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:
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LGBTQ+
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Being from an ethnic minority
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A child in care or a care leaver
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Having additional needs relating to SEND
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Neurodiverse
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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:
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Anxiety
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Self-esteem
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Resiliency
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Exam Stress
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Sleep
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Transitions
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Mental Health awareness and Stigma: Social Media, Male Mental Health, Puberty, Identity and emotional wellbeing
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Parental separation & Emotional Wellbeing
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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:
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Anxiety support to reach your goal
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Managing emotions with an ASC
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Engaging with Education and Employment
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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 complete our workshop referral form. Please note we need the referral with us 24 hours prior to 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).
PARENT ANXIETY
For: Parents of young people aged 5–11 years old.
One-off workshop exploring:
- Emotional development in children
- Emotional regulation
- Psychoeducation around anxiety
- Anxiety management strategies
Date: Tuesday 17th February
Time: 09:30 – 11:30am
SELF ESTEEM
For: Parents of children aged 5–12 years old.
One-off workshop equipping 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 child.
Date: Wednesday 21st January
Time: 09:30 – 11:30am
11+ ANXIETY
For: Parents and children aged 11+.
This single psychoeducation session explores emotional development in children, emotional regulation, and focuses on anxiety and anxiety management strategies.
Date: Tuesday 17th February
Time: 4pm – 6pm
MENTAL HEALTH AND STIGMA WORKSHOPS
For: Young people aged 12+ (parents also welcome).
One-off workshop focusing on mental health awareness and stigma, covering topics such as puberty, male mental health, LGBTQ+, ethnicity, and social media.
Date: 12th February 2026
Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
PARENTAL SEPARATION
For: Parents of young people aged 5–11 years old.
One-off workshop exploring:
- Common child responses to separation
- Emotional regulation
- Potential disruptive behaviour problems and techniques to manage them
- Identifying worries in young people and how to work through these
Date: Tuesday 3rd February
Time: 09:30 – 11:30am
STIGMA
For: Young people aged 12+ (parents also welcome).
One-off workshop focusing on mental health awareness and stigma, covering topics such as puberty, male mental health, LGBTQ+, ethnicity, and social media.
Date: Thursday 12th February
Time: 4pm – 6pm
BEHAVIOUR
For: Parents of young people aged 5–11 years old.
One-off workshop covering:
- Emotional development in children
- Emotional regulation
- Common behaviour difficulties
- Strategies to promote positive behaviours
Date: Monday 9th February
Time: 09:30 – 11:30am
BEHAVIOUR
For: Parents of young people aged 5–11 years old.
One-off workshop covering:
- Emotional development in children
- Emotional regulation
- Common behaviour difficulties
- Strategies to promote positive behaviours
Date: Wednesday 25th February
Time: 1pm – 3pm
RESILIENCY
For: Parents of young people aged 0–5 years old.
This single psychoeducation session explores the importance of relationships, healthy attachments, emotional regulation and anxiety. You will learn evidence-based behavioural strategies to help your child thrive.
Date: Monday 2nd March
Time: 09:30 – 11:30am
RESILIENCY
For: Parents of young people aged 6–11 years old.
This single session explores relevant child development and provides psychoeducation on mental health vs mental health problems, emotional regulation, anxiety and low mood.
Date: Monday 16th March
Time: 1pm – 3pm
RESILIENCY
For: Young people aged 12–16 years (parents can also attend).
One-off workshop exploring mental health vs mental health problems, emotional regulation, psychoeducation on anxiety and low mood, and strategies for relaxation.
Date: Monday 30th March
Time: 5pm – 7pm
SLEEP
For: Parents of young people aged 4–12 years old.
One-off workshop exploring why sleep is important, what is ‘good’ sleep, sleep hygiene tips, and strategies for managing worries at night.
Date: Wednesday 25th March
Time: 09:30 – 11:30am
EXAM STRESS
For: Young people aged 12+ and parents.
One-off workshop equipping teenagers with an understanding of exam stress, strategies for managing stress, revision tips, and self-care.
Date: Wednesday 14th April
Time: 4pm – 6pm
EXAM STRESS
For: Young people aged 12+ and parents.
One-off workshop equipping teenagers with an understanding of exam stress, strategies for managing stress, revision tips, and self-care.
Date: Wednesday 29th April
Time: 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
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Wellbeing Consultation |
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Young Person / Young adult
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