School Support & Local Services
School SENCo
For Special Educational Needs, our school SENDCo is Katy-Anne Pritchard who you can ask to make an appointment with by contacting the school office on tel: 01626 890454 or email: KPritchard@starcross.devon.sch.uk
School Nurse & Health Visitors
The Public Health Nursing Service provides health visiting and school nursing services across Devon. We deliver universal child and family health services, provide ongoing additional services for vulnerable children and families, and work to safeguard and protect children. The team is made up of health visitors, school nurses, staff nurses and community health workers. Young people aged 11-19 can text a school nurse for confidential advice and support. Text 07520 631722 for advice on things like relationships, bullying, mental health, self-harm, drugs/alcohol.
School Nursing
School Nursing service for parents/carers and primary aged children
Parents/carers can contact the public health nursing team (health visitors and school nurses) for information and advice on 07520631721.
We also have a website that’s split into a kids zone and a parent’s zone with information about a range of health and wellbeing needs and sources of support if you need it.
Local Food Bank
The Community Larder is run in partnership with ROC Dawlish (Redeeming Our Communities) and Helping Dawlish (a group of local organisations led by the Town Council).
Helping Dawlish is aware that some people are self-isolating or are still being impacted by the effects of the lockdown on their finances, families, businesses, mental and physical health and may require support. The food bank (which operated until July) has become a community larder that can support people in immediate need of food whether due to a medical need or social isolation or need immediate food assistance prior to other help being available.
The larder is funded by community donations so a referral can be done by one of the organisations involved in Helping Dawlish or ring 07584 052306 or 07711 234 948.
If you need community support and are not sure who to call ring 01626 863388.
These numbers are not operated 24 hours but will be responded to as soon as possible.
Physical Health
GP (General Practitioner)
Your GP at your registered Doctor’s Surgery is an excellent first point of contact in order to address any medical and mental health issues. They will be able to refer you to the correct service that can help.
Mental Health
Shout is a free, confidential, anonymous service for anyone in the UK (not specific to age or gender). It won’t appear on your phone bill. Their trained volunteers are there for you 24/7 to listen and support you to get to a calmer and safe place. To start a conversation, text the word ‘SHOUT’ to 85258. You usually have your first reply within 5 minutes and it starts with four automated messages.
NHS services offer free psychotherapy for mild to moderate anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and psychological support for people living with long term physical health conditions. Most services accept self-referrals via telephone as well as GP referrals.
Mind plan
(NHS Every mind matters): answer 5 questions in an interactive quiz and get a personalised mind plan full of helpful actions that can improve your wellbeing.
A UK counselling and support service that was designed to support neurodiverse people with e.g. autism and ADHD traits and to assist their families, friends, teachers and other supporters.
Offer a free, anonymous and impartial listening service 24/7 every day of the year. Tel: 116 123 (UK). Email: jo@samaritans.org (worldwide).
Is a mental health charity that has extensive experience in supporting people with mental health issues. Search the website for advice and support on a variety of mental health concerns.
NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood)
Offers advice and support to adults who survived childhood abuse, including a helpline, email and support groups.
Bereavement
Support, guidance and information for anyone supporting a bereaved child or young person. Also support for parents when a child of any age dies.
Helpline: 0800 02 888 40 Mon – Fri 09:00 – 17:00
Provides support through specialist bereavement experts.
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Working with pre-bereaved and post-bereaved children, young people and their families in Exeter, Mid and East Devon. Balloons offers a wide range of practical, emotional and social support to families (parents/carers, children and teenagers) and professionals. They aim to support bereaved children and young people in our area when someone significant in their lives dies.
Phone: 01392 826065.
Comfort after suicide loss – they help people living through the suicide of a loved one. Pete’s Dragons are open 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. You can get help via referral or by contacting them direct via phone on 01395 277 780, emailing them or filling in their website enquiry form.
Men’s Health
Their mission is to improve the health of men and boys in England, Wales and Scotland. Their website features a wide range of materials on men’s health.
Run talking groups for men who have either been through a storm, are currently going through a storm or have a storm brewing in life.
An informal support group run by Sheffield Mind for men to meet up and talk, it runs weekly at 5.00 – 6.45pm every Thursday (currently on Zoom.)
Relationships & Abuse
Emergency Support
In an emergency you should dial 999.
For non-emergency situations…
For Women
Refuge – for women & children
Phone their 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 08082000247
For Men
Men’s Advice Line 08088010327 (Monday – Friday 9am-8pm)
For LGBTQ+
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline – 08009995428 (Monday, Tuesday & Friday, 10am – 5pm, Wednesday & Thursday 10am – 8pm) Email: help@galop.org.uk.
Eating Disorders
They are here to support people who have or are worried they have an eating disorder, as well as others affected, such as friends and family members. Tel: 0808 801 0677 (open 365 days a year from 9am–8pm during the week, and 4pm–8pm on weekends and bank holidays.) Web chat available on website.
Baby loss
Confidential bereavement support to anyone affected by the sudden & unexpected death of a baby or young child.
For stillbirth and neonatal death
For miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy & molar pregnancy
Pregnancy support & Baby loss support
Podcasts & Blogs
A support platform & podcast for miscarriage & baby loss.
People’s personal stories around their journeys on loss & resources that have helped.
Financial help
Provides information and financial help including benefits advice and grants.
National Debtline Free and independent debt advice over the phone and online.
Relaxation & Mindfulness recordings
You can find some relaxation and mindfulness exercise tracks to stream or download.