New family support group to meet at Wisbech

A new support group is launching at Wisbech for parents/carers with children that have emerging mental health issues.

It is being run by the Young People’s Counselling Service with sessions being held at the Annabelle Davis Centre, St Peter’s Lodge, in Love Lane.

The meetings will run for eight weeks with the first to be held on Tuesday October 11, from 1.30pm to 3pm.

The group will offer help and support to parents/care givers of children under 11 years old who experience anxiety and low mood, or for those who have concerns about their child’s mental health.

It will be a safe space to connect with other parents and care givers, ask questions, gain knowledge and be supported.

The sessions will be run by Kirsty Skutela who is a play and creative arts therapist and a parent child attachment play practitioner.

Kirsty explained that the idea of coming to Wisbech stemmed from the success of sessions already running in Yaxley.

With funding available, she said they had established that that there was a need for something similar at Wisbech.

“It will be very much an open forum, led by parents and carers who can tell us what they would like to see in the way of support,” said Kirsty.

“But it is an opportunity for families to know that help and advice is available and to meet others in the same or similar situations. They need to know that they are not alone.”

She said if possible she would like people to let her know they will be attending by contacting her: Email: kirsty.skutela@ypcs.uk

The Annabelle Davis Centre opened in the summer giving the Young People’s Counselling Service a base in Wisbech from which to provide support and counselling as a “family resilience centre”.