Parents of pupils at The King’s School, Ottery, were able to find out about a range of youth and family support organisations at a drop-in event on Wednesday, January 17.

It was the school’s first ‘Engage and Connect: Parent Resource Hub’, with representatives of several organisations on hand.

They included Citizens Advice, Devon Information Advice and Support (DiAS), Youth Substance Misuse, Recovery, Treatment (YSMART), the 06 Project (a charity set up by Ottery Churches Together), Ottery Larder, Ottery Library, East Devon District Council’s Financial Resilience Team, Exeter College, and Bicton College.

Sidmouth Herald: YSMART at the Engage and Connect  event

Parents were also able to talk to the school own experts including its careers advisor, student support, exam access advisor, THRIVE practitioners (helping with children’s mental health and wellbeing) and the alternative curriculum lead.

The school said the response from parents was ‘overwhelming’. One parent emailed afterwards saying: “Today enabled me to speak to the right people for the right situation. Every different person helping and guiding me in the right direction.”

Staff felt that the whole school community had benefitted from the event, and plans are already under day for the next one.