Useful Links
Essential Info
Stroud Health Visiting Team – 0300 421 8967
Stonehouse - 0300 421 6710
Dursley - 0300 421 8433
Stroud District Health Team locations and baby hubs - www.ghc.nhs.uk/our-teams-and-services/health-visiting/stroud
Stroud Maternity Hospital Update
Stroud Maternity Hospital – 0300 421 8018 - UPDATE Dec 2022: Bed closures at SMU are going to continue for the long-term and all our sources indicate that it is unlikely to be reviewed until March 2023 or beyond. We are doubtful that anything will be actioned by the Trust to reinstate them this winter. Join the Stroud Maternity Matters Facebook group for updates and campaigns. The amazing midwives at the unit are still providing post-natal care in homes and clinics. The unit must always be the first port of call should any woman or baby need support in the hours and days after birth.
This is the alternative provision that has been put in place whilst the beds remain closed :
Breastfeeding/parent support - Available at Stroud Maternity, every morning 8.30am-12.30pm with our Maternity Care Assistants. Need some extra support with feeding, changing, bathing? Babies up to 14 days, partners welcome. Call Stroud Maternity Hospital – 0300 421 8018 to book.
Places for Support
Warm Spaces :
Find a Warm Space Near You in : Arlingham | Berkeley | Bisley | Brimscombe | Cam | Cainscross | Cashes Green | Chalford | Dursley | Eastcombe | Kings Stanley | Leonard Stanley | Nailsworth | Painswick | Randwick | Rodborough | Ruscombe and Whiteshill | Stonehouse | Stroud | Wotton
Visit cscic.org/programmes/community-hubs/warm-spaces-in-stroud.
Stroud District Kids’ Stuff :
A project of Foodbank provide a wide range of goods for children ranging from emergency packs of toiletries to children’s clothes and equipment, ie. pushchairs. Everything we provide is free of charge and we operate through a referral service that works with local health visitors, schools and children’s workers.
If you are in need of items for your baby or child please get in contact with your support worker or a professional you are working with. If you are a professional please follow the link below to find out how our referral process works. If you are unsure please don’t hesitate to contact our Referral Lead Nicolle : referrals@strouddistrictkidsstuff.org.uk
Stroud District Kids’ Stuff website
Footsteps Counselling and Care :
Support for anyone affected by a pregnancy related issue including miscarriage, still-birth, neonatal death, abortion, post/ante-natal depression, ectopic pregnancy, crisis pregnancy or infertility, recently or at any point in their lives. Free Counselling, free breast feeding and emotional support. Our practical support includes free baby equipment and clothes for children up to 3 years. To access our services please call 01452 308618. E-mail office@footstepscandc.org.uk. Footsteps website
Gingerbread :
0808 802 0925 We provide advice and practical support for single parents. Expert advisers answer our helpline, our website is packed full of useful information and we offer training too. We also campaign to improve the lives of all single parent families. And because we’re a national charity, it’s all free. www.gingerbread.org.uk
Home-Start Stroud District :
“Through a group of more that 70 parent volunteers we support parents who are struggling to cope. Families need support for many reasons including post-natal illness, disability, bereavement, the illness of a parent or child, or social isolation. This is parents supporting other parents to help build a family’s confidence and ability to cope. Families are supported all over the Stroud District area.” Visit the Homestart website for more details.
01453 297470
07742 944402
www.homestartsd.org
enquirieshomestartsd@gmail.com
Twitter: @homestartsd
Facebook: Home-Start Stroud and Gloucester
Domestic Abuse Support :
[ Please note : All of the websites in this DA section have a ‘LEAVE SITE’ button on them to leave the website immediately, should you need to. Also, you can use ‘Incognito’ mode on a browser such as Google Chrome, which would mean your search history isn’t saved.
Another alternative to keep you safe would be to use a public system such as a library and ask for the search history to be deleted when you leave. I work with some of these organisations, so feel free to contact me if you’d like me to put you in touch or send resources]
If an adult or child is at risk of serious harm, do not delay. Contact 999 in an emergency.
