The focus this week will be centred around our counselling service. There are 2 members of the BYHP team who deliver counselling- Deb who is our Service Delivery Manager for the Health and Wellbeing Team and Ros who is a Wellbeing Practitioner. Alongside them, we also have 2 volunteers- Janine and Trisha who deliver couselling sessions to young people once a week.

Here's what Deb had to say about BYHP Counselling during the Coronavirus;
"Counselling at BYHP has moved online and the team have become familiar very quickly with using virtual online platforms; I think we are all surprised at how well this is working and how we have adapted so quickly.  Supporting our young people is vital during this uncertain period and by maintaining contact virtually, we can re-create a version of our face to face connection.
The Coronavirus affects us all to different degrees and there are many extra challenges for our vulnerable clients to face; feelings of anxiety, isolation and loneliness, all of which are only natural in this uncertain world we are now living in. 
What can we do to combat our anxiety?  If we take a moment to stop, sit, ground ourselves, breathe, concentrate on ourselves, think, what is it that I am the most anxious about.  What causes us to feel most anxiety is so often the future, what is going to happen.  In these times, none of us can really know what the answer is, it is not something we have any control over.
So, let us think about what we can do to be in the moment and to live for today, taking one day at a time, we have control over what we enjoy doing.  How many times have we said that we don’t have the time to . . . . read that book, make a cake, complete the jigsaw, weed the flower bed, finish that project we started.  The list goes on.  Suddenly, here we are, unexpectedly with all this time on our hands. Having a structure to the day is just one way to quell anxiety and to give a purpose to get up and face the day.  This is the time for self-care, showing compassion for ourselves and for others.  What do you enjoy doing?  You will find anything and everything on YouTube or Instagram where so many of our communities and celebrities are doing their best to keep us entertained and educated.
Factor in the day a time to go for your allowed hour of fresh air.  Go for a walk, remembering to keep your 2 metres distance.  For those lucky enough to have a garden, take advantage of the warm weather and watching the wildlife.  Take photographs!"
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Here are some of the photographs taken by Deb on one of her daily walks;

Did you know that £50 is a huge help towards delivering a counselling session. We are now able to accept donations straight into our bank account which means there are no admin fees and we receive the full amount. If the person donating is eligible, we can also claim Gift Aid on these donations which is an additional 25%. If you are able to spare any amount, please head here.
Thank you.
For referral information or to find out more about our counselling service, please visit this page on our website.
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​We were delighted to be chosen as the charity partner for the Banbury Regional Community of Midcounties Co-op earlier this year. They had lots of things planned in store as well as supporting our fundraisers and organising their own. Obviously things have had to change slightly in the current situation we are all in but we would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every member of their team as a key worker for the amazing work they are doing. This includes not only the staff on the shop floor but their distribution centres, office teams and delivery drivers too.
They have also set up an incredible scheme to support foodbanks- you can find details and donate here.
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Still thinking of things to do during your time at home? Our Health and Wellbeing Manager Deb suggests making a journal;
 When you are asked in the future what you did during the ‘Lock-down’, reflect on how you spent your days.  Self-care and compassion for ourselves and for others is vital.
A comment the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, made at the beginning of this crisis struck a chord:
“Now, more than any time in our recent history, we will be judged by our capacity for compassion.  Our ability to come through this won’t just be down to what government or business can do but by the individual acts of kindness that we show one another.’
‘When this is over, and it will be over, we want to look back at this moment and remember the many small acts of kindness done by us and to us.’
‘You will not face this alone."

Each one of us staying at home is playing our part and together, collectively, we will win this struggle.  It is a time for courage, compassion and kindness towards ourselves and others. 

Thursday 23rd April marked the start of Ramadan. Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims, in which they usually fast during daylight hours, congregate for prayers and share meals as a community. But with strict curfews and physical distancing directives enforced to limit the spread of COVID-19, many of Ramadan's rituals and traditions are being curtailed this year. Many Mosques are live-streaming sermons, Quranic recitation and prayers as people are encouraged to pray alone or with immediate family. The Eid al-Fitr festival marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated as an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries. With lockdown measures in place and large gatherings banned, this year's festivities will also be scaled down.
This will impact many people in our local community. Please remember that we are all facing different challenges throughout these surreal times. 

