Support Available in York for Children, Young People and Families

We often get asked for details on the support that is available to families living in and around York; so we have put together this list of local organisations which we hope you will find useful.

Useful ResourcesGuest User1 August 2020support, family, parenting, parents, carers, children, family life, young people, York, advice, help

Reflections on Homeschooling

Liz Mould is a teacher and a parent who has been teaching in primary schools for 11 years. We invited Liz to talk to us about her experience of homeschooling.

Advice and opinionGuest User17 July 2020homeschooling, home life, parenting, parents, carers, children

Easter at Home Activities

Easter is one of the most important holidays in the Christian calendar and is recognised around the globe. This year celebrations are likely to be very different as we stay at home in order to halt the spread of coronavirus.

We have come up with some ideas and activities to help make the Easter weekend that little bit special during the lockdown and to ensure that those who want to celebrate its true meaning can do so.

Useful ResourcesGuest User9 April 2020family life, activities, Easter activities, children, family time

Lovely Feedback From Learners on our Developing Emotional Resilience Course!

“Thank you! I wish I could have done this years ago but very grateful to have the opportunity now. Feeling really confident that this will help me support my kids. LIFE CHANGING! So many useful tips and strategies were given and it was so nice to meet other parents too”

Learner story: Victoria's experience on our Positive Futures Parenting Support course

“Things are a heck of a lot better at home now. I’d recommend this course to anyone!”

Learners’ storiesGuest User6 November 2019BrightSparks CICparenting, Positive Futures Parenting Support, parents, children, child development, courses, BrightSparks Courses, training, BrightSparks Testimonials, life skills, home life, anger management, learner experience, learning

5 simple ways to help a young person having a panic attack

It can be hard to know what to say or do when a young person you're working with is feeling very anxious, and even more challenging if they have a panic attack. So, here is our collection of easy ways to help.

Advice and opinion, Course ContentLeonie Tayler1 March 2019BrightSparks CICemotional resilience, children, young people, mental health, panic attack, wellbeingComment

Learner story: Sam's experience on our Positive Futures Parenting Support course

“I find that I learn most from the group discussions. I have picked up hints and tips not only from the course tutors and the handouts we are given, but from discussions with the other parents on the course. It’s such a positive and caring environment, everyone supports each other and there is no judgement at all.”

Learners’ storiesLeonie Tayler17 November 2018BrightSparks CICparenting, Positive Futures Parenting Support, parents, children, child development, courses, BrightSparks Courses, training, BrightSparks Testimonials

The importance of self care.

Those old cliches about 'you can't pour from an empty jug' are absolutely true. How can we keep giving when there is nothing left to give?

Advice and opinionLeonie Tayler16 November 2018BrightSparks CICself care, self care week, Katie Simpson, parenting, BrightSparks Courses, Positive Futures Parenting Support, training, wellbeing, mental health, children, Take 3 breathing, guilt, learning, education

What is 'Challenging Behaviour'?

It is true that all children have their moments of being challenging - episodes like having a tantrum about bed time, or refusing to do maths homework spring to mind! However, there is a difference between the usual tantrums associated with children growing up and learning about rules and boundaries, and what is classed as ‘challenging behaviour’.

Course Content, , Advice and opinionLeonie Tayler4 October 2018BrightSparksCICManaging Challenging Behaviour, children, young people, parenting, training, behaviour, child developmentComment

New dates announced for Essential Skills for Working with Children and Young People course

New dates are now available for booking in Selby and Scarborough on our FREE Essential Skills for Working with Children and Young People course.

NewsLeonie Tayler3 October 2018BrightSparksworking with children, children, European Social Fund, funding, training, Selby, Scarborough, jobs, job application

Why resilience is a skill all children should be taught

“It is not about removing risk, it is more about shoring up the resources to deal with it.”

Course Content, Advice and opinionLeonie Tayler1 June 2018BrightSparks CICrisk factors, resilience, emotional resilience, mental health, wellbeing, young people, children, working with children

Inspire Me to be a...Teaching Assistant

This week, we spoke to Steph, a Lead Teaching Assistant from London: "The best thing about my role? Seeing our students learn life skills, and the pure joy they experience when they have the light bulb moment."

, Inspire MeLeonie Tayler4 May 2018BrightSparks CICworking with children, jobs, careers, children, teaching, training, SEN, special educational needs, Lead Teaching Assistant, inspire me, CAHMS, social skills, educationComment

Inspire Me to be a...Volunteer Mentor

"So often within children and young people's services, input is short lived. This is in massive contrast to the mentoring where I can meet with a young person every week for a year - allowing real connections to form." - This week, we had a chat with Joy, learning about her experiences working with children and young people as a volunteer Mentor.

Inspire MeLeonie Tayler18 April 2018BrightSparks CICvolunteering, mentor, children, young people, The Island York, working with children, Inspire me, jobs, careers, York

Inspire Me to be a... Social Worker

"There's always something new to learn, and every child, family and situation is different, so every day is different and brings a new challenge. I love knowing a child is safer or happier because of my work."

Inspire MeLeonie Tayler17 April 2018BrightSparks CICworking with children, Social Worker, children, young people, employability, trainingComment

See how far Souad has come since completing a BrightSparks Course

"I had the interview on Friday and got the job ten minutes after the interview. To say I was stunned was an understatement!"

testimonialsLeonie Tayler9 March 2018BrightSparks CICworking with children, employment, jobs, careers, teaching, children, young people, training, parents, volunteering, child development, safeguarding, testimonialsComment

Learner story: Sam

“I’ve found the courses really, really good. It’s been a great first step back into the world of learning and education because it’s friendly, informal, and a lot of people that have come on the Essential Skills for Working with Children and Young People course have similar experiences to me."

Learners’ stories, testimonialsLeonie Tayler6 March 2018BrightSparks CICworking with children, emotional resilience, employability skills, children, young people, employmentComment

Three new FREE 'Essential Skills for Working with Children & Young People' training courses!

New free Essential Skills for Working With Children and Young People courses open for bookings. All thanks to En:Able grant funding.

NewsLeonie Tayler5 March 2018BrightSparks CICEn:Able, training, working with children, employment, employability skills, volunteering, funding, grant, careers, children, young peopleComment

Help York children learn to read with York Cares

Studies show that children who read regularly perform better across the curriculum, developing a broader vocabulary and increasing their general knowledge.

NewsLeonie Tayler1 February 2018BrightSparks CICworking with children, reading, York Cares, books, children, young people, learning Comment

Congratulations to learners completing BrightSparks' 'Managing Children & Young People's behaviour' course

"I will now consider working with children in education. Thank you so much for the great three weeks of inspiring me"

Learners’ stories, testimonials, NewsLeonie Tayler19 September 2017BrightSparks CICManaging Challenging Behaviour, training, learning, Tang Hall Big Local, children, working with childrenComment

BLOG