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Check out what is happening at Skylarks this term
Skylarks is an independent Richmond upon Thames-based charity that provides activities and therapies for children with disabilities and additional needs based at the Crossway Centre in Richmond. Please click on this link for more information and to make bookings. info@skylarks.charity
Promoted by Skylarks and upcoming next week:
Girls Connect support group online
Helen Eaton talk on 'Parenting and caring for autistic girls'
Wednesday 24th September from 8pm by Zoom
Girls Connect support group - for parent/carers of girls with autism spectrum conditions or on the social communication pathway or who may be on the spectrum.
The talk will cover a range of topics including anxiety, masking, puberty, social anxiety, relationships (family & friends) and the school day.
Richmond Dyslexia Association coffee morning:
Friday 26 September 2025 9.00am - 11.00am
Come and chat to parents and specialists about how to support children with dyslexia. All are welcome.
Upstairs at Pret A Manger, 37 Lower George Street, Richmond, TW9 1HY
Contact info@richmonddyslexia.org.uk for more information.
Information from Winston's Wish:
Young people can now speak to a bereavement specialist by text or WhatsApp
We have launched a brand-new text and WhatsApp bereavement support service, and we wanted you to be the first to know about it.
As you know, children and young people can already instantly speak to a Winston’s Wish bereavement specialist by phone, email or live chat. Now they will be able to start a conversation by text or WhatsApp. We hope this will make our instant bereavement support service more accessible and allow us to reach more children and young people than ever before.
This is grief support in your pocket. Grief support on the bus, in your bedroom, between messages to your mates. A text service that allows grieving children and young people to get the support they need wherever they need it, right from their phones.
No waiting lists, no need to book appointments, no need to work up the courage to call or keep a live chat conversation open. Just send us a text or WhatsApp message and speak directly to a bereavement specialist who will pick up the conversation no matter where you left off.
📱 Text or WhatsApp 07418 341 800
⏰ Open 3pm - 8pm, weekdays (excluding bank holidays)
It is designed for young people aged 13 to 25 to speak to us directly. You must be 13 or older, in the UK, to receive support via text or WhatsApp.
Adults supporting grieving young people or grieving children under the age of 13 can still contact us by calling free on 08088 020 021, emailing ask@winstonswish.org or using the live chat on our website.
Highlights from Autism Parenting Magazine:
Below are a selection of articles you may find of interest:
How to Help an Autistic Child With Emotional Self-Regulation
Learn calm tools like emotion charts, coping plans, and self-soothing strategies to help your child manage big feelings. Read more
Autism Comics: How Can They Help with Communication?
Discover how comics and visual storytelling help your child express thoughts, practice emotions, and build communication skills. Read more
Excellent Ways Autistic Kids Can Develop Social Skills at the Store
Get easy, practical ways to build social skills during everyday tasks like shopping, sharing, waiting, and exchanging. Read more
Q&A Expert Advice on How to Manage ASD Behavior Without Yelling
Learn calm, effective strategies to guide behavior with praise, visual cues, and clear expectations instead of yelling. Read more
Autism Success Stories: From Challenges to Triumphs
Follow a family's journey from uncertainty to proud milestones as they celebrate growth, patience, and triumphs together. Read more
‘Helping children with…’ Webinars for parents 2025/26
Achieving for Children’s Mental Health Support Teams are delivering a series of webinars for parents of primary-aged children. The ‘Helping Children with …’ series of webinars will cover a range of common difficulties experienced by children and will aim to share evidence-based strategies to help parents and carers support their children with these difficulties. Below is a list of webinars on offer over the coming months.
Worries and anxiety
The ‘Helping children with worries and anxiety’ webinar will help you learn ways to support your child in dealing with their big feelings, worries, and fears. This webinar will give you practical ideas on how to help your child to think more positively and develop their self confidence. You will also be introduced to some helpful cognitive behavioural therapy concepts.
Tuesday 28th October, 9am or Tuesday 20th January, 6pm
Friendship difficulties
In this webinar we will learn how to support our children develop their friendship skills: learning to communicate better, repair difficulties, and negotiate solutions when relationships between peers are tricky.
Thursday 20th November, 9am or Tuesday 27th January, 6pm
Challenging behaviours
Children often communicate their needs through their behaviours. The ‘Helping children with challenging behaviours’ webinar will help you to learn about the different factors that can impact children's behaviours, build or strengthen positive relationships by reinforcing the importance of giving positive attention. You will also learn strategies to establish home rules and boundaries to create a safe and structured environment for your children.
Thursday 6th November, 9am or Tuesday 3rd February, 6pm
Digital wellbeing
In this webinar we discuss the positive and negative impact of screen time and gaming on a child's mental wellbeing. We will share the recommendations for screen time based on age, how to have this conversation with your child in a positive and effective manner and a simple and effective way to manage the use of screens in your home.
Thursday 13th November, 9am or Tuesday 13th January, 6pm
Self esteem
In this webinar we will explore what self-esteem is, how low self-esteem can develop and be maintained, and will introduce some practical techniques to support you to improve your child’s low self-esteem.
Thursday 27th November, 9am or Tuesday 10th February, 6pm
Transition to Secondary
In this webinar we will explore the main worries children may experience when moving from primary to secondary school. We will help parents/carers think about the different ways to help to support and get their children prepared for the transition.
Thursday 7th May, 9am or Tuesday 19th May, 6pm
All Webinars are 60 minutes long, with 15 minutes at the end for questions and answers.
Parents and carers can sign up to the webinars using this link:
https://afc-self.achieveservice.com/service/MHST_Helping_Children_Webinars___Primary
Information from the Mental Health Support Team (MHST): Making a Self Referral
Who are we
The Mental Health Support Team (MHST) is a schools-based service, supporting children, young people and parents’
emotional wellbeing in a range of ways.
Who do we support?
We work with children and young people, from the age of
5 to 18, who experience difficulties with their emotional wellbeing and mental health. These can be common for lots of young people and might include sadness, feeling low, anxiety or low self-esteem.
In primary schools, we also offer parents individual guided self-help sessions based on cognitive behaviour therapy principles, either around supporting their child to manage anxiety, or behaviour that challenges.
Whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing In addition, we support schools and families with:
● parent webinars on a range of topics
● coffee mornings based at your child’s school
● staff workshops and support
● group work, assemblies and workshops to promote
emotional wellbeing
To self-refer, please follow the link below to complete a short online form:
Mental Health Support - Self Referral - Achieving for Children
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