Look out for next week's posts. We will be sticking with our Health and Wellbeing team but moving over to their Family Mediation service. 
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THANK YOU EVERYONE, STAY SAFE :)

This week we are focusing on the role of Gill, our CAMHS community In-reach support worker.
This project works in partnership with Oxford Health and the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS.) The service provides a light touch, early intervention service to young people with low mental health needs. 

Usually this service operates by visiting clients for face to face sessions within school, at BYHP or another setting. The young people Gill works with are aged 13-18 and can receive up to 6 sessions before being discharged where they can put into practice some of the skills they have learnt. Alternatively they may be referred to another BYHP service or further into the CAMHS, for example the Getting Help team. At the beginning of their work together they identify some goals which the young person wants to work towards and the 6 sessions are geared to these goals.  For example they may want to work on their anxiety so they will focus their work around this. They quite often use a CBT approach or a solutions focused approach. with the aim of reducing the young persons need for further support.

​As with all of our services, this one cannot operate as it usually would in the present climate. Here's what our community in-reach support worker Gill said she is doing differently. 
"At present, due to not being able to provide a face to face service I am offering telephone or digital support.  We have extended our number of sessions so that no young person will miss out on the support they may need, and support will be offered as things return to normal. Due to our partnership with Oxford Health I am also on call to help within other CAMHS services if required, to support the front line staff  in fighting the Coronavirus pandemic."

For referral information please visit the CAMHS page on our website.

Each week we have been thanking someone else who is doing something amazing to help the community. This week we would like to thank our friends at St Mary's Church in Bloxham. They have kindly supported BYHP for a number of years now in many ways including generous donations towards our food bank. Since the pandemic has taken over, they have really ramped up their donations. Not just food but some monetary donations too which allows us to buy top up items for our deliveries. We really appreciate your support. Special thanks to John who also volunteers with BYHP and coordinates the collections and deliveries. 

Next week our focus topic will be our counselling service. 
We really appreciate your support during these difficult times- if you are able to donate anything towards our services then please visit our local giving page. THANK YOU :)

This week we are talking about the role of Emma, our Transition Wellbeing Practitioner. Emma's role is part of The Mental Wealth Academy which is an innovative new project supporting 18-25 year olds, who are falling through gaps created by transition pathways from CAMHS to Adult Mental Health services. The support from the project is usually delivered through weekly 1:1 sessions with the Transition Wellbeing Practitioner. The sessions focus on improving an individual’s wellbeing and helping them to develop healthy coping strategies in regards to any mental health difficulties they may experience. The sessions can cover a wide range of support including coping strategies, CBT focused interventions, self-management tools, emotional literacy, steps to wellbeing and engagement with education and employment. There are around 12 support sessions offered to an individual with the potential to sign post to relevant services following these sessions. 

In the current situation we are all facing, Emma has had to make lots of changes to continue supporting her clients. Here's what she said;
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"We are offering a range of ways to keep in contact with clients to ensure the support sessions continue to benefit them. Clients are offered either voice calls or video calls and we have the ability to share worksheets and resources via a ‘shared screen’ option during our appointments. We are taking notes on worksheets and resources used  throughout the session and emailing them over to the client at the end of the session. Wellbeing focused tasks are being set for all clients at the end of a session for them to complete and practice ahead of our next session. Relevant self-help guides have been sent out to all clients for them to work through during these difficult times. Clients are also being encouraged to contact the Transition Wellbeing Practitioners should they feel they need additional support throughout the week between the support sessions." 

​To contact Emma or refer someone for this project- please visit the services page of our website.

Each week we are thanking someone else who is doing something amazing.... This week we'd like to acknowledge the amazing NHS staff who are putting themselves at risk to care for others. 

