is less than £100,000 per year to support innovative ideas that will enhance the lives of people using alcohol or drugs.

For further information or to receive an application form and guidance notes please contact  rif.norfolk@cgl.org.uk

The Arnold Clark Community Fund

The Arnold Clark Community Fund (ACCF) is open to all UK registered charities, local community groups, community interest companies, charitable incorporated organisations and social enterprises. Successful applicants will receive up to £1,000.

Categories

At this time,  ACCF are only accepting applications from organisations who deal with or address the following:

•        Food banks
•        Toy banks
•        Poverty relief
•        Housing and accommodation

If your organisation does not fall into the these above categories, unfortunately you are not eligible to apply at this time.

For further information go to https://www.arnoldclark.com/community-fund

The Mix

The Mix is a UK based charity that provides free, confidential support for young people under 25 via online, social and mobile.

They cover a variety of issues that young people are facing, their website can be found here: https://www.themix.org.uk

One of the many strategies that The Mix uses to promote wellbeing is the ‘HappyBox’:-

The HappyBox can help young people through those low moments. There is help on how to create a digital HappyBox full of songs, photos and words for when they are feeling down and, if they want to, share it online with The Mix to help other young people create their Happy Boxes. 

Here is an example of a young person’s Happy Box:

‘I think sometimes people tend to fall into the trap of thinking that happiness is a place. For example, if I do X, then I will be happy or if I get Y, then I’ll be content… But I think this is a risky path to take. It leaves you always wanting more, wishing, and never achieving. Let me tell you, it’s not a very fun place to be. So, instead I have my metaphorical box of instant happiness that brings me joy no matter how much (or little) of my to-do-list I’ve achieved. Here’s my happy list, if you want to have a look!

1) First and foremost, I’ve got cats. Specifically, I’ve got my favourite kitten Sierra. She is the cutest, snuggly-est, most adorable cat ( in my very unbiased opinion, of course).

2) Yoga. It’s the perfect mix of endorphin-boosting exercise and calming meditation.

3) Being warm. If I’m ever grumpy, stick me somewhere warm. Whatever you do, don’t let yourself get cold and hungry. Chaos ensues.

4) Making pretty doodles. I love making doodles around positive/empowering quotes that I can then hang out around my room.

5) Learning fun facts. Who doesn’t love fun facts? For example, did you know a lemon has more sugar in it than a strawberry?

Anyway, I’ll stop my list here. These are just a few of my favourite happiness-boosting activities. Maybe someone will find them useful..’

For more examples of how this has helped young people, visit Happiness – The Mix

The Anna Freud Centre

Early Years in Mind

Early Years in Mind is a free online network for early years practitioners.

The network provides easy to read and easy to use guidance on supporting the mental health of babies, young children and their families.

The network was developed by mental health experts and shares practical and clinical expertise, and advice on using attachment-informed practice.

Join the free Early Years in Mind learning network today.

Schools in Mind

Schools in Mind is a free network for education professionals which shares practical, academic and clinical expertise about mental health and wellbeing in schools and FE colleges.

The network aims to translate research into practice by providing evidence-based, accessible information and resources that can be used to embed good mental health across the whole school community.

Join the free Schools in Mind network today.

Mental Health and Wellbeing – Top Tips

Top Tips to support children and young people

• Be there to listen. Regularly ask how they’re doing so they get used to talking about their feelings and know there is always someone to listen to if they want it. Find out how to create a space where they will open up. How to start a conversation with your child
• Support them through difficulties. Pay attention to their emotions and behaviour, and try to help them work through difficulties. It’s not always easy when faces with challenging behaviour, but try and help them understand what they’re feeling and why. Help with difficult behaviour and emotions
• Stay involved in their life. Show interest in their life and the things important to them. It not only helps them value who they are but also makes it easier for you to spot problems and support them.
• Encourage their interests. Being active or creative, learning new things and being a part of a team helps connect us with others and are important ways we can all help our mental health. Support and encourage them to explore their interests, whatever they are.
• Take what they say seriously. Listening to and valuing what they say, without judging their feelings, in turn makes them feel valued. Consider how to help them process and work through their emotions in a more constructive way.
• Build positive routines. We know it still may not be easy, but try to reintroduce structure around regular routines, healthy eating and exercise. A good night’s sleep is also really important – try to get them back into routines that fit with school or college. Sleep tips for children

Norfolk Youth Against Bullying

Free Online Anti-Bullying Conference 18 November 2021, 10am- 5pm on Zoom

• Youth led workshops
• Drop in Sessions for young people and professionals across Norfolk
• Expert guest speakers and research based presentations

 Reserve your space here – Eventbrite.

