Resources and External Services
This page includes information to support young people and their families.
Anxiety self-help websites and resources
Free app: SAM (self-help anxiety management).
‘Overcoming Your Child’s Fear and Worries: a self-help guide using CBT Techniques’ Book (Creswell & Willetts, 2006)
Autism Early Support (AES)
We work in partnership with Autism Early Support (AES), a local specialist organisation offering a 10‑week online programme for parents and carers.
Despite the name, AES supports families of children with Autism and/or ADHD.
You do not need a diagnosis to attend, and the programme is open to all Buckinghamshire families.
The programme includes:
- Access to a free online portal with blogs, resources and webinars
- Workshops and Family Support Groups to help you:
- understand and support your child
- develop a profile of your child’s needs to share with schools or professionals
- find practical strategies to use at home
- understand and respond to your child’s behaviours
- connect with other parents for peer support
- learn more about neurodiversity and its impact on family life
Autism Early Support (AES) – Parent Portal
The Autism Early Support Parent Portal is free to all families living in Buckinghamshire. It is an interactive 24/7 community of support, resources, and guidance. Wherever you are on your journey, the portal will help you with what you need to know and when you need to know it. It gives unlimited access to a huge bank of resources for parents with children aged 2-17 years.
Bucks Family Information Service
This service can assist in finding local services, Family Centres, activities, support around the Local Offer for children with special educational needs and more.
You can find out more about this service by accessing their website at:
https://familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/
The Buckinghamshire Family Information Service (BFIS) is a free, impartial service.
If you would like support from a family support worker, or you would like to attend one of the parenting programmes you can self-refer by visiting or telephoning one of the Family Centre Plus sites:
Aylesbury: Southcourt Family Support Centre: Aylesbury College Campus: 01296 388 293
Chesham: Newtown Family Support Centre Berkhamstead Rd: 01296 388 293
Wycombe: Mapledean Family Support Centre Cressex Rd High Wycombe: 01296 388 293
Alternatively, you can self-refer via the BFIS website. Family Information Service | Buckinghamshire Family Information Service
Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies
Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies (Formerly Buckinghamshire Healthy Minds) is a service accepting referrals for young people aged 17 years 10 months to post 18 years.
Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies offers a variety of therapies to help with mental health needs such as:
– Generalised anxiety disorder
– Depression
– Phobias
– Panic disorder
– Obsessive compulsive disorder
– Post-traumatic stress disorder
– Health anxiety disorder
You can self-refer to Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies through their website as well as learn more about the service that they offer. Please see the link to the website below:
https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/bucks-talking-therapies/
For further information and advice, you can contact the Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies team on 01865 901 600 or text ‘TALK’ to 07798 667 169.
The following services may also helpful.
Bullying
Family Lives is a specialist organisation supporting children and young people affected by bullying. This includes advice for the children who are being bullied, liaising with the school, and finding out more about bullying policies. You can find out more by accessing their website at: https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/bullying
Furthermore, we would recommend visiting the following websites which provide self-help support:
https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/
The following apps can also be useful self-help tools:
- MindShift
- HeadSpace
- Stay Alive
- Digital Crisis
- CalmHarm
- WellMind
- WellBeing
Child Bereavement
Child Bereavement UK specialises in support for young people experiencing bereavement or who have a terminally ill parent/carer. You can find out more by accessing their website:
http://www.childbereavementuk.org/ or call them on either 0800 028 8840 or 01494 568900.
ELSA or Nurture groups
An ELSA in a school is an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. Examples of things that a group would cover are social skills, emotions, bereavement, social stories and therapeutic stories, anger management, self-esteem, counselling skills such as solution focus and friendships. You can find out more about ELSA groups by visiting: www.elsa-support.co.uk/about-elsa-support
Nurture groups are a short-term, focused intervention for children with social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties which are creating a barrier to learning within a mainstream class.
You will need to liaise with your child’s school to clarify whether they offer either of these services, as not all schools do.
Family Support Services
The Family Support Service is part of the Early Help offered to families in Bucks. It works in partnership with other services so that the focus is on the whole family and aims to work with families before their problems become too difficult to manage. The Family Support Service provides a wide range of support to children, young people and families in Buckinghamshire. It does this through a variety of group and programmes, as well as individual support.
A professional or parents/carer can refer to the Family Support Service. You can find out more about this service and refer directly via the following links:
https://familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/
https://familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/familysupport/
BFIS directory https://directory.familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/
Buckinghamshire Online Directory https://directory.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/
Ordinary Available Provision document
This document was created between education professionals and Buckinghamshire County Council, to help provide parents and schools with information regarding what should be ordinarily available to young people with SEND. It helps identify what reasonable adjustments could be made without an additional resource that would need extra funding, and can be found here: Ordinarily_Available_Provision.pdf
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapists provide online workshops to support with a range of difficulties including:
-Handwriting skills
-Sensory processing difficulties
-Dressing skills
-feeding skills
-Difficulties using tools
These workshops can provide useful information to families about how to support young people to improve in these areas of difficulty.
You can find out more information via the website:
SAFE!
SAFE! Supports young people who are dealing with the effects of a crime. This service is available to young people who witness a crime, are victims of crime or are worried about something that has happened to someone else.
SAFE! will allocate an experienced project worker who will:
- Provide a safe space to talk about your experience.
- Give information on how to report a crime and what will follow.
- Support you to help you think about what to do next.
SAFE! is an independent charity that is free to use.
SAFE! Young Victim Service https://www.safeproject.org.uk/how-we-work.php remains open for referrals for young people who have been the victim of a crime or abuse.
