Children from refugee backgrounds: advice and support for families affected by migration

Wellbeing and mental health

Free confidential helpline: 0800 1488586

Email: Ukrainiansupport@barnardos.org.uk

Barnardos offers help for anyone fleeing the Ukrainian conflict, or any child, young person or family affected by migration because of other conflicts. Therapy, advice and practical support are available by phone or online in other languages:

Barnardo's: Ukrainian support helpline

Get in touch if you need support with:

• therapy with a qualified psychotherapist – delivered via the phone or online, with access to interpreters
• advice on a range of issues e.g., housing, accessing key health services, education, employment and more via our trained helpline support workers
• practical support – access to digital devices to ensure families stay connected to loved ones during this worrying time, as well as stimulating toys for children, vital baby items and more (subject to demand)

All services include access to interpreters in Ukrainian.

Young People’s Sanctuary - service update

The Young People’s Sanctuary service delivered by Barnardo’s in partnership with OneYMCA, provides a range of trauma informed interventions for young people (11-16 years old), to improve their emotional mental and wellbeing and build up their self – esteem and resilience from the refugee and asylum seeker population residing in Hertfordshire.

The support includes:

• targeted one to one support, either face to face or virtual
• signposting and supporting young people to access universal & targeted services
• a safe place. Group activities to reduce isolation, meet others with similar experiences ,learn from each other and rebuild confidence
• one to one counselling
• one YMCA’s well-being programme

The service is now also offering to support young people from the Ukrainian community and other asylum seekers and refugees, who will be transitioning into secondary school in September 2023. The provision will give the opportunity for young people to talk about their worries, develop skills to improve confidence and resilience and build support networks.

Please contact Young People’s sanctuary for further details youngpeoplessanctuary@barnardos.org.uk