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.
Are you a parent, kinship carer relative or friend of a child who is involved with, or who needs the help of, children’s services in England? We can help you understand processes and options when social workers or courts are making decisions about your child’s welfare.
Our advice service is free, independent and confidential.
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.
Our online advice forums are an anonymous space where parents and kinship carers (also known as family and friends carers) can get legal and practical advice, build a support network and learn from other people’s experiences.
Our get help and advice section has template letters, advice sheets and resources about legal and social care processes. On Monday and Wednesday afternoons, you can use our webchat service to chat online to an adviser.
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
The Adoption and Fostering Association provide information, advice and best practice guidance to professionals and members of public who are seeking advice about adoption fostering and kinship care including special guardianship. Their advice service provides specific advice to those who are pregnant and considering adoption and LGBT+ focused advice for prospective adopters/foster carers.
Advice Line: 02920 761155
Website: https://www.afacymru.org.uk/advice-line/
TACT is the UK’s largest charity and voluntary agency providing fostering and adoption services. They campaign on behalf of children and young people in care, carers, their families and adoptive families.
Telephone: 0330 123 2250
Website: https://www.tactcare.org.uk
Advocacy for young children and families
Wales Children’s Commissioner’s advice and assistance service for young people in Wales or those who care for them.
Telephone: 04792 765600; 0808 801 1000 (freephone)
Email: post@childcomwales.org.uk
Meic provides information, advice and advocacy for children and young people up to the age of 25 in Wales. Operates a phone, email, SMS text and instant messaging service. All services are open 8am to midnight, 7 days a week.
Confidential, anonymous, free helpline: 0808 8023456
Text: 84001
Website: https://www.meiccymru.org/
NYAS is a UK charity providing socio-legal services. They offer information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children, young people and vulnerable adults through a network of dedicated paid workers and volunteers throughout England and Wales.
If you are a child or young person, or you’re acting on behalf of a child, young person or vulnerable adult and need help, information or advice, contact the helpline on 0808 808 1001 or send an email to help@nyas.net.
Website: https://www.nyas.net
Information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Free helpline: 0808 808 1001
Email: help@nyas.net
Website: https://www.nyas.net/get-support/support-in-wales/
Voices from Care provide information and support to children and young people who have been in the care system. They offer a membership service that gives access to wellbeing support, counselling and help for care leavers who are moving into their own homes.
Website: https://vfcc.org.uk
Bereavement
Helps bereaved people through the provision of counselling, support, information, advice, education and training. The website or local phone book will help you locate your local services. Also provides RD4U, a website dedicated to young people.
Helpline: 0808 806 1677
Website for adults: https://www.cruse.org.uk
Disability (including learning disability)
Government body that works to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society. Gives information and guidance on discrimination and human rights.
Website: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com
Advice website: http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com
Free and independent information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people in Wales with all kinds of special educational needs (SEN)/additional learning needs(ALN)and disabilities. They also provide advocay for young peopel and parents in respect of theri child’s needs and rights.
Telephone:0808 801 0608
Email: Individual online enquiry forms for different areas of need. See webpage https://www.snapcymru.org/contact/
Website: https://www.snapcymru.org/
This network supports professionals working with parents with learning difficulties and learning disabilities and their children. It provides a UK-wide network for professionals sharing positive practice including four regional groups in England and country-wide networks in Scotland and Wales.
Domestic Abuse
DYN Helpline provides support to men who are experiencing domestic abuse from a partner. They run a confidential listening service and helpline. The DYN website includes more information about those services as well as information on safety planning, accessing other organisations and local services and a legal FAQ section. The helpline telephone service is open Monday (10am – 4pm), Tuesday (10am – 4pm) and Wednesday (10am – 1pm).
Helpline: 0808 8010321
Email: support@dynwales.org
Website: www.dynwales.org
Live Fear Free provides national free support and information service for women, children and men in Wales who are experiencing or who have experienced domestic or sexual abuse. Open 24 hours.
