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Download the GM Mini Motor Skills Padlet with lots of useful information and videos to support your child's development.

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Shared Decision Making CES Leaflet - Bold

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Download the free Essential Parent App to your phone.

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Large rectangle GIF Essential Parent Bury Council

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Connecting people, communities, and local services throughout Bury.

We care about Bury and our communities and want to empower you and your family to live a happier and healthier life.

We aim to bring together everything you need to live a happier and healthier life in Bury, all in one place. You can find services, information, advice, events, activities, and support that is available for people living within the borough of Bury, including Whitefield, Radcliffe, Prestwich, Tottington and Ramsbottom.

You can find what you are looking for by browsing our main categories, Adult Social Care, Children, Young People & Families, and Health, Wellbeing & Lifestyle, or use our onsite search tool. You can also use the onsite navigation, located at the top of every page to explore other useful sections.

We also have areas of the website dedicated to support unpaid carers, children and families with special educational needs and disabilities, and care leavers living in Bury.

Why not take a look at our What's On in Bury section to find activities and events happening in and around Bury?

Did you know you can list your service or upcoming event with us here on The Bury Directory for free? If you have any questions or require further support, you can contact us today.

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Connecting people, communities, and local services throughout Bury. We care about Bury and our communities and want to empower you and your family to live a happier and healthier life. We aim to bring together everything you need to live a happier and healthier life in Bury, all in one place.

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Action For Children- Safeguarding Children

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Action For Children- Safeguarding Children

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How we keep the children and young people we work with safe

Safeguarding is at the heart everything we do. It's how we protect children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm.

As a major provider of children's services in the UK, we have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. We share this responsibility with parents, staff, volunteers, and other agencies.

How we define abuse

Abuse is the maltreatment or exploitation of a child, young person or vulnerable adult. Abuse can be intentional harm, or the failure to prevent harm.

Abuse can happen online or in person, and can be carried out by adults or other children.

Some of the types of abuse most likely to affect children and young people include: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or exploitation, and neglect.

Who is responsible for safeguarding?

The primary responsibility for safeguarding children and young people rests with their parents and carers. Our services help them keep their children safe.

There may be times when we have to refer a child, young person or an adult to statutory services. We do this when intervention is the best way to keep them safe.

Everyone we work with shares the responsibility to safeguard the wellbeing of our service users. All our staff are asked to abide by our safeguarding framework, and to be responsible for the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of their work.

Where can I learn more?

To learn more about safeguarding in each UK nation, please see the official guidance below.

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How we keep the children and young people we work with safe Safeguarding is at the heart everything we do. It's how we protect children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm. As a major provider of children's services in the UK, we have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.

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Thank you for taking the time to look at our service Padlet.

This is a resource aimed at supporting families and professionals in regards to the core universal Health Visiting offer and public health initiatives which we provide. Please feel free to like and comment if you have found anything useful.

Resources are continually reviewed to ensure that they are up to date as much as possible.

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Radcliffe Health Visitors- 0161 206 4411

Ramsbottom Health Visitors- 0161 206 2300

Prestwich Health Visitors- 0161 798 2721

Whitefield Health Visitors- 07955434907

Central Bury Health Visitors- 07736604762

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Health Visiting :: Northern Care Alliance

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The Health Visiting Service is a universal prevention and early detection service for all children and families that will enable them to achieve optimum health and wellbeing.

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Institute of Health Visiting- What is a Health Visitor

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Institute of Health Visiting- What is a Health Visitor

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Health visitors are registered nurses/midwives who have additional training in community public health nursing. They provide a professional public health service based on best evidence of what works for individuals, families, groups and communities; enhancing health and reducing health inequalities through a proactive, universal service for all children 0-5 years and for vulnerable populations targeted according to need. Health visiting is a proactive, universal service that provides a platform from which to reach out to individuals and vulnerable groups, taking into account their different dynamics and needs, and reducing inequalities in health. Pre-school children and their families are a key focus.

How does it work?

Health visitors work with parents who have new babies, offering support and informed advice from the ante-natal period until the child starts school at 5 years. They may work in teams or have sole responsibility for a caseload derived from the local area or a general practice list; they are usually based in children's centres, surgeries, community or health centres. Health visitors visit parents through a minimum of 5 universal home visits from late pregnancy through to a developmental assessment at 2 years. These visits are usually in the home, but the health visitor may invite you to join groups, clinics and networks run by the health visiting team or colleagues who work with them such as: nursery nurses, children centre staff, voluntary organisations or community mothers.

Families from all walks of life may need support for specific issues that affect their children's health and development, so the actual service provided to each particular family will vary according to a personalised assessment of their own needs and evidence of what will work for them.

iHV Films

View iHV Film - Health visiting in your community - December 2022

A short film which showcases the breadth of health visitors' work and their critical role in supporting the health and wellbeing of thousands and thousands of families every week.

Please do share this film widely - you have our permission to include the links in your local resources.

Watch our short film - Health Visitors: for every family

The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV), working together with parents and Solent NHS Trust, is delighted to share a short film to highlight the value and breadth of the role of the health visitor in relation to family mental health and wellbeing outcomes.

It showcases the unique opportunity and skills that health visitors have to build relationships and the support that health visitors can offer where additional concerns about parental mental health or the parent-infant relationship are identified.

Infographics

One of the biggest challenges facing the health visiting profession is that many people do not know who health visitors are, or what their role entails. How can we expect the Government to invest in health visiting if this is not clear?

Across the four nations of the UK, there are also significant differences between the health visiting services offered in each nation - this is driven by different levels of prioritisation and investment by their respective governments. To support investment in health visiting in all nations, it is therefore imperative that the work of health visitors is made visible, and the benefits of an effective health visiting service are promoted. As a result, this infrastructure of support that health visitors provide is vulnerable to service cuts.

In our aim to make the work of the health visitor more visible, we launched two new infographics setting out "Who are health visitors and what do they do?" and "It's time to invest in health visiting because...".

A film, by Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust - "Health visiting in the spotlight"

Health visiting - every chance for every child, from birth to five. from BCHC COMMS on Vimeo.

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Health Visiting is... Health visitors are registered nurses/midwives who have additional training in community public health nursing.

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NHS services for new parents

Registering your baby with a GP

Register your baby with your GP as early as possible in case you need their help.

You can contact your GP at any time, whether it's for you or your child.

If you move, register with a new GP close to you as soon as possible.

If your baby is not yet registered with a GP but needs to see one, you can receive emergency treatment from any GP surgery.

How your health visitor can help

A health visitor will usually visit you at home for the first time around 10 days after your baby is born. Until then you'll be cared for by local midwives.

A health visitor is a qualified nurse or midwife who has had extra training. They're there to help you, your family and your new baby stay healthy.

Your health visitor can visit you at home, or you can see them at your child health clinic, GP surgery or health centre, depending on where they're based.

Talk to your health visitor if you're struggling with your mental health. They can give you advice and suggest where to find help. Read more about feeling depressed after childbirth.

They may also be able to put you in touch with groups where you can meet other parents.

Child health clinics

Child health clinics are run by health visitors and GPs. They offer regular baby health and development reviews and vaccinations.

You can also talk about any problems to do with your child, but if your child is ill and likely to need treatment, see your GP.

Some child health clinics also run parent and baby, breastfeeding, and peer support groups.

Local authority services

Sure Start children's centres

Sure Start children's centres provide family health and support services, early learning, and full-day or temporary care for children from birth to 5 years.

They also provide advice and information for parents on a range of issues, from parenting to training and employment opportunities. Some have special services for young parents.

Family Information Service

Family Information Service (FIS) aims to help you support your children by providing information for parents.

Each FIS has close links with children's centres, Jobcentre Plus, schools, careers advisers, youth clubs and libraries.

