By phone or email
To speak to an adviser, please call our free and confidential advice line 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm, excluding Bank Holidays). Or you can ask us a question via email using our advice enquiry form.
Useful Links – Northern Ireland
Below we have listed other organisations that may be helpful to families, practitioners and policy makers in Northern Ireland. We have worked to ensure the information provided is accurate at the time of publication, but organisations may adjust opening hours or contact details.
Please note that Family Rights Group does not necessarily endorse the organisations listed and we are not responsible for the content of any external websites.
Adoption and Fostering
TESSA
Support for adoptive families in Northern Ireland.
Telephone: 028 9046 9211
Website: https://tessani.org
Advocacy for young children and families
Voice of Young People in Cae (VOYPIC)
Charity promoting rights of children in care (including kinship care arrangements and secure settings).
Telephone:028 9024 4888
Email: info@voypic.org
Website: https://www.voypic.org/
Advocacy for Adults
Advocacy for All (delivered by Inspire)
Free advocacy service for anyone over 18 in Northern Ireland. Helpline and webchat.
Freephone: 0808 189 0036
Email: hello@inspirewellbeing.org
Website: https://www.inspirewellbeing.org/advocacy-for-all/
Bereavement
Bereaved NI
Online information and support if you are experiencing grief and bereavement or helping other people who are bereaved.
Website: https://bereaved.hscni.net/
Disability (including learning disability)
Mencap Helpline
Independent advice and information service for people with a learning disability in Northern Ireland.
Free Helpline: 0808 808 1111
Website: https://northernireland.mencap.org.uk
Disability Action
Disability Action is working with disabled people with various disabilities:
physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory disabilities, hidden disabilities and mental health disabilities.
Free Helpline: 0808 802 0020
Email: welfarechanges@adviceni.net
Website: https://www.disabilityaction.org/Pages/FAQs/Category/advice
Domestic Abuse
Men’s Advisory Project (MAP NI)
Support (including Housing matters) for men experiencing domestic abuse.
Telephone: 028 9024 1929 (Belfast) 0208 7116 0001 (Foyle)
Email: info@mapni.co.uk
Website: https://mapni.co.uk
NEXUS
The 24-hour free confidential Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline offers support, signposting and referrals to victims, family, friends and professionals.
Helpline 24/7: 0808 802 1414
Email: help@dsahelpline.org
Website: https://dsahelpline.org
Victim Support NI
Support and advice service for victims of crime.
Telephone: 020 890 243133
Website: https://www.victimsupportni.com/
Women’s Aid Federation NI
Charity working to end domestic violence against women and girls. Women’s Aid NI co-ordinates and supports an Northern Ireland -wide network of local services and campaigns for better legal protection and services to abused women and children. They offer a helpline and a web chat service.
Freephone 24/7 Helpline: 0808 802 1414
Email: info@womensaidni.org
Website: https://www.womensaidni.org/
Drugs and Alcohol misuse
Drugs and Alcohol NI (DACT)
Drug and Alcohol Services (statutory and community agencies), local teams for each Health Trust, please see website.
Website: https://drugsandalcoholni.info
Education including special educational needs
Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Service (DARS)
Free and independent Service to support in resolving disagreements with schools or the Education Authority (EA) in relation to a child or young person with SEN.
Telephone: 028 9072 6060
Email: DARS@globalmediation.co.uk
Website: https://www.globalmediation.co.uk/service/dars
Families of offenders
Children With Imprisoned Parents (CHIP)
Support to children aged 0-18, who have a parent or sibling currently in prison across Northern Ireland.
Telephone: 028 9032 0157
Email: niacro@niacro.co.uk
Website: https://www.niacro.co.uk/
Housing
Housing Rights
Housing helpline to help with housing problems, online information and guidance option of case workers (eligibility criteria required).
Telephone: 028 9024 5640
Website: https://www.housingrights.org.uk/
Legal advice and information
Children’s Law Centre
Legal advice and representation on any legal issue impacting on children. Specialist areas include Education, SEN, Mental health and Immigration. Free advice line.