We hope you are still managing to get some fresh air- our team have been heading out either alone or with other members of their household to take in some sun and give their legs a stretch... here are some pics...

We are still here!

As you all know, Covoid-19 has had a huge impact globally and we would like to let our supporters; Businesses, other charities and individuals alike, know what we are doing at the moment. As a charity, we have had to make a lot of changes recently in the way we are operating to ensure the safety of our team, service users and volunteers is maintained. Over the next few weeks we have decided to talk about each one of our services to give you an insight into how they usually work and what we are doing differently to continue our support in the best way we can. We've been posting on our Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram and adding it all together to share here as a blog. We'd like to Thank you all for your continued support during this difficult time. 
As part of our contribution to help contain the spread of  the corona virus, all of our team are working from home for the foreseeable future (with the exception of delivering food bank parcels). Check out some of our current workstations;


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We also urged everyone to stay at home where possible this weekend and not to go against the government guidelines, it's definitely not the long Bank Holiday weekend we are all used to at Easter but by following advice, we are all protecting ourselves and our loved ones. We hope you have all made the best of a bad situation this weekend, check in again next week to hear all about the Mental Wealth Academy service at BYHP.
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Thank you everyone and keep smiling. :)

​There’s no beating about the bush on this one, life can be tough sometimes. Whether you are 15 years old or 75, there will be challenges to overcome. And, whatever their nature, these aren’t always easy to resolve or deal with. 
April is actually Stress Awareness Month (source). This has been marked for the last 20 years, designed to raise awareness of causes and cures of stress to help people deal more effectively with their own and others’ stress.  
Over the last few years, there’s been an alarming trend in rocketing stress levels amongst children and young people in the UK (source). There can be many causes behind stress amongst young people, for example the rise of social media and cyberbullying; pressure at school; or money problems faced by parents and felt by their children. There’s no quick fix for stress, no easy way to overcome it. What’s most important is talking to someone, sharing your fears and concerns.  
One of the key initiatives promoted during Stress Awareness Month is talking about your stress. The more we as individuals open up on our own struggles with stress, the easier it is for others to share their experiences. There still remains a stigma around admitting you’re having problems and need help, and it’s important that this stigma is removed.  
It’s sometimes difficult to understand other people’s stress and anxiety (particularly if it’s something we’re not able to empathise with ourselves). However, what may not seem like a big deal to one person may be a constant concern for another, and our experts work hard every day to support our young people and give them the coping mechanisms they need. Here at BYHP, our experts have the training and experience needed to help those amongst our young people who are dealing with stress.  
If you’d like to know more about the causes of stress and how best to deal with it for yourself or to support a friend or loved one currently struggling with it, visit www.stress.org. 

If you’re anything like me then you’ll already be getting excited about tomorrow’s Red Nose Day TV extravaganza. And you’ll have been enjoying the celeb-filled challenges over the last few weeks. And I don’t blame you! Who doesn’t love the excitement and the hype? But, remember, it’s not all about being glued to the TV this Friday night.

Whilst the Red Nose Day coverage is always hugely entertaining, and the fundraising challenges can be a lot of fun, there’s more to this event... The message and values behind Comic Relief and Red Nose Day are enormously important - they are messages and values that closely reflect our own charity’s values. Here at BYHP, we’re focused on providing opportunities and support for young, vulnerable people within our own community. Whilst this can take many forms, it focuses on ensuring they have access to the support they need, enabling them to feel safe and valued.


So what does Comic Relief do? Who are they raising money for on Red Nose Day? 

Comic Relief pursues a similar ideal. It targets vulnerable groups both in the UK and abroad, often supporting children and young people. Following the last event, the core issues addressed were “a safe place to be”, “children survive and thrive” and “gender justice”. The fundraising efforts of the nation saw hundreds of millions of pounds donated, making a huge difference to so many lives.. To learn more about exactly how these funds were used, click here.

