Home Life
We know that home life isn’t always the easiest thing to deal with. Whatever's going on with you and your family, there are people here to help you.
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Why aren’t we getting on?
All families are different, small or big, no matter who is in it, sometimes family life can be difficult.
Families are made up of people and people argue, fall out, go through periods of change, stress and worry. Some people experience divorce, family break down, separation, job loss, money problems. Some people have alcohol or drug problems and some people are hurt or abused.
It is normal to not always get on with your family, you change and they change, we’re all people and people change! It can really help to talk about how you’re feeling.
If you’re every worried or feel unsafe you should contact contact Wirral Integrated Front Door on 0151 606 2008 (9-5pm) after hours 0151 677 6557 or email ifd@wirral.gov.uk if you are worried about yourself or someone you know
Whatever issues you or your family are going through there are people around who can help you get through it.
Arguing with family
We all argue, it’s a normal part of life. When people get angry, upset or frustrated with each other it can come out in arguments and these arguments can take time to calm down.
It’s ok to disagree with someone or for them to disagree with you. They may even be upset at something you may have done.
There is a really big difference in being upset and angry at someone and being aggressive. If you feel threatened or have been hurt that’s abuse and it is never ok. If this is happening to you, you should seek support as soon as possible.
If you’re every worried or feel unsafe you should contact contact Wirral Integrated Front Door on 0151 606 2008 (9-5pm) after hours 0151 677 6557 or email ifd@wirral.gov.uk if you are worried about yourself or someone you know. You could also contact Childline.
Things to try if you’re arguing with your parents or carers
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Let things calm down
When people are upset with each other it can make talking about the reasons hard to talk about. Give it a bit of time to get your thoughts straight before saying how you feel.
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Say Sorry
If you have done something you shouldn’t have you can understand why someone may be upset with you. Saying sorry can help to bring closure to the situation for both sides.
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Talk to someone else you trust
Speak to a friend, or adult you trust for support.
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Keep Calm
It can be hard to stay calm when you feel angry or upset but controlling your response can stop things turning into an argument.
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Be honest
Without being agressive make sure you are honest about how you feel and what you need
Get support if you ever feel unsafe or you don’t know what to do. If you’re every worried or feel unsafe you should contact contact Wirral Integrated Front Door on 0151 606 2008 (9-5pm) after hours 0151 677 6557 or email ifd@wirral.gov.uk if you are worried about yourself or someone you know. You could also contact Childline or in an emergency always call 999
For advice on fighting with siblings, changes in your family, and other issues visit Childline
DOMESTIC ABUSE
Domestic abuse isn't just physical; it can be psychological, sexual, emotional or even financial
Domestic abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. It includes:
Being forced or pressured to do things
Being frightened to say 'no' or to have an opinion
Feeling like 'walking on eggshells' all the time
Being watched and checked up on
Having freedom unreasonably restricted
Being stopped from seeing family and friends
Limited or no access to money and other resources
Forced marriage
Violence, including so-called ‘honour-based’ violence
Female Genital Mutilation
Sexual abuse
Being threatened and threats made to family, pets and/or possessions
Being made to feel too weak or frightened to fight back or leave
Destructive criticism
Disrespect and breaking trust
Isolation
Harassment
Anyone can be abused, no matter where they live or how much money they have.
It can affect anyone, regardless of race, age, class, gender, religion or sexuality. It happens in all kinds of relationships: heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
Domestic abuse is not the victim’s fault. Help is available for victims & survivors and for perpetrators.
Teen Dating Abuse
Domestic abuse is not limited to adults; there is an increasing awareness of domestic violence within teen relationships.
1 in 5 teenage girls have been assaulted by a boyfriend.
Young women are more likely to experience sexual violence then other age groups.
Young women with older partners are at increased risk of victimisation.
Recent surveys (including NSPCC, Zero Tolerance and End Violence Against Women campaign) reveal that approximately 40% of our young people are already being subjected to relationship abuse in their teenage years.
Six signs you are in a toxic relationship - BBC Bitesize
Reporting domestic Abuse
There are many ways domestic abuse can be reported - whether by a victim themselves or a friend or relative of someone who is experiencing an abusive situation.
In an emergency call 999.
In a non-emergency, call Merseyside Police on 101. Crime can also be reported to the police online.
Domestic abuse can be reported anonymously online to Crimestoppers or by calling 0800 555 111.
If there are concerns about a child or young person at risk of harm, abuse or neglect this should be reported to the Wirral Integrated Front Door Team by email to cadtsocialcare@wirral.gcsx.gov.uk or call 0151 606 2008 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) and outside of these hours call 0151 677 6557.
