Family Support
Meet our Family Support Manager, Vicky Vandervelde. Vicky has worked for Timeout Homes for over 6 years, starting as a Teaching Assistant in Riverbank Primary School, where she completed her qualification in Children, young people and families and has worked and built strong relationships with Local Authorities, Social Services, Charities to name a few.
Family Support
Meet our Family Support Manager, Vicky Vandervelde. Vicky has worked for Timeout Homes for over 6 years, starting as a Teaching Assistant in Riverbank Primary School, where she completed her qualification in Children, young people and families and has worked and built strong relationships with Local Authorities, Social Services, Charities to name a few.
Vicky Vandervelde
Family Support Manager
Vicky is dedicated to building strong, trusting relationships between home and school. With a compassionate and trauma-informed approach, she works closely with families to navigate challenges, celebrate progress, and ensure every child feels supported both emotionally and practically. Whether it's offering guidance through difficult times, connecting families with external services, or simply being a listening ear, our Vicky is here to empower parents and carers as partners in their child’s journey. Together, we create a network of care that strengthens resilience and fosters lasting wellbeing.
Parent Support Groups
Vicky leads a series of welcoming and empowering parent support groups designed to strengthen the connection between home and school.
The focus of our parents and carers support group is to offer signposting and additional support so parents have a place where they feel heard and validated in a non-judgemental environment. Discussions are shared around local and national support and time is made to listen as parents share their own lived experiences of some of the challenges that they face when parenting children with additional needs. Mental health and self-care is promoted during group sessions such as enjoying peer to peer support within nature participating in a forest school session or getting creative with Christmas wreath making.
All new parents and carers of our students are welcomed to parents support group ensuring that our schools have an open-door policy and are always safe spaces for not only our students but for parents and carers too, with a wealth of additional support.
The support group aims to offer:
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Friendship
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A safe space
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Sign posting, information and advice
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Emotional and moral support
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Peer to peer support
Signposting
Vicky plays a key role in connecting families with the right support at the right time. With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by children with social, emotional, and mental health needs, Vicky offers compassionate guidance and practical signposting to a range of trusted charities and services. Whether it's accessing mental health support, housing advice, food banks, bereavement counselling, or parenting resources, Vicky ensures families are never alone in navigating complex situations.
