Advice and guidance to help this Christmas
Family Lives
Helpline: 0808 800 2222
Family Lives is a charity with over three decades of experience helping parents to deal with the changes that are a constant part of family life. We provide professional non-judgemental support through our 24 hour helpline, extensive advice on our website, our email and live chat services, befriending services, and parenting/relationship support groups.
Addiction
TM Alcohol Addiction Helplines
TM Gambling Addiction Helplines
Talk to Frank
Helpline: 0300 123 6600
Offers free confidential drugs information and advice 24 hours a day.
DrugFAM
Helpline: 0300 888 3853
DrugFAM supports families affected by a loved one’s use of drugs or alcohol
Drinkline
Helpline: 0300 123 1110
Drinkline is a free, confidential helpline for people who are concerned about their drinking, or someone else's.
Alcoholics AnonymousNational helpline: 0800 9177 650www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Helpline for people with drink problems, staffed by recovering alcoholics. Open 365 days a year. Can give details of local AA groups and contact with a local member.
Adfam
Adfam is the only national umbrella organisation working specifically with and for families affected by drugs and alcohol. Our final goal is that no family member in need of support should go without it.
Gamcare
Helpline: 0808 8020 133 www.gamcare.org.ukA confidential counselling, advice and information service for people affected by a gambling dependency, including family and friends of compulsive gamblers.
Gamblers Anonymous (UK)Helplines: See contact page for regional phone numberswww.gamblersanonymous.org.uk
Provides information about a fellowship of men and women who have joined together to do something about their own gambling problem.
Gam Anon & Gam Anon Scotland
For anyone affected by someone else's gambling.
Bereavement
Cruse Bereavement Care
Day by Day Helpline: 0808 808 1677
Cruse Bereavement Care exists to promote the well-being of bereaved people and to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss by providing counselling and support as well as information, advice, education and training services.
The Compassionate Friends
Helpline: 0345 123 2304
The Compassionate Friends provide one-to-one support, local support groups and produce a range of publications for parents, children, grandparents and professionals, as well as a website specifically for people dealing with the death of a brother or sister.
Grief Encounter
Tel: 0808 802 0111
When a child’s parent or significant loved one dies, their lives change forever. As well as the sadness they feel, they are often left confused and full of fear and anxiety. We help families address difficult issues like death and help make sense of the hurt and confusion. Above all, we aim to help them find ways out of the abyss of grief.
Bullying & Cyber Bullying
TM Bullying & Cyber Bullying Helplines
Kidscape
Parent’s Helpline: 020 7823 5430 (Mon-Tues 10-5pm)www.kidscape.org.uk
Whatever your problem or concern we are here to support you. All problems, whether big or small, will be answered with the same level of care and concern. Your call will be treated as confidential and you can remain anonymous.
Debt
National Debtline
Helpline: 0808 808 4000
National Debtline is a charity. We give free and independent debt advice over the phone and online.
Step ChangeFree Helpline: 0800 138 1111www.stepchange.org Dedicated to providing confidential, free counselling and money management assistance to financially distressed families and individuals. No matter what your debt problem, we’ll be able to help.
Turn2us
Helpline: 0808 802 2000
Turn2us helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help – online, by phone and face to face through our partner organisations.
Shelter
Helpline: 0808 800 4444
Offer free confidential expert advice via their website, Housing Aid Centres, helpline and e-mail services.
Domestic and Sexual Abuse and Rape
TM Rape & Sexual Abuse Helplines
Refuge
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (24 hours)www.refuge.org.uk
Refuge set up the world's first refuge for women and children escaping domestic violence. Since then, we have grown to become the largest provider of emergency accommodation and emotional and practical support to women and children in the country and the leading voice in the campaign to end domestic violence.
Women's Aid Federation of Englandwww.womensaid.org.uk
For women who are experiencing or have experienced physical, mental, sexual or domestic violence or abuse. Offers advice, support and crisis intervention to abused women.
Rape Crisis
Helpline: 0808 500 2222 (24/7)
National Organisation offering support and counselling for those affected by rape and sexual abuse.
See website for local groups or contact directory enquiries.