Advice and guidance can be sought from Wirral Family Safety Unit.
The most important thing is to tell someone - a friend, relative, colleague, support service or agency.
HOMELESSNESS
Homelessness is when you don’t have a place to live. It can mean living on the street but you can also be homeless if you are staying temporarily with a friend or family ‘sofa surfing,’ living in temporary accommodation, living in a B&B or squatting in another property.
You can also be considered homeless if you can stay in your home but it is not safe for you to do so because you’re being hurt or abused. (Reporting domestic abuse)
Get help
If you are a young person living in Wirral and are concerned for yourself or another young person that they may be homeless contact Wirral Integrated Front Door Team by email to cadtsocialcare@wirral.gcsx.gov.uk or call 0151 606 2008 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) and outside of these hours call 0151 677 6557. If you are not a resident of Wirral contact Childline
YOUNG CARERS
A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who helps look after someone in their family, or a friend, who is ill, disabled or misuses drugs or alcohol.
This does not have to be a grown up person that you are looking after, but can include helping a parent or friend to look after a disabled child or young person.
Some of the reasons a young carer may be helping to look after someone:
the person has a physical illness or disability, this could be a disability that they were born with, a disability caused through an accident, a genetic disability or maybe a terminal illness
the person has a mental health condition
the person has drug or alcohol problems that impacts on their life
There are many more reasons but this is just a small example why a young person may be caring for a family member or friend. The young person may live in a one parent family and the parent they live with needs to be looked after, the young person is likely not to see themselves as a carer but feels that it is their duty as it is just them and the parent.
Some of the things a young carer may do:
Practical tasks, such as cooking housework and shopping
Physical care, such as helping someone out of bed
Emotional support, such as talking to someone who is distressed
Personal care, such as dress
Managing the family budget and collecting prescriptions
Helping to give medicine
Helping someone to communicate
Looking after brothers and sisters
The young person is learning lots of useful and valuable skills. However, this should not mean that they miss out on the things other young people are doing. Caring for someone can have a big impact on the things that are important to growing up, with many young carers struggling to juggle their education and caring can cause pressure and stress. It can affect the young person’s mental health, social life and self confidence.
Video by Carers Trust. For Young Carers Awareness Day 2018, we spoke to Lottie, who started caring for her disabled brother, when she was just three years old. Now, 22, she tells us what it was like to be a very young carer.
Facts and Figures:
In a survey, 395 young carers said that nobody in their school was aware of their caring role.
48% of young carers have said that they felt stressed because of their role
26% have been bullied in school because of their caring role
1 in 3 young carers spend between 11-20 hours each week caring
The average age of a young carer is 13 years old
1 in every 12 school aged children will be caring for someone
There is likely to be young carers in every school and college
There are young carers as young as 5 years old
A young person who is a carer should have:
The time to be a young person
The same opportunities as their friends
Good support for the person they help look after
Someone to discuss their needs with
Now for the Legal bit
The Children and Families Act covers young carers under the age of 18. For the first time, young carers have new rights under this Act, in the part of the Act about Child Welfare. Part 5, Section (s.) 96 of the Act details the rights for young carers.
These rights are, that local authorities must assess whether young carers in their area have support and, if so, identify any needs they may have.
What help and support is available to a young carer ?
Barnardo’s is commissioned by the local authority to provide support to Young Carers in Wirral. Please contact them for further information about young carers – including if you have identified a child as a potential young carer.
What can they offer to you as a young carer:
Someone to talk to who will listen
Give you information about the illness or disability of the person you care for
Someone to speak up for you when no one wants to listen
A break from caring
Getting help, advice and support for the person you care for.
What Happens Following a Referral
Barnardo’s will contact you and ask you about who you look after and the kinds of things you do for them
If we can help we will arrange a time to visit you and the person you care for
When we visit you we will talk to you about the Young Carers Project and see if you and your family want to become involved
We will arrange for you to visit the Project and talk with you about how we can support you
You can meet other young carers and access support and information
Contacting Action With Young Carers Wirral
How to contact us:
telephone 07584270344
email wirral.services@barnardos.org.uk
Barnardo’s Action with Young Carers Wirral – What our Young Carers service can offer you
An assessment which helps you and your family think about things that would make a difference
Opportunity to meet other young carers
Information about the illness or disability of the adult you care for
Help for the whole family
Get you supported in school / college
Someone to speak up for you when no one wants to listen
Getting help, advice and support for the adult you care for
Emotional support
A break from caring
Someone to talk to who will listen
Help with the cost of living
You may have heard about the increasing costs of living in recent months. People are talking about inflation, tax, energy price increases. It can all feel a little overwhelming and scary. You may have heard your family or friends talking about it or you may be living on your own and are worrying about what it all means for you.