Stroud Women’s Refuge (Beresford Group) : For nearly 50 years Stroud Women’s Refuge has been there to support women from all over the UK who have been forced to leave their homes due to domestic abuse. office@beresfordgroup.org
Call Stroud Women’s Refuge on 01453 764385
24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247
Honour Thy Woman Group : We support women and those who identify as women against domestic abuse. We're an community outreach group based in Gloucester. We aim to support women all over Gloucestershire. We host a large range of activities from creative outlets to support mental health and well-being to self defence classes. Offering support in Gloucester, Forest of Dean, Cheltenham and Stroud areas. www.honourthywomangroup.org
In an emergency, Honour Thy Woman group have compiled this list of emergency contacts - www.honourthywomangroup.org/urgent-support
ReThink Mental Health Support : Get Help Now :
If you are in crisis or know someone who is and would like to get urgent help, this page can help you find organisations that can provide the most appropriate support depending on your circumstances. www.rethink.org
Cry-sis :
08451 228 669
Provides self-help and support to families with excessively crying, sleepless and demanding babies. To achieve this, Cry-sis runs a national telephone helpline that is available to callers every day of the year between 9.00am and 10.00pm. Callers are referred to a trained volunteer member of Cry-sis who has had personal experience of crying or sleep problems within their own family.
Young Minds :
YoungMinds is the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.
Parental Advice – 0808 802 5544 – The YoungMinds Parents’ Helpline offers free, confidential online and telephone support, including information and advice, to any adult worried about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person up to the age of 25. Parent’s survival guide
Families Need Fathers
FNF is a charity chiefly concerned with the problems of maintaining a child’s relationship with both parents during and after family breakdown. We offer information, advice and support services to help parents to achieve a positive outcome for their children. www.fnf.org.uk 0300 030 0363
NCT
For new parents and parents-to-be. 0300 330 0700 – Helpline for practical and emotional support in all areas of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood including help with feeding. www.nct.org.uk
CareConfidential Online :
Counselling, Pregnancy and Abortion – 0300 400 0999. At CareConfidential we provide counselling, support and information if you are facing an unintended pregnancy, or following an abortion. These free and confidential services are provided through our Telephone Helpline and Online. www.careconfidential.com
Samaritans :
0845 790 9090
Useful Websites
Stroud Rocks - www.stroudrocks.co.uk - Our guides include regular what's on round-ups of things to do in Stroud with families plus relevant news and offers for Stroud families. You’ll also find articles from local parents who have written about their favourite things to do with the kids in Stroud, and reviewed some of Stroud's well-known (and less well-known!) activities. Recommended Things To Do
Netmums – www.netmums.com
Netmums is a family of local sites that cover the UK, each site offering information to mothers on everything from where to find playgroups and how to eat healthily to where to meet other mothers. The local sites are backed by a wealth of parenting articles that start with pregnancy and follow through each stage of childhood helping mums to enjoy a happy and healthy family life.
It has a huge number of forums where you can get advice, and there’s also a great ‘Meet a mum’ section where you can search for other mums in the area who you could perhaps meet up with.
It also has a huge number of baby and toddler groups, fitness classes, etc that you can search for locally.
GlosFamilies Directory – www.glosfamiliesdirectory.org.uk
Useful directory from the Gloucestershire County Council, providing information about childcare, ‘Things to do’, ‘Family Information and Services’, ‘Advice and Early Support’, ‘Special Educational Needs and Disabilites’ and ‘Practitioners’. Supported by the Families Information Service.
Telephone: 0800 542 02 02 (Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. Answer machine at all other times)
Direct line: 01452 427362
Fax: 01452 544010
E-Mail: familyinfo@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Text: 07769 965 118
By Post: Family Information Service, Shire Hall, Westgate Street, GLOUCESTER, GL1 2TG.