SELFA’s Annual Report for 2023-24

24th September 2024

Our annual report for the last financial year is now available to read on our website.

It outlines a busy year for SELFA, where we supported over 600 children, young people and parents, with over 170 people accessing SELFA each week. The number of referrals increased by 26% from the previous year.

For children and young people who accessed SELFA from April 2023 to March 2024:

We delivered 676 sessions of our health and wellbeing programmes. This included:

• Five groups in North Craven
• Five primary-school age groups in Skipton
• Five weekend groups for children and young people with profound and multiple disabilities
• SELFA Springboard, our supported volunteering programme for those aged 19-25
• Pathfinders, a 10-week programme for young people with Emotional Based School avoidance

167 children, young people and parents accessed one-to-one support for mild to moderate mental health needs, and we held 104 wellbeing cafés.

We provided 174 holiday activity sessions, supporting 420 children and young people and also two residential breaks in the Yorkshire Dales. These activities helped to support the emotional and physical wellbeing of children and young people during the school holidays and to avoid a deterioration in wellbeing away from the routine of school.

We supported families with food insecurity, with over 300 people using our Community Fridge and our cook provided over 7000 meals for children and young people attending our activities.

Read the full report here.

Beyondly go above and beyond

30th July 2024

“She came back so happy, relaxed and mature. She was practically glowing! She really enjoyed herself and was absolutely buzzing to have won a prize for her t-shirt design. Thank you for looking after her and giving her a wonderful time.” Parent

Thanks to funding from Beyondly we have been able to offer 6 residential experiences to the children and young people at SELFA. Altogether, 72 children have been able to enjoy a 2 day programme at Eshton Grange where they took part in workshops delivered by Project Wild to learn more about the environment, our impact on the environment and steps we could take to be more sustainable. We also enjoyed swimming in the outdoor pool, meeting lots of animals and creepy crawlies and enjoyed campfires! Members of the Beyondly team volunteered their weekends to help out.

The impact of enjoying a residential experience together with their peers and staff has had a longer term impact on the young people as they have been able to share positive experiences and make memories together that they will treasure forever. Due to the connections they have with their peers, the young people have a more positive attitude in their sessions at SELFA, so they get more out of attendence. They also feel a greater sense of belonging to their community.

“This has been the best weekend ever! I was actually very brave holding the snake because I’ve always thought they would hurt me but it was actually really cute. Can we come back next week?” Young person

“My daughter is absolutely buzzing with how much she enjoyed it” Parent

“I honestly can’t thank you enough for giving my happy and witty girl back. She has such a positive attitude to life now that people care about her and love her for who she is” Parent

North Craven in the Community

12th July 2024

‘Being part of the community is important as you learn how others are feeling and it’s how people connect!’ (quote from young person in Bentham)

Children and young people having a sense of belonging is a huge part of SELFA as a charity and something we are constantly working towards. Working to help the community and create a larger support network can be very rewarding and gives children and young people a sense of achievement and ownership over their actions.

The Bentham primary group have spent time at the Community Allotment over the last two summers learning how to grow and harvest their own produce. The group chose to grow things like sweet peas, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, herbs and strawberries and were amazed by the things they were able to dig up last year.

The children said

‘It’s fun to be with friends in nature’ (Child aged 8)

‘We grew lots of different vegetables, some I hadn’t heard of before’ (Child aged 7)

‘We got to dig them up at the end’ (Child aged 9)

Learning through Field to Fork has been a great experience for the group and we can’t thank the Bentham Community Allotment team enough for allowing us to use the space. This year, although we haven’t been down as much as we would have liked, we have had the opportunity to plant and enjoy the benefits of being outside.  We have looked at the impact fresh air and gardening has on mental well-being and applied this to our own lives. This summer we hope to create a bug hotel. Watch This Space!

This year the Settle Primary group have been lucky enough to get involved with the Settle Flower Pot display. For those that don’t know, this is the largest display of flower pots in the UK and it takes place in Settle every summer. There are over 300 different designs that are displayed all over the town.  The group got their craft on and created the most amazing bugs ready to be hung in one of Settle’s shop windows. See if you can spot them – and tag us on our social media if you do!

Thank you to the Settle Flower Pot committee for giving up their time to run a workshop to help us put them together. The children really enjoyed learning new skills and working together to make the buggiest of bugs! They were very proud of themselves and can’t wait to show their families.

‘I enjoyed using the ties to clip them together, mine was really bright’ (Child aged 5)

‘I wanted a butterfly because you can make their wings pretty’ (Child aged 7)

‘My spider matches my friends’ (Child aged 6)

Here’s a sneak peak of our creation!!

From planting to painting both North craven primary groups have thrived through the chance to get involved in their own communities!

Mighty Minds is mightier than ever!

