We have a range of information for families on our website at www.kids.org.uk/news/coronavirus-useful-information-for-parents-and-carers which is being updated daily. Keep an eye on our Facebook page – KIDS Yorkshire (click on the link to view)and please see below for information on your local service. 

Support for Parents of Disabled Children and Young People

We currently provide Parent Forums & Engagement, Parent Support Groups and Befriending services. We have listened to the government advice for parents and, at present, this work will be supported by a telephone and an online offer.

• Our Hull Sleep Service and HeadStart Parent Training have cancelled their training dates until the end of the month. We will review our next dates after the Easter break. Our team will be on hand throughout to take your calls. Until then, we have set up a private Facebook Group for parents to join for information, advice and support: 

  ‘KIDS Hull Training for Parents and Sleep Support’ https://www.facebook.com/groups/2940601219320154/?ref=group_header

This group is for those families who have been referred to and/or are accessing support through either our Training for Parents or Sleep teams. It has been set up to help us communicate with families and share information, ideas and strategies to support them through this period of isolation. 

This group will be used to share:

• Information on activities you can do at home 

• Ideas to manage behaviour and support good sleep hygiene

• Group discussions

• Ask a Question sessions

• Group votes for future activities 

• Facebook Live sessions

• Hull SENDIASS will be operating a telephone and online offer at present. You can contact our advice line on 07711 765903 – Monday to Friday 9am-5pm 

Please follow their Facebook page  ‘KIDS Hull SENDIASS’ https://www.facebook.com/HullSendiass/

Direct work with Disabled children

This includes ‘Early Years’ specialist playgroups within the children’s centres and out of school activities for children & young people and their families through our ‘Family Activities’. At present we are not able to offer group sessions but all families have been contacted and we will be sharing information and support on keeping children entertained and supporting their development through our new private Facebook Group for parents:

‘KIDS Hull Early Years Group’ https://www.facebook.com/groups/kidshullearlyyears/?ref=group_header

The Early Years team in Hull have been trying to provide a ‘lending library’ of toys and equipment. We have so far cleaned, prepped and delivered 7 boxes of toys and resources for the most isolated families. They’ve been really greatly received so far and we will endeavour to continue with this depending on circumstances.

Mum said: “Thank you for the toys. E is loving them and she clapped when she saw what was inside the box!”

Mel & Susie (Early Years Hull) have also put together 2 packs of info and activity ideas and posted them out. They included some sensory song resources. 

“In group we sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star while we sprinkle and throw squares of silver space blanket into the air, it goes down an absolute storm, so we sent each family a pack to use at home.”

We have got plans to make 2 other packs of sensory song resources after Easter/half term, and to post them out, as long as it is safe to do so. 

Direct work with Disabled young people

Our Young People’s Engagement group [‘The Loud Mouths’] is not running groups at present and we have been in touch with all the young people who attend. We are doing things a little bit differently to support with continuity. Again, we have set up a group page for Young people to continue to connect with us ’Laura Beech Loud Mouths’https://www.facebook.com/laura.dixon.9615566

Our Advocacy Service will be providing essential face to face support only at this time. We will be adaptable as things change. 

 “KIDS are here to listen and offer emotional, practical support along with information and advice. Our staff are trained to help around different matters, from school advice to play or dealing with sleep difficulties. We know this is a worrying time for you and your family and information is changing daily but we will try and help you find solutions and, where we can, answers to questions.”

The majority of our staff are working at home and our KIDS Hull offices are now closed but you can continue to contact us by calling the main number on 01482 467540 .You can also email our general enquiries mailbox at enquiries.yorkshire@kids.org.uk

We will respond to you as soon as we can.here during office hours Monday to Friday.If we miss a call we will phone you back!

 KIDS Yorkshire                    @KIDSHull                    KIDS is a registered charity No 275936

OTHER EXCELLENT RESOURCES AVAILABLE: 

Please view KIDS’ National Resources: https://www.kids.org.uk/all-resources, 

The Council for Disabled Children resources:https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/news-opinion/news/covid-19-support-and-guidance