Telephone: 0808 8010800
Website: http://livefearfree.gov.wales/
Advises, educates and empowers women by providing free, confidential legal advice by specialist women solicitors and barristers; enabling women to understand and benefit from their legal rights through accessible and timely publications and training; and campaigning to ensure that women’s voices are heard and law and policy meets all women’s needs. Visit the website or telephone for legal advice.
Website: http://rightsofwomen.org.uk
Family Law call: 020 7251 6577
Criminal law call: 020 7251 8887
Immigration and asylum law call: 020 7490 7689
EU settlement scheme advice call: 020 7118 0267
WWA is the national umbrella organisation representing local Women’s Aid Groups situated across Wales. They provide 24 hour 7 days a week confidential advice and support by telephone, text, email and webchat. Support is available in English, Welsh and any other language. Queries may be passed on to WWA’s sister agency, the All Wales Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Helpline, for specialist support.
Telephone: 0808 8010800
Text: 07860 077333
Webchat: https://gov.wales/live-fear-free/contact-live-fear-free
Drugs and Alcohol misuse
Helps families and carers living with drug or alcohol problems across the UK.
Website: https://adfam.org.uk
BAROD is a national service that provides information and support to adults and young people affected by drug or alcohol use – whether their own or someone elses. Their website hosts information about local services. They also offer online help via live chat.
Website: https://barod.cymru/
Education including special educational needs
Provides free legal advice to ensure that children with SEN in England and Wales receive the provision to which they are entitled. Can advise re tribunals.
Call-in Helpline: 0300 222 5899
Website: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/contact-ipsea
Helps children between the ages of 7 and 13 who are ‘at risk’, providing grant funding to enable these children to attend independent boarding or day schools, or state boarding schools, where they have a chance of making a new start. See their website for eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Telephone: 01932 868622
Email: admin@royalspringboard.org.uk
Website: https://www.royalspringboard.org.uk
Holidays and Breaks
Helps disadvantaged parents and children with holidays and other recreational provision.
Telephone: 0203 117 0650
Email: hello@familyholidaycharity.org.uk
Website: https://familyholidaycharity.org.uk/
Legal advice and information
Partnered with Resolution to provide a panel of family law solicitors that can help with important points of their family case for a reduced, fixed fee. Offer appointments over the phone or via Facetime, Zoom, Skype, or Whatsapp.Their independent, not-for-profit website providing accurate, practical information on rights and the law in England and Wales.
Website: https://www.advicenow.org.uk/know-hows/getting-affordable-advice-family-solicitor-advicenow
Advocate is a charity that finds free legal assistance from volunteer barristers across England and Wales.
Website: https://weareadvocate.org.uk/apply-for-help.html
All-women team of family law specialists dedicated to providing low-cost legal advice to women dealing with various family law issues, including: arrangements or disputes about children, financial matters, domestic abuse. Provide advice, negotiation on your behalf, or representation at court.
Telephone: 01482 711003
Email: info@affordablejustice.co.uk
Website: https://www.affordablejustice.co.uk/
CAFCASS Cymru provide support to children and young people in family court proceedings. Their website provides lots of resources to young people about care proceedings, adoption, parents who are separating and a list of other key support services.
Website: https://gov.wales/cafcass-cymru
Children in Wales is the national umbrella organisation for those working with children and young people in Wales. A membership body; it collect and disseminate information about children and young people’s issues; offers policy services; organises training courses, events and conferences; co-ordinates campaigns and research projects; provide consultancy services and co-ordinates specialist forums and networks across Wales.
Website: https://www.childreninwales.org.uk
The Children’s Legal Centre Wales provide information for children and young people on a range of issues in English and Welsh. They have legal advice sheets for children and young people on topics including rights and protections, guidance for unaccompanied children seeking asylum, disabled children and contact following care proceedings.
Email: childrenslegalcentre@swansea.ac.uk
Website: https://childrenslegalcentre.wales
Provides free over the phone legal advice information on debt, housing, employment, education and welfare benefits for people eligible for legal aid. Can put you in touch with local, legal advisers and solicitors; help with working out if you qualify for legal aid and give free advice if you qualify for legal aid.
