Christmas 2024 – New Year 2025

The following online services will be available throughout the Christmas period.

The get help and advice section on our website has lots of information for parents and wider family and friends involved with children’s services.

Our online advice forums are an anonymous space where parents and kinship carers (also known as family and friends carers) can learn from others who have been through similar experiences. Our advisers will not be able to provide advice on the forums over the holiday period (from 24 December 2024 until 2 January 2025).

Alternative services that may be able to support you during the Christmas period:

• NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 is open 24 hours a day. You can contact them if you any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing.
• Childline on 0800 1111 is for children aged 18 and under providing free, confidential advice and support.
• Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 is open 24 hours a day.
• NHS 111 is the free number to call when you have an urgent healthcare need.
• Police non emergency telephone number is 101. In an emergency call 999.
• Citizens Advice offer advice online and via their national Adviceline. Open Mondays – Fridays, but are closed on bank holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day).
• Shelter provide housing advice online, in person and by phone. Their urgent phone line is open 365 days a year.
• Samaritans are always there to listen, 24 hours a day, 365 days a week.
• Mind has 4 helplines provide a voice at the end of the phone when there’s nowhere else to turn. Each line meets a different mental health or wellbeing need – from information and service finding to understanding mental health law. Open Mondays – Fridays, but are closed on bank holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day).
• Calm has a suicide prevention helpline for anyone affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts, including if you are worried about someone or have lost someone to suicide. Their helpline is open 5pm to midnight every day.
• Shout 85258 Shout is the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

The Useful Links page of our website includes other organisations that support families, including organisations in Wales and Scotland. Please look at relevant websites for details of available services available over the festive period. 

We wish you a happy and peaceful festive period.