ABOUT US
Worried about your child’s emotional health and wellbeing?
Feeling overwhelmed, confused or alone?
Or simply things seem to be getting a bit too much for you or your child/teen?
If you don’t know how to help and are looking for some direction to improve things, then read on. If you think we might be able to help, reach out, give it a go and try attending one of our friendly, monthly, Peer Support Group meetings.
Who are we?
R.E.A.C.H is a Parent and Carer Peer Support Group dedicated to promoting good mental health in children and teens. The Group has been going for 2 years, founded by Sue and Rachel, both Mums, who, either in the course of our previous work or via our own lived experiences, have listened to children and young people who have felt that they were struggling with some aspect of their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
We are not mental health professionals; we cannot give professional mental health support. However, it is true that people often find it useful to talk to others who face or have faced the same issues or share the same experiences as they do.
R.E.A.C.H is there to help parents and carers coming together to both offer AND receive support so that in turn, we may all feel better informed and equipped to support our children.
We have a Group in Cwmbran and in Cardiff.
To help parents and carers to support their child’s emotional wellbeing by bringing people together in a mutually supportive network and to offer and receive support in a safe, confidential, non-judgemental environment.
​
-
To talk with others who have had similar shared experiences
-
To enable parents and carers to ‘get things off their chest’ over a tea or coffee
-
To explore new ideas and coping strategies to improve mental wellbeing
-
To share relevant information, links and pathways to other mental health services
-
To hold ‘themed’ meetings with free professional webinars or speakers from time to time
Parents and carers may attend R.E.A.C.H meetings for a number of reasons. Some may simply be looking for further information or signposting to other possible services. Others may want to try to make sense of what is happening in their family.
We are working on a R.E.A.C.H Directory of services/charities that parents and carers may find useful in certain situations.
Our aims
Is REACH for you?
When your child is struggling emotionally, the impact upon you and the family unit can be significant. It is never easy to approach these matters and feels harder still to try to resolve them. Children may find it difficult to discuss their feelings when they are so emotionally charged or perhaps confused.
It is often difficult to navigate the wealth of information and services online, but by talking through such issues in our group and exploring what has worked well for others previously, we hope to reassure you that you are not alone as a significant number of children and teens suffer at some point in their adolescence with their mental health and wellbeing.
​
R.E.A.C.H. IS OPEN TO ALL PARENTS AND CARERS TO ATTEND ANY OR ALL OF OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETINGS, TO ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE OR SIMPLY JUST TO LISTEN.
Meet Our Team
SUE
TORFAEN
Background
I have a varied background- always the best for life experiences! A lawyer for 18 years and a teacher for 15, but my biggest ‘buzz’ was always my Form Tutor responsibilities and teaching PSHE in senior school, encouraging debate, self-reflection, opening minds and encouraging pupils to communicate their feelings. I decided to set up REACH after early retirement. Pupils in school often felt they were the only ones going through anxiety, periods of feeling low. Parents too, often felt it was only their family going through such challenges.
Reason to REACH
I have a varied background- always the best for life experiences! A lawyer for 18 years and a teacher for 15, but my biggest ‘buzz’ was always my Form Tutor responsibilities and teaching PSHE in senior school, encouraging debate, self-reflection, opening minds and encouraging pupils to communicate their feelings. I decided to set up REACH after early retirement. Pupils in school often felt they were the only ones going through anxiety, periods of feeling low. Parents too, often felt it was only their family going through such challenges.
Favourite Mental Health Resource
I have two favourite mental health organisations; The Charlie Waller Trust and Young Minds. Both websites have resources for young people and parents, with helplines and webinars. I find that generally, a lot of the messaging about mental health is basic and to be honest, quite bland, but these organisations offer amazing resources which are full of practicalities, not just rhetoric.
RACHEL
TORFAEN
Background
In my professional life I worked for the NHS in the field of Microbiology and in that role I became interested in infections that affect development. Then, 15 years ago, we adopted a 5 year old and that changed my view of the world. It opened my eyes to the complexities of the mind and also the way humans interact. Due to the challenges of raising a traumatized child, as a family we became aware of different worlds and perspectives, and also experienced the isolation and rejection that can accompany children with difficulties. We met Sue through school and realised she was someone who could look beyond the behaviour and see the child. Our friendship grew and our adopted child started to heal.
Reason to REACH
Just knowing there were other people who are struggling makes you feel less isolated. Hearing others' experiences helps you work out your own options and being in a non-judgemental group is so supportive. Exploring options that might help and listening to expert speakers helps us to be aware of resources and help that we might otherwise be unaware of. The aim of R.E.A.C.H is for parents to come together and realise they are not alone.
Favourite Mental Health Resource
My Mental Health Techniques are: Being in nature and enjoying the stillness.
Keeping busy. There is always something useful that can be done. Listening and talking. There is such a wealth of stories and achievements to hear and listening to other people's experiences enables you to realise your own joys but also appreciate how strong and resilient we humans can be.
CARYS
CARDIFF
Background
I am a mum of three, a Secondary Business teacher and Head of Year, with a keen interest in mental health. Having seen the reality of teen mental health in schools, I decided to learn and do more and recently completed an MSc Psychology in Education. Following this, I decided to open the second branch of reach in Cardiff, to help support parents and carers of young people.
Reason to REACH
I realise that everyone is affected by mental health and know that everyone can benefit from having support around them, particularly if they themselves are supporting someone with poor mental health - after all, ‘it takes a village'. Having a community of people who can share similar experiences and support one another is my Reason to REACH.
Favourite Mental Health Resource
Breathing techniques are my favourite Mental health resource. I use them myself all the time, they can be used for something as simple as needing to stay calm at home when communicating with my own children, or for something more serious, like calming someone down who is having a panic attack and is struggling to breathe.
SAM
CARDIFF
Background
My career to date has been in education; in both primary and secondary settings, where my role was in pastoral care. Working with young people has taught me a lot; and taught me that there is a lot I don’t know! It’s no mystery that happy young people are ready to learn, but making sure that my own children are ready for learning is a whole new challenge!
Reason to REACH
I remember the value of having new mums to talk to when my children were babies; at playgroups and baby groups and with my NCT friends, we raked over every detail!
​
As time has passed, I recognise the value of those conversations and hope that, in REACH, I can facilitate meaningful exchanges that will benefit us all. We can learn so much from each other and our varied experiences and expertise.
Favourite Mental Health Resource
For help with mental health; I don’t think you can beat the power of talk. Self talk, talk with family and friends, talk with peers (in a groups like REACH), talk with a professional … it’s trite to say a problem shared is a problem halved; but when you talk about a problem you open yourself to the opportunity to share the load and find solutions that you would never have found alone. I hope that there are lots of like minded people that want to share with the REACH community: we are her and ready to share with you!