Wellbeing: Hertfordshire support and resources
Educational Psychology Service
Educational Psychology Service and contact line.
Safe Space
Safe Space, a counselling and mentoring service offers children and young people across Hertfordshire a creative, confidential and safe space to explore any issues affecting their everyday lives.
Healthy Young Minds in Hertfordshire
Information on emotional health and wellbeing support in Hertfordshire for young people, parents and carers, professionals and schools.
Healthy Young Minds in Hertfordshire
Just Talk
In Hertfordshire, over 35 teams and organisations work together to develop and share useful tools, training and information to support children and young people's mental health and wellbeing. This ranges from self-help tools to information on how to access support if it's needed. This is known as the 'Just Talk' programme - named by Hertfordshire young people. Public Health, Education, NHS, and voluntary sector partners all work together to ensure we develop and share the most useful information possible with young people, parents/carers and professionals.
Hertfordshire’s Five Ways to Wellbeing Toolkit includes ideas for lesson plans and group sessions. It explains the importance of young peoples’ wellbeing and introduces practical ideas for how young people can incorporate the Five Ways to Wellbeing into their daily lives.
Just Talk Week is held annually in the autumn term with a different theme each year, supported by a range of resources for schools.
For more information visit:
How #JustTalk can help your school promote good mental health
The Sandbox
The Sandbox is an NHS funded service to support children and young people in Hertfordshire with their mental health and well-being. It offers a website, with access to games, worksheets, group chats and online events for children, young people, their parents/carers, teachers and other professionals. The Sandbox provides access to internet enabled Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT), or one to one support from professional therapists by text, phone, online chat or video call, based on a triage of the young person’s needs:
- website: 24/7
- therapy sessions: 7am-10pm Mondays-Fridays and 10am-10pm Saturdays and Sundays
- live Chat: 10am-8pm Mondays-Fridays
Signing up is easy and doesn’t require a referral from a professional.
With YOUth - children and young people’s digital wellbeing service
Hertfordshire’s children and young people, who are experiencing emotional health problems and/or their parents/care givers, can now use a new free digital wellbeing service, without the need for a professional referral.
This new free service is for children and young people aged 5-18, who are registered with a GP in Hertfordshire. It will initially be available from Monday to Friday, 2-10pm at: www.withyouth.org providing:
- Instant online messaging
- Helpline: 0208 189 8400
- Lumi Nova (most suitable for ages 7-12) - therapeutic digital gaming app providing goal based help for social/separation anxiety and/or phobias, using the most beneficial parts of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Access via the link is instant (no referral needed)
- Worksheets, quick tips and other resources to help
- Additional one-to one and/or group support
- Signposting to other services
The With YOUth team can help with problems such as mild to moderate anxiety, behavioural difficulties, school attendance, low mood, relationship difficulties, bullying or self-harm.
The service is not for children and young people who are in crisis*.
Herts Haven Cafes for 10-18 year olds in Stevenage, South Oxhey and Watford
Children and young people can get free support for their emotional wellbeing at Herts Haven Cafés in Stevenage, South Oxhey and Watford.
Hosted by Hertfordshire Mind Network, this safe and welcoming space will offer compassionate face to face emotional wellbeing support and guidance from trained workers, without the need for a professional referral.
Cafés opening days, times, locations
- Mondays 3.30-8pm at Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford WD17 1JZ
- Tuesdays 3-30-8pm at Bowes Lyon Young People’s Centre, St George's Way, Stevenage SG1 1XY
- Wednesdays 3-30-8pm at Bowes Lyon Young People’s Centre, St George's Way, Stevenage SG1 1XY
- Thursdays 3-30-8pm at South Oxhey Young People’s Centre, Gosforth Lane, South Oxhey WD19 7AX
Want to find out more?
Contact the team on 0208 189 8400 or email them at cyp@hertsmindnetwork.org and/or go to the website:
SPARKS sessions from Hertfordshire Mind Network (HMN)
HMN have recently expanded their Spark Group service to three in-person groups running for young people aged 12-17 to access for support with their mental health:
- Letchworth – Mondays 6pm-8pm
- Bishops Stortford –Tuesdays 6pm-8pm
- Watford – Tuesdays 6pm-8pm
These groups are drop-in and are centred around using creativity for wellbeing. Each week there are various creative activities for the young people to engage with and explore. The groups also provide a safe space for young people to meet and connect with peers. Information is available at:
If a young person is interested, HMN ask that they email cyp@hertsmindnetwork.org so the group facilitator can make contact with them, get their details and arrange for them to attend their first session. If the parent/carer or professional can complete the contact form that is ideal, however the team can always do this with them in-person or over the phone.
Togetherall online wellbeing support for anyone aged 16+
Togetherall, is a resource that may be useful for sixth form students, parents/carers and school staff. Togetherall is an evidence-based, clinically moderated, online 24/7 peer-to-peer mental health community, for residents of Hertfordshire who may be feeling low or depressed. It can also help prevent mental ill health with a range of support, courses and advice, and with the additional benefit of professionals monitoring for any signs of distress. Any Hertfordshire resident aged 16+ can join at:
If you have any questions or would like some promotional resources to share in your school or with parents/carers please email publichealth@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Free Eating Disorder Support for CYP in Hertfordshire aged 5-18yrs
First Steps to Understanding Eating Disorders (First Steps ED) can support 5-18 year olds in Hertfordshire. They offer face to face and digital one-to-one support sessions, as well as weekly psychoeducation and group support programmes (Wellbeing Workshop, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Support Group, Binge Eating Workshops etc).This service is also available to support parents/carers and older siblings (18 years +) with skills for carers workshops and one-to-one parent support through befriending and counselling. How to refer – Referral by self-referral, parent/carer or professional direct on the website
NESSie's free early help parenting support service
A free service is available for parents/carers of Hertfordshire’s children and young people with emotional and mental health issues aiming to help parents/carers in developing a positive and more confident approach to support their young person, whilst offering a chance to gain peer support, useful strategies, and practical tools:
- Free online and face-to-face (within schools and community settings) informal parent/carer workshops. For further information and to book.
- Parent Support line: 07932 651319 (open Thursdays 9am-12 noon or by appointment)
- Private moderated Facebook support group: NESSie Parent/Carer Support Group and Nessie in Ed.
- 1-1 targeted brief support sessions (for more information, please complete this form and a member of their team will be in contact to arrange a chat).
- Peer support groups
- “Drop In and Chat Coffee Mornings” where parents/carers can discuss anything and everything.
Wellbeing resources
The listings below were put together to support the Wellbeing for Education Return after the pandemic, but may still be useful for those looking for wellbeing support and resources.