Useful links

Find more information about different organisations which can provide support and advice with specific issues such as self harm, domestic violence, bereavement and pregnancy.

Abuse

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Child Protection Resource - resources and support for everyone involved in the child protection system in the UK.

Childline  - free, 24 hour helpline for children and young people in danger or distress.

Circles South East - aim to reduce the instances of sexual abuse and assist those affected by sexual abuse in their recovery.

Hourglass - provide help and support to end exploitation of older people in the UK.

Men's Advice Line - Men’s Advice Line: a confidential helpline for any man experiencing domestic violence and abuse from a partner or ex-partner.

NAPAC - support for people abused in childhood

NSPCC - advice on child abuse and cruelty. 

NSPCC - What can I do - Protecting your child from sexual abuse - link to PDF document from the NSPCC about protecting your child from sexual abuse.

SafeSpaces - provide Safe Spaces in their consultation rooms for people experiencing domestic abuse.

Stop it Now! - aims to prevent child sexual abuse by increasing public awareness and empowering people to act responsibly to protect children.

Stop/So - provides specialist therapy for sex offenders and those who have yet to act on their ‘troubling thoughts’ and help for families for sex offenders (there may be a cost for therapy)

Survivors UK - work to ensure every boy, man, and non-binary person in the UK has access to the support they need to navigate the impact of sexual violence and begin their journey of recovery.

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation - is the only UK-wide child protection charity dedicated solely to preventing child sexual abuse.

We Stand - Formerly known as Mosac. They support for all non-abusing parents and carers whose children have been sexually abused. Provides support, advice, information and counselling. 

Womens Aid - support for women experiencing physical, emotional or sexual violence in the home. 

Addiction

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Addiction Family Support - supporting people affected or bereaved by a loved one's addiction

Adfam - empower family members and carers, support frontline workers and influence decision-makers to stop this happening.

AL Anon - is there for anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else's drinking

Alcoholics Anonymous - is concerned solely with the personal recovery and continued sobriety of individual alcoholics who turn to the Fellowship for help and support includes meetings and helpline.

Alcohol Education Trust - support young people to enter adulthood having a healthy relationship with alcohol. They engage pupils before they begin drinking, help them build resilience skills, know how to avoid risky situations and learn how to look after themselves and each other.

ATSAC - is a not-for-profit organisation that provides information and support on sex addiction and compulsivity

Big Deal - is a project run by GamCare for young people to get help for gambling addiction 

Drinkaware - provides information on alcohol to consumers to allow them to make informed decisions about the effects on lives and lifestyles.

FRANK - free confidential advice and information on drugs 24 hours a day.

Gamcare - information, advice and practical help in relation to gambling.

Gamfam - provides advice and support if you are worried about gambling addiction. 

Health for Teens - Advice on vaping addiction.

Know the score - Scotland’s drug information website.

National Centre for Gaming Disorders - a gaming addiction clinic in the UK that provides treatment for problem gamers living in England and Wales aged 13 and over. 

NACOA - Providing information, advice and support for everyone affected by a parent’s drinking

Narcotics Anonymous UK - If you have a problem with drugs, they can help you get and stay clean.

Relate - support service for sexual addiction

Release - information and advice on drugs and the law.

With you - provide free, confidential support with alcohol, drugs or mental health in one of our local services or online.

Young people and vaping (NHS) 

Adoption and social care

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Adoption UK - is a national charity run by and for adopters, providing self-help information, advice, support and training on all aspects of adoption and adoptive parenting. 

Become - to help children in care and young care leavers to believe in themselves and to heal, grow and unleash their potential.

Coram BAAF - is an independent membership organisation for professionals, foster carers and adopters, and anyone else working with or looking after children in or from care, or adults who have been affected by adoption.

Family Rights Group - are a charity that advises parents, grandparents, relatives and friends about their rights and options when social workers or courts make decisions about their children’s welfare.

First4Adoption - is the national information service for people interested in adopting a child in England. 

Help at Hand - Help at Hand is the Children’s Commissioner’s advice and assistance service for children in care, children who have a social worker or are working with social services, children living away from home and care leavers.

Local Government Ombudsman - looks at all adult social care complaints. This includes care that is funded privately without council involvement.

Match Mothers - provides emotional support to mothers whose children have been separated from them.

PAC-UK - provides support and advice to families regarding adoption including an advice line, training and more. 

Pause - works with women who have experienced, or are at risk of, repeat removals of children from their care.

Rees Foundation - offer help and advice to care experienced individuals about any concern and are always here to listen. 

Salvation Army Family Tracing Service - helping to reconcile family members who have lost contact with each other, and facilitating the first contact or rebuilding of these relationships.

There For You Advisory Service - provides support to individuals and families being investigated or involved with their local Authority Children's Services Department, as well as pro​viding additional family support. To book an appointment with them for support, please click here

Affordable technology for families

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BT Home Essentials - provide a low cost broadband service for families on a low income.

Digital Poverty Alliance - in partnership with Currys to provide computers to families on a low income in specific areas. 

Get Families Talking - provide free data to low-income families facing digital exclusion through data poverty.

Hot UK Deals - this page has information on providers who can help with broadband if you are in receipt of certain benefits

Virgin Media - broadband for low income families from Virgin Media. 

Vodafone - provide a service for charities working with families on a low income to provide sim cards that are pre-loaded with data for six months. 

Bedwetting

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ERIC - ERIC is a UK charity, Education and Resources for Improving childhood continence.

NHS - Advice from the NHS on bedwetting in children

Bereavement

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Child Death Helpline - freephone service for anyone affected by the death of a child.

Child Bereavement UK - support families and educate professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement

Cruse Bereavement Care - nationwide bereavement support and information.

Good Grief Trust - help all those affected by grief in the UK.

Grief Encounter - supporting bereaved children and young people by providing immediate one to one support.

NHS Helping Hand publication - Support for someone who has lost a loved one to suicide. 

Rosie Crane Trust - provide a number of services aimed at supporting bereaved parents including a 24 hour helpline. 

SANDS (Still birth and neonatal death society) - support for those affected by the stillbirth or death of a baby in the early weeks of life.

