Community Support and Services
There may be times when families need a little extra support - financial or emotional. You do not need to feel alone. There are many local organisations and support services that can help. School is also here to support in any way we can.
Support for Families
Family Hubs
Please see timetables of activities available at Rossmore and Old Town Family Hubs
There is lots of very useful information about support for families on the BCP Family Information Directory - click here to go to the website.
Please see two courses available for families from OneplusOne.
The Umbrella Group
This is a parent led support group, for parents of children and young adults with ASD which has been running for 10 years. They are known as The Umbrella Group, with its connotations of protection and covering a wide spectrum of behaviours which all come under the same umbrella of autism. Please see the flyer below for meeting dates for January 2026 - June 2026.
Umbrella Group Meetings January - June 2026
Parent Carer Together
Follow the link below to view PCT's calendar showing upcoming meetings.
SENDIASS - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice, and Support Service
Please click here to find out more about SENDIASS
Please click here to download an information leaflet
Food Support
Courthill Food Bank
We have a food bank in school, including food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as sweet items, snacks and toiletries. If you would like to pop in for items, please speak to your class teacher or the school office - we have plenty of carrier bags you can use. If you would like to donate items for Courthill food bank, please drop-off at the school office.
Family Hubs and Outreach Centres
Across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole there are seven Family Hubs and two Outreach Centres (formerly called Children's Centres).
Hubs are based in central locations and cover a reach area to support all families that need Early Help services, ensuring that families get the right help at the right time. Any family can contact them and they will be able to signpost to appropriate support. Click here for more information.
Community Food Support
There are a number of different ways you can get food support including foodbanks, family hubs, and other community food settings which can be accessed through the ‘Access to Food Map’.
Access to Food Map
The access to food map is a tool to enable families to find where they will be able to access food support in the community and how to access support as well as providing information on community meals, cooked meal delivery, cooking workshops, foodbanks and social supermarkets. To access, please click here for the website.
Jimmy's Food Bank, Poole Quay and St Clements Church, Parkstone - support for households in crisis with three-day emergency food parcels and a space for additional advice and support that tackle route issues of crisis. Referrals are available from frontline services (eg GP, citizens advice). For more information, click here to visit the website.
Cost of Living Support
Together We Can
Together We Can is an initiative led by BCP Council, working in close partnership with many other public, private and voluntary sector organisations. Families may be eligible for a food voucher if they are experiencing hardship and meet the two ‘Essential Criteria’ and one ‘Other Criteria’. Alongside this families might be eligible for financial support, support if you are clinically vulnerable or isolating, Mental health and wellbeing.
Holiday Childcare
If your child receives Pupil Premium, they may be eligible for local authority funded free activities, which take place during school holidays. For more information, please click here to view the website.
For more information about holiday childcare, please click here for the website.
Visit the BCP Council Family Information Directory for awesome activities, holiday schemes and events happening over half term. Click here to visit the website.
Health (including mental health)
NHS
This NHS website offers support and advice for a range of health needs. Please click here to find out more.
Connection (Dorset’s 24/7 mental health helpline): 0800 652 0190
Further support
Click here for more information about mental health and well-being.
Talking to Children about War and Conflict
The following links may help if your child is asking questions about conflicts taking place in the world, such as Ukraine.
https://www.unicef.org/parenting/how-talk-your-children-about-conflict-and-war