5.2 Resources and links
Recommended resources
Children at the centre
- Harm: see practice direction 12J as touching on issues of harm and domestic violence – clearly this only scratches the surface of a much wider topic
- Voice: a good leaping off point is the March 2015 Final Report of the Voice of the Child Dispute Resolution Advisory Group
Fundamental principles
Materials and resources
- Resolution's Separation and divorce booklet
- OurFamilyWizard - co-parenting app
- Chris Mills - The Complete Guide To Divorced Parenting
Facing up to Divorce and Separations
Childline
Tel. 0800 1111
24-hour helpline for children and young people in trouble or danger.
Divorce and Children
Offers helpful information, practical advice and tips for separated and divorced parents on how to help children manage family change.
Divorce-Online
Self-help and information service covering all aspects of divorce.
Divorce Recovery Workshop
UK self-help group run by volunteers, offering support, help and understanding to those separated or divorced. Website contains details of workshops and local contacts.
Citizens Advice
Information and advice service.
One Plus One
Monitors contemporary marriages and relationships, focusing on understanding the causes, effects and prevention of relationship breakdown. Provided statistics and a resource library.
Relate
Counselling, relationship education and training to support couples and family relationships. Offers support to children whose parents are splitting up. The national office can put you in touch with Relate’s local centres. Publications available from bookshops, libraries or via website.
The Role of Grown-ups
Association for Shared Parenting
www.associationforsharedparenting.org.uk
Promotes need for estranged parents to play an equal part in the upbringing of their children. Has a number of regional branches and offers help and support to parents, grandparents and other relatives.
British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
Provides advice on a range of services to help meet the needs of anyone seeking information about counselling and psychotherapy. Has a database of local counsellors and psychotherapists.
CAFCASS
Information, case studies, advice, contact links and resources for children and young people. DVD and pack ‘My Needs, Wishes and Feelings’.
Centre for Separated Families
Offers practical support to both parents during and after separation, supporting parental responsibilities and the rights of children to continue close relationships with both parents and their wider families.
Child Poverty Action Group
Information and advice service to help bring relied to child poverty, including information on welfare rights.
Children’s Society
Deals with all aspects of the problems children face in society, including social exclusion, injustice, ill health, poverty and protection.
CompactLaw
compactlaw.co.uk
Covers legal matters in England and Wales to do with family and relationships.
Daycare Trust
www.familyandchildcaretrust.org
National childcare charity since 1980, working to promote high-quality, affordable childcare to all. Offers informations about childcare and aims to help individuals make the right childcare choices.
Fathers Direct
A charity to support the welfare of children by the positive and active involvement of fathers and male carers in their lives.
Families Need Fathers
Help with problems in maintaining a child’s relationship with both parents during and after family breakdown. Represents non-residential parents and their children and is primarily concerned with the problems of keeping parents and children in contact after family breakdown. Support, information, statistics and contacts.
Family Rights Group
Informs parents of their rights when dealing with social services. FRG works to improve the services received by these families.
Four or More
Resource for parents of larger families full of practical ideas for what to do and how to have fun.
Gingerbread
Tel. 0808 802 0925
Support, advice and practical help for lone parents and their children via a national network of local self-help groups. Publications and advice line.
Grandparents Association
www.grandparents-association.org.uk
National registered charity that gives advice, information and support to grandparents of children affected by a divorce or separation.
HomeDad
Support group dedicated to helping dads who are staying at home to bring up their children. For full-time and part-time dads and for fathers who are raising children on their own.
Home-Start
Tel. 0116 464 5490
Volunteers offer friendship, support and practical help in the home to families with at least one child under five years old. Information leaflets and training for volunteers.
Mothers apart from their Children (MATCH)
Help and support for mothers living apart from their children.
Mothers Union
Information on family concerns from a Christian perspective.
Mums’ Net
Product reviews and parenting tips by parents for parents.
NACCC (National Association of Child Contact Centres)
Information about child contact centres, with 276 member centres around the country - neutral venues where the children of separated families can enjoy contact with one or both parents.
National Childbirth Trust
Information and support on pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood.
National Family Mediation
Tel. 0300 400 0636
Helps couples in the process of separation or divorce. Information on mediation and the law and details of local Family Mediation Service Centres.
National Newpin (Parent Infant Network)
Tel. 020 7724 6765
Runs centres that provide home support, drop-ins, group discussions and training courses for parent with babies and toddlers in the London area.
One-Parent Families Scotland
Information, encouragement and support to lone parents.
Family Lives
Tel. 0808 800 2222
Information resource for any individual in a parenting role. Freephone 24-hour helpline providing general, confidential information. Useful booklets and publications, and courses for parents.
Rights of Women
Tel. 020 7251 6575
Provides free, confidential legal advice on a range of issues, including domestic violence, family law, divorce and relationship breakdown.
Samaritans
Tel. 020 7734 2800
Confidential emotional support by phone or email to any person who is suicidal or despairing.