Saying Goodbye - this is the web site for the Saying Goodbye services, the first national set of remembrance services for people who have suffered miscarriage, early term loss or early infant loss.

Sue Ryder Online Bereavement Support - helps to connect you with the right support for you, whether that's information and resources, qualified counsellors or a community of others with similar experiences. These services are free and easy to access on your computer, smartphone or tablet.

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide -  are the only UK-based organisation offering peer-led support to adults impacted by suicide loss. 

The Compassionate Friends - support and friendship to parents and families after the death of their child, at any age and from any cause

The Loss Foundation - is a UK national charity dedicated solely to providing bereavement support following the loss of a loved one to cancer, whether that be spouses, family members, friends or colleagues. 

The Lullaby Trust - raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families

Widowed and Young - is a UK charity for people aged 50 or under when their partner died. It’s a peer-to-peer support group operating with a network of volunteers who have been bereaved at a young age themselves.

Winston's Wish - support children and their families through grief after the death of a parent or brother or sister.

Black and ethnic minority

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Equality and Human Rights Commission - creating a fairer Britain, this website takes a look at your rights.

Muslim Women Network - operate a national specialist faith and culturally sensitive helpline that is confidential and non-judgmental, which offers information, support, guidance and referrals  for those who are suffering from or at risk of abuse or facing problems on a range of issues.

Race Equality Foundation - the Race Equality Foundation promotes race equality in social support (what families and friends do for each other) and public services (what 'workers' do with people who need support).

RYICO - Provide teaching resources made up of varied activities that use art, audio, movement, games, and group discussion to tackle issues raised in Anti-bullying Week, Black History Month and Refugee Awareness Week.

Southall Black Sisters - information and resources for women, particularly Asian women experiencing domestic violence. Also offers immigration advice and advice on other matters relating to relationship breakdown.

The Monitoring Group - are one of the oldest Community-Based Anti-Racist organisations in the UK.

Bullying and harassment

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ACAS - (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) aims to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations.

Anti-bullying Alliance - is a coalition of organisations and individuals working together to stop bullying and create safe environments in which children and young people can live, grow, play and learn.

Anti-Bullying Pro - an online resource and support centre for young people, parents/carers and educators to access information and ideas to prevent and tackle bullying behaviour, and provide support for those experiencing it.

Childnet International - information, advice, resources for children, parents and getting the most out of new technology and safe and responsible us.

EACH - Education Action Challenging Homophobia - challenges homophobia, specifically homophobic bullying, through education.

Kidscape - anti-bullying helpline for parents.

Red Balloon - Provide an 'intensive care' full-time education for children aged between 9 and 18 who are unable to go to school because they have been severely bullied or who have suffered trauma.

Report Harmful Content - Helping everyone to report harmful content online

Schools out  - provides a support network to raise the issue of homophobia in schools

Stonewall - working for positive change for gay lesbian and bisexual people in the UK with an education program: Education for all

Suzy Lamplugh Trust -  (National Stalking Helpline) exists to ensure that what happened to Suzy does not happen to anyone else. We do this by Campaigning, Educating and Supporting people.

Carers

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Carers Trust - work tirelessly to raise awareness of unpaid carers in the UK.

Carers UK -provides information and advice to carers of children and adults with disabilities.

Childcare

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Childcare Choices - provides advice on what Government help is available for childcare costs.

Childcare.co.uk - is an online platform for parents, childcare providers and private tutors.

Coram Family and Childcare - national childcare charity working to promote high quality affordable childcare for all.

Pregnant then Screwed - is a charity dedicated to ending the motherhood penalty, childcare issues and and successfully campaigning for change.

Children and young people

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Anti Knife Crime Campaign - provides advice, ideas, support and resources for local anti knife crime

BROOK - free and confidential sexual health advice and contraception to young people up to the age of 25.

Careers Advice Service - help and information for young people 13-19 years.

ChildLine - free, 24 hour helpline for children and young people in danger or distress.

Children's Society - are a national charity working to transform the hopes and happiness of young people facing abuse, exploitation and neglect. 

Coram Always Heard Advocacy Service - A support service providing advocacy for children/young people. 

Give Us Shout - Anxious? Worried? Stressed? Get 24/7 help from our team of Crisis Volunteers.

Happy Maps - Reliable resources for children of all ages struggling with their mental health and wellbeing.

Health for Teens - Advice on all aspects of health, issues and development for teenagers from School Nurse teams.

Kooth.com - A unique service that provides vulnerable young people, who have emotional or mental health problems, with support when they need it most.

NACCC - are here to help and have made some stories to help you understand what happens at contact centres and the advice and resources are for children and young people.

National Youth Advocacy - advocacy services for children and young people up to the age of 25.

Nightline - is a student listening service which is open at night and run by students for students.

NSPCC - National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Prince's Trust - help 11 to 30 year-olds to find the tools and confidence to try free courses and start careers. 

Teenage Helpline -  a charitable organisation that provides advice and services to young people aged 10-25 across the UK. 

The Hideout - Women's Aid have created this space to help children and young people to understand domestic abuse, and how to take positive action if it's happening to you.

The Mix - (formerly Get Connected) provides young people with help on finding a service to help them, whatever the problem.

The Sleep Charity - provide advice and support to help people and families with sleep issues.

Vinspired - is the UK's leading volunteering charity for 14 - 25 year olds. vinspired helps young people to make their mark on causes that they care about, whilst learning new skills and talents along the way.

Young Carers: Action for Children - advice, support and information for children and young people who have a caring responsibility for someone in their family.

Youth Access -  is the national membership organisation for young people's information, advice and counselling services. Our projects and activities ensure that links are fostered and sustained between the different sectors impacting on our members’ work with young people.

Cost of living and financial support

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Baby Bank Alliance - provides a lifeline for families who need help: providing parents with support, and children with the items they need to thrive. 

Better Housing Better Health - provides a service supporting residents to keep warm, stay safe and live well in their homes.

Child Benefit - deals with all child benefit claims.

Child Maintenance Options - providing impartial information and support to help both parents make an informed choice about their options for child maintenance.