Mental Health & Wellbeing

YoungMinds is working in partnership with UK Youth to offer free training to trusted adults, focussed on the work they do to support young people with their mental health and wellbeing. This training has been developed in part with insight groups made up of trusted adults and young people. The insight groups and training offer follow on from the report ‘Someone to turn to’, which provides a youth led definition of what a trusted adult is and explores what tools trusted adults need to support young people with their mental health.

The workshops will take place between October 2021 and March 2022 and will cover the following topics:

Please note that a maximum of three members from one organisation can attend the same workshop. Workshops are expected to fill up quickly, so please do make sure you book early to avoid disappointment.

Find the full schedule and booking details here:
https://mcusercontent.com/cddecdd91c3fe1a088062019a/files/e83d5eac-0905-0098-5721-367080450ca1/Stepping_Up_Oct_Dec_Workshop_Schedule_002_.pdf

Mental Health Champion Training

The Link Project from Ormiston Families is offering Mental Health Champion (MHC) training to adults who are working with children and young people.

The MHC training is an introduction to supporting children and young people with their mental and emotional wellbeing in your settings. The course will cover topics like communication, referrals into specialist services, child and adolescent development and an overview of the most common mental health issues referred to CAMHS.

Tuesday 9^th, 16^th & 23^rd November 1:30-4:00pm

To find out more about the training or to book a place, please email the Link Project Team linkwork-point1@ormistonfamilies.org.uk

Anxiety Toolkit

Anxiety is something we all live with.

This webinar explores what anxiety is, how it affects us and those around us. Using evidence based techniques they can help you and others enjoy life and feel less anxious.

Visit here for further information and the dates etc Anxiety Toolkit – Wellbeing Norfolk & Waveney (wellbeingnands.co.uk)

Healthy Relationships

This two hour online workshop is run as an informal discussion and provides lots of opportunities for attendees to ask questions (using the confidential webinar typed questions box) if they want to.

The workshop gives lots of ideas and tips for how to create and sustain healthy relationships and talks about all sorts of relationships and is suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds and sexual orientations interested in how they can strengthen their relationships.

The workshop is in three parts and gives suggestions for further information and contacts for additional support:

1 – Creating relationships/Developing Family “Systems”

2 – Common problems and coping with difficult situations

3 – Tips for effective communication

This is a live online webinar presentation where you log in on your computer, phone or tablet. A clinician will present the workshop via webcam. You will not be seen by other attendees and you can ask questions to and share experiences with the facilitator in real time via a chat function that is private and not visible to the rest of the group.

For information on dates and times and to book a place, please visit Healthy Relationships (Couples, Children, Teenagers & Families) – Wellbeing Norfolk & Waveney (wellbeingnands.co.uk)

Every Relationship Matters In Norfolk – Reducing Parental Conflict Practitioner Skills Workshop

Aim: To increase the knowledge and skills of practitioners undertaking work with children, young people and their families where parental conflict is identified.

By the end of the session, practitioners will:

• Have knowledge of how to identify and use the recommended tools in their practice with children, young people and their families
• Understand how parental conflict relates to domestic abuse
• Be able to explore approaches that families can use themselves to reduce parental conflict and its impact on their children, including utilising the extended family support network
• Be able to enable children and young people to seek support outside of their family where they need this
• Awareness of a range of resources that can be shared and used with families as part of the practitioner toolkit for working with and reducing parental conflict

Target Audience – Front line practitioners who undertake direct work with children, young people and their families. 

These sessions will be delivered face to face/via Microsoft Teams.

For more information on dates and times and to book a place, please visithttps://www.norfolklscb.org/nscb-booking/nscb-booking-training/

Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board invites you to a webinar on Self-Neglect & Hoarding

A key area of focus for the board, this session is designed as a starting point for the work we are planning to do as a county to build on existing good practice and develop stronger multi-agency approaches to working with those who self-neglect and/or hoard.

The session will be led by Olive Quinton of Lofty Heights, an organisation working in Suffolk that provides specialist decluttering, deep cleaning, and similar services.

They also prepare homes to enable hospital discharges. Olive has very successfully supported our work in Norfolk in past years and brings new examples this year to help us understand the causes and impact of self-neglect and hoarding for those in our communities.

• Look at the difference between clutter and hoarding
• Different types of hoarding
• Why people hoard and self-neglect
• Case examples using radio broadcast and photos
• Discussion groups to help see different perspectives
• Questions from you
• The Norfolk perspective

We plan to hold a further event which will feature some of the emerging similar services in Norfolk, and as part of this session we want you to tell us what you would find most useful for that future webinar.

You can register for this webinar here