Focusing Minds CIC

07/09/2026

Here's one to get your head around...it's Monday, so it's time for our weekly riddle. What do you think? Pop you answer in the comments.

06/09/2026

📚 It's National Read a Book Day📚

There’s nothing quite like getting lost in a good book! Whether you love fiction, non-fiction, comics, biographies or something completely different, reading can be a great way to relax, learn something new and take some time for yourself.

Here are a few simple ways to enjoy a good book:

📖 Find a quiet, comfortable spot
☕ Make yourself a favourite drink
📱 Put your phone away and give yourself some screen-free time
⏰ Set aside just 15–20 minutes to read
📚 Try something outside your usual genre
👨‍👩‍👧 Read together with family or friends
🌙 Make reading part of your bedtime routine

And remember, you don't have to read a whole chapter or finish a book in one sitting. Every page counts!

What book are you reading at the moment? Let us know in the comments.

05/09/2026

Just two weeks to go until local councillor, David Hunter, will be abseiling down Wakefield Cathedral!

We'll be there on 19th September to wish him well. In the meantime, you can still donate. We're grateful for every penny raised, given David has nominated us as one of his chosen good causes for this event.

To donate, click on the link here:

Iʼm raising money to support Focusing Minds CIC, Ossett. . Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

05/09/2026

Andrew and Gemma have been at TrinityChurch, Ossett this morning, supporting the annual community heritage day.

If you're free, why not go and climb the clock tower, have a round of mini golf, play one of the games or enjoy a tea, coffee or cake.

02/09/2026

There we have it! The six week break is over and the new school year is getting underway.

For the youngest, they're taking their first steps in education. Year 6 are set to complete SATs and bid farewell to primary school whilst Year 7 are in new environments as they begin high school life.

Year 9s have their options to look forward to, Year 10s are starting their GCSE courses and of course, for Year 11, this year marks the end of their secondary education.

Whatever year your child is going into, we hope they have a smooth start to the new academic year. And, if they struggle, remember we are here on hand to offer our support - reach out to us to see how we can help.

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01/09/2026

September can bring excitement, nerves and plenty of “What if?” worries...for children and parents! For most, tomorrow sees it all start again as the new academic year gets underway.

A few things to remember:

🌟 It’s okay - for both your child and yourself! - to feel nervous
💬 Talk about your child's worries and listen without judgement
🎒 Get things ready together today/tonight to build confidence
❤️ Remind your child they don’t have to get everything right straight away

You can catch more tips in our dedicated blog on the subject here: https://tomakeprogress.co.uk/how-parents-can-cope-with-their-child-starting-primary-or-secondary-school/

New beginnings can feel daunting, but they can also be the start of something amazing.

Good luck to all the children (and parents!) starting primary, secondary or another new school this month!

31/08/2026

We feel we might just be getting more challenging with our riddles. It's Monday, so here is our latest effort.

What do you think? Pop your answer in the comments.

30/08/2026

Our final 'Focus On' feature this month is our associate coach, Hazel, a new addition to our team here at Focusing Minds.

A mind coach and systemic therapist, Hazel brings immense knowledge and experience of mental health, along with significant experience of working within the NHS.

Alongside coaching support, Hazel's background offering systemic therapy is useful to parents, how they converse and maintain relationships with their children.

If this is something you may struggle with as a parent - having difficult conversations or often experience conflict - Hazel's support will be beneficial.

You can discover more about Hazel on our website here:
https://tomakeprogress.co.uk/about or contacting us today.

29/08/2026

We're incredibly proud of the impact our support has when we work with children and young people.

Take this amazing feedback from Sally and Steve, parents of a 16 year old girl who when she arrived during Year 9, lacked confidence, struggled with friendships and didn't have many tools to help cope with the challenges she faced.

Fast forward to now and we are so pleased to have been able to support this young person in developing their awareness, aligning more with her values around friendships (and act on them) whilst developing strategies which will serve her well now and when she gets older.

Growing up can be hard and at a time when society is so uncertain, we pitch ourselves at entry level to support as many young people as we can to reduce their potential need of escalated services later on.

Contact us today if you know a child or young person in need of support right now.

27/08/2026

Our latest in our 'Focus On' feature sees us take a closer look at Zoe, our associate holistic therapist.

Zoe offers a range of theraputic treatments and massages, as well as skin care and facial treatments to really help you take care of your wellbeing.

And if you've ever considered developing your skills in delivering reiki, Zoe is just the person to speak to about her training courses in this area.