They offer information about local childcare services and availability, and can help if you need childcare for a child with a disability or special needs.

You can find out if these services are available in your area by contacting your local council.

Local advice centres

Advice centres are non-profit agencies that give advice on issues such as benefits and housing.

You can search online for organisations such as:

Citizens Advice

community law centres

welfare rights offices

housing aid centres

neighbourhood centres

community projects

To help you get the most out of services:

write down what you want to talk about and what information you can give that will be helpful

tell the person you are talking to if you do not understand them - you could ask them to write down what they are saying

There may be support available if English is not your first language. Ask your health visitor what's available in your area.

Websites, helplines and support groups

Contact: for families with disabled children

Support, advice and information for parents with disabled children.

Family Lives

An organisation providing immediate help from volunteer parent support workers.

Family Rights Group

Support for parents and other family members whose children are involved with or need social care services.

Gingerbread: single parents, equal families

Help and advice on the issues that matter to lone parents.

Parent and baby groups

To find out about local parent and baby groups:

ask your health visitor or GP

look on noticeboards and for leaflets at your local child health clinic, health centre, GP's waiting room, children's centre, library, advice centre, supermarket or newsagent

search on the internet, on social media or your local council's website

In some areas, there are groups that offer support to parents who share the same background and culture.

Your health visitor may know whether there are any groups like these near you.

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Advice and information about what's available to new parents through the NHS, local authority services, helplines, charities and local parent groups.

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Sepsis is a life-threatening condition. It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and even death if not recognised and treated promptly.

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Pregnancy, baby and parenting

Welcome to Better Health - Start for Life.

We may have a new name and look, but don't worry, you will still find all the trusted NHS advice and guidance you need to help you have a healthy and happy baby during pregnancy, birth and parenthood.

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Get trusted NHS advice during pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Start for Life is your essential guide for having a healthy, happy baby.

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Health A to Z

Your complete guide to conditions, symptoms and treatments, including what to do and when to get help.

Medicines A to Z

Find out how your medicine works, how and when to take it, possible side effects and answers to your common questions.

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Find information and advice on health conditions, symptoms, healthy living, medicines and how to get help.

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Skip to main content

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We'd like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

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You get Child Benefit if you're responsible for bringing up a child who is:

Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.

There's no limit to how many children you can claim for.

By claiming Child Benefit, you can get:

an allowance paid to you for each child - you'll usually get it every 4 weeks

National Insurance credits which count towards your State Pension

a National Insurance number for your child without them having to apply for one - they'll usually get the number shortly before they turn 16 years old

If you choose not to get Child Benefit payments, you should still make a claim to get the other advantages.

If your circumstances change

You must report any change of circumstances to the Child Benefit Office.

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Child Benefit - child benefit rates, eligibility, how to claim, child benefit claim form CH2.

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What is Healthy Start?

If you're more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

If you're eligible, you'll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. We'll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks.

You can use your card to buy:

plain liquid cow's milk

fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables

fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

infant formula milk based on cow's milk

You can also use your card to collect:

Healthy Start vitamins - these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding

vitamin drops for babies and young children - these are suitable from birth to 4 years old

If you live in Scotland

You can get help from Best Start Foods (opens in a new tab) instead.

Advice on healthy eating

For more advice on healthy eating, visit:

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If you're more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you're eligible, you'll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops.

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Benefits Calculator - entitledto - independent | accurate | reliable | www.entitledto.co.uk

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Check what benefit entitlement you are entitled to. The entitledto benefits calculator will check which means-tested benefits you may be entitled to e.g. tax credits, universal credit, housing benefit ...

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Patient Advice and Liason Service (PALS)

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Patient Advice and Liason Service (PALS)

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Information about NHS sexual health services

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111 online will not give you a diagnosis, but we will direct you to the best place to get help for your symptoms.

We cannot:

issue fit notes - you need to contact your GP surgery

make or cancel appointments for you in other parts of the NHS

Read about how 111 online works in detail

NHS 111 online is available in England only.

Get help in:

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111 online will not give you a diagnosis, but we will direct you to the best place to get help for your symptoms. We cannot: issue fit notes - you need to contact your GP surgery make or cancel appointments for you in other parts of the NHS Read about how 111 online works in detail NHS 111 online is available in England only.

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Click here where you will find a number of resources to support the early years workforce

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Bury Council Early Years Offer and Play and Stay Sessions for Parents/Carers of Children 0-5 Years

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Bury Council Early Years Offer and Play and Stay Sessions for Parents/Carers of Children 0-5 Years

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Information, advice and online services for housing or garages, repairs, landlords and private tenants, empty homes and property purchasing schemes

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Welcome to the Food Banks subcategory of the Financial Support In Bury page in The Bury Directory's Home, Housing & Money Support In Bury section.

Here, you can find access to free or subsidised meals and ingredients supplied by voluntary organisations and specialist companies in and around the Bury area.

If you require additional support or assistance with your day to day expenses and food bills due to the coronavirus crisis, take a look to see what help is available.

With resources ranging from free breakfasts and other meals for kids to food parcel deliveries and support services for vulnerable people, you'll find plenty of wonderful opportunities for help, advice and aid - whether you're looking on your own behalf or that of a loved one.

For information about wider financial assistance and advice, take a look at our main Financial Support In Bury page. Alternatively, for sheltered housing and supported living, you'll find all the information you require right .

If you are unable to find exactly what you are looking for, you could pay a visit to The Bury Directory's Housing Information, Support & Advice In Bury page. You can also contact the Directory using a straightforward online form . We'll respond as soon as possible with information and advice.

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Food Banks in Bury | Bury Food Banks | The Bury Directory

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Welcome to the Food Banks subcategory of the Financial Support In Bury page in The Bury Directory's Home, Housing & Money Support In Bury section. Here, you can find access to free or subsidised meals and ingredients supplied by voluntary organisations and specialist companies in and around the Bury area.

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Eagles Wing- Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support

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Eagles Wing- Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support

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Forever Manchester - We are the only charity that raises money to fund and support community activity across Greater Manchester

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The Eagles Wing is a mutual support group made up of local people, asylum seekers and refugees in Bury. They welcome and befriend newcomers, helping them happily settle into the area.

Meeting three times a week, they offer regular support groups, including English classes and sewing and craft workshops. They also work with partner agencies such as the Red Cross who can offer more professional advice to individuals experiencing problems, and the Citizens Advice Bureau so that their members can get expert advice on benefits, debt and immigration. They also do second-hand exchanges with books, toys, clothes or small items of furniture, and give food and shopping vouchers where possible to anyone in need.

The group provides a friendly and sociable space for refugees and asylum seekers to make friends with local people and feel welcome in the area. Babies and young children are also welcome to the meetings, so parents don't have to worry about sourcing and paying for childcare.

The group is member-led and includes refugees who have experienced trauma and loss but as a result of coming to the group are now well-settled. These members speak a range of other languages are able to offer advice and friendship to newcomers, which is an incredible resource for new members as it means that there is always someone who speaks their home language, and can help them understand the English letters and phone calls that can often appear overwhelming and confusing.

The Eagles Wing also celebrates events such as babies born, birthdays, and outings to which all members are invited and at no cost to them, creating an accessible and safe space for new friendships to blossom.

It is always worth remembering that, if you support Forever Manchester, you support all this.

The ability of local community groups and organisations to best help people in their community remains dependant on maintaining support for them.

To find out more about how you can get support Forever Manchester please email us at marketing@forevermanchester.com or telephone on 0161 214 0940.

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The Eagles Wing is a mutual support group made up of local people, asylum seekers and refugees in Bury. They welcome and befriend newcomers, helping them happily settle into the area.