Child Support Agency - the Child Support Agency, as part of the Department for Work and Pensions, is responsible for assessing, collecting, paying and enforcing Child Support Maintenance.

Cooking on a Bootstrap - advice and recipes on a budget from Jack Monroe, anti-poverty campaigner and food writier.

Energy Saving Trust - empower householders every year to make better energy choices.

Family Action Grants Service - provides a small grant when it’s needed the most to help remove immediate financial barriers. This helps families to work through the bigger issues they’re facing such as fleeing abuse or keeping their children in school.

Family Fund -  is the UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people. 

Financial Ombudsman Service - the official independent expert in settling complaints between consumers and businesses providing financial services.  The service is free and can look at complaints about a wide range of financial matters - from insurance and mortgages to savings and credit.

Find a Warm Welcome Space - have over 3000 registered organisations that have opened or are opening up free, warm, welcoming spaces for the public over this winter across the UK. 

Give as you earn - donating to charity through your payroll.

Help with school costs - advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau on costs such as uniforms, travel, etc. 

Lightning Reach - enables individuals, charities and the public sector to get financial support to the people who need it most, quickly and securely.

Money Helper - helps you manage your money better. You can use their Health Check tool, calculators and comparison tables and access free, independent advice.

Money Saving Expert - aims to provide the best MoneySaving guides, tips, tools and techniques from Martin Lewis.

National Debtline - advice by telephone or email for people with debt problems.

National Energy Action (NEA) - the national fuel poverty charity, working to ensure that everyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is warm and safe at home.

Personal Finance Society - free guides to understand your choices when it comes to money. Find out about professional financial advice and search for a qualified adviser near you.

Stepchange - are a debt charity, providing free, confidential and expert debt advice and money guidance.

Stop Loan Sharksiinvestigates and prosecutes illegal money lenders and provides support for borrowers in the UK. 

Tax Credits - 9 out of 10 families are entitiled to tax credits, but you don't need to have children to qualify. Find out more here.

Turn2Us - website offering people in financial need access to welfare benefits and charitable grants, free of charge and all in one place. Visitors to the site can use the benefits calculator or search for a grant giving organisation based on their need to see if there are funds available to them.

Turn2Us (fuel poverty) - Information and advice for families worried about the energy price rises.

The Trussell Trust - The Trussell Trust is a Christian charity that does not affiliate itself with any political party and currently receives no government funding. They are non-judgemental and inclusive, providing assistance to people of all backgrounds and all faiths or none who are found to be in genuine need.  The Trussell Trust partners with churches and communities to open new foodbanks nationwide. With over 250 foodbanks currently launched, their goal is for every town to have one.

Which - provides independent advice and support on all consumer issues including cost of living advice and tips.

Counselling

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AFT (Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice) - are a registered charity working to benefit the public by promoting effective Family and Systemic Psychotherapy services and high standards of professional training and practice.

Beacon Family Services - provides therapeutic services to families and communities. This service is not free but you may be able to get funding to access their support. Click here to access their booking form. 

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - provides lists of counsellors in your local area.

Counselling Directory - work closely with counsellors, psychotherapists and our visitors, to provide the very best service. They have over 10,000 qualified counsellors listed with them.

Find a Therapist - Connecting users to therapists across the UK. Have advice pages that are helpful too.

Marriage Care - relationship support service including couples counselling, relationship and marriage preparation. No fixed charge, contribution-based

NHS Therapy - refer yourself directly to a psychological therapies service without seeing your GP

Relate for Parents - Help with family life and parenting and access to a free counsellor online.

Relate - relationship counselling offered through regional centres.

Stop. Breathe. Think - is a UK-based charity organisation offering free mental health services to young people across the UK with 1-1 counselling sessions and support.

Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships - consultation and psychotherapy services for couples seeking help with their relationships.

Crime

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Anti Knife Crime Campaign - provides advice, ideas, support and resources for local anti-knife crime.

ASB help - is a registered charity in England and Wales set up to provide advice and support to victims of anti-social behaviour.

Beyond the Streets - A national charity providing free confidential support for women in the sex industry.

Crimestoppers - an independent charity that gives you the power to speak up to stop crime, 100% anonymously.

FASO - False Allegations Support Organisatio provides information and impartial advice to help you with false allegations

Fearless - provide non-judgemental information and advice about crime and criminality and provide you with a safe place to give information to us about crime - 100% anonymously.

Gangsline - is a non-profit organisation to provide help and support to young men and women involved in gang culture.

Lawstuff - provides free legal information to children and young people

National Information Centre on Children of Offenders - Supporting all professionals to work with  offenders’ children and their families. 

PACT - is a national charity that provides support to prisoners, people with convictions, and their families. 

Rape Crisis (England and Wales) - provides coordination for the national network of Rape Crisis Centres across England and Wales. Rape Crisis Centres provide a range of specialist services for women and girls that have been raped or experienced another form of sexual violence - whether as adults or as children.

Revenge Porn Helpline - are a UK service supporting adults (aged 18+) who are experiencing intimate image abuse, also known as, revenge porn.

Stop Hate UK - is here to help you report a hate crime, receive support before, during and after and to help you understand the process.

Suzy Lamplugh Trust -  (National Stalking Helpline) exists to ensure that what happened to Suzy does not happen to anyone else. We do this by Campaigning, Educating and Supporting people.

The Survivors Trust - is the largest umbrella agency for specialist rape and sexual abuse services in the UK. 

True Vision - has been developed so that you can report hate crimes online - you do not have to visit a police station to report. 

Victim Support - information and support for people who have been affected by a crime.

Youth Justice Services - They work with young people that get into trouble with the law or to help them stay away from crime. 

Dads

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Dads Info -promotes fatherhood in all its aspects where fathers can share ideas find information and learn about parenting.

DaddiLife - a parenting website for dads with lots of information, advice, features and a place where dads can learn, grow and celebrate the life that is dad.

Dads Unlimited - supports the emotional safety of men and those they care about through three key areas; supporting male victims of domestic abuse, supporting men with family separation; and supporting men’s mental health.

Families Need Fathers - information and support on shared parenting following separation or divorce.