Schoolzone
Information for students and teachers.
Shared Parenting Information Group (SPIG) UK
Promotes responsible shared parenting after separation and divorce. Offers useful practical items such as a calendar planner and examples of how contact hours can work. News of divorce laws and contact regulations around the world.
Single Parent Action Network
SPAN represents one-parent families across the UK. It provides contact details and information for single parents wanting to set up self-help groups.
Solo Parents Network
Online social club for single parents. Resources, information and help for other single parents.
UK College of Family Mediators
Professional body for all family mediators in the UK. Information on family mediation and how to find a family mediator and a list of useful organisations.
United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy
Provides information about therapy. Has a directory of accredited, regulated therapists.
Children: Different Ages and Different Stages
Brook
Information for young people about contraception, sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy testing.
Child Accident Prevention Trust
Books and free information on child safety and accident prevention.
Open University
Tel. 0300 303 0073
The Faculty of Health and Social Care produces home-study packs and videos on babies, children, teenagers and being a parent.
Pre-School Learning Alliance
Tel. 020 7833 0991
Advice, support, training publications, magazine.
Radio One - Essentials
www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/essentials
Information on sex, drugs, relationships, colleges and universities, travel, work, health and money.
Schoolzone
Information and help with studies, revision, exam stress and exam dates.
The Mix
www.themix.org.uk/sex-and-relationships/family-life
Information on family life and friends; helps children deal with parents and divorce, also helpful with other worries and problems.
Well Child
Information on all aspects of child growth, development and health.
YoungMinds
Tel. 0808 802 5544
National charity committed to improving the mental health of all children and young people. telephone helpline, leaflets, seminars and training.
Difficult Times, Difficult Physical Symptoms
Allergy UK (British Allergy Foundation)
Tel. 013322 619864
Encompasses all types of allergies and offers information, newsletters and a support network.
Asthma UK
Tel. 0300 222 5800
Provides a wide range of support for people with asthma and their families. Helpline staffed by specialist asthma nurses. Local support groups.
Enuresis Resource and Information Centre
Tel. 0845 370 8008
Advice on bed-wetting and soiling. Information leaflets and advice; sells bed wetting protection and alarms.
Institute of Family Therapy
Tel. 020 7391 9150
For young people and families with anxiety, depression and behavioural problems.
Kidscape Campaign for Children’s Safety
Tel. 020 7730 3300
Anti-bullying and personal-safety information
Mental Health and Growing Up
Series of thirty-six fact sheets on a range of common mental-health problems.
NSPCC
Tel. 0808 800 5000
NSPCC helpline, available to children aged 18 and under to talk about things that are making them unhappy.
Difficult Times, Difficult Behavioural Symptoms
Bullying
Advice for parents and children affected by bullying. Information and tips on how to cope, legal advice and email service.
Childline
Tel. 0800 1111
24-hour helpline for children and young people in trouble or danger.
Beat
Tel. 0808 801 0677
www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Offers information, support and help to anyone affected by eating disorders. Has local self-help groups.
Institute of Family Therapy
Tel. 020 7391 9150
www.instituteoffamilytherapy.org.uk
For young people and families with anxiety, depression and behavioural problems.
Kidscape Campaign for Children’s Safety
Tel. 020 7730 3300
Anti-bullying and personal-safety information.
National Children’s Bureau
Young people and self harm information resource website.
National Self-Harm Network
Website resource list of organisations, publications, support groups, newsletters.
NSPCC
Tel. 0808 800 5000
NSPCC helpline, available to children aged 18 and under to talk about things that are making them unhappy.
Practical Parenting
Tips on a wide range of child behaviour problems.
General
Family Action
Tel. 0207 254 6251
Provides direct services for people with metal health problems and children and families. Professional referral essential.
Mental Health Foundation
Tel. 202 780 1100
Information on all aspects of mental health and emotional issues. including addiction and substance abuse.
Addiction
Alcoholics Anonymous
Tel. 0800 917 7650
www.alcoholics-anonymous.co.uk
Help for people who think they have a problem with alcohol.
Families Anonymous
Tel. 0845 120 0660
National helpline offering free support to anyone affected by the drug abuse of a family member.
FRANK
Tel. 0300 123 6600
Helpline Advice and information for young people about drugs.
Gamanon
Tel. 0870 050 8880
Organisation offering meetings for families affected by a gambling problem.
Gamblers Anonymous
Tel. 020 7384 3040
Helpline offering advice to compulsive gamblers and their families.
Gambling Therapy
Free online advice service for those affected by gambling.
Gamcare
Tel. 0808 802 0133
Provides support, information and advice to anyone suffering because of a compulsive gambling problem.
Narcotics anonymous
Tel. 0300 999 1212
helpline@ukna.org
Help for people who think they have a problem with drugs.
Release
Tel. 020 7324 2989
Services dedicated to meeting the health, welfare and legal needs of drug users and those who live with them. Drugs and legal helpline.
