Bright Sparks

Get help to buy healthy food and milk How to apply Applying online You can apply online if: you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under 4 years old your family’s monthly ‘take-home pay’ (also called ‘earned income’) is £408 or less from employment you get Universal Credit The details you use to apply...

💙 Stress: It's OK to Ask for Help 💙

😟 Most people experience stress from time to time. While some stress can be motivating, ongoing stress can start to affect your physical health, mental wellbeing and daily life.

Stress can lead to:
🤕 Physical symptoms – headaches, muscle tension, tiredness and changes in sleep
🧠 Mental and emotional difficulties – anxiety, irritability, feeling overwhelmed or low mood
🔄 Changes in behaviour – struggling to concentrate, changes in eating habits or withdrawing from others

🌟 Things that may help
✅ Talk about your feelings with a friend, family member or healthcare professional
📞 Contact Samaritans on 116 123 if you need someone to listen
🌬️ Practise breathing exercises and relaxation techniques
🚶 Get active and make time for activities you enjoy
📅 Plan ahead for stressful days or events
⏰ Use simple time-management strategies to feel more in control
🤝 Seek peer support from others who understand what you're going through
🎧 Listen to mental wellbeing audio guides

🚫 Try to avoid
❌ Taking on too much at once
🎯 Set small, achievable goals instead
❌ Focusing on things you cannot change
💡 Put your energy into things that help you feel better
❌ Keeping everything to yourself

🌈 Remember: You're not alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness. 💪💙

🔗 For further information and support, please visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/stress/

#💙StressAwareness #🧠MentalHealthMatters #🌿Wellbeing #💜SelfCare #🏥NHS #🤝YouAreNotAlone

The summer holidays are finally here!🌞🍦
But we know this long break isn’t always sunshine, especially if your child is struggling to talk and understand words. But we’re here to help!

From speech sounds to choosing apps and toys, our resource library for families is jam-packed with guidance and practical strategies to support your child's speech and language development.

Explore our free resources >> https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/help-for-families/

Help protect your child from measles, whooping cough and other serious illnesses. To check if your child has missed any vaccines, look in their red book or speak to your GP practice. Find out more at www.nhs.uk/childhoodvaccinations

Crisis and Resilience Fund: Help When You Need It Most
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is available to support Herefordshire residents experiencing financial hardship

Funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, the fund provides help with essential living costs during times of crisis, while also supporting people to build longer-term financial resilience
Support may be available if you're struggling to afford essentials such as food, energy costs or household items, and eligible residents can also access help with certain housing-related expenses and also offers access to services such as debt advice, budgeting support and benefit checks to help improve financial wellbeing

If you or someone you know is facing financial difficulties, find out more and apply via the Talk Community Directory, link in the comments below 🔽