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Free, Confidential, Impartial and Independent Advice

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Integrated Neighbourhood Teams Pathway to Active Case Management (ACM) | The Bury Directory

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Integrated Neighbourhood Teams Pathway to Active Case Management (ACM) | The Bury Directory

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Find out what information you need for your appointment to register a birth at Bury Register Office.

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Thriving in Bury for Children and Young People

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Thriving in Bury for Children and Young People

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Our maternity service provides excellent care for more than 6,000 women a year. We offer great facilities, pride ourselves on...

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Maternity Services (Obstetrics) - Saint Mary’s Hospital

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Saint Mary’s Hospital provides full maternity care for women including pre-conceptual counselling, antenatal care, birthing and postnatal care. This care is provided by obstetricians (doctors who specialise in the care of pregnant women) and midwives with areas of expertise in a particular field.

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North Manchester General Hospital offers a full range of high quality maternity services for women and their families across North Manchester, Bury and Salford. We are committed to providing safe and effective care that is personalised to your needs and we pride ourselves in supporting you through your pregnancy journey. The maternity teams are friendly and welcoming and wish to guide you through the most important time in your life.

North Manchester General Hospital Maternity Care Hotline: 0161 656 1757

Booking Details: Self-referral to your community midwife via your GP surgery. At your booking appointment you will be identified as either requiring midwife-led or consultant-led care, dependent on your risk status and your choice.
Virtual Tour

Place of Birth Choices: where we provide one to one midwifery care

Midwife led settings: Home, Bluebell (alongside) Birth Centre

Obstetric led setting: Labour Ward

The Bluebell Birth Centre and the labour ward have en-suite facilities and Birthing pools are available if this is your preferred option please discuss with the midwife.

Tours of the hospital

There are tours available every Sunday at 10am. You can book to attend one of these tours through our antenatal clinics (01617202769) or just turn up on the day and you will be welcome to join the tour. Should this day not be convenient for you please contact the Birth Centre (01616258043) and an alternative date and time can be facilitated.

Visiting times

We have an antenatal ward and a postnatal ward at North Manchester and for these areas visiting times are as follows

Partners and siblings from 8am-8pm

Other visitors from 10am until 8pm.

We respectfully request that the number is kept to 4 per bed at any one time.

Visiting times for the Labour ward and Bluebell Birth Centre allow for 2 people at any one time 24/7

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North Manchester General Hospital, Crumpsall

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North Manchester General Hospital offers a full range of high quality maternity services for women and their families across North Manchester, Bury and Salford. We are committed to providing safe and effective care that is personalised to your needs and we pride ourselves in supporting you through your pregnancy journey.

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You have the right to be always treated with dignity and respect during your care. If this does not happen, you can make a complaint. It is ok to make a complaint even if you think what happened to you was minor or no serious harm was done.

There are also other ways to find out more about what happened in your care, and to give feedback (good or bad) to maternity services. Telling the services what you thought of your care can help improve care for others in future.

If you have concerns about your maternity care before or after you give birth, talk to your midwife or doctor as soon as you can.

Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is a confidential service that provides help, advice and information for patients, families and carers. Please contact PALS if you would like to discuss the care and treatment you have received.

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Maternity Services :: Northern Care Alliance

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This page provides information about maternity services across the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.

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Find out how to contact your midwife or GP to start your antenatal care in pregnancy, and read about the tests, checks and health advice you can expect, including information about reduced foetal movement.

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Some vaccines, such as the inactivated seasonal flu vaccine and the whooping cough vaccine, are recommended during pregnancy to protect the health of you and your baby. An inactivated vaccine does not contain a live version of the virus it is protecting against.

Some vaccines, such as the tetanus vaccine, are perfectly safe to have during pregnancy if necessary.

But it does depend on the type of vaccination. For example, the MMR and yellow fever vaccines have potential risks, and you need to discuss these with your midwife or doctor before deciding whether to have the vaccine.

Vaccines not usually advised in pregnancy (live vaccines)

If a vaccine uses a live version of the virus, such as the MMR vaccine, you'll usually be advised to wait until after your baby is born before you get vaccinated.

This is because there's a potential risk that live vaccines could cause your unborn baby to become infected. But there's no evidence that any live vaccine causes birth defects.

Sometimes, a live vaccine may be used during pregnancy if the risk of infection is greater than the risk of the vaccination. Your midwife, GP or pharmacist can give you more advice about vaccinations during pregnancy.

Live vaccines include:

BCG (vaccination against tuberculosis)

MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)

oral polio (which forms part of the 6-in-1 vaccine given to infants)

oral typhoid

yellow fever

Vaccines recommended in pregnancy

Flu

During pregnancy, your immune system (the body's natural defence) is weakened to protect the pregnancy. This can mean you're less able to fight off infections. As the baby grows, you may be unable to breathe as deeply, increasing the risk of infections such as pneumonia.

These changes can raise the risk from flu - pregnant women are more likely to get flu complications than women who are not pregnant and are more likely to be admitted to hospital. Having the flu vaccine means you're less likely to get flu.
Find out more about the flu jab in pregnancy
Whooping cough

Whooping cough is a very serious infection, and young babies are most at risk. Most babies with whooping cough will be admitted to hospital.

When you have the whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy, your body produces antibodies to protect against whooping cough. These antibodies pass to your baby giving them some protection until they're able to have their whooping cough vaccination at 8 weeks old.
Find out more about the whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine

If you're pregnant, or think you might be, it's strongly recommended you get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect you and your baby.

You're at higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 if you're pregnant. If you get COVID-19 late in your pregnancy, your baby could also be at risk.

It's safe to have the vaccine during any stage of pregnancy, from the first few weeks up to your expected due date. You do not need to delay vaccination until after you have given birth.

The COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any live viruses and cannot give you or your baby COVID-19.

You can book your vaccination appointment online.
Find out more about pregnancy and COVID-19 vaccination

Travel vaccines in pregnancy

When you're pregnant, it's best to avoid visiting countries or areas where travel vaccinations are required.
See the TravelHealthPro website for information and advice about travel vaccinations for different countries
It may not always be possible to avoid areas that require vaccinations when you're pregnant. If this is the case, talk to a midwife or GP, who can tell you about the risks and benefits of any vaccinations you might need.

If there's a high risk of infection in the area you are travelling to, it's often safer to have a vaccine rather than travel unprotected as most diseases will be more harmful to your baby than a vaccine.

For example, yellow fever is a virus spread by mosquitoes. Most people who get severe yellow fever die from it. The yellow fever vaccine is a live vaccine, but it may be considered necessary to have the vaccination if you're travelling to areas where yellow fever is common because the risks of yellow fever are so high.

Pregnancy and malaria

Pregnant women are particularly susceptible to malaria. This is a serious condition which, if severe, can be fatal for both a mother and her baby. Malaria mainly affects countries in:

Africa

South America and Central America

Asia

the Middle East

If possible, avoid travelling in these areas if you are pregnant. However, if you're unable to postpone or cancel your trip, preventative treatment is available. This involves taking antimalarial medicine tablets to reduce your risk of getting malaria.

The antimalarial medicine you take may depend on which country you're travelling to, your stage of pregnancy and whether you have any other pre-existing medical conditions. In some areas certain antimalarial medicines do not work because the malaria parasite has developed resistance to them.

Some antimalarial medicines are known to affect the developing baby. For example, doxycycline can cause the baby's milk teeth to be discoloured if a pregnant woman takes it after the first 12 or 13 weeks of pregnancy.

