Emotionally Based School Avoidance

The Parent Participation Project at Parentline NI recently brought together parents and professionals to explore the issue of School Avoidance in a collaborative and engaging way looking at how we can all work together to support children who are experiencing Emotionally based school avoidance.

After discussions with families who voiced concerns about this issue and the challenges parents and children face in accessing appropriate support, it was decided that a joint effort between parents and professionals would be beneficial for further exploration.

Engaging with parents from the Anxiety Based School Avoidance (ABSA) Peer Support Group was crucial. Their insights through lived experience and discussing what they have found supportive helped to shape the outline of the day.

Presenters included 3 parents with lived experience, an education welfare officer from the Education Authority sharing parent to school engagement, the vice principal of Blessed Trinity College sharing best practice, Strive Ni sharing support and strategies and Children in Northern Ireland’s Head of Policy sharing key insights in relation to lobbying government. Nine organisations including The Children’s Law Centre, Strive Ni, Eden Consultancy, Action For Children Family Support Hub, Education Authority, Parentline Ni, Emotional Wellbeing Teams in Schools, ABSA Peer Support Group and The Parent Participation Service hosted information stands around the room on the day.

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Outcomes

It was very much the tone of the day that this was a great starting point for further exploration and collaboration. Opportunities were provided for networking and delegates were seated in a way that provided for networking and further collaboration.

Since the event a number of parents and organisations have got in touch to be involved with the next event planned for Spring 2025.

CiNI – Parent Participation Service

Are you a passionate parent?    Calling all parents and carers in Northern Ireland! Join our Passionate Parents Network.

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The Parent Champion Network.   Would you like to team up with like-minded groups to build a strong network where we can support each other? 

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Mencap are offering the EPAtS family support programme in the Derry area

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Take part in a parent support programme with Mencap in the Derry/Londonderry area and receive up to £60 worth of vouchers while helping with university research!

Early Positive Approaches to Support (E-PAtS) is an 8-week family support programme for parents/caregivers who have a child aged 18 months – 5 years with additional developmental needs.

EPAtS has been designed by families and practitioners and provides support for parents’ wellbeing and their child’s development including support with sleep, communication and positive approaches to supporting behaviours that challenge.

Mencap is offering the E-PAtS programme in Derry City as part of a research trial, being led by University of Kent.

If you decide to take part in the trial, you will be randomly picked to either attend an E-PAtS group in February 2024, or in 12 months’ time.

To find out more please come along to one of our short information sessions

 All sessions are open to parents and practitioners. 

There will be a short presentation with time for questions and a cuppa

DATE – Wednesday 6th December

LOCATION – Mencap Office, 17-19 Bishop Street, Derry, BT48 6PR

INFO SESSION TIMES

10.15am – 10.45am

11.15am – 11.45am

7.15pm – 7.45pm

8.15pm – 8.45pm

Pick a time that suits you!

For more information or any queries please contact your local Mencap Family Support Co-ordinator,

Lisa McGrath

email: lisa.mcgrath@mencap.org.uk

phone, text or whatsapp: 07542392957

Early Interventions to Support Well-being

Increasing help seeking – creating opportunities for the workforce and members of the public to engage in early interventions to support well-being:

Aim: To engage members of the workforce in the HSC and C&V sector and the public in early interventions to support well-being.

Target audience: adults across our communities (regional) and the workforce in the HSC and community and voluntary sector. As this is early intervention and low intensity work (self-help), it is not aimed at people with more severe mental health challenges.

The four interventions include:

  • Using Self Compassion to Improve Wellbeing and Support Growth
  • Bend Don’t Break: a low intensity CBT based self-help to support resilience.
  • Making Our Nevous System Work For Us – Using the Polyvagal Therory to Improve Well-being
  • Building our Children’s Developing Brain: aimed at parents to help build emotional regulation with their children.

Time scale

From September 2023 until March 2024, 9 psychoeducational workshops, have been organised via zoom to engage participants in the work. (see details)