FLASH & Teen FLASH – Colchester
Supporting young people and families affected by self-harm
We are delighted to announce that The Ministry of Parenting has secured funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to deliver FLASH and Teen FLASH in Colchester.
This funding enables us to provide two connected but distinct programmes for families affected by adolescent self-harm:
FLASH (Families Learning About Self-Harm) – for parents and carers of young people aged 11–17 who are using self-harm as a way of coping.
Teen FLASH – for young people aged 11–17 who are using self-harm as a way of coping.
Both programmes are supportive and collaborative, offering safe, non-judgemental spaces where participants can feel heard, understood and supported.
FLASH and Teen FLASH can be accessed independently. Where a parent/carer and young person both attend, each has their own separate space designed specifically around their needs, while both programmes work towards strengthening understanding, communication and connection within families.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund for their support and investment in our work with local young people and families.
FLASH
Families Learning About Self-Harm
A programme for parents and carers
FLASH is a 20-hour, evidence-informed and theory-based programme, delivered over four 5-hour workshops on alternate Saturdays.
It is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 11–17 who are using self-harm as a way of coping.
What is FLASH?
Supporting a young person who is self-harming can bring many different emotions, questions and challenges for parents and carers.
FLASH provides a safe, supportive and non-judgemental space to develop greater understanding of self-harm, explore its impact on young people and family life, and build confidence in responding and communicating.
The programme is collaborative and interactive. Parents and carers have opportunities to learn, reflect, explore practical strategies and connect with others who may understand some of the challenges they are experiencing.
FLASH is not about blame or telling parents and carers what they should be doing. It recognises that families are different and supports participants to build upon their existing strengths while developing additional knowledge, understanding and strategies.
What will we explore?
Across the four workshops we explore:
- Understanding self-harm – myths, facts, realities, fears and risks
- Communication and connection – including supporting your young person to build self-esteem
- Managing self-harm within the family environment
- Practical, real-world strategies for parents and carers
Throughout the programme there are opportunities for discussion, activities, reflection and shared learning.
FLASH Dates
Workshop 1: Saturday 30th January 2027
Workshop 2: Saturday 13th February 2027
Workshop 3: Saturday 27th February 2027
Workshop 4: Saturday 13th March 2027
Time: 11am–4pm
If you have a young person attending Teen FLASH on the same day, time will be allowed for drop-off and collection between the two venues, which are located close to one another.
FLASH Venue (parent/ carer)
St. James the Less Parish Hall
Priory Street
Colchester
CO1 2QB
Teen FLASH
A programme for young people
Teen FLASH, was co-produced with young people and is our programme for young people aged 11–17 who are using self-harm as a way of coping.
Teen FLASH provides young people with their own safe, supportive and non-judgemental space where they can develop understanding, explore experiences and learn practical skills and strategies alongside other young people.
The programme is collaborative and recognises that every young person’s experiences are different. Young people are supported to participate at their own pace and are not expected to disclose or share personal experiences of self-harm within the group.
What is Teen FLASH?
Teen FLASH recognises that self-harm can serve a purpose or function for a young person and that simply asking someone to stop does not necessarily address what is happening underneath.
The programme supports young people to develop greater understanding of themselves, their emotions and their responses to difficult situations, while exploring different ways of coping and communicating.
Teen FLASH combines information, activities, discussion, skills development and practical strategies within an environment where young people can learn alongside others.
An opportunity for young people to try Teen FLASH first
We recognise that joining a group can feel like a big commitment, particularly when you don’t yet know the facilitators, the other young people or what being part of Teen FLASH will actually feel like.
For this reason, Teen FLASH begins with a separate Introductory Workshop on Saturday 23rd January 2027.
You can think of this as our ‘try before you buy’ workshop – although, thanks to our National Lottery Community Fund funding, there is nothing to buy!
The Introductory Workshop gives young people an opportunity to meet the facilitators, find out more about Teen FLASH, experience what being part of the group might be like and ask any questions they may have.
Most importantly, it gives young people an opportunity to make an informed choice about whether Teen FLASH feels right for them before committing to the full programme.
There is no expectation that attending the Introductory Workshop means a young person must continue with Teen FLASH.
What will we explore?
Across Teen FLASH, young people have opportunities to explore areas including:
- understanding self-harm, including myths and facts
- recognising emotions, triggers and patterns
- understanding some of the reasons self-harm may be used as a way of coping
- emotional regulation and managing difficult feelings
- communication and expressing needs
- self-esteem and confidence
- relationships and sources of support
- coping strategies and alternatives
- developing individual strategies that can be used outside of the group.
