SERVICE UPDATE – we are temporarily pausing wellbeing consultations and referrals for 1:1 support. Please see the current offer below. We continue to offer workshops and groups and we will update the website regularly.
Our Aim
The CHUMS Early Intervention Hub is part of a larger national project evaluating what early intervention support works in the community.
The CHUMS Early Intervention Hub is a community-based team providing support to children/young people and young adults aged 11-25 in Central Bedfordshire, Bedford Borough and Luton. Our aim is to work collaboratively with other agencies within the Hub to provide the right support at the right time. Whilst the service is accessible, we are funded to focus on targeting support for individuals, where there may be a lack of support services e.g:
-
LGBTQ+
-
Being from an ethnic minority
-
A child in care or a care leaver
-
Having additional needs relating to SEND
-
Neurodiverse
-
Needing support engaging with education, employment or training
Who are we
The team comprises of a mixture of staff with a variety of skills, including: qualified therapists, IAPT and recreational practitioners, family workers and we work closely with staff in our other services to a provide whole community approach for Early Intervention.
What we offer
We aim to help families make sense of their difficulties and work with them to provide a psychological toolkit of strategies that can be used in everyday life. This team uses active outreach and creative approaches to engage with the needs of our communities. The support offer: workshops, wellbeing consultations for children Young People /Young Adults and group work using evidence-based programmes. The team offer a range of support dependent on the needs of the individual and if we are not able to provide support directly we will make sure that we help connect with the right agency.
Sadly, the team cannot support young people that require urgent / emergency care (e.g. require support with self-harm or suicidal thinking) or those who have more complex needs that may require significant adaptations or longer-term support e.g. trauma. Please refer to your statutory agencies for urgent or emergency care or specialised support. There is more information about these organisations at the bottom of the page.
Psychoeducation workshops include but are not limited to:
-
Anxiety
-
Self-esteem
-
Resiliency
-
Exam Stress
-
Sleep
-
Transitions
-
Mental Health awareness and Stigma: Social Media, Male Mental Health, Puberty, Identity and emotional wellbeing
-
Parental separation & Emotional Wellbeing
-
Low Mood
Recreational workshops
These are creative workshops based on CBT principles and using music/multi-sport/creative arts to engage individuals that might struggle with a talking based approach to support the difficulties that they are facing. These may also include a healthy lifestyle theme or other target areas in agreement with local agencies.
Groups include:
-
Anxiety support to reach your goal
-
Managing emotions with an ASC
-
Engaging with Education and Employment
-
Multi-sports (Tactics) or music-based (Encore) group programmes for children, young people or young adults who would benefit from support for managing mild difficulties with their emotions including anger and frustration, worry, isolation, stress, low self-esteem, and low confidence.
Wellbeing consultations and drop-ins (Paused)
Consultations are 20/30-minute direct conversations with a young person (or parent / carer if aged 11-15) / young adult to identify what is affecting their wellbeing and provide advice/guidance and collaborative signposting into CHUMS or other services. These can be booked via an online referral or as part of a drop-in in the community, which will be regularly scheduled.
Community events
The CHUMS Early Intervention Hub staff will attend a range of community events to raise awareness, promote the service and provide brief advice, guidance, and signposting.
To register for any of our workshops, please fill in the standard referral form, In the ‘Any other relevant information’ section, state that the referral is for a workshop and include the workshop date.
Workshops
Our workshops are designed as a starting point for families with children who have low level difficulties. These are one-off 2-hour sessions conducted virtually via Microsoft teams. Please note these workshops do not support moderate/severe difficulties and will not address risky behaviours. (self-harm, suicidal ideations).
Sleep Workshops:
- Teen Sleep – Wednesday 12th November @ 4pm-6pm – (13+ Years – parents also welcome to attend)
One off workshop – explores why sleep is important, what is ‘good’ sleep, sleep hygiene tips and strategies for managing worries at night. - Parent Sleep – Monday 17th November @ 9:30am-11:30am –
(Parent Only for Children 4-12 Years of Age) One-off workshop which focuses on why sleep is important, what is ‘good’ sleep, possible causes of sleep difficulties and learning strategies to overcome sleep problems.
Behaviour Workshops:
(For parents of young people aged 5-11 years old)
A one-off Workshop that cover’s the following topics: Emotional development in children, emotional regulation, common behaviour difficulties and strategies to promote positive behaviours.
Monday 29th September @ 9:30am – 11:30am
Thursday 2nd October @ 1pm – 3pm
Parent Anxiety Workshops:
(For parents of young people aged 5 – 11 years old)
One-off workshop exploring emotional development in children, emotional regulation, psychoeducation around anxiety and anxiety management strategies.
Wednesday 22nd October @ 9:30am – 11:30am
Monday 10th November @ 1pm – 3pm
Self Esteem Workshops:
- Teenage Self-esteem Workshop – Monday 12th January @ 4pm – 6pm – (For young people aged 13+, parents are welcome to attend)
One off workshop which equips teenagers with an understanding of self-esteem and tools to build confidence through thought challenging, relaxation and activities to celebrate strengths and successes. Workshop also offers parental tips for building self-esteem in adolescence. - Parent Self-esteem Workshop – Wednesday 21st January @ 9.30am-11.30am – (For parents of children aged 5 – 12 years old)
One off workshop which equips parents with an understanding of self-esteem and ways to promote high self-esteem through parenting style and collaborative activities to try at home with their young person.
Exam Stress Workshops:
(For young people aged 12+ and parents)
One off workshop which equips teenagers with an understanding of exam stress, strategies for managing exam stress, revision tips and self-care. The workshop also offers parental tips for supporting their adolescent’s exam stress.
Tuesday 9th December @ 4pm – 6pm
Thursday 4th December @4pm – 6pm
Mental Health and Stigma Workshops:
(Young people aged 12+, Parents are welcome to attend)
One off workshop for young people focusing on mental health awareness and stigma. Follows a range of topics including Puberty, Male Mental Health, LGBTQ+, Ethnicity and social media.
Thursday 12th February @ 4pm – 6pm
Professionals referral guidance
As a service we accept referrals and enquiries from professionals working in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton. We would like to work together to provide a calendar of accessible events across the county including workshops, group work and attendance at local events and community drop-ins for 11-25 year olds. If you are holding an event and would like someone from the team to attend please email: fwteam@chums.uk.com and we will contact you.
Please complete a professional referral form or email: fwteam@chums.uk.com to enquire about setting up or referring into an established workshop/group/drop-in.
Parent/carers referral guidance
We accept referrals from:
Parent/carers of children and young people aged 11-15
Or parent/carers supporting young people and young adults aged 16-25 to make a referral.
Please complete a parent/carer referral form to refer into an established workshop/group
Young people and young adults referral guidance
We accept referrals from:
Young people and young adults aged 11-25 in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton. For children aged 11-15 years old we require that a parent makes the referral with the child or young person.
Please complete a young person referral form to refer into an established workshop/group
Request CHUMS
|
Workshops |
Groups |
Community
|
Wellbeing Consultation |
|
Professional |
|
|
|
||
Parent/carer |
|
|
|
||
Young Person / Young adult aged 11-16 with parental knowledge |
|
|
|
|
|
Request CHUMS
|
Workshops |
Groups |
Community
|
Wellbeing Consultation
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Professional |
|
|
|
||
Parent/carer |
|
|
|
||
Young Person / Young adult
|
|
|
|
|
|
Young Person / Young adult
|
|
|
|
|