Directory of services and organisations offering support for schools, children and young people and their families in Bexley
You can also find this list in a PDF document via this link: Directory of services and organisations offering support
Bexley Voluntary Service Council (BVSC)
BVSC aim to connect children and young people with a variety of different services and activities that can offer them direct support within the local community, as well as having one of our link workers along the way for added support. They also offer Social Prescribing for 12-17year olds.
To find out more, please visit https://www.bvsc.co.uk/children-young-people
Connected Bexley
Connected Bexley is a directory of services that has been created by the Bexley Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) and includes information on services linking to areas including disability and inclusion, mental health and cost of living support.
There is also a section dedicated to children and young people, which can be found via this link:
https://connectedbexley.co.uk/categories/children-and-young-people
Bexley Voice
Bexley Voice are the parent carer forum for the London Borough of Bexley. They are a group of voluntary parents and carers of children and young people with disabilities, special or additional needs who live in Bexley and their mission is to support and empower parent/carers of children and young people (0-25) with an SEND, in Bexley, ensuring all parent/carers have their views heard both in relation to their child’s needs and to inform the planning and development of services locally and nationally.
Bexley Safeguarding Partnership
Bexley S.H.I.E.L.D. is a statutory multi-agency partnership which brings together the key organisations that collectively hold responsibility for safeguarding children and young people in Bexley, offering support and training.
Growing Against Violence
Growing Against Violence (GAV) is a charity that aims to prevent youth violence and protect young people against exploitation by gangs and grooming both on the streets and online. They deliver age appropriate workshops into schools and colleges for both pupils and teachers.
In these workshops, they address the root causes of violence, and work on keeping young people out of gangs, exploitative peer-on-peer relationships and away from antisocial behaviour.
You can find out more via their website: https://www.growingagainstviolence.org.uk/
Bow Arts
Since 1994, Bow Arts have nurtured London’s diverse creativity and talent – creating opportunities to work, learn and enjoy affordable, lifelong access to the arts. Bow Arts works with artists to deliver an innovative programme of workshops, projects and training in schools in and around London. We work collaboratively with your school to create bespoke projects that meet the needs of your students, making arts learning accessible and inclusive.
Bow Arts created a cultural map for Bexley: https://bowarts.org/projects-stories/bexley-cultural-map/
They also run projects in schools and colleges and you can find out more via this link: https://bowarts.org/schools-colleges/
Children’s Book Project
The Children’s Book Project work with settings across the UK to redistribute thousands of new and gently used books to children and their families.
You can find out more about how to become a Children’s Book Project school or how to donate via https://childrensbookproject.co.uk/contact-us/
Bexley Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service (BYPDAS)
Bexley Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service (BYPDAS) are part of Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and we support young people who are misusing substances.
We provide assessments and perform evidence-based interventions based on the individual’s clinical needs. These interventions include providing advice and support around substances, signposting, brief focused, and goal-based, interventions.
You can find out more and how to access their services via https://oxleas.nhs.uk/services/service/bexley-young-peoples-drug-and-alcohol-service-bypdas-161/
Counselling Matters
Counselling Matters Bexley are a group of counsellors who are committed to making counselling available to as many people as possible in the London Borough of Bexley and surrounding areas.
They also have school packages which are tailored to the specific needs of your school. They offer therapeutic interventions for children, staff and parents. and you can find out more here: https://www.counsellingmattersbexley.org/copy-of-corporate-packages
Kooth
Kooth is an online mental wellbeing community providing anonymous, access free, safe and anonymous support for children and young adults aged between 11 and 25 years. The website provides a 1-2-1 chatting service, mini activities too boost mood and forums to support mental wellbeing.
Bexley Children’s Centres
Our Children’s Centres aim to improve outcomes for young children, ensuring they are happy, healthy and ready to begin school.
The Centres also provide help and support to families around parenting, health and well-being and employability. The services they provide are designed for parents and carers who may be expecting a new baby or have a child under the age of five.
For more information, please visit: https://www.bexley.gov.uk/services/children-young-people-and-families/bexley-childrens-centres/about-childrens-centres
Family Wellbeing Service
The Family Wellbeing team aims to provide help to families early, to prevent difficulties from becoming worse.
For more information, please visit: https://www.bexley.gov.uk/services/children-young-people-and-families/family-wellbeing-service/referrals-family-wellbeing-service
Bexley Targeted Youth Support
Bexley TYS provides additional help at the earliest opportunity to our vulnerable young people. There are four hubs across the Borough and these Hubs deliver closed group sessions and one to one work, however, each of the location-based Hubs offers ‘a safe place to be’ open session once a week so that young people can visit for advice, guidance or support when it is needed.
For more information, please visit: https://www.bexley.gov.uk/services/children-young-people-and-families/targeted-youth-support/bexley-targeted-youth-service-tys
Bexley Youth Offending
Bexley Youth Offending Team (YOT) works with other agencies including the police, probation service and schools to help keep young people aged between 10 and 17 years out of trouble.
If a young person does offend, we work with them, their families and anyone else affected by the crime to try and prevent them from offending again.
For more information, please visit: https://www.bexley.gov.uk/services/children-young-people-and-families/bexley-youth-offending-team/youth-offending
Bexley NAS
Bexley NAS are the local branch of the National Autistic Society. They support families throughout the borough of Bexley, by providing inclusive activities enabling children and young people to enjoy themselves whilst their parent carers can feel at ease and support each other.
They offer a range of activities for all the family, including family holiday clubs, days out, theatre trips and regular games sessions at Movie Shack.
Childline
Childline is here to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. Whether it’s something big or small, our trained counsellors are here to support you. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night.
Samaritans
Samaritans supports schools, college communities and other youth settings across the UK and Republic of Ireland through their postvention services, lesson plans and school talks.
https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/schools/
Hopeline 247
HOPELINE247 advisers want to work to understand why young people may have thoughts of suicide present. They also want to provide young people with a safe space to talk through anything happening in their life that could be impacting on their or anyone else’s ability to stay safe.
- For children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide
- For anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide
https://www.papyrus-uk.org/papyrus-hopeline247/
The Mix
The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people. They are here to help young people take on any challenge they’re facing – from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to them via our online community, on social or our counselling service.
Shout
Shout is the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
NSPCC
The NSPCC provide services across England to help give children and young people the support they need to thrive. They have service centres in London, the South West, South East, Central and North of England. They work with children, families and professionals and support parents and families in caring for their children and providing therapeutic assistance to help children move on from abuse.
They also provide help and support through the NSPCC helpline, Childline and their work with schools.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/
Young Minds
Young Minds offer the resources, training and consultancy you need so you can be there for the young people in your life, and help to amplify their voices in the services and decisions that affect them.
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/professional/
Winston’s Wish
Winston’s Wish is a charity that helps children, teenagers and young adults (up to the age of 25) find their feet when their worlds are turned upside down by grief. They provide digital bereavement information, advice and support for young people across the UK who are grieving the death of someone important to them. They also help advise the adults who are caring for young grieving people including parents, school staff and healthcare professionals.
https://winstonswish.org/supporting-you/support-for-schools/
https://winstonswish.org/supporting-you/professionals-and-training/