Wirral has a wide range of organisations that can help you and or your families out if you are need some help.
Emergency Food Support
If you need emergency food support contact Wirral Foodbank Plus on 0151 638 7090 Monday to Thursday 10am - 1:30 pm
Citizens Advice Wirral 08082 787 848 or call Wirral Council Helpline 0151 666 5050 and select option 1.
Help is also available at Local Libraries. The opening times can be found at wirral.gov.uk
Wirral Foodbank Plus works with Citizens Advice Wirral, providing dedicated advice and support, including:
Benefits
Universal Credit
Debt
Housing
Relationships
If you require help with any of the above or any of the services mentioned in this leaflet, please let one our volunteers know at the foodbank centre you are attending, or contact: Wirral Foodbank: Telephone: 0151 638 7090 (Lines open Mon—Thu 9am— 2pm) Email: enquiries@wirralfoodbank.org.uk
Wirral Food Bank Unit 14 Wirral Business Centre Dock Road Birkenhead CH41 1JW Telephone: 0151 638 7090 (Lines open Mon—Thu 9am— 2pm) Email: enquiries@wirralfoodbank.org.uk Web: www.wirral.foodbank.org.uk Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered in England with Charity Number 1167967
Support for Essential Needs (Household Support Fund) Provides help towards:
specialist food needs
shoes and clothing
furniture and household goods
white goods
fuel and water bills
phone and broadband bills
travel costs
veterinary bills
car repair bills
medical expenses.
This list is not exhaustive and other essentials will be considered. You can apply for help by contacting: Wirral Council www.wirral.gov.uk/welfaresupport or via the Wirral Council Helpline on 0151 666 5050.
Financial Support with Fuel & Water Debt
If you or your family cannot afford to pay for your gas and electricity or you are struggling to deal with gas, electricity or water debt, you can get the following help:
If you have a pre-payment meter, you can request a fuel voucher (gas and electric) from Wirral Council: Contact Wirral Council www.wirral.gov.uk/welfaresupport or via the Wirral Coronavirus Helpline on 0151 666 5050.
If you pay by direct debit you can ask for help, from Citizens Advice Wirral, towards your gas, electricity and water costs, which will be paid directly to your provider: or
If you are struggling with gas, electricity and water debt you can ask for help from Citizens Advice Wirral, to clear or reduce your debt: Contact Citizens Advice Wirral www.citizensadvicewirral.org.uk 08082 78 78 48
Help with repair or replacement of heating systems
If you are in unable to repair or replace broken or an old heating system, and do not qualify for help under other programmes you can apply to for help from: Energy Projects Plus Call 0800 043 0151 or www.epplus.org.uk/referrals
Further Support
Wirral Integrated Front Door Team IFD
If a child or young person is at risk of harm, abuse or neglect please report it to the Wirral Integrated Front Door Team:
Mon-Fri, 9:00am – 5.00pm Tel: 0151 606 2008
Outside of these hours Tel: 0151 677 6557
E-mail: IFD@wirral.gov.uk
#Its never ok
Wirral Domestic Abuse Alliance is a formal partnership between a range of statutory authorities and voluntary organisations. The Alliance oversees delivery of the Wirral Plan’s Zero Tolerance to Domestic Abuse Pledge and allows all members to bring matters to the attention of other partners. How can we help, who we are. Visit our website for more information
BRANCH
Branch is an online mental wellbeing hub for children and young people in Wirral, from 0 all the way to 18 (and up to 25 with additional needs). It doesn’t deliver services directly – it’s more of a guide, helping people to find the best tools and local support.
It can be used for any child or young person, no matter how big or small their worries feel. It’s packed with tips to help them feel better and, when they need a bit of extra support, gives simple routes into local services.
Branch doesn’t offer crisis support but has information on where to get help in an emergency.
Visit www.branch-wirral.co.uk
Wirral Foodbank Plus
If you need emergency food support, please call us where you will be asked a few questions to assess your situation. If your application is successful, you will be issued with an electronic voucher, which can be exchanged for a 3-day supply of essential food items at one of the following Wirral Foodbank Centres across Wirral.
Requests for emergency financial support for households in financial crisis, who have specialist food needs due to medical, religious or cultural reasons, should be made via the Coronavirus Helpline or online. 0151 666 5050
For out of hours support between 2pm to 5pm Monday to Friday, please contact: 07947 387930.