Other antimalarial medicines have not been studied sufficiently and more research on their use in pregnancy is needed. But the risk of harm to you and your baby from malaria is likely to be much greater than any potential risk from taking antimalarial medicine.
See the bumps website for more information about malaria and antimalarial medicines and their use in pregnancy
Protecting yourself against malaria

If you're pregnant, make sure you take precautions against being bitten by insects. For example:

use a mosquito repellent that's specifically recommended for use in pregnancy

wear a long-sleeved top, full-length trousers and socks to cover up your skin from dusk until dawn

always sleep under a mosquito net

Find maternity services near you

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Some vaccines, such as the inactivated seasonal flu vaccine and the whooping cough vaccine, are recommended during pregnancy to protect the health of you and your baby. An inactivated vaccine does not contain a live version of the virus it is protecting against.

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This video guides mothers on how to hand express and talks about the times when hand expression might be useful.

See the Breastfeeding Network website for FAQs and a leaflet all about expressing and storing breastmilk.

Problems viewing this video? Contact us.

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Hand expression video - Baby Friendly Initiative

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This video guides you through how to hand express, and talks about the times when hand expression might be useful for you.

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Meeting baby for the first time video - Baby Friendly Initiative

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Baby Friendly’s video on skin-to-skin contact and how it can help mothers and babies get their relationship off to the best start.

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Breast Feeding and relationships in the early days

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Breast Feeding and relationships in the early days

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This video looks at both the theory and practice of relationship building and responsive breastfeeding, supporting families to get their relationship with their baby off to the best start.

Hear mothers and professionals give tips and advice on what it can mean to have a close and loving relationship with your new baby.

Find more relationship building resources

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Breastfeeding and relationships in the early days video - Baby Friendly Initiative

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Baby Friendly's video on breastfeeding and relationship building covers views and tips from both mothers and health professionals.

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In this video, we explore how best to support new mothers with feeding.

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months ensures the best outcomes for babies, and mothers need support to get this off to the best start. Ongoing help with positioning, attachment and skin-to-skin contact help mothers to maintain their milk supply and avoids disruption to breastfeeding.

If mothers wish to bottle feed, the impact on milk supply should be discussed so that they can make informed choices. A sensitive, non-judgmental approach is key.

For more information:

Problems viewing this video? Contact us.

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Maximising breastmilk video - Baby Friendly Initiative

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In this video, we explore how best to support new mothers with feeding, including positioning, attachment and skin-to-skin contact.

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Using straightforward language and simple illustrations to aid understanding, these infosheets on breastfeeding and bottle feeding are available in multiple languages and can be used to support parents with the basics of feeding and responding to their baby.

The infosheets are free to download and print, and are currently available in:
Please note: Following feedback, these translations were updated in 2019 to ensure the language used was as straightforward as possible.
The English versions of these resources are available below for reference:

Breastfeeding guidance: English (for reference)

Bottle feeding guidance: English (for reference)

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Foreign language resources - Baby Friendly Initiative

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These infosheets are available in multiple languages and can be used to support parents with feeding and responding to their baby.

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Skin-to-skin contact - Baby Friendly Initiative

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Skin-to-skin contact is important for babies and mothers to develop close, loving parent-infant relationships and to initiate breastfeeding.

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It's important to sterilise all your baby's feeding equipment, including bottles and teats, until they're at least 12 months old.
This will protect your baby against infections, in particular diarrhoea and vomiting.

Before sterilising, you need to:

Clean bottles, teats and other feeding equipment in hot, soapy water as soon as possible after feeds.

Use a clean bottle brush to clean bottles (only use this brush for cleaning bottles), and a small teat brush to clean the inside of teats. You can also turn teats inside out then wash them in hot soapy water. Do not use salt to clean teats, as this can be dangerous for your baby.

Rinse all your equipment in clean, cold running water before sterilising.

You can put your baby's feeding equipment in the dishwasher to clean it if you prefer. Putting feeding equipment through the dishwasher will clean it but it does not sterilise it. Make sure bottles, lids and teats are facing downwards. You may prefer to wash teats separately by hand to make sure they are completely clean.

The advice about how to clean your baby's feeding equipment applies to all of the equipment, and whether you are using expressed breast milk or formula milk.

How to sterilise baby feeding equipment

There are several ways you can sterilise your baby's feeding equipment. These include:

cold water sterilising solution

steam sterilising

boiling

Cold water sterilising solution

Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Leave feeding equipment in the sterilising solution for at least 30 minutes.

Change the sterilising solution every 24 hours.

Make sure there are no air bubbles trapped in the bottles or teats when putting them in the sterilising solution.

Your steriliser should have a floating cover or a plunger to keep all the equipment under the solution.

Steam sterilising (electric steriliser or microwave)

It's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions, as there are several different types of sterilisers.

Sterilising by boiling

Make sure the items you want to sterilise in this way are safe to boil.

Boil the feeding equipment in a large pan of water for at least 10 minutes, making sure it all stays under the surface.

Set a timer so you do not forget to turn the heat off.

Remember that teats tend to get damaged faster with this method. Regularly check that teats and bottles are not torn, cracked or damaged.

After you've finished sterilising

It's best to leave bottles and teats in the steriliser or pan until you need them.

If you do take them out, put the teats and lids on the bottles straight away.

Wash and dry your hands before handling sterilised equipment. Better still, use some sterile tongs.

Assemble the bottles on a clean, disinfected surface or the upturned lid of the steriliser.

Find out more about expressing breast milk and how to make up formula feeds.

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How to sterilise your baby's bottles and other feeding equipment safely and effectively, whether you're using boiling, steam or cold water sterilising equipment.

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Handy tips for bottle feeding your baby, including hygiene, being prepared, how to wind your baby and how to keep them safe.

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Breastfeeding is a skill that takes time to get the hang of. Lots of mums wonder if their baby's feeding well and getting enough - especially in the first few days.

But once you've mastered it, you'll probably find it's the easiest and most satisfying way to feed your baby.

We're here to provide lots of helpful information and advice on breastfeeding.

If you have any breastfeeding worries or concerns, the best thing to do is speak to your midwife or health visitor, or join a local breastfeeding support group.

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Breastfeeding can take practice - read our guides on breastfeeding to find out what works best for you

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National Breastfeeding Helpline - Helpline

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This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website.

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Pregnancy, baby and parenting

Welcome to Better Health - Start for Life.

We may have a new name and look, but don't worry, you will still find all the trusted NHS advice and guidance you need to help you have a healthy and happy baby during pregnancy, birth and parenthood.

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Get trusted NHS advice during pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Start for Life is your essential guide for having a healthy, happy baby.

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Babies cry, you can cope When babies cry it can be stressful and overwhelming. Help is out there and all you need to do is ask. Latest news Testimonials

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The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families

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Lots of young children find it difficult to settle down to sleep and will wake up during the night.
For some people, this might not be a problem. But if you or your child are suffering from a lack of sleep, there are some simple things you can try.

Every child is different, so only do what you feel comfortable with and what you think will suit your child.

If your child will not go to bed

Decide what time you want your child to go to bed.

Start a "winding down" bedtime routine around 30 minutes before the time that your child usually falls asleep. Bring this forward by 5 to 10 minutes each week - or 15 minutes if your child is in the habit of going to bed very late - until you get to the bedtime you want. Read more about helping babies to sleep.

Set a limit on how much time you spend with your child when you put them to bed. For example, read only 1 story, then tuck your child in and say goodnight.

Give your child their favourite toy, dummy (if they use one) or comforter before settling into bed.

Leave a dim light on if necessary.

If your child gets up, keep taking them back to bed again with as little fuss as possible.

Try to be consistent.

You may have to repeat this routine for several nights.

Sleep tips for under-5s

Make sure you have a calming, predictable bedtime routine that happens at the same time and includes the same things every night.

If your child complains that they're hungry at night, try giving them a bowl of cereal and milk before bed (make sure you brush their teeth afterwards).

If your child is afraid of the dark, consider using a nightlight or leaving a landing light on.

Do not let your child look at laptops, tablets or phones in the 30 to 60 minutes before bed - the light from screens can interfere with sleep.