Families Need Fathers because both parents matter Cymru (Wales) - is a charity which supports dads, mums and grandparents to have personal contact and meaningful relationships with children following parental separation.

Separated Dads - being separated from your kids can be hard if you're a dad. This website helps with ideas on how to cope when you are together or apart.

Divorce and separation

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Association for Shared Parenting -  promote the child’s right to the love and nurture of both parents after separation or divorce and to encourage and support parents in the fulfilment of that right.

CAFCASS - looks after the interests of children involved in family proceedings. It works with children and their families, and then advises the courts on what it considers to be in the children's best interests.

Child Maintenance Options - providing impartial information and support to help both parents make an informed choice about their options for child maintenance.

Co-parenting apps - a list of apps to help with co-parenting arrangements, some are free and some do have a cost  - this list is provided by Resolution. 

Family Mediators Association - The Family Mediators Association is a registered charity which offers family mediation to private clients outside the court system.

Family Mediation Council - is a not for profit organisation that maintains a professional register of family mediators

Families Need Fathers - information and support on shared parenting following separation or divorce.

Families Need Fathers because both parents matter Cymru (Wales) - is a charity which supports dads, mums and grandparents to have personal contact and meaningful relationships with children following parental separation.

Match Mothers - provides emotional support to mothers whose children have been separated from them.

Money Helper - a comprehensive guide to managing the financial aspects of divorce, as well managing debt

National Association of Child Contact Centres - provides safe places where children of separated families can spend time with one or both parents.

National Family Mediation - mediators helping parents who live apart stay close to their children.

Parental Alienation Awareness - are an advocacy and signposting service that also works with other agencies, charities and professional​s in order to educate and raise greater awareness. 

Parenting Together – Supporting Children Through Separation (Wales) - This is a simple and effective guide designed to help separated parents understand how to work together to identify what their children need most and support them through a separation.

Relationships Really Matter - A programme for families in Nottinghamshire to help reduce parental conflict. 

Reunite - provide advice, support, mediation, and research and policy information on the issues surrounding the international movement of children. 

Separated Dads - being separated from your kids can be hard if you're a dad. This website helps with ideas on how to cope when you are together or apart.

Separated Families - working with everyone affected by family separation to bring about better outcomes for children.

Stand Alone - support and raise awareness about adults that are estranged from their family or children.

Domestic violence and abuse

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Family Rights Group - for mothers who are involved with Children's Services because their children are (or may be) harmed by experiencing and/ or witnessing domestic violence. 

Freedom Charity - provide support and protection for victims of abuse, Female Genital Mutilation and Forced Marriage.

Karma Nirvana - run the national Honour Based Abuse Helpline, train professionals, gather data to inform policies and services, and campaign for change.

Live Fear Free (Wales) - providing help and advice about violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Mankind - provide an information, support and signposting service to men suffering from domestic abuse from their current or former wife, partner (including same-sex partner) or husband. 

Men's Advice Line - Men’s Advice Line: a confidential helpline for any man experiencing domestic violence and abuse from a partner or ex-partner.

National Centre for Domestic Violence - provides a free, fast emergency injunction service to survivors of domestic violence regardless of their financial circumstances, race, gender or sexual orientation.

PEGS - supporting parents and professionals with child to parent abuse

Respect - our vision is to end violence and abuse in intimate partner and close family relationships.  Our key focus is on increasing the safety and well-being of victims by promoting, supporting, delivering and developing effective interventions with perpetrators.  

Respect Not Fear - if you are a young person and are worried about your relationship then try to talk to someone you trust about what you are experiencing. 

Refuge - is the largest specialist domestic abuse organisation in the UK. 

Safe Spaces - provides safe spaces in retail shops across the UK  in their consultation rooms for people experiencing domestic abuse. 

Southall Black Sisters - highlight and challenge all forms of violence against women and girls, empowering them to gain control over their lives & assert their human rights to justice, equality and freedom.

Support Nav - Offer information and legal support to help you to keep safe and make the right choices.

The Hideout - provides indirect and informal support to children and young people living with domestic violence or those who may want to help a friend. Also signposts to additional help and direct support.

Who's In Charge - provide a programme for parents to help them with child on parent violence (fees may apply for this programme) 

Women's Aid - support for women experiencing physical, emotional or sexual violence in the home. 

Early years

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Booktrust - is here to guide you on your child’s reading journey from 0-5 years.

Childcare Choices - provides advice on what Government help is available for childcare costs.

DaddiLife - a parenting website for dads with lots of information, advice, features and a place where dads can learn, grow and celebrate the life that is dad.

Family and Childcare Trust - national childcare charity working to promote high quality affordable childcare for all.

HENRY (Health Exercise Nutrition for the Really Young) – A charity offering programmes and online resources for parents of 0 to 5 year olds to help provide a healthy start in life for young children. Programmes cover how to juggle life with young children, how to respond to their needs without giving in to demands, tips to reduce mealtime stress, active play to help children learn, food groups, food labels, portion sizes for under 5s, first foods, snack swaps, and understanding and managing your child's behaviour.

Home-start - offers regular support to families with one child under 5 years old - look at the site to see whether there is a scheme near you.

Home-Start UK in Wales - supports families with young children.

Eating disorders

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Beat  - helpline for parents and young people.

National centre for eating disorders - advice and support. 

HENRY (Health Exercise Nutrition for the Really Young) – A charity offering programmes and online resources for parents of 0 to 5 year olds to help provide a healthy start in life for young children. Programmes cover how to juggle life with young children, how to respond to their needs without giving in to demands, tips to reduce mealtime stress, active play to help children learn, food groups, food labels, portion sizes for under 5s, first foods, snack swaps, and understanding and managing your child's behaviour.

Education

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Department for Education - helping children and adults get the most from learning 

Education Otherwise - promotes and supports the right of a parent or guardian to home educate their child should they wish to do so

Government guidance on home schooling and education 

Home Education Advisory Service - is dedicated to the provision of advice and practical support for families who wish to educate their children at home in preference to sending them to school

Home Education in the UK - provides resources and information on home education

Homework Elephant - resources to help children complete their homework

My World of Work for parents - can help you find the information you need to support your child as they begin to make choices about their future career.