Emergency out office hours, between 5pm to 9am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday and Bank Holidays, please contact Emergency Social Services 0151 677 6557.
RASA Merseyside
RASA Merseyside is a professional counselling and support service that exists solely to improve the mental and physical well-being of individuals impacted by sexual violence at some point in their lives. Helpline support: 0151 666 1392 Tues 6-8pm, Thurs 6-8pm, Fri 12-2pm Birkenhead 0151 650 0155 Hoylake 0151 633 2151
Community support
Telephone: 0151 666 1392
Email: rasa@rasamerseyside.org
Read more about RASA Merseyside
SHOUT
Shout is an affiliate of Crisis Text Line® in the UK that provides free, confidential support, 24/7 via text. It’s the first free 24/7 texting service in the UK for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. Shout is available in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
Text SHOUT to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained Crisis Volunteer
or
Text BLUE to 85258 to get resources and sign posting information.
Every texter is connected with a real-life human being trained to bring people from a hot moment to a cool calm place through active listening and collaborative problem-solving. All of our Crisis Volunteers donate their time to helping people in crisis.
Involve Northwest The Lighthouse Centre
The Lighthouse Centre is a person centred approach to Domestic Abuse and will support individuals and families in their own journey through Domestic Abuse.
Community support
Telephone: 0151 644 4839
Email: dateam@involvenorthwest.org.uk
Tomorrow's Women
Tomorrow's women offer support service for advice & guidance for both adult women 18+ and young women 14-17 in their current project Tomorrow’s Young Women – contact number for both is 0151 647 7907.
Response
If you, or someone you know is having problems with drug and/or alcohol misuse Response can provide help and support. Response offers a wide range of support for young people, aged 13 - 19, including drugs & alcohol, counselling and lifestyle support.
To contact the team call 0151 666 4123 or email response@wirral.gov.uk
We encourage anyone looking for advice to call us, Monday to Friday 9am-8pm.
Referrals can be made on this number to both the Counselling Team and the Alcohol and Substance Team. We are able to offer 1-2-1 support for Young People who are struggling with their alcohol or substance use, and often work with other agencies to support Young People in diversionary activities . We deliver professionals training (currently online) that can be accessed through https://www.wirralsafeguarding.co.uk/training/ and lead on the Arrowe Park Hospital Alcohol and Substance Pathway and engage with Young People who have presented at A&E due to substance use. We also provide workshops to parents in collaboration with Health Service In Schools and CAMHS.
Health Services in Schools Youth Workers
HSIS Youth Workers support young people in Wirral Secondary Schools, Wirral Sixth Form College and Wirral Met College.
Each school/college has a designated HSIS Youth Worker that provides young people with an opportunity to access confidential support on any issues which may be affecting them.
We provide support to young people on a wide range of issues and topics such as: building resilience, reducing risks, healthy relationships, sexual Health (including issuing condoms in some schools) drugs, alcohol, emotional health, Stress and Anxiety.
To find your youth worker visit their page.
KOOTH (Online counselling)
Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people
Monday – Friday 12pm – 10pm
Saturday – Sunday 6pm – 10pm
Open Door Centre
If you are aged 15-30, you can become a member and then access as many of our services as you like, including Creative Therapeutic Support if you are feeling down, low, stressed or anxious, numerous different activities within music and the arts, unique training and volunteering opportunities and much more. Membership is free, with no waiting lists.
Childline
If you’re under 19 you can confidentially call, chat online or email about any problem big or small.
Sign up for a free Childline locker (real name or email address not needed) to use their free 1-2-1 counsellor chat and email support service.
Can provide a BSL interpreter if you are deaf or hearing-impaired.
Hosts online message boards where you can share your experiences, have fun and get support from other young people in similar situations.
Phone: 0800 1111
Opening times: 9am - midnight, 365 days a year
We can all face problems that seem complicated or intimidating. At Citizens Advice we believe no one should have to face these problems without good quality, independent advice.
That is why we are here: to give people the knowledge and the confidence they need to find their way forward - whoever they are, and whatever their problem.
Citizens Advice Wirral
Citizens Advice continue to provide information, advice and social prescribing services to Wirral residents. Our services are currently being delivered by phone, video and email.
Within Wirral Mind's Fountain Project, the Citizens Advice Bureau offer an opportunity to receive help and advice.
This is open to those aged 18+ only.
Address:Wirral Mind, 90-92 Chester Street, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 5DL
Telephone: 0151 512 2200
Email: learning@wirralmind.org.uk