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According to the Mental Health Foundation* mental health problems affect 1 in 10 children and young people.  Alarmingly, however, 70% of children and young people who experience a mental health problem have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age.

The Worry Wizard supports the emotional Wellbeing of young people of all ages.  It offers adults a gentle and fun way to help their child develop tools to manage their Worries before they affect their Wellbeing. Creator Amy Smythe aka The Worry Wizard, an accredited counsellor and psychotherapist, was inspired to help young people when her Godson Jack was struggling to voice his Worries.

 Amy comments:

New resource from SEN Assist and the London Grid for Learning aims to bring Shakespeare to learners with special educational needs and disabilities.

A new resource developed by award-winning SEND specialists SEN Assist and hosted by not-for-profit educational trust London Grid for Learning (LGfL) aims to bring the Bard to pupils with complex learning needs. Complementing LGfL’s already extensive SEND provision Early Shakespeare is suitable for learners on the P scales of all ages and abilities.

Issued with photo: Gizelle Stacey and Belinda from TFW, shortlisted for The People's Award

Staff from Regard – the UK’s fourth largest private provider of supported living and residential services for people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and acquired brain injury – are anticipating with excitement an awards evening in Birmingham on 14 July which they will be attending as finalists in five different categories.

The National Learning Disabilities Awards celebrate excellence in the support for people with learning disabilities and aim to pay tribute to individuals and organisations who excel in providing quality care.

The Together Trust’s Service Director, Jill Sheldrake, has visited Buckingham Palace to receive her MBE for services to children in the North West.

Jill has worked for the Together Trust for over 20 years. She was awarded her MBE by His Royal Highness Prince Charles and joined by her parents and her daughter, Charlotte aged nine.

She said: “I can honestly say that the last 23 years with the Together Trust have been inspirational for me, I have worked hand-in-hand with colleagues at every level with one common goal and that is to ensure that every individual we work with has the opportunity to achieve their aspirations.”

Bone fractures are a very common injury in children and a new study• highlights the increased risk amongst children with low levels of Vitamin K2, the little known compound that plays a key role in helping blood clot and support bone and cardiovascular health, and is largely obtained from cheese and eggs.

A huge splash of colour has arrived in Liverpool for the summer, as 200 brightly coloured umbrellas have been suspended over a busy city centre street. The goal behind this initiative is to raise awareness and understanding, encouraging discussion around Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism.

Devised and curated by Liverpool-based ADHD Foundation, which this year celebrates its tenth anniversary as a charity, the Umbrella Project transforms Church Alley (leading up to the Bluecoat) into a canopy of colour until the end of August. The individual umbrellas have also been personally signed by children from St Oswald’s primary school in Old Swan and across Merseyside, many of whom have ADHD, autism and other neurodevelopment conditions.

Leo Gradwell Spencer, 11, has made final shortlist for prestigious Premiership Rugby award after attending Sale Sharks rugby camps

Winnington Park Rugby Club volunteer Paula Bradbury, Royal Navy veteran Ian Rudge and Sharks coach Vicky Irwin also nominated for awards at July ceremony

An 11-year-old from Hyde who tackled his autism by playing rugby with Sale Sharks and a Royal Navy veteran from Eccles have been shortlisted for  prestigious national Premiership Rugby awards.

Leo Gradwell Spencer, who has high functioning autism, and 59-year-old Ian Rudge will compete with other nominees from around the country for the PLAY Achiever Award and the Breakthru Award at the Premiership Rugby Parliamentary Community Awards in July.

Your child’s education is so important. They will get plenty of support at school, but in their early and formative years, it’s essential that they get support at home too. Thanks to the Internet, there is now a greater number of tools that can help your children learn, including online writing tools that offer a range of features to help improve your child’s writing skills. Take a look at these top 10 tools to help your child improve their writing skills.

1. Visuwords

A care service in Penge is supporting four individuals with learning disabilities to make sure their voices are heard at the upcoming general election.

Crystal House is home to young people who are in transition from residential college, foster care or the family home.

Senior support worker Diane Liston says the service has made sure the group are all registered to vote on June 8.

“The election is providing us with a great opportunity to demonstrate to people with learning difficulties and mental health needs that they have a voice,” said Diane.

“Usually those who find decision-making difficult are in that position because they have never been given the opportunity.