National Careers Service - provides information, advice and guidance on all career related topics, including education, training, apprenticeships and employment over the telephone, webchat, email and text message.

Not Fine in School - is a parent/carer-led organisation set up in response to the growing number of children and young people who struggle with school attendance.They provide support and guidance. 

Parents in Touch - an education and information site for busy parents covering curriculums, exams and much more.

ParentKind - provides guidance for parents navigating their child's education.

ParentView - gives parents in England the opportunity to assess state schools against 12 criteria.

Red Balloon - provide an 'intensive care' full-time education for children aged between 9 and 18 who are unable to go to school because they have been severely bullied or who have suffered trauma.

School- Home Support - national charity that places higly trained practitioners in schools to support children and families, whatever they are going through.

The Good Schools Guide - feature more than 400 informative articles covering help, information advice and reviews of schools and tutors.

Tutor Pages - Tutor Pages contains thousands of articles on home tuition topics all written by private tutors. There's also an active forum to discuss private tuition, and a directory of private tutors who can be contacted for free. 

UCAS- helps to inspire and empower people to make aspirational choices about higher education and learning

Emotional and mental health

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Andy's Man Club - is a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the UK and online.

Anxiety UK - provides support if you are dealing with anxiety.

C.A.L.L. Helpline (Wales) - This is a confidential helpline which offers emotional support on mental health and related matters. 

CALM - run a free and confidential helpline and webchat – 7 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who needs to talk about life’s problems. 

Dad's Matter - Supporting dads and mums who are struggling with anxiety, depression and post natal depression

Give Us Shout - Anxious? Worried? Stressed? Get 24/7 help from our team of Crisis Volunteers.

Happy Maps - Reliable resources for children of all ages struggling with their mental health and wellbeing.

MENCAP - support and information for people with a learning disability and their families.

Mental Health Foundation - Committed to reducing the suffering caused by mental ill health and to help everyone lead mentally healthier lives.

MindEd for families - is a free learning resource about the mental health of children, young people and older adults.

Mind - information on all aspects of mental health.

Nip in the Bud - produce free short evidence-based films and fact sheets to help parents, educationalists and others working with children.

OCD Action - provide support and information to anybody affected by OCD

Our Time have Information on parenting with a mental illness and how to have a conversation with children about it.

Out of the FOG - Helping family members & loved-ones of people who suffer from personality disorders.

Place2Be - Provides emotional and therapeutic services in primary and secondary schools, building children's resilience through talking, creative work and play. 

PTSD UK - is dedicated to raising awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder – no matter the trauma that caused it.

RC Psych - Provide advice and information on mental health and wellbeing 

Rethink - advice and information for those suffering severe mental illness and their families or carers.

Sane - Provide support via their mental health helpline.

Stem4 - supporting positive teenage mental health. 

Student Minds - Mental health peer support for students

The Centre for Emotional Health -  provide high quality training courses and resources for professionals working with families, parents and carers including foster carers and adoptive parents in a variety of settings.

Time to change - They empower people with mental health problems to feel confident talking about the issue without facing discrimination

Young minds (for children's mental health) - information for parents who may be concerned about the mental health of their child.

Families and parenting

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Action for Children (Wales) - offer services to children and young people and their families.

Barnardo's Cymru - runs a number of projects aimed at supporting children, young people and their families.

CFAB (Children & Families Across Borders) - a charity which seeks to protect, defend and support any child, family or individual who faces a social, legal or personal problem as a consequence of global movement.

Childrens 1st - (Formerly ParentLine Scotland)is a free, confidential helpline for parents and anyone caring for a child in Scotland.

Children in Wales - is the national umbrella body for organisations and individuals who work with children, young people and their families in Wales. 

Cry-sis (Wales) - Helps families who find it difficult to cope when their baby cries a lot.

Family Action (formerly Family Welfare Association) - tackling difficult issues facing families including domestic abuse, mental health problems, learning disabilities and severe financial hardship.

Families Need Fathers - information and support on shared parenting following separation or divorce.

Family Rights Group - provides advice and services to families whose children are involved with social services

Gingerbread - Gingerbread is the national charity working with single parent families. Formed following a merger of the National Council for One Parent Families and Gingerbread, we now provide increased support and a stronger campaigning voice for single parents and their families.

Happy steps - The UK's only research based stepfamily resource centre. Designed to gather together a whole range of services to help families and individuals strengthen their stepfamilies and to provide training and tools for organisations who regularly deal with them.

HENRY (Health Exercise Nutrition for the Really Young) – A charity offering programmes and online resources for parents of 0 to 5 year olds to help provide a healthy start in life for young children. Programmes cover how to juggle life with young children, how to respond to their needs without giving in to demands, tips to reduce mealtime stress, active play to help children learn, food groups, food labels, portion sizes for under 5s, first foods, snack swaps, and understanding and managing your child's behaviour.

Home-start - offers regular support to families with one child under 5 years old - look at the site to see whether there is a scheme near you.

Home-Start UK in Wales - supports families with young children.

InOurPlace - provides free and paid for courses on different aspects of parenting and family life

Mumsnet - online forum for parenting support and the discussion of issues connected with parenting.

National Family Mediation - mediators helping parents who live apart stay close to their children.

Netmums - a unique local network for Mums (or Dads), offering a wealth of information on both a national and local level. Once registered, you can access details for all kinds of local resources, from child-friendly cafes to childminders, places to go etc.

One plus One - an independent research organisation whose role is to generate knowledge about marriage and relationships - how they work, why they can sometimes run into difficulties and how couples can cope when they do.

Parenting across Scotland - is a partnership of charities which offers support to children and families in Scotland. We work together to focus on parenting issues.

Parenting NI - provides a telephone helpline and face-to-face support and guidance service for families on issues such as bullying, separation/divorce, self-harm and emotional difficulties.

Parentline (Ireland) - provides information and a listening ear to anyone in a parenting role in Ireland.

Stand Alone - support people who are estranged from their family or children. Our primary objective is to break down the stigma around estrangement and support estranged people in their daily lives.