Please complete a referral via this form: https://cms.safeproject.org.uk/refer?service=3
For further information on SAFE! Services, please see their website www.safeproject.org.uk
Self-Harm
If you have any immediate concerns regarding someone who has recently self-harmed, we recommend seeking medical support straight away.
For self-help support we recommend visiting the following websites:
https://www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk/
http://www.themix.org.uk/mental-health/self-harm
Other useful self-help resources:
https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/camhs/advice/
https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/
The following apps can also be useful self-help tools:
– MindShift
– HeadSpace
– Stay Alive
– Digital Crisis
– CalmHarm
– WellMind
– WellBeing
SENDIAS
Buckinghamshire Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (known as Bucks SENDIAS Service). SENDIAS provides free, confidential, impartial information, advice and support for children and young people with SEND aged up to 25 and their parents/carers, around all matters relating to SEND to help you make informed decisions.
To contact SENDIAS for advise you can contact them using their online form https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/bucks-sendias-service/contact-sendias/
Alternatively, you can contact SENDIAS directly on 01296 383754 or emailing sendias@buckinghamshire.gov.uk for advice regarding your young person’s education.
Further information about SENDIAS can be found here:
https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/bucks-sendias-service/
School Nursing Team
Parents can self-refer online using the following link:
School nursing – Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust – CYP Website
The school nurse can offer support to think about behaviours and emotional regulation at these times. They work within schools and the local community to support all children and young people with medical, emotional, or educational needs. Their aim is to support each person they care for to achieve their potential for physical, emotional, and social well-being so that they can get the most from life and education and become responsible for their own health.
Their service is part of the Healthy Child Programme 0 to 19 which is a national framework, based on best evidence, to promote and protect the health of children as they grow. The School Nursing Team can be contacted via 01296 567833 and www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/school-nursing
Furthermore, we would recommend visiting the following websites which provide self-help support:
https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/camhs/advice/
https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/
https://apps.beta.nhs.uk/category/mental_health/
The following apps can also be useful self-help tools:
– MindShift
– HeadSpace
– Stay Alive
– Digital Crisis
– CalmHarm
– WellMind
– WellBeing
Sleep
Unfortunately, we are not commissioned to support young people with sleep challenges or to see them for sleeping medication requests only.
For sleep challenges you may consider seeking support from your Health Visiting Team (age 0-5) or School Nursing Team (age 5-19). Health visitors and school nurses work in partnership with children, young people and their families and other health and education professionals in a range of locations, including schools, clinics and family homes.
Their service is part of the Healthy Child Programme 0 to 19 which is a national framework, based on best evidence, to promote and protect the health of children as they grow.
Your GP surgery will have the contact number of your Health Visitor and your child’s school will have the contact number of your School Nurse.
You can also find information online at:
TICS and Tourettes
TIC Disorders – Useful Reading & Contacts
Books:
Tic Disorders: A Guide for Parents and Professionals. By Uttom Chowdhury, Tara Murphy & Suzanne Dobson (2016).
Websites:
http://www.tourettes-action.org.uk
This website includes lots of resources and sources of support as well as a helpline for information (including a live chat service to answer queries and send relevant information instantly).
As well as information and factsheets, there is a 1-hour audio/visual guide for parents about Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) (Go to ‘About TS’ à ‘Managing TS’ à ‘Behavioral Therapies’).
https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-we-treat/tourette-syndrome/
As well as information on Tourette syndrome, the Great Ormond Street Hospital website has lots of Factsheets which can be downloaded for free including:
An introduction to Tourette syndrome – under ‘How is TS diagnosed?’ are the criteria on Tourette syndrome – these will need to be met to get a referral to a neurologist for an assessment of Tourette syndrome.
Tourette syndrome and managing your own tics – ideas for helping yourself to deal with tics.
Non-medical treatments for Tourette syndrome – describes non- medical treatments that can be used to manage tics, as well as suggesting workbooks for children and parents to help manage tics.
As well as lots of other useful factsheets including:
- Tourette syndrome and explaining to other people
- Tourette syndrome and treatment with medicine
- Tourette’s and explaining to other people
- Tourette’s and explaining to other people
- Tourette’s and attention deficit disorder
- Tourette’s and obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Tourette’s and anger management
- Tourette’s and depression
- Tourette’s and the future
- Tourette and learning
- Tourette and making friends
Young Carers
Young Carers supports children and young people in Buckinghamshire aged 6-18 years old who have a caring role with someone who is ill, has a physical or mental disability, or drug or alcohol dependency.
Young carers can be contacted via their website: https://carersbucks.org/contact-us/ or by their email: youngcarers@carersbucks.org
To make a referral to Young Carers, the link is: https://carersbucks.org/information-for-carers/young-carers/
Youth Concern
Youth Concern offers free and confidential support, information, and counselling to young people, to find out more and make an appointment they can be contacted via 01296 431183, www.youthconcern.org.uk or emailed at counselling@youthconcern.org.uk
Youth Enquiry Service (YES)
The Youth Enquiry Service (YES) offers free and confidential support, information, and counselling to young people in the High Wycombe area aged 13-25 years old.
‘YES’ work with young people experiencing a wide variety of social welfare issues including housing, debt, sexual health, education, employment etc. They acknowledge that such difficulties can lead to a range of adverse consequences for young people, most commonly, stress, anxiety, depression, ill health, relationship breakdowns, lost income, and lost confidence, and they aim to support and help young people with these difficulties.
To find out more or to make an appointment, they can be contacted on 01494 437373
or emailed at info@yeswycombe.org. The link for their website is https://www.yeswycombe.org
Page last reviewed: 14 August, 2026