23rd May 2024

SELFA are very pleased to say that Mighty Minds is continuing in 2024-2025 which will allow us to support more young people in Craven experiencing mild-moderate mental health needs. We’re looking forward to meeting new young people and visiting more schools across our wonderfully rural district.

April 2023 marked the beginning of our Mighty Minds programme, a new strand to SELFA’s mental health provision. Mighty Minds is a part of the Youth In Mind service coordinated by Mind In Bradford. SELFA are one of eight providers delivering mental health and wellbeing support across the Bradford district and Craven.

SELFA’s Mighty Minds programme offers both one-to-one mentoring support and a group wellbeing programme for children and young people aged 5-19 and up to 25 with additional needs. We travel across the Craven district delivering the programme in both primary and secondary schools. If a child accesses the one-to-one support, they will receive up to six mentoring sessions where they can explore their emotions and work with staff to set and plan the goals they would like to achieve. If a child accesses the group support, they will join their peers on a 10-week wellbeing programme that aims to develop emotional intelligence and devise positive coping strategies to help them manage their emotions.

From April 2023- March 2024, SELFA supported 107 young people via the Mighty Minds programme across 18 different schools. We’ve received some wonderful feedback from young people, parents and schools about the programme and the difference that it has made.

“It’s actually been refreshing to have someone come and see me that actually listens.” – Young person, aged 14.

“I know how to talk about my feelings now. I used to not like talking about them but I can do it now.” – Child, aged 8.

“My daughter has been attending the Mindful programme that Lucy from SELFA ran on Thursday afternoons. I just wanted to pass on my thanks as she has really enjoyed the sessions and I believe has benefitted significantly from attending. Is there any further support from SELFA that she would be able to access?” – Parent

“A has found it very beneficial to have this time out of class with yourself. Not only has it presented him time to talk about his feelings but it has given him some quiet time away from peers. A told me that he appreciated time away from his friends who are a distraction. It’s difficult for us to find time to do this at school within his timetable so we appreciate your ongoing support.” – Class Teacher

To find out more about Mighty Minds or other mental health support that SELFA can offer please do get in touch. You can also find out more about the Youth In Mind service here https://www.mindinbradford.org.uk/support-for-you/youth-in-mind/ .

Sessional Staff Wanted

29th January 2024

We’re looking for sessional staff.

Are you available at weekends and in the school holidays? Would you like to …

• Help deliver fun and engaging activities for vulnerable children and young people?
• Give children and young people a sense of belonging to their community?

We can offer …

• A positive environment to help children and young people experience happiness and a sense of belonging
• A fun and supportive working environment
• Flexible ad hoc hours to fit around other commitments
• £12.00 p/hr (linked to the Living Wage Foundation’s Living Wage, changes April 1st)

Please read the job description/person specification, and if you meet the requirements complete our online application form.

SELFA “bounces back” thanks to support from the Kentown Wizard Foundation

1st December 2023

The Kentown Wizard Foundation have supported SELFA for a second year, this time with a grant of £26,000 to help deliver five weekend groups for children with multiple complex needs where they have the opportunity to access rebound therapy close to home.

The money has already made a massive difference to children and young people living in the Craven district who need a high level of support. As well as rebound therapy, children can take part in a wide range of activities such as baking, sensory play, crafts and music. Each session is staffed by specialist workers and volunteers which ensures that the children can attend independently, providing much needed respite for parents and carers. 

Emma Pears SELFA’s Chief Officer said “We are absolutely delighted to receive a grant from The Kentown Wizard Foundation. Last year they supported SELFA families on a wonderful residential break to The Bendrigg Trust in the Lake District and this grant has enabled us to offer a wide range of new opportunities, with over 32 children and young people accessing weekend and holiday sessions in the first three months of the project!”

Debbie Bamber, Operations Manager at The Kentown Wizard Foundation said:

“These additional rebound sessions will give children with severe and complex needs the opportunity to try new activities, improve their physical function and develop friendships in a safe and supportive environment. Having witnessed first hand the many benefits of Rebound Therapy, we are thrilled to be supporting such a positive project.”

SELFA has already made a huge difference to not only the children attending their sessions, but their families as well. Each session is staffed by specialist workers and volunteers which ensures that the children can attend independently, providing much-needed respite for their parents and carers.

The Kentown Wizard Foundation exists solely to have a positive and enduring impact on the lives of children and young adults with life-threatening conditions and serious disabilities, they do this through offering grants to charities across the UK who improve the lives of children living with life threatening conditions and serious disabilities. To find out more, visit https://kentownwizard.org/

The project is open to children and young people aged 4-25 with profound and multiple disabilities who have been referred to SELFA.  For more information email admin@selfa.org.uk or call 01535 533110.