Useful organisations

Please note that these links were correct at April 2011 - if you find a link that is broken, a number has changed or if you want to add your organisation to the list, do let us know by emailing ask.us@actionforchildren.org.uk. Thank you.

Drug abuse

FRANK - the National Drugs Helpline
24 hour helpline: 0800 776600 or you can text on 82111
Email: frank@talktofrank.com or post your queries online as well as search for your nearest help centre

Narcotics Anonymous
A self-help group run by recovering addicts with a network of meetings across the country. Open discussion on the impact of drugs and family. Message board plus details of regional groups.
Helpline: 0845 373 3366

Families Anonymous
A world wide fellowship of relatives and friends of people involved in the abuse of mind-altering substances, or with related behavioural problems. FA has groups, spread throughout the country, which meet regularly.
Helpline: 0845 120 0660

Alcohol abuse

Al-Anon
Support for anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else's drinking problem. Also includes Alateen for teenage friends and relatives of alcoholics.
Helpline: 020 7403 0888 (Helpline 10am - 10pm, 365 days a year)

Alcoholics Anonymous
A self-help group run by recovering alcoholics.
Helpline: 0845 769 7555
Email: help@alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

NHS Choices
Full discussion of the health impact of alcohol abuse as well as the social impact on family, friends and work. Includes self-health checks on your alcohol intake.

Mental health issues

Mental Health Foundation
Information on types of problems faced by children, what the symptoms might be and who to talk to to get help.
Email: mhf@mhf.org.uk

Young Minds
Young Minds is the UK's only national charity committed to improving the mental health and emotional well-being of all children and young people. Offers information for young people and parents.
Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544 (free from landlines and mobiles)
Email form available.

Voice Collective Project
Voice Collective is a 2 year project set up to develop, and co-run, peer support groups for young people (aged 12-18) who hear, see or sense things that other people don't. It's part of Mind in Camden's London Hearing Voices Project, which has been supporting people to set up groups for over 18s since 2005.

Legal help

Child Care Legal Centre
National charity which provides information/support for families involved in court proceedings.
Helpline: Freephone 08088 020 008 (Monday to Friday 9-5pm)
Helpine: Confidential Young People's freephone 0800 783 2187

Family Rights Group
National charity which provides information for families (parents and other family members) involved in court proceedings.
Helpline: 0808 801 0366 (10am - 3.30pm Monday to Friday)
Email: advice@frg.com

The Ministry of Justice
Guidance on reforms to the child care proceedings system in England and Wales, including statutory guidance for local authorities and the public law outline.

Local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Contact details of your local CAB are in the phone book and online

National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)
NYAS is a UK charity providing children's rights and socio-legal services. They offer information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children and young people up to the age of 25.
Helpline: Freephone 0800 61 61 01
Text: 0777 333 4555
Email: help@nyas.net

Community Legal Advice
Free, confidential legal advice on a wide range of issues such as housing, crime, debt, immigration, social care, housing, education, domestic issues among others.
Helpline: Call 0845 345 4 345 (Mon - Fri 9am - 8:00pm, Sat 9am - 12:30pm)

Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
A government organisation that can pay money (compensation) to people who have been physically or mentally injured because they were the blameless victim of a crime.

Financial help

Directgov.co.uk
Check here to see if you are eligible for grants and benefits.

Turn2us
Independent charity offering advice on getting the right help in difficult times. Includes a benefits checker and grants search.
Helpline: 0808 802 2000 (8am to 8pm Monday to Friday)

Advice for children and families

Childline
Free, 24 hour helpline for children and young people in danger or distress. You can call and talk to a counsellor, email or text if you have a problem.
Helpline: 0800 1111

Bullying UK
Bullying UK helps young people in particular as well as a wide range of parents, pupils, teachers and youth organisations with all aspects of bullying. They have Facebook, twitter and flickr networks.
Email: help@bullying.co.uk

NSPCC Helpline
The NSPCC runs services for children, young people and their families throughout the UK, Guernsey and Jersey.
Helpine: 0808 800 5000
Email: Helpline@nspcc.org.uk

National Autistic Society
Information on the rights and interests of all people on the autistic spectrum, providing individuals and their families with help, support and services
Helpline: 0845 070 4004 (open 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday)
Email: visit www.autism.org.uk/enquiry and fill in the form

National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)
NYAS is a UK charity providing children's rights and socio-legal services. They offer information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children and young people up to the age of 25.
Helpline: Freephone 0800 61 61 01
Text: 0777 333 4555
Email: help@nyas.net

The National Youth Agency - Youth Information
Offers information at the touch of a button on a vast range of topics relevant to young people at key points in their lives.
Email: youthinformation@nya.org.uk

Victim Support
Victim Support is the national charity for victims of crime in England and Wales.

Voice
For children currently in care or leaving care. If you are unhappy with decisions that have been made about you or your care, you can call Voice to speak to an advocate. The advocate will help ensure that you are listened to and that your views are taken seriously. An advocate can help you if:

you want support at reviews or other meetings
you don't like the plans that have been made about you
you want to complain

Helpline: 0808 800 5792 (Monday to Friday from 9.30 am - 6.00 pm. Your call will be free from any landlines and is also free from some mobiles)

Sibs
Sibs supports siblings who are growing up with or who have grown up with a brother or sister with any disability, long term chronic illness, or life limiting condition.

Adoption and fostering

British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF)
BAAF supports, advises and campaigns for better outcomes for children in care. BAAF works with everyone involved with adoption and fostering across the UK. There are regional and country offices in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, providing services to meet the needs of some of the UK's most vulnerable children and young people.
Phone: 020 7421 2600
Email: mail@baaf.org.uk

After Adoption
If your life is affected by adoption you may be searching for answers to particular questions, or just want a little extra support from time to time. If you are an adopted person, part of an adoptive family or a birth relative, After Adoption can help you deal with the differences adoption can bring to your life.
Actionline: 0800 0568 578

The Fostering Network
Every child has the right to live in a family where they get the care, support and encouragement they need to develop and achieve. Foster care offers this to children unable to live with their own families.
Information line: Ring 020 7261 1884 (between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday)
Email: info@fostering.net

Direct.gov.uk
Full information on adoption, fostering and children in care including how to make a formal compaint.

Educational needs

Advisory Centre for Education (ACE)
A national charity that provides advice and information to parents and carers on a wide range of school based issues including exclusion, admissions, special education needs, bullying and attendance.
General advice line: Freephone 0808 800 5793 (Mon - Fri 10am -5pm)
Exclusions information line: 020 7704 9822 (24hr answer machine) - Free advice pack if your child has been excluded from school.

Parents In Touch
Very comprehensive site for parents who want to understand the school system more and how to help their children, whatever stage they're at.

NASEN
Nasen (formerly National Association for Special Educational Needs) promotes the development of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and supports those who work with them.
Email: welcome@nasen.org.uk

Parenting / child behaviour

Parentline Plus
A national charity that works for, and with, parents. Info for all aspects of parenting including regional support groups, groups run by phone and online message boards.
Helpline: 0808 800 2222

Contact a Family
The only UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children.
Helpline: 0808 808 3555
Textphone: 0808 808 3556
Email: helpline@cafamily.org.uk

Grandparents Association
Helps grandparents whose grandchildren have been put into care, adopted from care or were not allowed any contact with them because of divorce or other problems.
Email: info@grandparents-association.org.uk
Office: 01279 428040
Helpline: 0845 4349585
Welfare Benefits: 08443 571033