Strengthening Families - Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities (SFSC) is a parenting programme, some of their courses are free but others are paid courses. 

Strengthening Families Protecting Children Programme -  Information about the SFPC programme to help safely reduce the number of children entering care.

There For You Advisory Service - provides support to individuals and families being investigated or involved with their local Authority Children's Services Department, as well as pro​viding additional family support. 

Young Minds - information for parents who may be concerned about the mental health of their child.

FGM

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Forward - help and advice about female genital mutilation. 

Freedom Charity - provide support and protection for victims of abuse, Female Genital Mutilation and Forced Marriage.

NHS - advice on female genital mutilation. 

General advice and advocacy services

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Adviceguide - Adviceguide is the online CAB service that gives you information on your rights for all four UK countries, and on a wide range of topics, including benefits and employment, and debt and legal issues. Some content is in Welsh, and also ethnic community languages.

Advice Now - information service that draws together the best up-to-date information about the law and rights available on the internet and is managed by Lawforlife.

ConnectFutures - an independent social enterprise bringing people together to build trust and collaboration between organisations and their clients, using research, facilitation and training. 

Donor Conception Network -  is a charity offering information, support and community to donor conception families and prospective families.

Educate against Hate - gives parents, teachers and school leaders practical advice on protecting children from extremism and radicalisation.

POhWER - is a charity who provide information, advice, support and advocacy to people who experience disability, vulnerability, distress and social exclusion.

SSAFA - provides support for both regulars and reserves in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force and their families, including anyone who has completed National Service. 

The Salvation Army - provide advice and support in the community on a range of issues, including families, homelessness, debt and more.

VoiceAbiliity - supporting people to be heard in decisions about their health, care and wellbeing.

Grandparents

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Age UK - is the country's largest charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life and give advice on range of issues including money, health, care and wellbeing.

Gov.UK - Information on contact with your grandchild if their parents divorce or separate

Gransnet - an online community for the over 50's.

Kinship (formerly Grandparents Plus) - support kinship carers in their homes and communities, giving advice and helping them work through problems to find the best way forward.

Hourglass - provide help and support to end exploitation of older people in the UK.

The Silver Line - is the only free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Health

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Bladder and Bowel UK - Supporting adults and children with bladder and bowel issues.

beat (formerly Eating Disorders Association) - information and support on eating disorders across the UK.

Cancer Support UK - provide practical and emotional support to people with cancer, during and after the treatment period.

Child Brain Injury Trust - providing emotional and practical support, information and learning opportunities for families and professionals affected by childhood acquired brain injury across the UK.

City Hospice (Wales) – Support in Cardiff for those suffering from cancer, their families and carers.

Dementia UK- provides specialist dementia support for families through our Admiral Nurse service.

Diabetes UK - provides advice and support on all aspects of living with diabetes. 

ERIC (education and resources for improving childhood incontinence) - information and support on childhood betwetting, daytime wetting, constipation and soiling.

Gene People - Our genetic counsellor-led helpline service is for people with a genetic condition, their relatives, professionals and anyone who needs to know more about genetic conditions and how to cope with the difficulties they can present.

Headway - is the UK-wide charity that works to improve life after brain injury by providing vital support and information services.

HENRY (Health Exercise Nutrition for the Really Young) – A charity offering programmes and online resources for parents of 0 to 5 year olds to help provide a healthy start in life for young children. 

Macmillan Cancer Support - help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can.

NHS Wales - The NHS 111 Wales service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is free to call from both landlines and mobiles. 

Rainbow Trust - supports families who have a child aged 0-18 years with a life-threatening or terminal illness.

Stroke Association - Provide support people to rebuild their lives after stroke. 

The Channel - A digital platform for children and young people with Epilepsy. This is produced by Young Epilepsy

The Sleep Clinic - provides advice and support to help parents with child sleeping issues.

Terrance Higgins Trust - help and advice on living with HIV.

Housing

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Centrepoint -  is the UK's leading youth homelessness charity.

Homeless Link - are the national membership charity for organisations working directly with people who become homeless in England. 

Shelter - information for people who are homeless or having a housing problem

St Mungo's - support and advice for homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless.

Streetlink - a service connecting people sleeping rough to local services

The Housing Ombudsman - is set up by law to look at complaints about the housing organisations that are registered with us. Our service is free, independent and impartial.

Immigration

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Asylum Aid - free advice and assistance to refugees and asylum seeker.

Barnardos - offer advice, mental health and practical support to adult asylum seekers across the UK. 

Migrant Help - supporting people affected by displacement and exploitation.

Parents pack (from the Refugee Council) - the resource pack aims to support refugee parents who may not have access to these resources and it is hoped that it will be useful for advisers working with refugee families.

Ramfel - is a charity that supports vulnerable migrants to access justice and that provides vital support in moments of individual crisis.

Red Cross - provides support to migrants and refugees in local communities

Refugee Council - advice and support to asylum seekers and refugees.

Right to Remain - works with communities, groups and organisations across the UK. We provide information, resources, training and assistance to help people to establish their right to remain. We challenge injustice in the immigration and asylum system.

Ruth Hayman Trust - is a charity which awards grants to support the education and training of adults who have come to settle in the UK, speak English as a second or other language and have difficulty paying for their studies.

UKCOSA (Council for International Education) - provides independent advice for students from overseas on issues such as immigration, fees and welfare benefits.

UK immigration advice for Ukrainians - providing a free service to connect Ukrainian citizens in need of free legal advice on UK immigration, visas and asylum with qualified and regulated lawyers.

Internet safety

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Childnet International - Know IT All - resources aimed at young people, parents and teachers about safe and positive use of the internet. It contains information about what the risks are to users and outlines practical advice in avoiding or minimising risks when using online and mobile technologies.

Get Safe Online - is a unique resource providing practical advice on how to protect yourself, your computers and mobiles device and your business against fraud, identity theft, viruses and many other problems encountered online.

Internet Matters - information, advice and support on internet safety, from cyberbullying to setting up parental controls online. 

Internet Watch Foundation - site for reporting potentially illegal online content, specifically child abuse images and content hosted anywhere in the world, criminally obscene content hosted in the UK and incitement to racial hatred content hosted in the UK.

