children & family services
What we Do
Counselling & Psychotherapy
The Counselling and Psychotherapy Team is made up of qualified therapists with a specialism in children and young people. The sessions enable children with ongoing difficulties to explore their experiences in a safe and non-judgmental space. In addition to 1:1 therapy, we offer a range of groups designed to build resilience and increased social and emotional competence. Our adult counsellors provide support to parents whose children are using our services if they are in need of additional support.
Parenting & Family Support
We provide a range of early intervention groups and services, specialist help and advice to vulnerable children and families in the Jewish community. Most families who turn to Norwood face a range of difficulties and need help and support.
Our team of family support and social workers offer the following:
- emotional and mental health support
- specialist advice and guidance
- advocate on behalf of vulnerable children and their families
We provide a range of group and individual support to provide parents with the skills and resilience to manage difficult circumstances and meet the needs of their children. We also have a range of groups and courses for families impacted by learning disabilities and autism.
We also provide Short Breaks services for children and young people with disabilities.
You can contact us
Email: kennedyleighinfo@norwood.org.uk
Phone: 020 8457 4745 (Mon-Thu 9am-5.30pm Fri 9am-1pm)
Dates/price correct at time of publishing, subject to change without notice.*
*E&OE
our services for children and families
Aspiring Chefs
Register your interest for a specially-designed course for people with mild to moderate learning difficulties and/or who are managing mental health issues. The course aims to teach people fundamental cooking skills, enable them to eat healthily, improve mental health, and provide a social, safe forum for them to interact and meet like-minded individuals. A very exciting opportunity to develop many skills such as:
- Teamwork
- Multi-tasking
- Menu planning
- Basic cooking principles
- Understanding nutrition
- Understanding food and hygiene in the kitchen
A take home recipe book is included and you will get to sample a wide variety of Kosher Vegetarian food!
When: various dates – Summer 2024
Where: Kennedy Leigh Family Centre
Cost: £120 for 6 sessions
For further information and to register your interest, please email julie.marcow@norwood.org.uk.
Adult Counselling
Our adult counsellors provide support to parents of children using our services if they need additional support with their own emotional well-being and mental health.
Bereavement Support
10 years after losing their parents in a tragic accident, James, Robbie and Natasha Bernard set out to walk from Bournemouth to London, covering the equivalent of a marathon a day for five days, to honour their parents’ memory and to launch The Rochelle and Alan Bernard Memorial Fund, which the three siblings have set up in collaboration with Norwood to provide financial assistance to others experiencing a tragic bereavement.
Grants are available to support children and young people (0-25 yrs old) to provide financial grants where essential items are no longer affordable as a direct result of the bereavement. This can be for anything from needing a new school uniform or furniture due to having to change school or home, to providing short breaks or funding hobbies that help in the grieving process.
Buckets & Spades
Buckets and Spades is registered with Ofsted to accommodate 9 children and young people with physical and learning disabilities and complex medical needs.
We can accommodate children and young people with:
- autism and/or severe communication difficulties
- children with behaviours of concerns that do not put others at risk (but not those whose mental health difficulties are so marked as to require specialised psychiatric support)
- children with complex health needs (but not those whose health needs are so marked as to require nursing care)
- children with complex epilepsy
- children who require tube feeding
- children who require nasal gastric feeding
- children who require colostomy care
- other non-invasive medical procedures
Please contact us for further information
Exploring autism
A 6 week parenting programme designed for parents and carers of children with an early diagnosis of autism.
The group focuses on providing a comprehensive understanding of autism, together with tailored strategies and behaviour management tools.
A supportive environment is maintained whilst highlighting the uniqueness of each autistic child.
When: Tuesdays 5 March – 9 April 2024 (term time only), 10am-12:30pm
Where: Kennedy Leigh Family Centre
Cost: £60 per person
Contact: To find out more, please email: Daryl.Freeman@norwood.org.uk
Family & Parenting Support
If you are struggling with any aspect of parenting or family life, we can offer advice, support and specialist services if required.
First Steps
The First Steps Short Breaks group is for pre-school children (16 months to 5 years) with complex health needs and life limiting conditions including:
- speech & language, mobility and communication difficulties
- congenital heart conditions
The group offers parents a break from caring whilst a trained and experienced team provides one to one support. Children will have the opportunity to:
- engage in fun play activities (arts, crafts, cooking, music, indoor/ outdoor play, messy play)
- socialise and interact with other children
- gain greater confidence
- develop independence
- every child will enjoy a healthy snack and a well-balanced lunch
- 1:1 support provided for every child
When: Every Wednesday (term time only), 10am-1pm
Where: Buckets & Spades Lodge
Cost: You may be eligible for funding through your Local Authority (Short Breaks). There is an additional £5 parental contribution cost per session.
Contact: To find out more, please email: Priscilla.Brobby@norwood.org.uk
non-violent resistance
The NVR Parenting Approach supports adults caring for young people, aged 3 – 18 years, who present with challenging and/or violent behaviours.
This 9-week course focuses on how to better understand and manage your child’s behaviour and improve family relationships and communication, despite the difficulties.
It offers practical tools to enable and empower parents to feel confident in their responses to challenging behaviour including the unique difficulties children with special needs might display.
When: Thurs 12 October – 7 December (term time only), 9:30am-12:30pm
Where: Kennedy Leigh Family Centre
Cost: £100 per person payable via Bacs in advance
Contact: To find out more, please email: Sandy.Rapp@norwood.org.uk
Parenting Courses
We run a range of courses over the year to help parents develop their parenting skills and knowledge.
