Family Wellbeing

Newport Live

The Families First Health & Wellbeing Team provide an integrated programme to support children, young people and their families who are living, or at risk of living, in poverty throughout Newport; helping them to improve their health, safety, and to enjoy wellbeing. 

1-to-1 family support

The team provide support via 1-to-1 work, family sessions and group work linked to the promotion of positive healthy lifestyle changes. Areas of focus include: 

  • physical inactivity
  • social exclusion and isolation
  • healthy eating and nutrition
  • self-confidence and self-esteem
  • emotional wellbeing

Programmes

The Health & Wellbeing team also deliver a number of community and school-based programmes to support young people and their families. These include:

PhunkyFoods
An award-winning early years and primary school programme. Aids schools and early years settings (EYS) in meeting healthy lifestyle curriculum requirements by delivering key, consistent health messages via a 10-week programme which incorporates healthy eating, food tasting, physical activity and emotional wellbeing sessions. 

Healthy Schools / Communities
The Health & Wellbeing team are also able to support Healthy Schools Week / community projects and groups via interactive sessions focusing on key health topics including:

  • healthy eating
  • smoking prevention
  • emotional wellbeing
  • Love Food Hate Waste
  • healthy cookery workshops

Mental Health Physical Activity Sessions
These informal, drop-in sessions use physical activity to promote improved mental health and give participants the opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people. The group come together for a chat and a cuppa following the session and benefit from a range of health-related workshops.

To get in touch with the team please complete the referral form at the bottom of this page.

MIND

The Family Wellbeing and Resilience Team at Newport Mind work to support families to build and maintain their resilience to mental health difficulties. We work with families to give them the knowledge and the tools to be able to deal with challenges they may face.

We provide support for families in Newport through 1-to-1 sessions, family sessions, and group work, following the five ways to wellbeing and the resilience framework. Our aim is to increase resilience within families, making positive changes to their emotional and mental wellbeing, and the ability to talk more openly about mental health.

Support lasts for approximately 10 weeks, depending upon the client needs.

During Covid-19, support is offered and facilitated via video-call, telephone call, text messages, and email.

Kith and Kin

Kith and Kin is an 8 week course for young people aged 11 – 17 and their parent/carers; groups for parents/carers and groups for young people are run separately at the same time and place. The aim of the groups is the improve communication within families and build upon family relationships by providing education on mental health difficulties, and learning coping skills.

Mini Kith and Kin

Mini Kith and Kin is an 8 week course for young people aged 7 -11 and their parent/carers; groups for parents/carers and groups for young people are run separately at the same time and place. The aim of the groups is to increase awareness of emotional wellbeing, and to provide education to parent/carers and young people on what emotional wellbeing is. In doing this, communication within families and coping skills can be strengthened.

During Covid-19, Kith and Kin, and Mini Kith and Kin are only being offered as 1-to-1 support sessions rather than as group support.

Bounce

Bounce is a strengths based rolling self-management course for parents/carers whose children/young people are struggling with their mental health. The course is based on the Family Wellbeing Framework, and provides strategies on coping with mental health difficulties and building family wellbeing. 

During Covid-19, Bounce is offered as online videos, and Zoom Q&A sessions. 

Referrals

Due to a high volume of referrals, our criteria for referral is as follows:

  • A family or family member(s) experiencing low to moderate mental health problems, diagnosed or un-diagnosed

Who may also be experiencing –

  • Low to moderate behavioural problems
  • Having issues with family relationships/communication
  • Want to achieve specific goals to better improve their life

We cannot accept referrals for individuals in a crisis;if the person you are wishing to refer is in crisis, please take them to the GP as soon as possible. Alternatively, other agencies can help during a crisis:

  • Local A&E department (24 hours) or 999
  • Community Mental Health Team Duty Service (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) 01633 726000
  • The Samaritans (24 hours) 116 123

Self-referrals:

Self-referrals from families can be made via telephone consultation – 01633 258741

Direct referrals:

To make a direct referral, please contact [email protected] to request a referral form. Referrals will not be accepted unless there is expressed consent from family members.

SPACE referrals:

The Family Wellbeing and Resilience Service is part of the SPACE Wellbeing Scheme; referrals can be made via the SPACE Wellbeing Panel

What you can expect

Weekly allocation meetings are held and, once the referral is allocated, a family support worker will contact you to arrange a convenient appointment to discuss your needs, looking at the strengths and resources that you and your family already have.

Together we will draw up a support plan for your family working flexibly and providing a service that fits in with your needs and commitments.

Complete a referral form and return to [email protected] and the team will be in touch.

Download Families First self referral form (doc)

Download Families First professional referral form (doc)

View privacy notice (pdf)