So, when you sit down to watch this year’s Red Nose Day, enjoy every second! But enjoy the movement behind it too - watching people across the nation coming together to support others. I think that’s pretty special. And something to be celebrated. The generosity of individuals can make a real difference to the lives of others and that’s something we’re so proud to witness every day at BYHP.

What are eating disorders?

An eating disorder is when someone develops an unhealthy attitude towards food. Anyone can develop an eating disorder, whether or not they have shown any signs of it in the past. The most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge-eating or OSFED. Eating disorders may be triggered by any number of events, and the sufferer may be unaware themselves that they’re suffering.

What are the common signs of an eating disorder?

Whilst anyone can suffer from an eating disorder, its most commonly seen amongst females between 13 and 17 years old. Symptoms of someone suffering with an eating disorder include:

• Obsessing over weight and body shape
• Excessively limiting food intake or making yourself sick after eating
• Exercising too much
• Mood swings
• Very high or low weight
• Dizziness.

For a full list of symptoms provided by the NHS, click here.

What if you think someone you know if affected by an eating disorder?

If you believe that someone you know may be suffering with an eating disorder, there are several simple steps that you can take to support them. These include:

• Letting them know you’re there to support them
• Inviting them to join you in activities and in conversations with friends
• Building up their self-esteem
• Listen to what they want to say.
  

If you’re worried that you or a friend may be suffering from an eating disorder, it’s important you ensure professional help is sought as soon as possible. For more information about what support is out there, visit the Beat Eating Disorders website.

For further advice and information on how eating disorders will be professionally treated, you can visit the NHS website.
 
Battling eating disorders and raising awareness is something that we as a charity feel strongly about. For advice, valuable resources and support, visit the Beat Eating Disorders website or speak to someone you trust at BYHP.

According to a survey by Stonewall, 50% of LGBT pupils say they frequently encounter homophobic abuse at school (Source).

Here at BYHP, respecting and supporting others’ opinions and rights as individuals is extremely important. Through our work, we focus on our young people’s health and well-being, helping them to live, work and enjoy their place in society, whilst having the confidence to speak up for what is right. This month (February) marks LGBT History month. To support this year’s theme, “Peace, Activism and Reconciliation”, we’ve decided to take a look at each of these elements, exploring how they apply to those principles we hold here at BYHP:

Peace

We believe that every young person deserves to know peace within themselves and in their connections with friends and family. This may be through accepting yourself for who you are or just knowing where to find a friendly shoulder to lean on when things get tough. Here at BYHP, we don’t judge. We seek to find solutions to those challenges faced by young people today with help from our dedicated professionals and the support of your fellow service users. These solutions may include counselling, employability guidance to help you seize life’s opportunities, or support from our CAMHS team to provide light-touch mental health support where we think it can be most effective.

Activism

Through our support services, coaching and activity sessions, we encourage and empower our young people to have confidence in their own opinions and speak up for themselves and others.
 
Reconciliation

Relationships with friends and family are never easy, particularly when you’re young. BYHP provides family mediation for those young people who have strained relationships with their families, either to help them rebuild those bridges or identify ways to manage the situation more effectively.

How can you support LGBT History month?

The official LGBT History month website https://lgbthistorymonth.org.uk  has lots of information and advice about how you can support the movement, such as nearby events, free resources, following their social media channels and promoting the message within your own community.

This scheme provides a support system to help young people in our community find the immediate shelter they so desperately need. Our support ensures both a short and long-term solution – we’re there at each stage of the journey. For a young person in need of shelter, BYHP can provide funds for a short-term accommodation solution – this could be temporary accommodation in a local B&B, or maybe a tent during the summer months.

Once we’ve resolved the immediate concerns around shelter, our Housing Advice Workers work with each of our young people to identify the best support solution to match their individual circumstances. This could be providing an ear to listen, or offering important advice for resolving their problems, or maybe just supporting them through completing complicated forms. In many cases we can provide this support in-house. If not, we provide the essential connection between those at risk and the external agencies who can help.

It may well be that emergency accommodation for single people is available via the No Second Night Out Protocol (NSNO) which is run and administered by Cherwell District Council.