Kidsmart Digiducks Big Decision Book - a resource book for teachers to use in classrooms from Kidsmart.

NSPCC Net Aware - Your guide to the social networks your kids use with tips on keeping them safe.

O2 & NSPCC online safety helpline - get advice on the technical side of online safety, such as setting parental controls and privacy settings. Call 0808 800 5002.

Report Harmful Content - Helping everyone to report harmful content online

The Professionals Online Safety Helpline is a free service for professionals, and volunteers working with children and young people, managed by the UK Safer Internet Centre.

Think U Know - come in to find the latest information on the sites you like to visit, mobiles and new technology.

True Vision - Have you or someone you know been a victim of a hate crime or hate incident? True Vision gives advice about hate crime/incidents and how to report it.

Legal issues

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Advice Now - provide a hand-picked and checked information service that draws together the best up-to-date information about the law and rights available on the internet.

Advocate - is a charity which finds free legal help from barristers.

CAFCASS - looks after the interests of children involved in family proceedings. It works with children and their families, and then advises the courts on what it considers to be in the children's best interests.

Children's Legal Centre - information on all aspects of child law in England, including contact, parental responsiblity and residence orders.

Coroners Courts Support Service - is an independent voluntary organisation whose trained volunteers offer emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending an Inquest at a Coroner’s Court.

FLOWS - (Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors) is an independent legal support service, designed to help protect women against domestic abuse, anywhere in England and Wales.

Law Centre Network - offer legal advice, casework and representation to individuals and groups. 

Lawstuff - provides free legal information to children and young people

LawWorks - is a charity working in England and Wales to connect volunteer lawyers with people in need of legal advice, who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford to pay

Scottish Child Law Centre - free confidential legal advice service is provided via telephone and email, on all aspects of Scots law relating to children and young people.

Support through Court - provide a free service across the UK, and provide comfort, support and guidance before, during and after court. They ensure people facing court alone feel prepared and supported to access justice.

Resolution - an association of solicitors specialising in family law.  

Rights of Women - provide women with the legal advice and information they need to understand and use the law and their legal rights. 

Which? Legal Services - legal advice and services from the consumer rights group

LGBTQ+

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EACH - Educational Action Challenging Homophobia - a national, charitable organisation, set up to challenge homophobia, specifically homophobic bullying, through education.

Families Together London - Support group and website for friends and family of lesbian, gay and transgender people

FFLAG - are a national voluntary organisation and charity dedicated to supporting families and their LGBTQ+ loved ones.

Free2b Alliance - Support LGBTQ+ young people and parents and empowering them to work with us in delivering awareness training. We challenge homophobia, biphobia & transphobia, fostering an inclusive environment within education establishments and organisations across the sectors.

Gendered Intelligence - is a registered charity that exists to increase understandings of gender diversity and improve trans people's quality of life.

PACE - free counselling, support and advice over the phone and face to face, to all family members, whatever their age and sexuality.

STANCE - the comprehensive 'Whole Shool' resource pack for addressing homophobic bullying.

Stonewall - are a team of bold, passionate people fighting for the freedom, equity and potential of LGBTQ+ people everywhere.

Stonewall (Wales) - The charity Stonewall have a dedicated page to support parents to understand their parental rights. 

Switchboard LGBT+ helpline - are a safe space for anyone to discuss anything, including sexuality, gender identity, sexual health and emotional well-being.

Pregnancy and baby

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APNI - The Association of Post-Natal Illness provides advice and support if you are struggling or need some guidance. 

Baby Bank Alliance - provides a lifeline for families who need help: providing parents with support, and children with the items they need to thrive. 

Best beginnings - has an extensive video library includes tips on breastfeeding, exercise and mental health.

Birth Rights - exists to protect your human rights during pregnancy and childbirth.

Bliss - exists to give every baby born premature or sick in the UK the best chance of survival and quality of life.

Bounty - support families in the transition to parenthood, through each key life stage, from pregnancy to birth to toddler to pre-school.

British Pregnancy Advisory Service - offers information and treatment for unplanned pregnancy.

Breastfeeding Network - find help and support with breastfeeding. 

BROOK - free and confidential sexual health advice and contraception to young people up to the age of 25.

Cry-Sis - offering help and support to parents with babies who cry excessively or have sleeping problems. 

Donor Conception Network -  is a charity offering information, support and community to donor conception families and prospective families.

Ectopic Pregnancy Foundation - provides support and information on the care of women with a diagnosis, or possible diagnosis, of ectopic pregnancy. 

FPA - advice and publications on all aspects of sexual health.

Life - is a UK pregnancy support charity providing emotional help, counselling, and skilled listening via phone, text, email, or in person.

Little Lullaby -  is a young parents project. It offers support for young parents by young parents.

National Association of FASD - provides support to people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), their families and communities

NCT Breastfeeding Support - information and guidance for any parents that have questions about breastfeeding

NCT (National Childbirth Trust) - support through pregnancy and beyond.

The Lullaby Trust - raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families

The PANDAS Foundation - a support service for families and their networks who may be suffering with perinatal mental illness, including prenatal (antenatal) and postnatal depression.

Sense CDs - teenagers and pregnancy: Interactive CD Rom.

Tamba - support and information to parents of twins and multiple births.

The Miscarriage Association - support and information for people who experience pregnancy loss.

Tommy's - dedicated to finding causes and treatments to save babies’ lives as well as providing trusted pregnancy and baby loss information and support.

Prisoners

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Key for Life - A new social venture and charity creating innovative solutions to help reduce youth offending and gang warfare.

PACT - provides support to prisoners, people with convictions, and their families.

Prisoner's Advice Service - offers information to prisoners, to those within the prison sector, and responds to Government Consultations.

Prisoner's Families Helpline - offer support for families who have a loved one in contact with the criminal justice system. 

Prisoners abroad – advice for anyone with family member in prison abroad.

Prison Reform Trust - provides nformation for people in prison about what to expect, rules and procedures in prison, and how they should be treated.

Relationships

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Barefoot Institute - help support Muslim relationships between husband and wife, parents and children, siblings and relatives.