Violence
Children are Unbeatable
Tel. 020 7713 0569
www.childrenareunbeatable.org.uk
Provides leaflets on alternatives to smacking.
Everyman Project
Tel. 020 7263 8884
Offers counselling and support to men who want to change their violent or abusive behaviour.
The Hideout
ww.thehideout.org.uk
Helps victims of domestic violence.
MALE (Men’s Advice Line and Enquiries)
Tel. 0808 801 0327
Support and advice for male victims of domestic violence and information for their families and for en who want to change their violent and abusive behaviour.
Pathway Project
Tel. 10543 676800
Organisation based in Staffordshire offering a free national 24-hour helpline and refuge accommodation, as well as counselling and support groups, including children’s therapeutic play sessions.
Refuge
Tel. 0808 2000 247
Works in partnership with Women’s Aid to provide advice and support to anyone experiencing domestic violence. Provides safe, emergency accommodation throughout the UK. Website offers a useful section with help for children.
Southall Black Sisters
Tel. 020 8571 9595
www.southallblacksisters.org.uk
Resource centre based in London providing a service for women who are experiencing violence or abuse. Offers advice, group therapy and counselling, including in Hindi and Urdu.
Women’s Aid Federation England
Tel. 0808 2000 247
National charity for women and children experiencing physical, sexual or emotional abuse in their homes. Free 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline. Online guide: ‘The Survivors Handbook’. Children can visit the Hideout website.
Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline
Tel. 0161 636 7525
www.domesticabusehelpline.co.uk
Manchester-based organisation offering national advice, information and telephone counselling.
Adult depression
Association for Post-Natal Illness
Tel. 0207 386 0868
Offers information and advice to sufferers and their families, and can put people in touch with others who have had similar problems.
Beyond the Baby Blues
Support and depression resources for women suffering from post-natal depression.
British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
Tel. 01455 883300
Provides advice on a range of services to help meet the needs of anyone seeking information about counselling and psychotherapy. Has a database of local counsellors and psychotherapists.
Mind
Tel. 0300 123 3393
A charity providing resources and information to help those suffering from mental health problems. Helplines with legal and emotional advice available.
Fellowship of Depressives Anonymous
Tel. 01632 960017
Self-help groups in England for people who suffer from depression and their carers.
MDF the Bipolar Organisation (Manic-depression fellowship)
Tel. 0333 323 3880
Website for young people: www.steady.org.uk
Offers support, via self-help groups, to enable people affected by bipolar disorder/manic depression to take control of their lives.
Mental Health Foundation
Tel. 020 7803 1100
Charity working with mental health issues and learning disabilities.
National Phobics Society
Provides information and advice to those affected by anxiety disorders and can refer on to support groups and trained hypnotherapists, cognitive therapists and other complementary therapists.
SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) Association
Support and information on SAD.
Sane
Support and information for people with mental health problems.
United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy
Provides information about therapy. Has a directory of accredited, regulated therapists.
Learning and developmental disabilities
Advisory Centre for Education
Tel. 0300 0115 142
Independent national advice centre for parents of children in state schools. Information, advice and training on the law and school issues.
Asperger’s Syndrome Foundation
Bi-monthly training seminars for parents and professionals helping those with Asperger’s syndrome.
Attention Deficit Information Services (ADDISS)
Tel. 020 8952 2800
Information, support and training. Refers to local groups in the UK.
British Dyslexia Association
Tel. 0118 966 2677
Advice, local contacts and resources.
Contact
Tel. 0808 808 3555
contact.org.uk
Charity that helps families with children who have disabilities or special needs; provides information about the disabilities and puts families in touch with each other, creating local and national support groups.
Council for Disable Children
Tel. 020 7843 1900
councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk
Useful leaflets sent on request.
Parents for Inclusion
Advice for parents of disabled and special needs children on inclusion into education.
Discovery Centre (for Dyspraxia)
Tel. 01443 654799
www.dyscovery.southwales.ac.uk
Private assessment centre for neurodevelopmental problems, providing information and training for children and adults living with learning difficulties.
Dyslexia Action
Tel. 01784 222304
Provides information, assessment, teaching and training.
Dyspraxia Foundation
Tel. 01462 455016
www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
National Autistic Society
Tel. 0808 800 4104
Valuable information, help and support. Puts you in touch with local families who have children with similar conditions.
Other websites
ADHD, specific learning difficulties, dyspraxia
Autism/Asperger’s syndrome
http://childstudycenter.yale.edu/autism/index.aspx
Learning disabilities
www.learningdisabilities.org.uk
Information for Children
Children’s Legal Centre
Independent charity offering free and confidential legal advice, negotiation services and mediation for children, young people and anyone with concerns about them. Offers a list of resources and publications.
National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)
Tel. 0808 808 1001
Provides specialist help for children and young people up to the age of 25.
Resources for children
Voice Box - Childline - YouTube