If your child wakes up during the night, be as boring as possible to avoid exciting them and leave lights off.

Avoid long naps in the afternoon.

Help your disabled child to sleep

Sometimes children with long-term illnesses or disabilities find it more difficult to sleep through the night. This can be challenging both for them and for you.

The charity Contact has more information about helping you and your child sleep.

Scope also has sleep advice for parents of disabled children.

Further support and advice

Talk to your health visitor if you need further advice. They may have other ideas or suggest you make an appointment at a children's sleep clinic, if there's one in your area.

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Ideas to cope with and manage sleep in young children, including if your child refuses to go to bed.

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Tiny Happy People is here to help you develop your child's language skills. Explore our simple activities and play ideas and find out about babies and toddlers' amazing early development.

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Children’s language development and parenting advice - BBC Tiny Happy People

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A chatty child is a happy child, so Tiny Happy People is here to help you develop your child’s communication skills through simple interaction and play.

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This leaflet offers advice and information for parents on getting to know their baby and setting up the foundations for a close and loving relationship.

We now know that building a strong relationship between parents and their new baby will give them the best possible start in life and will help them to grow up happy and confident. This leaflet is free to download and helps parents to develop that strong relationship, starting in pregnancy and continuing into the early days, weeks and months of a baby's life.

Health professionals may want to use this leaflet in conjunction with the Baby Friendly guide to antenatal and postnatal conversations and accompanying signature sheets.

Printed copies cost £15 per pack (1-9 packs) or £11 per pack (10 or more packs). There are 50 leaflets per pack and this price includes P&P within UK. Order using the Baby Friendly Resources order form, which you can download from our Resources page.
Please note: Orders for UK delivery only, and include postage and packaging costs. Orders may take up to 7 working days to process. The Baby Friendly Initiative reserve the right to re-print items at any time. If you are looking to order audit tools or e-learning please use our digital resources order form. Our myth buster posters show the key Happy Baby messages in bright and colourful poster form - find out more.

Building a Happy Baby: A Guide for Parents

Baby Friendly standards

Support to build a close and loving relationship is a key element of the Baby Friendly standards. Find out more about embedding our standards in your service.

Find more relationship building resources

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Building a happy baby: A Guide for Parents Leaflet - Baby Friendly Initiative

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This leaflet helps parents to get to know their baby and to set up the foundations for a close and loving relationship.

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NHS- Your baby's health and development reviews

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NHS- Your baby's health and development reviews

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Your baby’s health and development reviews

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Find out when your baby will have their health and development reviews (health visitor checks), and what happens at each one.

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NHS Start for Life Early Learning and Development

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NHS Start for Life Early Learning and Development

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90% of your child's brain growth happens before the age of 5. Right from the start, all those little moments you spend together with your child are building their brain.

Every smile, cuddle, chat and game makes a huge difference, helping them learn to communicate, develop confidence and make friends.

Find lots of ideas, easy tips and activities you can do together with your child.

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Early learning and development - Start for Life - NHS

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Every smile, chat and cuddle is a great opportunity to help your baby's communication and language skills. Find fun activities and games for your everyday routine.

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NHS Start for Life Bonding with your baby

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NHS Start for Life Bonding with your baby

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Bonding with your baby

Healthy development of your baby begins during the first 2 years of their life.

From the moment your baby is born, and even during pregnancy, your interactions with them help them feel loved and secure.

The way you care for your baby, and the experiences you have together, really do matter.

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From the moment your baby is born, and even during pregnancy, your interactions with them help them feel loved and secure.

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Our 24/7 crisis mental health helpline is here to support anybody in (all ages): If there's an immediate risk of danger to life, you should ring 999. More info about our helpline Our helpline is for people of all ages who are experiencing increased mental health needs.

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BBC Tiny Happy People - New Dad's Mental Health Advice

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BBC Tiny Happy People - New Dad's Mental Health Advice

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Becoming a dad can trigger a whole range of emotions - from overwhelming joy to utter fear and everything in between.
Throw in a lack of sleep, broken routines and hormonal changes (yes, dads have those too) and it's not unusual to feel completely off-kilter.

In fact, studies show that about one in 10 men experiences mental health difficulties in the first six months after baby arrives, with first-time dads and younger dads particularly vulnerable. And although awareness is growing, dad's wellbeing can get side-lined, explains mental health specialist Raoul Lindsay.

"When baby is born, the focus is quite rightly on mum and baby and dads are kind of in the background. But you need support too."
We wanted to highlight the life-changing experience of becoming a dad and offer some advice for new dads' wellbeing. Here are some tips you can try to help keep your mental health in check...

Mental health guide: 7 tips for new dads

1. Ease up on yourself

New dads put a lot of pressure on themselves, says Raoul. "One thing that comes up a lot in my work is this belief that you need a new set of skills to be a successful dad, while mums have this natural maternal instinct."

In truth, being a parent doesn't come easily to anyone.

I wish new dads knew there's no such thing as a Super Dad.

"One thing I tell dads as part of recovery is to get hands-on and be silly with your baby. Move away from thinking that have to be the logical, hunter-gatherer parent while mum is the nurturing parent. Also trust your instincts; yes, take on information and other people's advice but above else, have faith in your own judgement."

2. Connect and communicate with your partner

Good communication with your partner is an important way to feel calmer and more confident about your parenting.

"It's especially important in the early stages. Sharing duties like night feeds, planning things as much as possible, recognising that you both need rest. It's all about being able to speak to them about what's happening and think practically together about what you can do," says Raoul.

Connect, listen, ask questions and find out what each other really needs, adds Raoul.

"Your partner is the person you can trust and you feel most comfortable with, so in theory this shouldn't be hard. But sometimes we guess what our partners need without getting actual information from them. You can do all the things under the sun to help each other feel better but until you ask each other, it's just a guessing game, which can trigger even more worries about not being able to support them or be a good parent."

3. Do things that help you feel balanced

Sounds undoable when there is barely time to draw breath, but Raoul advises finding a new routine that helps you retain some sense of calm.

"Think about what helped you unwind, regulated and relax before you had a baby, and see if you and your partner can find ways you can lever it into your new life in some way."

There's no point trying things you didn't do before just because you think they might help, like gardening or reading for example.

"If you want to spend some time playing a games console, there's nothing wrong with that. Perhaps health and fitness is your thing and you're feeling sensitive about your 'dad bod' and there's a way you can fit in a trip to the gym or a run. Whatever helps you."

4. Chat to other new dads

Don't underestimate the power of talking to people in exactly the same situation as you, says Raoul.

"You will be surprised how helpful it can be to open your eyes to what you need. It's something that was important to me when I first became a dad. The opportunity to chat to other new dads who know what you're going through, to exchange parenting tips and arrange social things, like a walk together when you feel comfortable, is so valuable."

5. Remember that parenthood will get easier

"You can miss your pre-dad life a lot in the early stages of being a new dad," says Raoul.

"So, it's important to remember that the difficulties are temporary, you will return to a sense of 'normality' whatever that was - better sleep, quieter moments with your partner, more time to see friends and family and so on."

Recognising that with time and experience things won't seem so challenging is a very positive tool.

6. Be aware of your mood

Most new dads feel low at some point, but if these feelings linger and last for a long period, it could be a sign of depression.

"Some anxieties are natural, for example, how you'll be as a dad or logistical changes like paternity leave," explains Raoul. "What's important is to recognise when the worry continues for too long, or when it becomes debilitating. For example, you might experience physical affects like panic attacks or not be able to return to a regular, calm state. You might notice that your eating habits change so you're eating more or less than you usually do, or that your sleeping patterns change."

Depression is a different experience for everyone.

So, it's really important to keep a close check on yourself and look out for anything that's unusual for you.

