How to contact us for advice
We provide advice to parents, grandparents, relatives, friends and kinship carers who are involved with children’s services in England or need their help. 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). For Textphone dial 18001 followed by the advice line number. 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 describes the processes that you and your family are likely to go through, so that you know what to expect. Our webchat service can help you find the information and advice on our website which will help you understand the law and your rights.
The Adoption Support Fund pays for a range of therapeutic support for adopted children and their adoptive family. Since April 2016, some children being raised by special guardians are eligible for support through the Adoption Support Fund. See our advice page for Kinship Carers for more information.
Telephone: 01223 463517
Website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/adoption-support-fund-asf
Campaigns for children separated from their birth families. Provides information, free advice, recruits adopters and permanent foster parents, and the website can help you find your local agencies and consultancy services provided for professionals involved in adoption.
Email: adoption@coram.org.uk
Website: https://www.coramadoption.org.uk
Fosterline is delivered by FosterTalk on behalf of the Department for Education. Provides foster carers with confidential and impartial advice about fostering, including concerns about children’s future, allegations, complaints, changes in legislation and financial matters.
Telephone: 0800 040 7675
Email: enquiries@fosterline.info
Website: http://www.fosterline.info
Fosterline advisers respond to enquiries by telephone, email and on the Fosterline Interactive Forum, on Monday – Friday between 9am to 5pm.
Offers counselling, advice and information to anyone affected by adoption.
London office Advice Line: 020 7284 5879
Monday, Tuesday & Friday 10am – 4pm
Wednesday & Thursday 2pm – 7pm
Leeds office Advice Line: 0113 230 2100
Monday, Thursday & Friday 10am – 1pm
Tuesday 4pm – 7pm & Wednesday 1pm – 4pm
London Education Advice Line: 020 7284 5879
Thursday 12pm – 2pm (during term time only)
This is an opportunity to speak to PAC-UK’s Educational Psychologist about any issues to do with meeting the educational needs of permanently placed children and young people.
Website: https://www.pac-uk.org
UK-wide membership charity for those with a personal or professional interest in fostering. It’s services include information and advice, practical support, publications and training. It also works for high standards in foster care. It provides a helpline for members (details on the website).
Email: info@fostering.net
Website: https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk
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
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