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.
Umbrella group for the voluntary sector operating in England. Ensures the safety and well-being of children through the voluntary sector’s contribution. Provides information and consultation, and represents the views of its member organisations to central, regional and local government. The website has a very useful wide range of links to its numerous member websites.
Telephone: 0207 833 3319
Email: info@childrenengland.org.uk
Website: https://www.childrenengland.org.uk
Provides social work support and grants to some of the poorest families. Helps children to have fun and excitement, lone parents to make friends, and those with mental illness to rebuild their lives.
Familyline: 0808 802 6666
Text: 07537 404 282
(Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm)
Email: familyline@family-action.org.uk
Website: https://www.family-action.org.uk
A centre of expertise on families, parenting and daycare in the UK, the Trust carries out research and policy work and works to inform policymakers and public debate, develops practice resources to promote the well-being of families and manages the network of local Family Information Services.
Find your local Family Information Service:
https://finder.familyandchildcaretrust.org/kb5/fct/childcarefinder/home.page
Email: info@familyandchildcaretrust.org
Website: https://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org
National charity providing help and support in all aspects of family life via a helpline, online services and local services.
Freephone: 0808 800 2222
(Monday – Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm.)
Email: askus@familylives.org.uk
Website: https://www.familylives.org.uk
Charity involved in research, training and resourcing organisations & individuals working with children, young people and families.
Helpline: 01474 536661
Email: admin@familymattersuk.org
Website: https://www.familymattersuk.org
Provides information and support to parents and carers of either sex. Is chiefly concerned with maintaining a child’s relationship with both parents following family breakdown.
Helpline: 0300 0300 363
(Monday – Friday 9am – 10pm and Weekends 10am – 3pm)
Email: admin@fnf.org.uk
Website: https://fnf.org.uk
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
Trains volunteer parents to provide support to parents and carers who are struggling and looking after at least one child under five. Home-Start is available in nearly all parts of the UK. You can find your local Home-Start through the website.
Website: https://www.home-start.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
(Open Monday – Friday 9.30am – 2pm.)
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
(Monday to Friday 9am – 1pm)
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
(Open Monday – Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm.)
Website: https://www.prisonersfamilies.org
Online parenting organisation providing help and support on all aspects of family life. Links to local Netmums sites provide information and support in your area.
Website: http://www.netmums.com
Provides the UK information centre on fatherhood through newsletters, training information, policy updates, research summaries and guides.
Website: http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org
Promotes the voice, interests and well-being of children and young people in England and Northern Ireland. The website has information on a very useful range of topics that link to many other useful sites.
Email: enquiries@ncb.org.uk
Website: https://www.ncb.org.uk
Pact is a national charity which supports people affected by imprisonment. They provide practical and emotional support to prisoners’ children and families and to prisoners themselves.
Pact provides services in 50 prisons across England and Wales. This includes Family Support Caseworkers, Visitors’ Centres, children’s play, tea bars, relationship and children’s educational courses and resettlement projects.
Freephone Helpline: 0808 808 2003
(Monday – Friday 9am – 8pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am – 3pm)
Website: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk
SPAN is an organisation aiming to empower one parent families throughout the UK. It provides on-line services to single parents through a dedicated website.
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