These include:
- Talking Teens (four week parenting course for parents of teenagers)
- Non-Violent Resistance (supporting parents to effectively respond to challenging and disruptive behaviour).
Please contact us to find out which courses are coming up.
Psychotherapy
Our therapists work with the systems around the child including the parents, schools, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). This is because we understand that therapeutic outcomes are improved by offering a joined up approach, helping to prevent issues from escalating. We believe early intervention is vital in ensuring that more serious mental health issues are avoided in the future.
We use an attachment-based model to help children and young people process loss, trauma, challenging developmental stages and complex family relationships. Each case is carefully assessed to ensure a suitable match with one of our team. Sometimes this involves supporting the parents in addition to the children.
Rainbow Group
The Rainbow Group offers support to parents and carers who have children in primary school with special needs and disabilities. It provides an opportunity for parents to talk about their feelings, receive emotional and practical support and information share with other members of the group.
When: Mondays, 1.15-2.45pm (term time only)
Wednesdays, 10-11.30am (term time only)
Thursdays, 1.30-3pm (term time only)
10 January – 17 April 2024 (half term 12-15 February 2024)
Where: Kennedy Leigh Family Centre
Cost: £80 per term
Contact: To find out more, please email: Daryl.Freeman@norwood.org.uk
Rainbow Plus
Rainbow Plus is a monthly group which offers support to parents and carers of secondary school children who have special needs and disabilities. It provides an opportunity for parents to talk about their feelings, receive emotional and practical support and information share with other members of the group.
When: Wednesdays 17 January, 4 February, 13 March, 10 April, 1-2.30pm
Where: Kennedy Leigh Family Centre
Cost: £40 per term
Contact: To find out more, please email: Sandy.Rapp@norwood.org.uk
Siblings Group
The Siblings Group meets monthly and offers an opportunity for brothers and sisters who have siblings with special needs and disabilities, a safe place to have fun, share experiences and feel safe to discuss their feelings. This group is for school years 1-3 and 4-6.
When: School years 1-3: Wednesdays 10 January, 7 February, 6 March, 10 April 2024, 4.15-5.45pm
School years 4-6: Wednesdays 24 January, 28 February, 20 March, 17 April 2024 4.15-5.45pm
Where: Kennedy Leigh Family Centre
Cost: £40 per term
Contact: To find out more, please email: Vera.Hart@norwood.org.uk
Talking Teens
Talking Teens is a 4 week parenting programme designed for parents of secondary school teenagers aged 11 – 18. The aim of this programme is to ease the transition from childhood to adolescence, by encouraging positive parenting and relationship building. The sessions cover effective communication, relationship building, managing conflict, building self esteem and managing problem behaviour.
When: Tuesdays, 7.15-9.15pm, 5-26 March 2024
Where: Kennedy Leigh Family Centre
Cost: £65 to include parent manual
Contact: To find out more or book, please email: Vera.Hart@norwood.org.uk
Twins & More
The Twins & More Group offers support to parents and carers of multiple births. Parents/carers will have the opportunity to think about parenting and share experiences, information and ideas. Children age 0–5 are looked after in a creche which is run by caring trained members of staff and volunteers.
When: Mondays, 10-11.30am
8 January – 15 April 2024 (half term 12-15 February)
Where: Kennedy Leigh Family Centre
Cost: £80 per term
Contact: To find out more, please email: Jackie.Lewin@norwood.org.uk
Unity
Unity provides a range of short breaks that enable disabled children and young people to explore new opportunities and have fun whilst broadening their social networks and promoting independence. We provide inclusive play opportunities for children and young people, enabling them to take part in activities and to go out on trips whilst being fully supported by a dedicated and skilled staff team.
We offer holiday schemes and Sunday clubs for children between the ages of 5-11 years and 12-18 years in North West London.
Our fully trained staff team support children and young people with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, and complex health needs. They also undertake tube-feeding and administer medication. We are based at the Buckets & Spades Lodge which is fully accessible for wheelchairs, with ceiling track hoists and adapted bathrooms with changing facilities.
The centre also includes:
- sensory room
- an adventure playground and outdoor space
- a soft play room
Unity runs Sunday clubs:
- 5-11 years Sunday: 11am-1pm
- 12-18 years Sunday: 2pm-4pm
Unity runs holiday schemes throughout the year during the school holidays, including half terms. We also run additional trips including visits to theme parks, zoos and specialist adventure playgrounds and swimming pools.
Monday-Friday: 10am-4pm
For further information please contact unity@norwood.org.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be Jewish to access Children and Family services?
Our services are primarily aimed at the Jewish community but we will always try and provide support, advice and signposting to anyone who contacts us. Our Short Breaks services are open to the wider community.
Where do the children and family services take place?
We have a children and family centre in Hendon (Kennedy Leigh Centre, Edgeworth Close, Hendon London NW4 4HJ).
There is onsite parking available, and the Centre is accessible with specialist changing facilities and hoist systems in some rooms.
Please contact us if you have specific requirements.
How do I know what groups or sessions are running at the moment?
In the future, we hope to be able to provide a clear timetable but for now please contact us and we will let you know what’s happening!
I need some help but I'm not sure which Norwood service I need?
Please get in touch and one of our team will work with you to understand your needs and work out how we can help.
Why choose us?
- Norwood supports children and families facing challenges, and adults with learning disabilities or autism. Established in 1795, Norwood is the Jewish community’s oldest charity, and is the only Jewish charity with Royal Patronage, a privilege bestowed since 1816.
- Norwood supports more than 2,500 people a year.