"Things like feeling withdrawn socially, if you're not taking pleasure from activities you used to love or lacking the desire to do them at all, or if you're feeling worried about the things you weren't worried about before," says Raoul.

Check out the NHS guide to low mood, sadness and depression.

7. Open up to someone you trust

If you are feeling continually low, don't be afraid to share how you're feeling.

It doesn't matter who you talk to, just so long as it's someone you trust and who will listen, says Raoul.

"Initiating this chat is really hard so take small steps. It doesn't have to feel like a big conversation. It might not be about asking for help - it might just be about informing someone about something that's happening right now."

Further information

For more information about mental health and wellbeing, check out the dedicated area on the NHS website

BBC Action Line also has details of organisations that can help support you.

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Raoul Lindsay, a mental health specialist gives his advice on how new dads can try keep their mental wellbeing in check.

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NHS Bury Talking Therapies is for people over the age of 16 years, who are registered with a GP in Bury. We were previously called Bury Healthy Minds.

We offer support and treatment if you're experiencing symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, low mood, stress, worry or anxiety, feelings of low self worth or panic attacks.

We can also help you to cope with the effects of a long-term health problem or chronic pain, post natal depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias, eating difficulties and post traumatic stress reactions.

With help and support, these feelings and symptoms can be managed, guiding you to deal with them more effectively.

Our service is delivered by a range of professionals including therapists and counsellors, who will find a level of treatment that is right for you.

We also provide specialist support for those experiencing post-natal depression and for those with long term health conditions.

Please note we are NOT an emergency service, if you're feeling desperate or suicidal you should contact you GP as soon as possible.

Access our online self-help program (SilverCloud)

We offer a mental health self-help program called SilverCloud, where you can instantly access materials shown to have a positive impact on depression, anxiety and stress.

You can log into the program from any device as often as you want, and we'll regularly support you as you work through the materials. Once you have completed the program, you will still be able to access the information in your account for up to a year.

Click here to sign up for SilverCloud. If you would like more information, you can phone us on 0161 253 5258.

Unfortunately SilverCloud is only available in English at the moment. If you'd like to access our services but don't speak English, please complete the NHS Talking Therapies referral form (below) and we will contact you to arrange an interpreter.
What to expect after completing the SilverCloud referral form
You will receive an email from SilverCloud asking you to complete a questionnaire and select a treatment programme to work through.

This information will be reviewed by us and then we'll contact you. This is often in an email, but you may also receive a text or letter. Please keep an eye on your junk email box as often emails end up there.
How does SilverCloud work
SilverCloud is an online cognitive behavioural therapy programme. It's flexible, effective, easy to use, and puts you in control of your own progress. You can work through at your own pace and complete the tasks at times to suit you.

You will speak to a psychological wellbeing practitioner on the telephone at the start and end of your treatment. You will also receive weekly emails from them as they will review the progress you are making.
After you complete a SilverCloud programme
Your final review will be over the phone with your supporter. During this appointment we will discuss and review your progress with the programme and decide together if you require any further support from Healthy Minds.

Whatever is decided, you will have access to the materials on SilverCloud for 12 months.
If you sign up and change your mind
Once you are allocated to a therapist you will have weekly reviews via email. If at any point, you have questions about the programme or you feel it isn't right for you, please leave us a message to let us know. We will be happy to discuss alternative treatment options with you.

If we notice that you don't log on to your account for two weeks once treatment has started, and you haven't left us any messages, at that point, we will assume you do not wish to continue with SilverCloud and will discharge you back to the care of your GP.
More information
Watch this video for more about SilverCloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6uopRaBf20

Complete our referral form

You can access our NHS Talking Therapies service by completing the online referral form so we can get in touch.
After making a referral
Once your referral has been submitted, we will aim to respond to you within 14 working days.

If you need urgent help in the meantime, please speak to your GP or visit our helplines page for other useful contacts.

Professionals making a referral

Following the closure of the online professional referral portal, professional referrals to NHS Talking Therapies are still accepted. However please carefully consider whether it's appropriate for the patient.

The service is for people with mild to moderate common mental health problems (e.g. depression and anxiety), with a strong focus on self-help. This is why self-referral is the preferred route.

If a professional referral is appropriate, you can email a referral form to us. Pennine Care staff can access a copy of the referral form on the staff intranet. Otherwise please contact us for a copy. Outpatient psychiatry letters are also still accepted.

Alternatively, you can speak to your GP or other health or care professional.

If you have any questions about the service, please contact us on 0161 253 5258.

There's a strong link between debt and mental health problems, with a number of people referring to us in need of debt advice.

You can get free debt advice from the Money Advice Service.

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NHS Bury Talking Therapies (previously Healthy Minds)

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NHS Bury Talking Therapies is for people over the age of 16 years, who are registered with a GP in Bury. We were previously called Bury Healthy Minds. We offer support and treatment if you're experiencing symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, low mood, stress, worry or anxiety, feelings of low self worth or panic attacks.

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Where to get help if you are having suicidal thoughts, and what to do if you are worried about someone else.

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Bury Mental Health Access and Crisis Team

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Bury Mental Health Access and Crisis Team

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Bury Access and Crisis Team :: Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

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We act as the single point of access for all referrals into mental health services.

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Find mental health information and support for veterans, service leavers, reservists, families and carers.
Mental health problems are common and can affect anyone, including veterans, serving personnel, reservists and their families. It's important to get help and support if you or someone you know has mental health problems.

NHS mental health advice and urgent help

If you need support for a specific mental health condition, you can find information in our A-Z of mental health conditions.

Op COURAGE: the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service

Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families.

How Op COURAGE can help

Op COURAGE can help you and your family with a range of support and treatment, including:

helping you transition from military to civilian life by providing mental health care with Defence Medical Services (DMS)

helping you recognise and treat early signs of mental health problems, as well as more advanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma

providing support and treatment for substance misuse and addictions

helping you to access other NHS mental health services if you need them, such as finding an NHS talking therapies service and eating disorder services

liaising with charities and local organisations to support your wider health and wellbeing needs, such as help with housing, relationships, finances and employment

supporting armed forces families affected by mental health problems, including helping them to access local services

Who will I speak to?

Op COURAGE is an NHS service supported by trained professionals who are from, or have experience of working with, the Armed Forces community.

This service can help if you're finding life difficult after leaving the military. Working together with Armed Forces charities, Op COURAGE will help you get the right type of specialist care, support and treatment for your specific needs.

Who Op COURAGE can help

To receive help and support from Op COURAGE, you must:

be a resident in England and have served in the UK armed forces for a full day

be registered with a GP surgery in England, or be willing and eligible to register with a GP

provide your military service number

It does not matter how long ago you left the armed forces or how long you served for. You can contact Op COURAGE even if you left many years ago.

You can also contact Op COURAGE if you're still serving but have a discharge date.

Contacting Op COURAGE

You can contact the service in many ways, including:

directly getting in touch yourself, or through a family member or friend

asking a GP or other healthcare representative to refer you

asking a charity to refer you

The service will arrange for you to have an assessment, to make sure you get the right care and support.

It's important to contact the Op COURAGE service for your local area. This allows them to give you the best support they can provide.

Is Op COURAGE the same as TILS, CTS and HIS?

Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is the new name for the veterans mental health services previously known as:

the Veterans' Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS)

the Veterans' Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS)

the Veterans' Mental Health High Intensity Service (HIS)

These 3 services have come together as Op COURAGE to make it easier for veterans and those leaving the military to find help.

Veterans and Reserves Mental Health Programme

The Veterans and Reserves Mental Health Programme is a Ministry of Defence (MoD) specialist service that provides mental health assessments and treatment advice for veterans and reservists.

It works closely with the NHS and DMS to provide appropriate treatment.

