Got a minute to help? take our quick website survey >
Who are these useful contacts for?
Some contacts on this page only mention the term ‘parents and carers’. But many of these can also offer information and support to any adult who looks after a young person.
This might include, but is not limited to:
- Parents and carers
- Family members and relatives, like older siblings, cousins, step-parents and grandparents
- Guardians, such as legal guardians or trusted adults
- Adults who work with young people in the community, like coaches, faith group leaders and youth workers
- Education professionals, like teachers, classroom assistants and school staff
If you're a young person looking for helplines and websites for yourself, see our page of useful contacts for young people.
Useful contacts list
Action for Children – Parent Talk
07700 174470 (WhatsApp textline)
parents.actionforchildren.org.uk
Emotional and practical parenting information for parents, carers, foster and adoptive parents, plus local services for families. Offers a textline and webchat.
Anna Freud
annafreud.org/resources/family-wellbeing
Advice for parents and carers about supporting a child or young person experiencing poor mental health or wellbeing.
Anna Freud uses the Shout textline
Barnardo's
barnardos.org.uk
Practical information and emotional support for children, young people and families. Includes specific information on mental health problems.
Beat
0808 801 0677 (England)
0808 801 0433 (Wales)
beateatingdisorders.co.uk
Helpline, webchat and online support groups for people with eating problems, as well as family and friends. Includes specific information and support for carers.
The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN)
baatn.org.uk
A community of counsellors and psychotherapists of Black, African, Asian and Caribbean Heritage in the UK. Includes a directory with an option to search for therapists who work with children and young people.
Cafcass
cafcass.gov.uk
Legal representation for children in family court cases in England. Advice on safety for children plus information on topics like adoption, divorce and separation.
Carers Trust
carers.org
Information and local support for unpaid carers, including caring for someone with a mental health problem.
Citizens Advice
0800 144 8848 (England)
0800 702 2020 (Wales)
citizensadvice.org.uk
Information and advice on our rights, covering topics like money, housing and discrimination. Offers some local branches and an online chat.
Cruse Bereavement Support
0808 808 1677
cruse.org.uk/get-support/supporting-children-and-young-people
Supports people living with grief, with specific information for adults helping a child or young person who has lost someone.
Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales (EYST)
[email protected]
eyst.org.uk
Provides services in Wales for people between 11 and 25 from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Includes support for health and wellbeing and support for families.
Family Action
0808 802 6666
07537 404 282 (textline)
family-action.org.uk
Practical, emotional and financial support for people over 18 about any aspect of family life. Includes a webchat and a tool to search for local services.
Family Action uses the Shout textline
Family Information Services (Wales)
childcareinformation.wales
A tool to find local services helping families and carers in Wales. Covers a range of services, from childcare to healthcare.
Family Lives
0808 800 2222
07441 444125 (WhatsApp textline)
[email protected]
familylives.org.uk
Practical information and emotional support about parenting and family life. Provides a confidential helpline, live chat, email support and online forum for parents and carers.
Family Rights Group
0808 801 0366
frg.org.uk
Confidential advice and information for families involved with child services, or who need help accessing these services. Also offers a webchat, online forum and email support.
Gingerbread
gingerbread.org.uk
Information and support for single parent families. Provides local and online community groups, plus a forum.
Hub of Hope
hubofhope.co.uk
A UK-wide database of mental health charities and organisations offering advice and support.
Kidscape
0300 102 4481 (Parent advice line)
07496 682785 (WhatsApp textline)
[email protected]
kidscape.org.uk/advice/advice-for-parents-and-carers
Advice about bullying for young people, parents, carers and adults working with children. Provides a parent advice line, textline and email support, as well as online information.
Kinship
0300 123 7015
kinship.org.uk
Support for relatives or friends who care for children when their parents cannot. Offers information on kinship care, an advice line and peer support.
Mencap
0808 808 1111 (Learning Disability Helpline – England)
0808 8000 300 (Learning Disability Helpline – Wales)
[email protected] (England)
[email protected] (Wales)
mencap.org.uk
Information and support for people with a learning disability, their families and carers. Includes phone and email helplines, as well as an online community.
Mermaids
0808 801 0400
mermaidsuk.org.uk/families
Support for transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse young people and their families. Runs events, local groups, online courses, a webchat and parents' forum.
MindEd for Families
mindedforfamilies.org.uk/young-people
Information and advice on supporting young people's mental health, created by experts and parents. Covers topics like parenting and mental health services.