Victim Support
Supportline: 08 08 16 89 111
Our services are confidential, free and available to anyone who's been raped or sexually assaulted, now or in the past. We can help, regardless of whether you have told the police or anyone else about the attack. You you can also talk to us on the 'phone, either at one of our local offices or at the national Victim Supportline.
Disability
TM Sick & Disabled Children Helplines
Wellchild
Tel: 01242 530007
We help sick children and their families throughout the UK as they deal with the consequences of serious illness and complex conditions.
Contact
Helpline: 0808 808 3555
Providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children - no matter what their disability or health condition.
Scope / Dial
Helpline: 0808 800 33 33
We're all about changing society for the better, so that disabled people and their families can have the same opportunities as everyone else.
The Family Fund
Tel: 01904 550055
Provides grants to families with severely disabled children, based on families' needs and is open to families with children and young people up to their 18 birthday who have a severe disability.
Together for Short Lives
Helpline: 0808 8088 100
www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk
Together for Short Lives is the leading UK charity for all children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions and all those who support, love and care for them.
Mental Health
TM Children & Young People's Mental Health
Hub of Hope
The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database. It brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place.
MindMindInfoline: 0300 123 3393
Side by side - on-line support community
The MindinfoLine confidential help on a range of mental health issues. They also provide a special legal service to the public, lawyers and mental health workers.
Pandas Foundation
FREE helpline: 0808 1961 776
Pandas Foundation is the leading UK charity in supporting families suffering from pre (antenatal) and postnatal depression and psychosis.
Young MindsHelpline: 0808 802 5544www.youngminds.org.uk Parents' Information Service gives advice to parents or carers who may be concerned about the mental health or emotional well being of a child or young person.
PapyrusHOPELINEUK – 0800 068 4141www.papyrus-uk.org
Supporting your child pdfSupport for anyone under 35 experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person may be experiencing thoughts of suicide.
Childline Helpline: 0800 1111
Mobile phone safety ChildLine is a counselling service for children and young people. You can contact ChildLine in these ways: You can phone on 0800 1111, send us an email, have a 1-2-1 chat with us, send a message to Ask Sam and you can post messages to the ChildLine message boards. You can contact ChildLine about anything - no problem is too big or too small.
The Mix
Helpline: 0808 808 4994
Whether you’re 13, 25, or any age in between, we’re here to take on the embarrassing problems, weird questions, and please-don’t-make-me-say-it-out-loud thoughts you have. We give you the information and support you need to deal with it all.
Campaign Against Living MiserablyHelpline: 0800 58 58 58www.thecalmzone.net The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) works to prevent male suicide and offers support services for any man who is struggling or in crisis. CALM’s helpline 0800 58 58 58 and web-chat are for men in the UK who need to talk or find information and support. The services are open 5pm–midnight daily and are free, anonymous and confidential. For access or to find more information visit thecalmzone.net
Anxiety UK
Helpline: 03444 775 774
Anxiety UK works to relieve and support those living with anxiety disorders by providing information, support and understanding via an extensive range of services.
No Panic
Helpline: 0300 772 9844
Youth Line: 0330 606 1174
No Panic (National Organisation for Phobias, Anxiety, Neuroses, Information and Care) is a totally voluntary charity, whose aims are to aid the relief and rehabilitation of those people suffering from panic attacks, phobias, obsessive/compulsive disorders and other related anxiety disorders including tranquilliser withdrawal, and to provide support to sufferers and their families and or carers.
Trauma Research UK
We are a national registered trauma research charity dedicated to making a difference. Offering support and recovery programmes to those suffering from trauma and anxiety-related disorders such as phobias, panic attacks, PTSD, OCD, GAD etc. We know you may be suffering right now, but please consider this - “It's not what's wrong with you, it's what happened to you”.
Shout
Text Shout to 85258
Shout is the UK’s first free 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help.
Samaritans Tel: 116 123 (Free)
www.samaritans.org Whatever you're going through, we're here to help 24 hours a day.
Pregnancy, Childbirth & Parenting
TM Pregnancy & Childbirth Helplines
Tommy’s
Pregnancy Line: 0800 0147 800
Comprehensive website with details of all aspects of pregnancy and giving birth to a healthy baby, as well as a Midwife Helpline.