Website: https://www.gov.uk/civil-legal-advice
Trains and supports family mediators. Can also help you find your nearest mediator.
Telephone: 01355 244594
Email: info@thefma.co.uk
Website: https://thefma.co.uk
Responsible for the Community Legal Service (CLS) and Criminal Defence Service legal advice schemes. See entry above for Community Legal Service.
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/legal-aid-agency
Citizens Advice Service covering Civil & Housing matters, Family Law (private law) including mediation and judge referred child contact (costs involved). Appointments by phone and zoom and in person. Legal services are for people who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford a lawyer.
Email: admin@rcjadvice.org.uk (general enquiry)
Website: https://www.rcjadvice.org.uk/
The Solicitors Register is a service for checking a solicitor or firm that is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Run by the Law Society, Find a Solicitor is a free service for anyone looking for information about organisations or people providing legal services in England and Wales that are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Website: https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk
Mediation
NFM is a network of local non-for-profit family mediation service which offer help to married and unmarried couples in the process of separation and divorce. You can find your nearest family mediation service on their website.
Tel: 0300 4000 636
Website: https://www.nfm.org.uk
Mental health
Provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Also has a network of local Minds https://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/local-minds/ delivering mental health support, including advocacy.
Infoline 0300 123 3393
Legal line 0300 466 6463
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Website: https://www.mind.org.uk
Money, debt, welfare and benefits
Advicelink Cymru provide quality assured advice on welfare benefits, debt, employment, education, housing, immigration and discrimination. The service aims to help people access the right advice, at the right time and make it easier for them to access services again if they need further help—whether that’s about the same issue or something new. The advice line and Relay UK line are open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.
Advice Line: 0800 7022020
Relay UK line: (if you can’t hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say) 18001 then 08082 505 720
Website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/our-work/advice-partnerships/advicelink-cymru/
Money advice and education to disadvantaged groups, diverse ethnic communities and young people.
Telephone: 0208 616 3750
Email: info@moneyaande.co.uk
Website: https://www.moneyaande.co.uk
For money and debt advice:
https://www.moneyaande.co.uk/money-coaches
Parenting and families
Service directory to find local and national organisations and services.
Specific section on “children in care” and “family support”.
Website: https://www.dewis.wales/
Service directory, advice and guidance on different services for children, young people and their families. It is a service for all parents and carers of children, including grandparents and professionals.
Website: https://www.gov.wales/find-your-local-family-information-service
Offers a range of services for lone parent families throughout England and Wales: a telephone helpline, membership, training and learning opportunities, free publications and campaigning work.
Helpline: 0808 802 0925
Check website for opening hours: https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/talk-to-us
Website: https://www.gingerbread.org.uk
Works to raise the profile of support kinship carers in their homes and communities, giving advice and helping them work through problems to find the best way forward; connect carers together in national community and network of local support groups; help professionals understand kinship families and improve support for them. And through our research and campaigns, make sure kinship care is understood and government knows what changes are needed.
Advice and Information: 0300 123 7015
Website: https://www.kinship.org.uk
Promotes safe child contact through child contact centres. These are places where children of separated families can spend time with parents and other family members when there are no other viable options.
Information Line: 0115 948 4557
Email: contact@naccc.org.uk
Website: https://naccc.org.uk
Promotes the just treatment of families by the prison system; provides a nationwide network of support services to prisoners’ families; offers a helpline to anyone with a relative or friend in prison in England or Wales.
Helpline: 0808 808 2003
Website: https://www.prisonersfamilies.org
Relationships
One Plus One is a team of researchers, practitioners and information specialists whose aim is to enhance understanding of how family relationships contribute to the well-being of adults and children. They provide online information for couples and for separating parents which can be accessed via their website.
Telephone: 07818 137443
Contact Support: support@oneplusone.org.uk
Website: https://www.oneplusone.org.uk
Social Care (Adults) Support
Advice helpline for anyone over the age of 18, receiving social care/support from social services (or think they should be) as well as professionals working with anyone of the above group.
Telephone: 0808 801 0577
Email: socialaction@promo.cymru Website: http://cvag.cymru/
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