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Family Support

Helen Braund
Family Support Worker

Email Helen: hbraund@rivieraet.co.uk

Phone or text Helen's school mobile: 07990 078 400

Helen is the school's Family Support Worker and is here to help with any number of issues which can impact on family life.  She is trained in supporting families in many areas, including:

  • Financial worries;
  • Housing issues;
  • Looking for a new job;
  • Parenting concerns (bedtime routines, improving relationships/ behaviour at home);
  • Parental mental health concerns;
  • Bereavement; 
  • Low self-confidence or isolation;
  • Domestic Violence;
  • Alcohol or drug dependancy.

Below are a number of resources available to our families run by Torbay Council:

Free School Meals (FSM)

Please see below the link to apply for Free School Meals:

Free School Meals Application form

Torbay Council - Our Ways of Working

To find out information about Torbay Council's ambition to create a prosperous and healthy Torbay with communities that thrive, click on this link:

https://www.torbay.gov.uk/children-and-families/our-ways-of-working/

RET Hardship Fund

  • The last few years have placed increased financial strain on many families and, as a trust, we have seen the impact that this has had on an increasing number of our children, including a rise in the number of families who have an increasing reliance on foodbanks and the generosity and help of friends and family.

    We want to support all of our families and we are working hard to create more equity in the education system through our links with the council and with the wider education system in Devon, the South West and nationally.

    Our trustees have asked what more can we do to support our families, to help ensure that the experiences and opportunities that are offered in our schools are eligible to all.

    To this end, the trustees have created the Rivera Hardship Fund. Each year, £5000 of funds are set aside to support families most in need to meet the costs associated with schooling. This includes support with uniform, with musical tuition, access to before and after school clubs, school trips, visitors and residential experiences to highlight just a few.  We recognise that families have different needs at different times, and all families are able to apply for support from this financial hardship fund.

     

    As a caring trust, we also know how hard it can be to ask for help and we hope that by having this fund available with application via email, that families will feel they can apply in confidence and get access to the support they need, when they need it most.

    To find out more about the Riviera Hardship Fund, please see the flyer below.

    If you are having difficulties and need someone to talk to, all of our schools have a dedicated pastoral support team who can signpost you to local and national agencies who can provide expert advice and guidance.

    I hope that this will be able to provide some small relief to those of you in extremely challenging financial circumstances.

    Thank you as always for your continued support of your school and the work they do for all of our children.

    Stewart Biddles
    CEO, Riviera Education Trust

  • RET Hardship Fund flyer
  • RET Hardship Fund letter to parents
  • RET Hardship Fund Application Form

Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF)

Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF) - Christmas 2025 - coming soon!

The HAF programme provides free holiday clubs during Easter, Summer and Christmas. Participating children and young people (CYP) enjoy:

  • A minimum of one nutritious meal per day
  • A variety of physical and enrichment activities
  • Opportunities to socialise with peers for a minimum of 4 hours per day

Eligibility

Children and Young People (CYP) qualify in Torbay if they:

  • Receive benefits-related free school meals (FSM)
  • Are electively home educated (EHE)
  • CYP may be eligible if they are navigating adversity and will therefore fall within our 15% of CYP that are not FSM eligible.

Examples of CYP that may fall within that are:

  • Being supported by the Youth Justice Service
  • Young Carers
  • Children Cared For
  • Adopted children and those under a special guardianship order
  • Children on a Child in Need or Child Protection Plan
  • Refugee and asylum-seeking children
  • Living in temporary accommodation

This will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligibility will be checked upon booking, via the electronic booking system.

Other methods of booking are available by contacting hafapplications@torbay.gov.uk.

Contact

For further information or assistance:

We look forward to welcoming your child to a fun, safe and nourishing holiday club experience!

Early Help

Early Help Pathway

Children and Family Health Devon

Please download the leaflet below for information on how we work in partnership with you to promote positive mental health and provide clear pathways for support:

CFHD services leaflet

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