Parenting support

Being a parent is not always easy. You are not alone if you find it difficult sometimes. There are a variety of information resources and services to support you:

East Sussex Children NHS Website

There is now a new NHS website dedicated to children and young people’s health in East Sussex – www.eastsussexchildren.nhs.uk 

Here you will find everything in one place, including:

  • information for teenagers
  • specialist therapies
  • how the NHS can support you
  • Schools Nursing Team
  • Healthy Schools programme
  • Top tips for parents
  • Supporting children to lead a healthy life
  • Links to other organisations that can help your family

East Sussex Family Hubs

Family hubs are a one-stop-shop for families to access activities or receive support in their local community or online. The support they provide includes:

  • Start for life: Help with pregnancy, birth and the early years, to give your child the best start in life.
  • Pregnancy to birth: How to contact your midwife, antenatal classes and support after your baby is born.
  • Birth to 2 years: Find out about support you’ll receive from your health visiting team as your child develops.
  • Feeding your baby: Find out how you and your baby can learn the skill of breastfeeding together.
  • Mental wellbeing: Support for your mental health and the relationship with your child.
  • Dads and non-birthing partners: Support for dads, partners and step-parents with children of all ages.
  • Parenting programmes: Join a session or group face to face or online and learn positive parenting skills to make family life easier.
  • Children with SEND: Find activities suitable for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
  • Speech and language support: help to improve your child’s speech and language development.
  • Advice service: family advice service for if you are struggling with any aspects of family life.
  • Young people: Youth hubs which provide a safe place for teenagers to hang out, join activities and get support.

Our local family hubs are in Sidley, Hastings and St Leonards. There are also online resources and courses.

Find out more on their website: Family hubs | Family hubs (eastsussex.gov.uk)

East Sussex County Council

East Sussex County Council’s Children’s website provides details about the Council’s services plus information about health topics from emotional and physical health and wellbeing to speech and language disorders and equipment for physical disabilities. Visit East Sussex Children’s Website.

Open for Parents

Open for Parents provide information, advice and guidance for all parents living in East Sussex. They can help if you are worried about managing your child’s behaviour, supporting their development or their emotional wellbeing or if you want support and advice to help build a positive relationship with your child. Visit their website www.openforparents.org.uk or call 01424 725800.

Child development

The Child development service run by East Sussex Healthcare Trust supports children with the following childhood conditions:

  • Developmental delay
  • Physical disability
  • Severe co-ordination difficulties
  • Communication, speech and language difficulties
  • Autistic spectrum disorders
  • Learning disabilities
  • Vision and hearing problems
  • Behaviour problems associated with developmental delay
  • Statutory health assessment
  • Sleep difficulties as part of a disability

For more information and useful links to other resources, visit their website Child Development Service.

Start4Life

For advice on pregnancy, babies and toddlers, visit www.nhs.uk/start4life – a website packed with NHS approved advice and tips for pregnancy, birth, parenthood, breastfeeding support 24/7, weaning and more. It puts everything parents need to know in one place.

Family Mental Health Support

Holding Space support parents, carers, children and young people who are struggling with their mental health. They provide Parent Coffee mornings, Walk & Talk and telephone support. Find out more on their website Holding Space.

Other support for children

NSPCC provide support and tips to help you keep children safe from advice on children’s mental health to staying safe online, support for parents and what to do if you’re worried about a child. Visit the NSPCC website.

Home Start East Sussex provide a ‘volunteer home-visiting service’ to support families with pre-school children be ready for school and a ‘Being Mum Programme’ which is a free 6 week programme for new first-time mums. Visit the Home Start East Sussex website.

Become offer support for children in care & young care leavers. Visit the Become website

Childline offer support for children with bullying, your body, feelings, relationships, home, school and lots more. Visit the Childline website

Contact provide support for families with disabled children. Visit the Contact website.

Child abuse

If you’re worried that a child or young person is at risk or is being abused:

  • Call 999 if the child is at immediate risk
  • If it’s not an emergency, call Sussex Police on 101 or contact East Sussex County Council’s Children’s & Families Team or call their Single Point of Assess (SPoA) Team on 01323 464222. You’ll be asked for your details, but you can choose not to share them.

You don’t need to be sure that a child or young person has been abused – it’s OK to report a suspicion. Child abuse includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect. You can read more about the signs of child abuse.

Contact these groups if you want to discuss your concerns and get advice:

NSPCC (for adults) Telephone: 0808 800 5000

ChildLine (for children and young people) Telephone: 0800 1111 (free)

The ChildLine number won’t show up on your phone bill if you call from a landline or from most mobile networks.

Date published: 20th September, 2021
Date last updated: 20th May, 2024