National Autistic Society
autism.org.uk/what-we-do/families
Information, support and advocacy for autistic people, with dedicated information for their families. Also offers an online community and a Parent to Parent Emotional Support Helpline.
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
0800 800 5000
nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents
Information and advice about safe parenting and looking after children. Provides a helpline for adults concerned about a child, plus local services supporting young people and families.
No Panic
0300 772 9844
nopanic.org.uk/advice-for-parents
Support for people experiencing panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Provides information and advice for parents and carers of young people.
NHS Services Finder
nhs.uk/nhs-services/services-near-you (England)
111.wales.nhs.uk/localservices (Wales)
Searchable database of NHS services, including mental health services.
PAPYRUS
0800 068 4141 (24/7)
88247 (textline)
[email protected]
papyrus-uk.org
Support and advice for people under 35 experiencing suicidal thoughts or finding it hard to cope. Provides support for anyone concerned about another young person.
The Proud Trust
theproudtrust.org/trusted-adults
Information, advice and a webchat for trusted adults supporting LGBT+ children and young people.
Refuge
0808 200 0247
refuge.org.uk
Help and support for women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse.
Relate
relate.org.uk
Self-help support and advice about relationships, including family life with children and young people. Offers some local workshops and counselling, as well as online tools for parents.
Rethink Mental Illness
0808 801 0525
rethink.org
Information and support for people with mental health problems, and for people who care for them. Offers local support groups, as well as an information hub for carers.
Royal College of Psychiatrists
rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/parents-and-young-people
Information for parents and carers on children and young people's mental health and wellbeing.
Samaritans
116 123 (24/7)
0808 164 0123 (Welsh Language Line)
samaritans.org
Helpline open 24/7 for people to talk about any concerns, worries and troubles they're going through. Offers some in-person Samaritans branches.
SANE
0300 304 7000
[email protected]
sane.org.uk
Information and emotional support for people with mental health problems, their carers and families. Also provides a text service and an online community.
Scope
0808 800 3333
[email protected]
scope.org.uk
Practical information and emotional support for disabled people and their families. Offers services in some local areas, plus an online community.
Shout
Text SHOUT to 85258 (24/7)
giveusashout.org
A confidential and anonymous text support service for anyone struggling to cope.
Welsh Women's Aid
0808 80 10 800 (Live Fear Free helpline, 24/7)
[email protected]
welshwomensaid.org.uk
Information for women and children in Wales who have experienced domestic abuse, including a directory of local services.
Also offers a live chat and confidential support through Live Fear Free for:
- Anyone experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence in Wales
- Anyone supporting someone who needs help with this in Wales
- Practitioners seeking relevant professional advice in Wales
Winston's Wish
08088 020 021
[email protected]
winstonswish.org/supporting-you/support-for-parents
Information and support for children and young people living with grief, their families and people who care for them. Also offers in-person support groups and a live chat.
Winston's Wish uses the Shout textline
Women's Aid (England)
chat.womensaid.org.uk (live chat)
[email protected]
womensaid.org.uk
Information and support for women and children who have experienced domestic abuse. Provides support by live chat and email, plus a local service directory and forum.
Please note: it's unclear whether this service offers support to trans women and non-binary people, and whether this will change.
YoungMinds
0808 802 5544 (Parents Helpline)
youngminds.org.uk/parent
Mental health information and support for young people, their parents and people who care for them. Offers a helpline, email service and live chat.
Talking therapies
These involve talking with a professional about your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. There are many types of talking therapies, such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). You usually take part for an agreed length of time or number of sessions.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryAdvocate
Advocates can help you speak up about things that are important to you. And help make sure your voice is heard.
In some situations, you will have a legal right to have an advocate. This is called statutory advocacy.
Even if you don’t have a right to an advocate, there are other types of advocacy that can help you get your voice heard.
See our page on advocacy for more information.
Trusted adult
A trusted adult is someone older than you who:
- Makes you feel safe
- Listens to you
- Treats you with respect, understanding and care
They will have clear boundaries but will support you when they can. They should know when to look for more help if you need it.
You can decide who you feel is a trusted adult to you. You might know them from somewhere like school, your family, places of worship or clubs for young people.
Trusted adults don't have to be the same people as nearest relatives.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryPublished: June 2025
Next review planned: June 2028
References are available on request. If you want to reproduce this content, see our permissions and licensing page.
