Being healthy and feeling well
We want all of our children in care and care leavers to be physical healthy and feel emotionally supported.
There are lots of different services which can help you to do this. Some are confidential, and you can contact them yourself. For others, you may need your social worker's or key worker's support to make a referral.
See the range of services who can help you feel your best, below.
If you need urgent medical help outside of normal working hours (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm) you can find out where to go here: Find urgent treatment centres - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
You can also get medical advice 24 hours a day calling 111 from any phone. They will ask you about how you are feeling and give advice as to what to do, or where to go to get the help you need.
All children in care and care leavers should be registered with local health services in the area in which you live.
Your keyworker or social worker can help you find local services and make appointments.
However, you can also find your local Doctor by using this website: Find a GP - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
To find a local NHS dentist, speak to your social worker or key worker, or use this website: Find a dentist - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Anyone up to the age of 18 years can get a free eye test. Find a local optician here: Sight Tests - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Some people over the age of 18 years might still be to get free eye tests, and you can find out more about this here: Free NHS eye tests and optical vouchers - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
NHS APP NHS Go is a confidential health advice and information service for 16-25 year olds. For more information, please see this website.
Health Spot offers young people aged 11-25 free and confidential health and wellbeing appointments and groupwork with a range of health and wellbeing professionals, including an adolescent GP service. All within Young Hackney's Forest Road Youth Hub
You can get support and information for:
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Sexual health
- Drugs and alcohol use
- Anything else you are worried about
The full timetable of services available throughout the week, can be accessed here. To book an appointment you can either
- Drop into the Forest Road Youth Hub and speak to a youth worker
- Email HealthSpot@hackney.gov.uk or complete the booking form here
- Ask a trusted adult to complete a form on your behalf - using this form
There are several sexual health agencies that can provide you with confidential support and advice. These include:
CHYPS Plus – The House
For young people aged 11-19 years.
Clifden Centre
Homerton University Hospital
London
E9 6SR
Tel: 0207 683 7176/0208 510 7176
Email: chyps.plus@nhs.net
City of London Family Therapy Clinic
Speak with your social worker if you would like to discuss this service.
Brook
For young people up to the age of 25 years.
For information, please visit the website: https://www.brook.org.uk/
British Pregnancy Advice Service (BPAS)
Open to all ages
For information, please visit the website: https://www.bpas.org/
Tel: 03457 30 40 30
Marie Stopes
Open to all ages; providing advice and support around pregnancy options
For information, please visit the website: www.mariestopes.org.uk
The City of London will cover the cost of any prescriptions until you are 21 years old. Ask your social worker to find out more.
If you are over 21 years and not currently able to get free prescriptions can apply for a pre-payment certificate (PPC), so that you do not need to pay for medication prescribed by your Doctor.
This will be purchased from the NHSBSA website and will be valid for either 1 year or three months.
More information about pre-payment certificates can be found on the NHSBSA website: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/nhs-prescription-prepayment-certificates-ppcs
Please discuss with your social worker, if you want to apply.
Whilst your physical health is very important, your emotional health and wellbeing is just as important. There are times when we all need a little extra support to cope. There are a number of services which you can access
City and Hackney Wellbeing Network is available to all City children in care and care leavers even if you don’t live in the City. You can get in touch via the below details.
Tel: 020 8525 2301
Freephone: 0800 612 6585
Email: SPOE@mindchwf.org.uk
We’re here to support adult asylum seekers | Helplines (barnardos.org.uk)
The Helpline will offer advice, signposting, emotional support and 8 free sessions of therapy by qualified Barnardo’s therapists. These sessions can take place remotely via telephone or online.
Barnardo’s has a long history of providing mental health support to children, young people and adults and has a large pool of culturally informed therapists who speak a range of languages. Sessions can take place in your own language at a time that works for you.
Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT) offers fully funded unlimited one-to-one and group mentoring support for young people aged 16 – 25 years who live in London who have or may have been victims of trafficking or exploitation.
Visit Supporting young people | ECPAT UK or call: 020 7607 2136 or speak with your social worker.
Our clinic specialises with working children, young people and their families/carers when they are experiencing difficulties in school or at home. We work with a wide range of issues experienced by children and young people in a variety of relationships.
As Family therapists, we work with children, young people and those important to them, supporting them to find ways to listen to each other so they can find a solution to difficulties. We do not look for blame, but work on the strengths you have whilst understanding the difficulties you may feel.
Family therapy can be helpful in many circumstances and has been known to work well for many difficulties including depression, substance misuse, adjusting to physical illness, relationship distress, and recovery from previous domestic violence. We are a multicultural team and the clinic will provide a translator, if needed.
Kooth is a free, anonymous, online counselling and emotional wellbeing service. Kooth has no referrals or thresholds, and you can register independently at www.kooth.com
At Renaissance Foundation (RF) we offer fun activities and support for young carers and patients across London. Members of RF get to join us on exciting visits across London and beyond, listen to talks from inspirational speakers and have access to mentoring and other 1:1 support. We have regular drop in sessions at our youth hub in the City where we have a PS5, Xbox, a mini music studio and pizza! You can even use our youth hub as a quiet space to do homework or to chill out after school.
You can join RF if you are aged between 12-16 and help to look after someone at home or have a sibling with a health condition and/or you might have a health condition yourself such as asthma, sickle cell, epilepsy, Type 1 Diabetes, or another type of chronic health condition.
For more information or to refer yourself to RF you can visit our website here: https://www.renaissance-foundation.com/
Samaritans is a free confidential and emotional support helpline for anyone in a crisis. Call 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
The Mix provides support on a range of topics for young people aged 11 – 25 years, find out more at Get Support - The Mix
Young Minds is a charity which supports young people’s mental health visit them at https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
Being treated differently or unfairly because of our race, skin colour or ethnicity can negatively affect our mental health. Here's some information on how to get help if you've experienced racism.
Racism and mental health | How To Deal With Racism | YoungMinds
If you are worried about the impact gambling is having on you and your wellbeing, or of someone you know, there are free services that can help you understand more about gambling and take back control.
These include:
BigDeal is a place for young people to get information, advice and guidance about gambling.
We know all about gambling, how someone else’s gambling can affect you, and about the difficulties young people can get into if their gambling gets out of hand. That’s why you can share your worries via our live chat or helpline, without fear of judgement.
GamCare (opens in new tab) offers information, support and counselling. It runs free services including the National Gambling helpline, live chat and support forums.
Live chat: Chat with a GamCare advisor (opens in new tab).
This is free of charge, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Contact the National Gambling Helpline on: 0808 8020 133
Free of charge, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The National Problem Gambling Clinic (opens in new tab) is a specialist NHS clinic for problem gamblers.
The clinic accepts referrals for people aged 13 or over, with complex problems relating to gambling, living in England or Wales.
Email: gambling.cnwl@nhs.net
Phone: 020 7381 7722