National Childbirth Trust
Helpline: 0300 330 0700
The NCT is UK's leading charity for parents. Every year they support thousands of people through the incredible life changing experience of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood to help you through this transition, offering relevant information, reassurance and mutual support.
The Breastfeeding Network
National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk Comprehensive source of information and support for breastfeeding women and for those involved in their care.
Cry-sis
Helpline: 08451 228 669
Cry-sis runs a national telephone helpline that is available to callers every day of the year between 9.00am and 10.00pm. Callers are referred to a trained volunteer member of Cry-sis who has had personal experience of crying or sleep problems within their own family.
Action for Children
We’ve pooled practical advice on everything from family life to home schooling. Down-to-earth parenting advice you can trust. You can talk one-to-one with a qualified parenting coach about anything that’s worrying you. It’s all free, and no topic is too big, small, or embarrassing.
Gingerbread
Single Parent Helpline: 0808 802 0925
One Parent Families/Gingerbread is the leading national charity working to help lone parents and their children.
MATCH (Mothers Apart from their Children)
MATCH exists to support mothers who are apart from their children because of ill-health, fostering, adoption, abduction abroad, alienation following high-conflict family breakdown or family rows. If you are a mother who no longer lives with your child as a result of local authority care proceedings and your child is either in care, being fostered, under a special guardianship order or has been adopted MATCH can support you.
Families Need Fathers
Helpline: 0300 0300 363
Help with shared parenting issues arising from relationship breakdown whether you’re the mum or dad, married or unmarried.
New Family Social
Helpline: 020 3880 2683
New Family Social promotes the care and upbringing of children by LGBT adopters and foster carers by allowing these families to socialise and share support in a safe environment
Being a Step Parent
BeingAStepParent contains over 90 articles written by experts who continually update and add new content.
Relationships
TM Divorce & Relationships Helplines
Relate
We’re the UK's largest provider of relationship support, and last year we helped over two million people of all ages, backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities to strengthen their relationships. Find out more about what we do and how we can help you here.
Tavistock Relationships
Tel: 020 7380 1960
www.tavistockrelationships.org
Our team of clinicians offer a range of affordable counselling and therapy services to support every individual, couple or parent facing relationship problems.
One Plus One
One Plus One is an online relationships resource offering information and support through an interactive website Click and online courses such as See it differently designed to help couples see the impact of their arguments on children and learn how to do it differently, and Getting it right for children to help separated parents communicate without distressing their children.
National Family Mediators Association Helpline: 01355 244 594
Family mediation is a voluntary process by which couples in dispute, particularly those going through separation or divorce, are helped to deal with arrangements for their future. NFMA has a network of over 60 not-for-profit Family Mediation Services in England and Wales offering help to couples, married or unmarried, who are in the process of separation and divorce.
Carers & Young Carers
TM Carers & Young Carers Helplines
Carers UKHelpline: 0808 808 7777www.carersuk.org
Carers UK provides information and advice to people who provide unpaid support to their relatives, partners or friends who are chronically ill, disabled or frail.
Carers Direct
Helpline: 0300 123 1053
Social care and support www.youngcarers.net
Part of the NHS website. It provides a gateway to comprehensive sources of information for carers. The site has been developed in conjunction with the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Carers UK, Crossroads, and Young Carers Net. It contains information about benefits, links to national and local support organisations, and a directory of services.
Carers Trust
Head Office: Tel: 0300 772 9600www.carers.org
The booklet aims to bring together young carers from across the UK in an online space which is safe, fun and supportive. The online team are on hand to answer any questions you might have, and to offer support and advice via e-mail or one-to-one webchats.
The Honeypot
Since 1996 Honeypot has been working to enhance the lives of vulnerable children and young carers aged 5-12 years by providing respite breaks and on-going outreach support. We give young carers a break from demanding and stressful responsibilities at home and provide a safe, nurturing environment where children at risk can develop their full potential. Before a child begins their relationship with Honeypot the first stage is a referral from someone already working with a child in need: a school, social worker, doctor, health visitor, community organisation or young carer support group. We discuss the child’s case and a home visit is then arranged with the child and their family.
SIBS – For brothers and sisters of disabled children and adults
Sibs exists to support people who grow up with or have grown up with a disabled brother or sister. It is the only UK charity representing the needs of over half a million young siblings and over one and a half million adult siblings.