Westmorland & Furness Growing Healthy 0-19

20/11/2025

🌼 Support for Families: Household Support Fund 🌼

As Health Visitors, we know that many families are feeling the pressure of rising living costs. If you’re struggling with essentials such as food, energy bills, or household items, please click on the link below 👇👇👇

https://futureproofcumbria.org.uk/homes/household-support-fund/

What can the fund help with?
Depending on your local council’s scheme, support may include:
✔️ Food vouchers or supermarket support
✔️ Help with gas, electricity, or water bills
✔️ Essential household items (e.g., beds, white goods)
✔️ Support for families with vulnerable children
✔️ Emergency one-off payments for essential needs

Who can apply?
Eligibility varies by council, but support is often available to:

-Families with children
-Individuals on a low income
-People facing unexpected financial hardship
-Those not already receiving other forms of emergency support

How to apply:
You can apply directly through your local council’s website. If you’re unsure where to start, we’re here to help—your Health Visiting team can guide you toward the right contact or application page.

Please reach out if you’re finding things difficult.
You’re not alone, and support is available. If you’d like more information about the Household Support Fund or other local help, speak to your Health Visitor. We’re here to support you and your family.

https://futureproofcumbria.org.uk/homes/household-support-fund/

Help for those in need to lower their energy bills: free fuel vouchers, kitchen equipment, heated blankets and dehumidifiers.

19/11/2025

👋 Need help with breastfeeding or figuring out your childcare options?

You're not alone — and the Best Start in Life Parent Hub is a place you can go to get answers!
The Parents Hub is a free, government-backed site designed to support you from pregnancy through to preschool.

👉 Click here to explore the hub: www.beststartinlife.gov.uk

Because every child deserves the best start — and every parent deserves support 💙

18/11/2025

🚦 ! 🚦

Read More: https://www.brake.org.uk/road-safety-week

17/11/2025

17/11/2025

🌍 World Prematurity Day – Supporting Babies Born Too Soon

Today, on World Prematurity Day, we come together to raise awareness of the challenges faced by babies born prematurely and to recognise the strength of their families. As health visitors, we play a crucial role in supporting parents through what can be an incredibly emotional and uncertain journey.

Premature birth affects around 1 in 10 babies worldwide, and its impact can extend well beyond the neonatal period. Our work in the community helps ensure that families feel supported, informed, and empowered as their babies grow and develop.

💜 Key ways we support families of premature babies:

Early identification of needs: Monitoring growth, feeding, development, and parental wellbeing with sensitivity and reassurance.

Providing clear, consistent information: Helping families understand corrected age, developmental milestones, safe sleep, immunisations, and feeding guidance.

Emotional support: Recognising the emotional impact of preterm birth and validating parents’ experiences, while signposting to specialist services when needed.

Coordinated care: Working closely with neonatal teams, GPs, therapists, and community services to ensure continuity of support.

Today is also a moment to celebrate the resilience of premature babies and the dedication of families and professionals who care for them.

Let’s continue to shine a light on prematurity, champion early support, and ensure every family feels seen, heard, and held.

16/11/2025

🎉 Our free NHS app for parents and carers just keeps getting better! 🎉

With screen reader, language translation, and customisable text, it makes information easy for everyone.

Download now — it’s free! 📲

👉 Download the app here https://hdftchildrenshealthservice.co.uk/download-our-app/

Healthy

16/11/2025

🚦 has begun! 🚦

This week, Brake, the road safety charity, is raising awareness of the devastating impact of road crashes and sharing the real stories behind the statistics.

They’re shining a spotlight on road victims and why they need our support, while also celebrating the incredible people who help families after a road crash.

👉 Sign up and get involved: www.brake.org.uk/road-safety-week

15/11/2025

Are you feeling anxious or overwhelmed?

Talk silently and anonymously to a mental health professional by texting the word ‘CALMER’ to 85258.

We’re pleased to be working with Shout to offer free, confidential support by text message, 24/7.

15/11/2025

14/11/2025

As comes to an end, this is a reminder that anti-bullying isn’t just for Anti-Bullying Week!
We will commit to use our all year round 💙

https://youtu.be/lO6599wP390?si=LU8BvIdrNz2UHhsR

13/11/2025

🎥 Worried about your child trying drugs or alcohol? Most young people experiment a little but don’t develop long-term problems.

https://youtu.be/OCV4VPLBB3k

For information and support on drug-related issues, visit www.talktofrank.com or call the FRANK helpline on 0300 123 6600

So let’s talk about ket. Common negative side effects of using ketamine include memory problems, hallucinations, confusion, dissociation and feeling disconne...

13/11/2025

Today is world kindness day

Every word, tone and response shapes how children feel about themselves – and about the world around them.

When life feels busy or overwhelming, take a moment to pause.

Stop – breathe – be kind – to them, and to yourself