Advice line:0808 808 5678
Email: chalky@childrenslawcentre.org
Website: https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk
Mental health
Cause
Advice and support service run by peer Carer Advocates for people living with/caring for someone with mental illness.
Helpline: 0800 103 2833
Website: https://cause.org.uk/
Inspire
Mental health and Addiction Service.
Telephone:028 9032 8474
Email: hello@inspirewellbeing.org
Website: https://www.inspirewellbeing.org/
Lifeline
Lifeline is Northern Ireland’s crisis response helpline, support for those who are experiencing crisis or despair, and those feeling suicidal.
Helpline 24/7: 0808 808 8000
Website: https://www.lifelinehelpline.info/
Suicide Prevention Ireland (PIPS)
Support to individuals who are considering or who have at some point considered ending their own lives or self-harming.
Tel:0800 088 6042
Website: https://pipscharity.com
Money, debt, welfare and benefits
Benefits Advice Line (Make the Call)
Helpline to get advice on benefit entitlements. NI number required when calling.
Telephone: 0800 232 1271
Cost of Living 24
Unique One-Stop-Shop for help during the cost of living crisis. Information and signposting to help with money, bills and budgeting.
Helpline: 0808 189 0036
Law Centre NI
Free, specialist and confidential advice on all benefit issues.
Helpline: 028 9024 4401
Email: benefitsadvice@lawcentreni.org
Website: https://www.lawcentreni.org/get-legal-help/social-security/
Advice NI
Benefits advice.
Parenting and families
Children’s Court Guardian Agency (NIGALA)
Equivalent to Cafcass in England.
Helpline: 0300 555 0102
Email: admin@nigala.hscni.net
Website: https://nigala.hscni.net
Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY)
Support, advice or assistance to parents, carers, children and young people in relation to children’s rights and complaints.
Telephone: 0208 9031 1616
Email: info@niccy.org
Website: https://www.niccy.org/
Family Court Information for Northern Ireland
Web resource to guide through Private Law proceedings in Northern Ireland.
Website: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/familycourtinfo
Kinship Care Helpline
The Caring for Kin helpline provides free, independent and confidential advice and support to kinship carers throughout Northern Ireland.
Freephone: 0800 022 3129
Email: info@kinshipcareni.com
Website: https://kinshipcareni.com
My Family Matters Foundation Ltd
My Family Matters Foundation Ltd, provides an alternative, early intervention service for separating parents. Advice on private and public law matters. They work with parents, grandparents and any other significant person.
Telephone: 02871 163138
Email: info.myfamilymattersfoundation@gmail.com
Website: https://www.myfamilymattersfoundation.co.uk/
Next Step (Adoption Support)
Counselling support service to birth parents and other relatives whose children are going to be placed or have already been placed for adoption.
Telephone: 028 9073 6086
Website: https://nextstepni.org
Parenting Focus
Parenting Support (including grandparents) with a free Support telephone line and direct Family Support Services.
Freephone: 0808 8010 722
Email: help@parentingfocus.org
Website: https://parentingfocus.org
Parentline NI
Parentline NI offers a listening ear for parents and carers and provide advice and guidance (signposting). Helpline and web chat. They also offer face-to-face appointments.
Freephone: 0808 8020 400
Email: parentline@ci-ni.org.uk
Webchat: https://www.ni.org.uk/parentline
Website: https://www.ci-ni.org.uk/
Referral Gateway
Gateway is a Social Work service for children and families. They are the first point of contact for children or young persons in need of assistance or support.
Telephone: 0300 1234 333 or 028 9442 4459
Email: SPOE.Referrals@northerntrust.hscni.net
Website: https://www.northerntrust.hscni.net/services/gateway-childrens-social-work-service/
Bryson Care
Bryson offers: a Family Support Service (outreach home visiting service) for parents with children 0-18 years of age who reside within the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust or South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust and have a Family & Child Care Social Worker. An advocacy service for adults with learning difficulties involved with Family & Child Care Social worker.
Telephone: 028 9032 5835
Website: https://www.brysoncare.org/how-we-can-help/parents-families/
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