You can usually only access this service if a GP refers you to it. Ask your GP about a referral if you feel your time serving in the armed forces has affected your mental health.
GOV.UK: Veterans and Reserves Mental Health Programme

Support from charities and other mental health services

If you want help from a charity, you can:

Combat Stress

If you need to talk to someone, Combat Stress have a dedicated mental health support helpline for veterans and their families.

This provides confidential advice and support and is free to call for veterans, family members and carers.

The helpline number is 0800 138 1619, and it's available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Togetherall

Togetherall is a mental health support service that provides:

anonymous, round-the-clock online support with trained counsellors

a supportive community, including forums for safe conversation

free resources to help you improve your mental health

All armed forces serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families can access these services at any time.

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Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists

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Read about mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists, including specialist services and charities.

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Dad Matters Bury exists to support dads to have the best possible relationship with their families. We work closely with other professionals within Greater Manchester and nationally to better support dads in the first 1001 days of their parenting journey.
We offer Outreach services/drop-ins

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ANDYSMANCLUB are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online.

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I was a bit scared when we found out we were having a baby, obviously happy, but a bit scared and in the beginning I was a bit clueless. The child development part is my favourite bit, but there's things in there, like things about mental health, that I didn't know about and that I didn't know you needed to know about.

Ross, 22

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DadPad | The Essential Guide for New Dads | Support Guide for New Dads

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Developed with the NHS, DadPad gives new dads and dads-to-be the knowledge and skills needed to gain confidence and give their baby the best start in life.

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Click here where you will find a number of resources to support the early years workforce

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All about Government help with childcare costs, including 15 to 30 hours free childcare, Tax-Free Childcare, tax credits, Universal Credit, vouchers and support while you study

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The Bury Directory- Education, Childcare and Nurseries in Bury

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The Bury Directory- Education, Childcare and Nurseries in Bury

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Education, Childcare & Nurseries in Bury | The Bury Directory

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Get information & advice on education and childcare in Bury, including child nurseries, childminders, schools and more. Browse The Bury Directory online.

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Guidance for parents, carers or guardians when applying for a nursery, primary or secondary school place for their child

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Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) - working together to improve the lives of people in Greater Manchester - Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan

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"Supporting the whole family"

First Point Family Support Services are the contract leads for the Sensory Pilot in Bury. Rehabilitation for Independence are the specialist private company that are commissioned through the contract to deliver the sensory assessments and sensory seminars (see their webpage link below). As contract lead we report on the anonymous statistical data to contract leads and manage the bookings, provide the venues and refreshments for all the seminars.

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Home - Rehabilitation for Independence (rehabforindependence.co.uk)

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What We Offer:

The Team

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Lynsey Blears - Company Director

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"We passionately empower families and professionals to make informed choices. Built on our innovative and personable approach we aim to make life changing differences."

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Home - Kooth

Kooth, the online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people aged 11 to 18 years has been available in Bolton, Manchester, Oldham, Trafford Rochdale and Wigan for some time. It's now available in Bury, Salford, Tameside and Stockport.

Kooth provides:

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The target groups in Greater Manchester

To find out more visit https://hub.gmhsc.org.uk/mental-health/kooth/

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Information for Parent/Carers

Launch of Educational Psychology Service School/Parent Help Line

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Bury local authority have opened a help line for parents and carers who have children or young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disability.

The helpline that will be run by Bury Education Psychology Service and is available to provide advice to parents/carers and schools

It will run twice a week on

Mondays between 13.00 and 15.30

and

Wednesday between 9.30 and 12.00.

The number is 0161 253 6406.

(voicemail facility is available please leave a message and the team will get back to you)

The helpline is intended to provide EP advice and support for schools/parents of CYP with SEND in the context of the current situation that exists due to Covid-19.

Types of EP advice and support available could include:

* Anxiety, stress and related issues arising from being out of school/returning to school/COVID 19/missing friends etc.,

* Loss and bereavement - EPs provide Critical Incident support, but the helpline may identify where this support is needed.

* Transitions - particularly for those children starting reception/year 7.

* Advice on routines/behaviours because of changes to routine.

* Reassurance/advice on academic progress and expectations once children are back to school.

* Advice on EHC needs assessments and annual reviews.

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You may of course have other educational questions or concerns that are not included on this list, so please do not hesitate to call, no matter how small your question or concern is.

Please note that EPs may sign post to other services as part of the support but will not become involved beyond the advice and support of the phone call.

First Point Family Support - Upcoming Events

If you would like to book onto a seminar contact us on 0161 762 1440
or via email - admin@firstpointsupport.org.uk
Please ensure you book on as places are limited.

Please find our address and contact details below
Thank You

Phoenix house, 100 Brierley Street, Bury, Manchester, BL9 9HN

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Home | First Point Family Support Services

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"Supporting the whole family" First Point Family Support Services are the contract leads for the Sensory Pilot in Bury. Rehabilitation for Independence are the specialist private company that are commissioned through the contract to deliver the sensory assessments and sensory seminars (see their webpage link below).

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Supporting Your Neurodiverse Child Padlet

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Supporting Your Neurodiverse Child Padlet

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Sensory Processing Differences Support Padlet

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Sensory Processing Differences Support Padlet

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DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICES - BURY

SafeNet Bury supports people who have experienced domestic abuse to find the right level of support they need to move towards a happier, healthier and more secure future.

Contact us today in confidence to discuss how we can help - you are not alone.

Support & Accommodation

Community Outreach Support

IDVA services: High & Medium Risk

Safe 24 hour Refuge Accommodation

Confidential live chat - 7 Days a week

0300 3033 581 - 24hrs a day, 365 days a year

Our community Outreach Services in Bury offer confidential, emotional and practical support in the community, helping those experiencing domestic abuse to stay safe and receive professional support with housing-related issues. They can talk confidentially to one of our experienced domestic abuse support workers to find the right level of support needed to move towards a happier, healthier and more secure future.

"I felt I was believed for the first time"

We deliver Community outreach services in the Bury area, along with access to other SafeNet services including refuges, safe houses, services for males victims and support for complex needs.

Specialist support for Black and Ethnic minority families, forced marriage, honour-based violence and FGM

Access to legal advice and support with the court process

Support for adult women, men, children and younger people

Safety planning and support to stay safe

Emotional support, someone who will listen and believe you

Support to manage your finances; income/debts/benefits etc

Freedom Programme and Power2Change

Services for male victims

Recovery refuge for those with complex needs

Support with housing, resettlement, setting up a new home and staying safe

Support for health issues such as disability, mental health, substance misuse issues

Support to help your children feel safe and positive

Bury Refuge for Women & Children

Our new Bury refuge is open 365 days a year to women and children who are at risk of or are escaping domestic abuse. We are staffed 24/7 to ensure we can respond effectively to emergency referrals to help those in crisis or in immediate need, and also to maintain security and safety for all our residents throughout the day and night.

Bury Independent Domestic Abuse Advisor (IDVA)

We deliver IDVA services to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse on behalf of Bury's Community Safety Partnership.

We provide support for those assessed at both high and medium risk. Both services, the high risk IDVA support and the medium risk domestic abuse outreach support, can be accessed by women and men in the Bury area who are currently or have previously experienced domestic abuse.

By integrating the delivery of both services, we can offer flexible support that can react in a timely way and provide continuity of support.

Support can be accessed in various ways to suit your needs. This includes face-to-face, telephone and also video call.

