Local Support in Kinsley
Wakefield Families Together
Wakefield Families Together brings services together, so that it’s easier for you to find and access the support you need, at the earliest opportunity. https://www.wakefieldfamiliestogether.co.uk/
We want children, young people, and families to tell us they are happy, healthy, and safe. Wakefield Families Together are about working on your behalf so that if you have a concern about your child or family member, you only need to have one conversation with us, and we can direct you to the right support. You can access this support through your child’s school, family hub, or in the local community.
To help us localise how we work with families across the Wakefield district, we have grouped our teams and partner organisations into six community ‘cluster’ areas, with nine family hubs and three Youth Hubs. You can find your local Family Hub or Youth on the Wakefield Families Together website here: Family Hubs – Wakefield Families Together and here: Youth Hubs – Wakefield Families Together
Our Family Hub is is part of the Hemsworth Cluster.
Raising a family can have its difficulties and challenges, but just know that when you need support, there are people and places on hand who can talk to you to find the help you need. Family Hubs provide a venue and a linked network of local community venues, specialist services and partner organisation so that to you can access early help, meet other local families, take part in activities, and join helpful groups. If you want to know more, you can watch the video below for a short overview about what early help is and what it means to the staff who work in our Family Hubs
Ask for support via a Teams around the School (TAS) Meeting – Click Here
You can also ask for early help from your child’s school and request a ‘Team around the School’ (TAS) meeting.
The TAS is an offer of early help to families that brings together a team of professionals to help you to access support when you find it hard to cope with the demands of family life.
Please click on the link below for the ‘Wakefield Cost of Living Support Document’ shared by Wakefield LA – wakefield.pagetiger.com/wakefield-costThis has some great advice, ideas and support.
The Cost of Living crisis is affecting many people in our district and you may support families that are struggling to make ends meet. There is support and guidance for anyone living in the Wakefield District at our Help at the Hubs. There are currently 8 venues (more opening soon) that have staff from organisations such as WDH Cash Wise, Citizens Advice Bureau and Live Well Wakefield who are ready to support with several issues, including:
o Money – including benefit checks, debt and budgeting
o Energy and warmer homes
o Housing
o Jobs and skills
o Health
They promise to never judge and offer free impartial advice.
More information can be found at www.wakefield.gov.uk/more-money-in-my-pocket/help-at-the-hub
https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/schools-and-children/happy-healthy-holidays
What is WF Happy Healthy Holidays?
WF Happy Healthy Holidays aims to keep children and young people active during the School Holidays by providing free enriching activities and healthy food for children in Reception class to year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals.
Over the course of 2022 & 2023, the DfE is grant funding Wakefield Council to coordinate free holiday provision which will cover the Easter, Summer, October and Christmas holidays.
The sessions are fully funded by the Department for Education (DfE). Please visit the government website for more information on the national programme.
How can I book my child on the Happy Healthy Holidays activities?
If you are eligible for income based free school meals your child’s school may have already sent you information about our programme. Please use this link to see what activities are available and book on to sessions: https://wakefieldcouncil.coordinate.cloud/
Keep checking back as new activities may be added soon! If you book you child on to activities that they can no longer attend, please cancel your place through the booking page.
Is my child eligible?
If your child is in Reception class to year 11 and are in receipt of income-based free school meals, they are eligible to attend Happy Healthy Holidays activities. Please note Income-Based Free School meals are different to Universal Infant Free School Meals that all children receive from Reception to year 2.
For information on free school meals and how to claim if you think you may be eligible, visit the webpage here.
My Child is not eligible, what else is available?
To find other events that might be happening in your area in the school holidays you can visit the links below:
Wakefield’s Online Universal Parenting Offer – Click Here
This free parenting offer includes courses for teenagers, parents and expectant parents, and has been created in partnership with the Solihull Approach.
Simply click the link: https://inourplace.co.uk/wakefield/
Log in using the password: HEPWORTH