Children, young people and family support

Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme

Information for families

Chorley Council, working alongside Inspire Youth Zone and Chorley School Sports Partnership, are co-ordinating the HAF programme for the borough which is funded by the Department for Education.

The programme provides activities during Easter, summer and Christmas school holiday periods and includes a meal. School aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits-related free school meals can access this provision.

Activities take place at a variety of venues across the borough, with a range of activity providers making these sessions possible.

The timetable of activities will change from one holiday to the next. Up to date timetables will be shared through schools in the lead up to each holiday period. If you would like to be included in the mailing list, please email communities@chorley.gov.uk.

If you would like to book a place on the programme, then please visit the Chorley HAF webpage for more information.

More information about the HAF programme can also be found on the governments website.

Information for activity providers:

Chorley's provision is continually expanding and being developed to better meet the needs of families. If you are an activity provider and would like to discuss involvement in the programme, please email communities@chorley.gov.uk.

Funded Childcare for 2, 3 and 4 Year Olds

Starting your children in early years childcare can have lots of benefits including:

• helping a child to learn and develop
• building confidence and interpersonal skills
• improving a child's speaking and listening skills
• preparing a child for starting school

More information is available in Lancashire County Council's early years, childcare and family support webpage and in the  Funded Placement Guide (PDF) [298KB] .

Funded childcare for 2 year olds - Some two year olds in Lancashire may qualify for up to 15 hours a week at a local nursery or with a childminder, funded by the government. Check if you are eligible and search for a provider.

Funded childcare for 3 and 4 year olds - From the term after your child's third birthday, they can have up to 15 hours a week at a local nursery or with a childminder funded by the government.

30 hours funded childcare - Eligible working families can get an additional 15 hours funded childcare on top of the 15 hours universal funded childcare.

Help paying for childcare - there are different types of financial support available to help you pay for childcare. 

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

CAMHS work with children, young people and their families when they are feeling sad, worried or troubled.

View more information on the CAMHS website which will tell you about who they are, what they do and how you can access their services.

Telephone: 01772 644644

Children and Family Wellbeing Service

This service is part of Lancashire County Council (LCC) and provides help with parenting and other support needs.  

They support families of children and young people from 0 to 19 years of age and young people with special education needs and/or disabilities up to 25 years old.

View more information on the children and family wellbeing service on the LCC website.

Telephone: 01257 517240

NHS Healthy Start

If you are pregnant or have children under the age of 4 you can get free vouchers or payments every 4 weeks to spend on:

• cow's milk
• fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables
• infant formula milk
• fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

You can also get free Healthy Start vitamins.

Please visit the Healthy Heart schemes' website to find out if you qualify. 

The Information, Advice and Support Team

This service is part of Lancashire County Council (LCC) and if you live in Lancashire you can get information, advice and support around special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).   The service is free, impartial, and confidential. It can help you to gather, understand and interpret information and apply it to your own situation.

View more information on the The Information, Advice and Support Team on the LCC website.

Telephone: 0300 123 6706

Nest Lancashire

Nest Lancashire has been set up to support young people aged 8 to 18 who have been affected by crime or subjected to bullying, threats or harassment. You can talk to Nest Lancashire in confidence and all of their services are free of charge. Their aim is to help you recover from whatever it is you have experienced and their trained, friendly staff will be able to help you move forward and feel safe again.

• one-to-one support
• group sessions with other young people
• access to sport and other social activities
• help to build your confidence
• help to ensure you feel safe and secure again
• support in reporting the crime if you would like to do so
•  information about your rights as a victim of crime
• support you throughout the process if your case goes to court

For more information on Nest Lancashire please visit the website.

Telephone: 0300 111 0323

Home-Start

Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. They are there for parents when needed the most because childhood cannot wait.

View more information on the Home-Start website.

Telephone: 01257 241636

Email: enquiries@homestartcentrallancs.org.uk

Quit Squad

This NHS service provides free support to residents in Chorley who want to stop smoking.  Find out more about their offer on the Quit Squad website or alternatively make a change now and complete a self-referral form.  Quit Squad are also helping make Lancashire SmokeFree by encouraging residents to make their homes, cars, sports, schools, workplaces, events and spaces SmokeFree.  Find out more about this on the SmokeFree Lancashire website and make your SmokeFree promise now.

Telephone: 0800 328 6297

Family Action

Family Action works to tackle some of the most complex and difficult issues facing families today, such as mental health problems, learning disabilities and social isolation.  

Family Action believes that families facing these difficulties should have the right kind of support in place so that they can overcome these obstacles.

Through their Family Line they provide a listening ear, answer parenting questions or help with guidance around more complex parenting issues. 

View more information on the Family Action website.

Telephone: 0808 8026666

Text Message: 07537 404282

Email: familyline@family-action.org.uk

Kooth

Kooth provides a free, safe and anonymous online support platform for young people.

Young people can chat to approved counsellors online, read articles written by young people or get support from talking to an online community.

View more information on the Kooth website.

Papyrus

Papyrus provides confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person.  

View more information on the Papyrus website.

Telephone: 0800 068 4141

Healthy Young Minds

This service aims to improve the resilience, emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people, making it easier for them, their families and the professionals who work with them to access advice, help and support when they need it.  

View more information on the Healthy Young Minds website.

The Butterfly and Phoenix Project       

This team of trained counsellors support young people aged 11 to 18 years old to resolve emotional difficulties through the delivery of counselling and group workshops.  

View more information on the Butterfly and Phoenix Project website.
      
Telephone: 03450 138208