Between us app - is an app designed to help you have a better relationship with your partner now or in the future created by the Tavistock Relationships.

Click - is a unique service providing early intervention relationship support from a mobile-friendly platform.

Forced Marriage Unit - contact the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) if you are trying to stop a forced marriage or you need help leaving a marriage you have been forced into. Email: fmu@fco.gov.uk, Telephone: 020 7008 0151. From overseas +44 207 008 0151 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Out of hours: 020 7008 1500 (ask for the Global Response Centre)

Marriage Care - relationship support service including couples counselling, relationship and marriage preparation. No fixed charge, contribution-based

Relate - relationship counselling offered through regional centres.

Relate Cymru - offers advice, relationship counselling and support. They provide relationship support services at various locations across Wales.

Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships - couple therapy services.

One plus One - their mission is to strengthen relationships for couples, families, communities and workplaces using evidence based training and digital resources.

Runaways

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Missing People (formerly National Missing Persons Helpline) - the UK's only charity that works with young runaways, missing and unidentified people, their families and others who care for them.

Self-harm

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Harmless - provides information, support, training and consultancy for people who self harm, as well as their friends, families and professionals.

National Self Harm Network - our priority is to support survivors and people who self-harm. We also support the people it indirectly affects, like family and friends, they can discuss the issue and gain effective support in our forums.

Young Minds - supporting people who self-harm. We also support the people it indirectly affects, like family and friends, they can discuss the issue and gain effective support in our forums.

Sexual health

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BROOK - this site provides free and confidential sexual health advice and contraception to young people up to the age of 25.

fpa - advice and publications on all aspects of sexual health.

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

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Action on Hearing Loss - raise awareness of hearing loss and offer support and information.

ADDISS - provide people-friendly information and resources about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to anyone who needs assistance - parents, sufferers, teachers or health professionals.

ADHDUK - is a charity focused on ADHD and has support groups. 

Ambitious about Autism -  is the national charity for children and young people with autism. We provide services, raise awareness and understanding.

Appcessible.org - a database of useful mobile and tablet apps, specifically, apps that are designed to help users with additional needs and disabilities.

Autism Central - aims to make it easier to learn more about autism and services available to you.

Autistic Parents UK - supports autistic parents through support groups, webinars and one to one peer support. 

Barriers to Education - providing information and advice on autism, trauma, meltdowns and anxiety

Behaviour Support Hub - Led by parents, for parent carers of children with behaviour that challenges and neurodiverse conditions (this service is for parents/carers who live in Wales)

Carers UK -provides information and advice to carers of children and adults with disabilities.

Challenging Behaviour Foundation - provide practical information for families and professionals about understanding and supporting children and adults whose behaviour challenges.

Contact - provides varied support and guidance and work with families with disabled children.

Contact Cymru (Wales) - is an organisation dedicated to helping families who care for children with any disability or additional needs.

Council for disabled children - are the umbrella body for the disabled children's sector bringing together professionals, practitioners and policy-makers.

Disability. Pregnacy and Parenthood International - information and enquiry service on all aspects for pregnancy and parenthood.

Disablity Rights UK - works to create a society where everyone with lived experience of disability or health conditions can participate equally as full citizens.

dysTalk - information on specific learning disabilities and advice on how parents can optimise their child's learning.

Equality and Human Rights Commission - creating a fairer Britain, this website takes a look at your rights. A website with the aim of sharing information for independent living.

Family Fund - is the UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people.

I CAN - provides a range of information services that provide help and advice to parents and practitioners about speech, language and communication.

IPSEA - provides Independent Parental Special Education Advice on all educational matters for SEN. 

Kids -  provides information, advice and support around special educational needs and disabilities

Living with ADHD - free resources for young people, parents and professionals to help understand and manage ADHD.

National Autistic Society - advice and support for children and adults with autism.

NDCS - National Deaf Children's Society is a charity for deaf children and their families.

Nip in the Bud - produce free short evidence-based films and fact sheets to help parents, educationalists and others working with children.

Mencap - supporting people with a learning disability, and their families and carers.

PDA Society - Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) is a profile that describes those whose main characteristic is to avoid everyday demands and expectations to an extreme extent. The PDA Society provide information, support and training for individuals, families and professionals. 

POhWER - is a charity who provide information, advice, support and advocacy to people who experience disability, vulnerability, distress and social exclusion.

REMAP - is the UK’s only charity providing custom-made equipment, free of charge for people with disabilities.

RNIB - Royal National Institute of the Blind which helps living with sight loss.

Scope - support and advice to people with disabilities and their families.

Sense - supporting everyone who is deafblind or has complex disabilities.

Sibs - for people who grow up with a brother or sister with special needs, disability or chronic illness. Also has useful information for parents of children with special needs.

SNAP Cymru - offers information and support to families of children and young people in Wales who have special educational needs. Advice and information available on the website in English and Welsh.

Solas - an additional needs charity based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.  

Special Needs Jungle - provides parent-centred information, news, special needs resources and informed opinion about SEND and disabilities.

Supporting your neurodiverse child (handbook) - Essex Family Forum, SEND the Right Message (STRM) Support Services and MyOTAS (My Own Time And Space) Charity are proud to have written and produced a pack which is full of useful information for families with a neurodivergent child.

Tourettes Action - works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is the leading support and research charity for people with Tourette Syndrome and their families. 

The ADHD Foundation - is service for people who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia and Tourette’s syndrome.

The Dyslexia and SpLD Trust - provides information to parents, teachers, schools and the wider sector.

Suicidal feelings

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Andy's Man Club - is a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the UK and online.

CALM - The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide. 

Maytree - offer a free 4 night, 5 day stay for adults who are feeling suicidal, with the opportunity to be heard in complete confidence, in a caring, safe environment.

PAPYRUS – prevention of young suicide - support for young people under the age of 35 with thoughts of suicide, or those concerned about young people with thoughts of suicide.

Samaritans - emotional support to anyone in distress or at risk of suicide.

SOBS - exist to meet the needs and overcome the isolation experienced by people over 18 who have been bereaved by suicide.

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