The emphasis throughout Teen FLASH is on understanding, choice, developing skills and building on strengths. Young people are encouraged to take part in ways that feel comfortable for them, and there is no expectation or requirement for a young person to discuss or disclose their own self-harming behaviours or experiences within the group.
Teen FLASH Dates
Introductory Workshop – come along and give Teen FLASH a try:
Saturday 23rd January 2027
Young people who choose to continue will then attend the full Teen FLASH programme:
Workshop 1: Saturday 30th January 2027
Workshop 2: Saturday 13th February 2027
Workshop 3: Saturday 27th February 2027
Workshop 4: Saturday 13th March 2027
Time: Introductory Workshop is 11am – 3pm with all remaining workshops 11am – 4pm.
Teen FLASH Venue
We have a private space arranged in ‘The Den’ (lower floor) of the Townhouse Youth Club, East Stockwell St, Colchester, CO1.
The FLASH and Teen FLASH venues are located close to one another to support families where a parent/carer and young person are attending their respective programmes on the same day.
FLASH & Teen FLASH – Supporting the Whole Family
Although FLASH and Teen FLASH are separate programmes, they share an important approach.
Both are supportive, collaborative and relationship-focused, providing safe, non-judgemental spaces for participants.
Parents/carers and young people have different experiences and may need different kinds of support. Providing separate spaces allows each to explore the issues that matter to them without expecting one person to speak on behalf of the other.
Where a parent/carer attends FLASH while their young person attends Teen FLASH, both can develop their own understanding, skills and strategies.
The aim is not to make families communicate in a particular way or to suggest there is one ‘right’ response to self-harm. Instead, we aim to help young people and the adults who care for them develop greater understanding, confidence, communication and connection.
Importantly, the programmes can also be accessed independently. A parent or carer does not need to attend FLASH for their young person to take part in Teen FLASH, and a young person does not need to attend Teen FLASH for their parent or carer to attend FLASH.
Who Can Take Part?
FLASH and Teen FLASH are for families where a young person aged 11–17 is using self-harm as a way of coping.
FLASH
Parents and carers can express an interest in attending FLASH.
Teen FLASH
Teen FLASH is for young people aged 11–17.
Young people interested in Teen FLASH will initially be invited to our Introductory Workshop on Saturday 23rd January 2027.
This provides an opportunity to experience the group before deciding whether they would like to continue with the full programme.
We believe it is important that young people are involved in the decision to take part and have an opportunity to understand what Teen FLASH involves before making that commitment.
Cost
Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the Colchester FLASH and Teen FLASH programmes are free to attend.
Places are limited and advance booking/referral is required.
Interested in FLASH or Teen FLASH?
For FLASH, you can complete our online referral form:
Parents FLASH Referral form : Parents Referral Form
For Teen FLASH, you can also complete our online referral form:
Teen FLASH Referral Form : https://www.teenflash.co.uk/referral-form/
Once we receive your referral, we will contact you with further information about the programme and next steps.
We look forward to welcoming you
Self-harm can be difficult to talk about, and families do not have to navigate these experiences without support.
Through FLASH and Teen FLASH, we aim to provide spaces where parents, carers and young people can develop greater understanding, learn practical strategies, build on their strengths and feel supported alongside others.
FLASH and Teen FLASH – separate spaces, shared understanding, stronger connections.
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For other FLASH groups running across Essex see:
For parents in South Essex Please contract CAVS @ https://www.cavsorg.uk/training-events/ for information on their FLASH groups.
For parents across Essex please contact the Essex family and Wellbeing services @ https://essexfamilywellbeing.co.uk/services/family-support/ to enquire about the FLASH groups.
Available to all parents is our FLASH parents resource page @ https://theministryofparenting.com/parent-resources/flash/
Available to all young people is the Teen FLASH website @ www.teenflash.co.uk and we hope that is helpful to parents and young people.
Online course – Young Minds have a Free digital Self-Harm course available for parents/ carers.
“About the Understanding Young Minds course. At Virtual College we have worked in partnership with SelfharmUK to create a free online course designed to help parents talk about the issue of self-harm with their children. Thousands of children and young people in the UK are thought to be impacted by self-harm each year. Spotting the signs can be difficult, and approaching the subject with your children can be an uncomfortable experience. This online course, ‘Talking to your children about emotional resilience and self-harm’, has been designed to provide you with a basic awareness of the subject to help you approach your children with confidence about the issue. This course comes with a downloadable certificate and is crucial for anyone who works with vulnerable children, young people or adults.”
For further information see https://www.virtual-college.co.uk/resources/free-courses/understanding-young-minds
