Skip to content ↓

Elaine Primary School

Links for Local Services

1. Family Hubs & Early Help Services

These services offer free community activities, parental guidance, and early intervention support to help you manage the everyday joys and challenges of family life.

  • Medway Family Hubs: Providing local drop-in sessions, early years playgroups, and parenting advice for families with children of all ages.
  • Strood Community Hub: Your local Strood-based hub, housing library services, public computer access, and community group sessions.
  • Early Help Medway: Supportive, multi-agency partnerships that work with families to address challenges early, offering targeted guidance on routines and parenting.
  • Medway Voluntary Action (MVA): An organisation connecting Medway residents with local community networks, volunteer groups, and supportive social projects.

2. Mental Health, Emotional Wellbeing & SEND

Looking after our children's emotional and physical wellbeing is a priority. If your child is experiencing anxiety, additional developmental needs, or emotional difficulties, please explore these specialist services:

  • NELFT (NHS Kent & Medway CAMHS): The specialist NHS mental health service for children and young people experiencing significant emotional or psychological challenges.
  • Anxiety UK: A leading national charity offering targeted resources, practical strategies, and advice to support children and adults managing anxiety or panic.
  • Medway Therapeutic Alliance: A professional network of local therapists offering accessible, sliding-scale counselling and psychological support for adults and families in Medway.
  • Snapdragons Children's Centre: Part of Medway Community Healthcare, Snapdragons supports children with complex developmental, sensory, or physical health needs.
  • Samaritans: Providing free, confidential, 24-hour emotional support for anyone experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

3. Advice, Financial Support & Food Pantries

If you are facing temporary financial strain, require confidential debt advice, or need support with essential food and household items, local assistance is available:

  • Citizens Advice Medway: Free, completely confidential advice on benefits, housing, employment, legal issues, and debt management.
  • Medway Foodbank: Part of the Trussell Trust network, providing emergency food parcels and support to local families in financial crisis.
  • Household Support Fund (Medway Council): Local authority assistance designed to support families on low incomes with emergency fuel, food, and utility costs.
  • Kent Community Pantry: Low-cost community grocery schemes that help families access fresh fruit, vegetables, and cupboard essentials on a small budget.
  • St Francis Church Strood: Our local parish church, offering a weekly low-cost community larder, a food pantry, and warm community spaces.
  • Medway Go: Free, structured holiday activity and food programmes during school holidays for children eligible for benefits-related free school meals.

Cookie Policy