1-1 support

Access to SafeNet group interventions

Empowerment & self-esteem coaching

Economic & mental health wellbeing

Whole family safeguarding

Crisis intervention

Risk assessment

Safety advice/ planning & support

Referrals to refuges

Emotional support

Safe housing including crisis intervention

Safeguarding

Ongoing legal support

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Our Community Outreach Services in Bury offer confidential, emotional and practical support in the community, for those experiencing domestic abuse

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If you are planning to leave, try to:

Leave when you are sure that the perpetrator is not around

Take all of your children with you

Take legal and financial papers, marriage and birth certificates, court orders, NHS cards, passport, driving licence, child credit books, address book, bank books, chequebooks, credit cards etc

Take a few personal possessions which have sentimental value

Take favourite toys for the children

Take clothing for several days

Take any medicines you or your children might need.

Remember...

You have the right to live a life free from violence and fear.

You are not alone: Research shows that as many as one in ten women are in an abusive relationship. It happens to women of all ages, classes, races, and religions.

You are not to blame: Your partner or the perpetrator has choices about the way they behave

You can't change your partner's behaviour: The only way for the perpetrator to change is for them to realise that they have a problem and seek help.

You are in danger if you ignore the violence: The violence tends to get worse the longer it goes on.

Break the silence - do not remain isolated: Get help from someone you trust, or you can contact one of the organisations that offer specialist information and support,

The impact on children: The impact of domestic violence and abuse on children can be similar to the effect of any other abuse or trauma

There is life after an abusive relationship: Many people discover they enjoy living without a partner and others form new and loving relationships that they never believed were possible when they were with their violent partner.

Safe Accommodation Strategy

Under the new Domestic Abuse Bill 2021, Bury Council has a new statutory duty - to provide safe accommodation for victims of domestic abuse and their families.

We produced a needs assessment earlier this year to provide insight into the volume and type of accommodation we need and the support that would need to go in to provide victims with the next opportunity to recover and move on with their lives.

Supporting this process is the development of a Safe Accommodation Strategy which sets out our approach to keeping victims safe in accommodation and how we will get there.

We therefore asked Bury residents for their views as to the content of this strategy and whether we need to be doing anything different (this has now closed).

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Details about domestic violence and abuse, and where you can go for more information if you are concerned about a friend, relative or you are a victim.

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Video title: Refuge's 24-hour, Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Video duration: 1 minute 20 seconds
Description: Information video on what it is like to call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and who can call it.

Refuge's 24-hour, Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline 'Transcript'

[Background music plays]

Soft down beat music

[Animated sequence]

Animation in hand-drawn style showing a woman in a house standing behind a man on a sofa. The woman looks worried and the man appears angry, a speech bubble comes out of the man's mouth.

[Text displays]

!*!!*!!

[Female voice over]

I was walking on eggshells around my partner didn't know where to turn.

[Animated sequence]

The door in the background slams shut. We zoom in on it and it turns into a smart mobile phone in the women's hand. The phone displays the details of the National Domestic Abuse Helpline Number and a green phone icon. Her finger hovers over the phone icon.

[Text displays]

Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247

[Female voice over]

I'd read about refuges National Domestic Abuse Helpline, but I was hesitant to call.

[Animated sequence]

The scene transitions to the woman sitting on a couch to the left of the screen, and another woman, the Helpline adviser, sitting on the right on a computer. They are facing each other. The screen is split into two different backgrounds with a window in the background that crosses over both.

[Female voice over]

The woman I spoke to really understood my situation though, it was such a relief just to talk.

[Animated sequence]

The woman begins to smile. The blinds in the window open up to show a sun and both rooms become brighter.

[Animated sequence]

Scene transitions to a top down view of the Helpline worker writing on lined paper.

[Female voice over]

I was reassured that it was a confidential and non-judgmental service run by a charity.

[Text displays]

Confidential

Non-judgemental

[Female voice over]

She said I could ring at any time, even if I just wanted to talk about what I was going through

[Text displays]

Any time

Just talk

[Female voice over]

It's free and open 24 hours a day.

[Text displays]

Free

24 hours

[Animated sequence]

Scene zooms out to show a group of five women of mixed races and ages including the Helpline adviser from the earlier scene.

[Female voice over]

It was comforting to know that the helpline is staffed by an all female team of experts,

[Animated sequence]

Scene zooms out to show smart mobile phone showing an animation of the live chat page on nationaldahelpline.org.uk. The women's finger begins to type.

[Female voice over]

and that I can also contact them using live chat.

[Sound effect]

Keys tapping

[Animated sequence]

The phone fades away and four framed picture swing into view. They show four women of various ages and races, one of who is pictured with a child, including the women from the first scene.

[Female voice over]

I was told that the helpline is open to any woman who is afraid of her partner,

[Sound effect]

Glass cracking

[Animated sequence]

The glass in one of the picture frames cracks

[Text displays]

[Female voice over]

whether you're being physically abused or not

[Animated sequence]

The picture of the woman from the first scene is zoomed in on. She picks up her mobile phone as the frame turns into a circle. Another circular frame, showing the Helpline adviser, comes into view and begins to merge with the woman's frame. The woman and the Helpline worker turn to face each other and hold hands.

[Female voice over]

The Helpline advisor helped me realise I'm not alone and reassured me it wasn't my fault.

[Text displays]

I'm not alone

[Animated sequence]

Scene scrolls across to show the woman looking in a mirror and hugging herself. She begins to smile.

[Female voice over]

That was really empowering and I began to believe in myself again.

She made me feel like I had choices.

[Background music plays]

Music becomes more upbeat

[Animated sequence]

Scene zooms in on mirror until the frame is not visible. The background transitions to show a countryside scene with rolling hills, trees and butterflies. The woman lifts a hot drink to take a sip and closes her eyes.

[Female voice over]

From that moment on, I could see a life free from violence and fear.

That phone call was the beginning of the rest of my life.

[Animated sequence]

The woman opens her eyes and looks up.

[Animated sequence]

Scene fades to show black text on a white background below the Refuge pink and black logo.

[Text displays]

Refuge's Freephone, 24 hour, National Domestic Abuse Helpline.
Call us on 0808 2000 247
Or visit wwww.nationaldahelpline.org.uk for information and support, including our live chat and secure online contact form.

We know our lines are often busy but we really want to hear from you.

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Home | Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline

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Video title: Refuge's 24-hour, Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline Video duration: 1 minute 20 seconds Description: Information video on what it is like to call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and who can call it.

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First Steps Nutrition Trust is an independent public health nutrition charity. We endeavour to fill practical and policy-relevant information gaps and provide resources for health workers supporting eating well from pre-conception to five years.

Our Mission

To influence policies which enable the safe, appropriate and optimal feeding of infants and young children in the UK, and to protect them from commercial interest.

To ensure that the importance of good nutrition from pre-conception to age five remains on everyone's agenda.

To provide conflict of interest-free information on infant milks marketed in the UK, and to promote better regulation and marketing of breastmilk substitutes.

To provide resources for health workers to support them in their work with pregnant women and young families.

Our Resources:

Are put together by nutrition experts and are regularly updated.

Can be used in Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative accredited settings.

Are available as free pdf downloads for use by anyone promoting better public health on a not-for profit basis.

Everyone who works at First Steps Nutrition Trust feels passionately about the need for better information and support for good nutrition - and good food - from pre-conception to five years.

First Steps Nutrition Trust is supported by generous individual donations and conflict of interest free grants. First Steps Nutrition Trust does not work with organisations or individuals that work with, or take funding from, the breastmilk substitute industry and we reserve the right not to sell them our subsidised resources.

First Steps works with and supports a number of organisations including Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative, the Baby Feeding Law Group, the Obesity Health Alliance, the Children's Food Campaign and the APPG on Infant Feeding and Inequalities.

First Steps Nutrition Trust host and regularly update their partner site infantmilkinfo.org which contains comprehensive information about infant milks (for 0-12 month olds) available on the UK market.

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First Steps Nutrition Trust is a charity which provides clear, evidence-based and independent information and support for good nutrition from pre-conception to five years of age.