Useful contact details
Some organisations 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 can include, but is not limited to:
- Parents and carers.
- Family members and relatives – like older siblings, cousins, step-parents and grandparents.
- Guardians of a young person, whether a legal guardian or a trusted adult.
- Adults who work with young people in the community – like coaches, faith group leaders and youth workers.
- Education professionals who work with young people – like teachers, classroom assistants and school staff.
If you're looking for helplines for young people themselves, see our page of useful contacts for young people.
Action for Children
parents.actionforchildren.org.uk
Emotional and practical care for children, young people and families in England. Includes a parenting hub, information for foster and adoptive parents, and local services for families.
Anna Freud
annafreud.org/parents
Information for parents and carers about supporting a child or young person's mental health and wellbeing. Includes a directory of free mental health services in local areas.
Anxiety UK
03444 775 774
07537 416 905 (textline)
anxietyuk.org.uk/get-help/helping-your-child
Advice, support and information for people who experience anxiety. Includes specific information for people supporting children and young people with anxiety.
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.
Cafcass
cafcass.gov.uk
Legal representation for children in family court cases in England. Advice on safety for children and how to act in their best interests. 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 your rights, covering topics like money, housing and discrimination. Offers some local branches and an online chat.
Council for Disabled Children
councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk
Information, support and advocacy for disabled children and young people, plus their families and carers.
Cruse Bereavement Support
0808 808 1677
cruse.org.uk/get-support/supporting-children-and-young-people
Supports people experiencing grief. Includes specific information for adults helping a child or young person who has lost someone.
Ethnic Minorities & Youth Support Team Wales
[email protected]
eyst.org.uk
Provides services in Wales to support people between 11 and 25 from diverse ethnic backgrounds, plus their families. Includes support for health and wellbeing.
Family Action
0808 802 6666
07537 404 282 (textline)
85258 (crisis line, text FAMILYACTION)
family-action.org.uk
Practical, emotional, and financial support for over 18s in families experiencing poverty and disadvantage. Includes a crisis messenger service and webchat, plus a tool to search for local services.
Family Information Services
childcareinformation.wales
An information and support-finder for local services helping families and carers in Wales. Covers a range of services from childcare to healthcare.
Family Lives
0808 800 2222
[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 whose children are involved with child services, or who need help accessing these services. Also supports parents, grandparents, relatives, friends and carers.
Gingerbread
0808 802 0925
gingerbread.org.uk
Information and support for single parent families. Provides a webchat and an online forum for single parents.
Hub of Hope
hubofhope.co.uk
A UK-wide database of mental health charities and organisations offering advice and support.
Kidscape
020 7823 5430
07496 682785 (WhatsApp textline)
[email protected]
kidscape.org.uk
Advice about bullying for young people, their parents, carers, and adults working with children. Provides a parent advice line, textline and email support for adults concerned about a child.
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)
[email protected]
mencap.org.uk
Advice, information and support for people with a learning disability. Offers local groups and an online community. Includes specific information for family and friends.
Mermaids UK
0808 801 0400
mermaidsuk.org.uk/parents
Support for transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse people up to 18, as well as families and professionals. Runs events, local groups, online courses and a webchat.
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
Information, support and advocacy for autistic people, with dedicated sections for families and for education professionals. Includes information on school and children’s services, plus a Parent to Parent Emotional Support Helpline.
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
0800 800 5000
nspcc.org.uk
Information and support for children who have experienced abuse. Provides a helpline for adults concerned about a child, plus local services to help young people and families overcome abuse.
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 an advice line for parents and carers of young people.
NHS Service Finder
nhs.uk/service-search
Searchable database of NHS services in England, including mental health services.
Papyrus HOPELINEUK
0800 068 41 41
07860 039967 (textline)
[email protected]
papyrus-uk.org
Support and advice for people under 35 experiencing suicidal thoughts or finding it hard to cope. Provides support to anyone concerned about a young person.
The Proud Trust
theproudtrust.org/trusted-adults
Information, advice and a web chat 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
Support and advice about relationships, including family life with children and young people. Offers workshops and counselling in certain local areas.
Relate Cymru
0300 003 2340 (service information line)
relate.org.uk/cymru
Relationship counselling and mediation services to help couples, individuals and families across Wales. Includes help for domestic violence. Provides in-person support at local centres across Wales.
Rethink
0808 801 0525 (advice and information line)
rethink.org
Information and support for people with mental health problems and people who care for them. Offers local support groups, as well as specific information for unpaid 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
0808 164 0123 (Welsh Language Line)
[email protected]
samaritans.org
Samaritans are open 24/7 for people to talk about any concerns, worries and troubles they’re going through. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person.
SANE
0300 304 7000
sane.org.uk
Information and emotional support for people experiencing mental health problems, as well as their carers and families. Also provides email support, a text service and online community.
Scope
0808 800 3333
scope.org.uk
Practical information and emotional support for disabled people. Offers family services in some local areas, plus an online community.
Welsh Women's Aid
0808 80 10 800
[email protected]
welshwomensaid.org.uk
Information and support for women and children in Wales who have experienced domestic abuse. Includes a directory of local services.
Winston's Wish
08088 020 021
[email protected]
winstonswish.org
Practical information and emotional support for children and young people experiencing grief, their families and those that care for them. Also offers in-person support groups and drop-in sessions.
Women's Aid (England)
chat.womensaid.org.uk (live chat)
[email protected]
womensaid.org.uk
Information and support for women and children in England who have experienced domestic abuse. Provides support by live chat, a directory of local services and a forum.
YoungMinds
0808 802 5544
youngminds.org.uk
Mental health information and emotional support for young people, their parents and those who care for them. Offers a Parents Helpline, email service and webchat for support, signposting and advice.
This information was published in August 2022. We will revise it in 2025.
References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.
