Information and Support
If you or someone you know have been affected by the issues raised in Protecting Our Foster Kids, there are organisations that can help.
Fostering & adoption organisations
Fosterline
Fosterline provides confidential, impartial advice, information and signposting to foster carers and those interested in fostering in England.
Phone: 0800 040 7675
The Fostering Network
The Fostering Network provides advice and information for those interested in becoming a foster carer.
CoramBAAF Adoption & Fostering Academy
CoramBAAF Adoption & Fostering Academy offer advice and information on all aspects of adoption and fostering. Membership available - fees apply.
First4Adoption
First4Adoption provides information to anyone interested in adopting a child in England and can also put you in touch with adoption agencies in your area.
Phone: 0300 222 0022
Adoption UK
Adoption UK provides self-help information, advice, support and training on all aspects of adoption and adoptive parenting. Membership available - fees apply.
Phone: 0844 848 7900 (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm)
Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) UK
Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) UK provide support and guidance to people interested in adoption.
New Family Social
New Family Social is the UK network for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) adoptive and foster families. Whether you are still deciding how to form your family, are on the way to being a parent, or are busy getting on with family life, you can find others near you in the same situation to share your journey. There is a charge for membership.
After Adoption
After Adoption helps those affected by adoption in England and Wales by placing children with adoptive parents to supporting birth families and reuniting families separated through adoption.
Phone: 0800 0568 578
Barnardo's
Barnardo's provide a range of fostering and adoption services and can also offer help and support to someone trying to trace their birth family.
Phone: 0800 0277 280
Be My Parent
Be My Parent is a family-finding service for children in the UK, provided by the British Association for Adoption & Fostering.
The Be My Parent service is for families interested in adoption and fostering - whether approved, in the process of being assessed, or making initial enquiries about the process - as well as social workers and agencies who place children for adoption and permanent fostering.
Child protection and support
Family Rights Group
Family Rights Group advises families in England and Wales, whose children are involved with or need children’s services because of welfare needs or concerns.
Phone: 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm)
NSPCC
NSPCC provides help, advice and support to adults worried about a child.
Phone: 0808 800 5000 (24/7)
Coram Children's Legal Centre
Coram Children's Legal Centre offers free legal information, advice and representation to children and their families in child, family and education law.
Phone: 0345 345 4345
Children 1st
Children 1st support families in Scotland under stress, protect children from harm and neglect and help them to recover from abuse.
Phone: 08000 282233 (Parent line)
Parenting and family support
Family Lives
Family Lives provides help and support in all aspects of family life, including bullying, special educational needs, and support for specific communities.
Phone: 0808 800 2222
Gingerbread
Gingerbread is a national charity working with and for single parents. They provide information and expert advice on anything from dealing with a break-up, to going back to work or sorting out maintenance, benefit or tax credit issues.
On the community pages of the website you can also join for free as a Gingerbread member, and log in to the forums to chat and share experiences with other single parents.
Gingerbread Single Parent Helpline: 0808 802 0925
Care for the Family
Care for the Family provides parenting and relationship support to those who face family difficulties and those widowed young.
Phone: 029 2081 0800
Information & support for care leavers and young people in care
Become
Become offers confidential help and advice to young people in, or who have been in care.
Phone: 0800 023 2033
Care Leavers’ Association
Care Leavers’ Association provides information, advice to all care leavers over the age of 16 and signposting to services that can help.
Talk Adoption
TALKadoption, provided by the charity After Adoption, offers information and support for young adopted people who want to talk about adoption.
Call: 0808 8081234
Text: 07818594201
Support for children & young people
ChildLine
ChildLine is a free, 24-hour confidential helpline for children and young people who need to talk.
Phone: 0800 1111
The Hideout
The Hideout is a website created by Women’s Aid to help children and young people to understand domestic abuse and how to take positive action if it's happening to them.
The MIx
The Mix provide non-judgmental support and information for young people under 25 on everything from sex and exam stress to debt and drugs and self harm.
Phone: 0808 808 4994
The Mix
The Mix provide non-judgmental support and information for young people under 25 on everything from sex and exam stress to debt and drugs and self harm.
Phone: 0808 808 4994
Missing People
Missing People offers a lifeline for the 250,000 people who run away and go missing each year in the UK. For those left behind, the charity provides specialised support to ease heartache and confusion, and helps search for their missing loved ones through its helpline 116 000.
You can call or text 116 000, or email Missing People 24/7, confidentially and for free, for any of the following reasons:
• If you have run away from home or care, been forced to leave home, or if you are thinking about running away
• If you think someone may be looking for you and would like to pass a message home in confidence to say you are safe and well
• If you have a sighting or information about a missing person
You can also visit the charity’s website for more information on the charity’s work and support services
NYAS
NYAS offers information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children, young people and vulnerable adults up to the age of 25, through a network of advocates and a team of lawyers who operate throughout England and Wales.
Phone: 0808 808 1001 (weekdays 9am-8pm, Saturdays 10am-4pm)
Support for those affected by addiction
FRANK
FRANK provides a confidential service to anyone wanting information, advice or support about any aspect of drugs.
Phone: 0300 123 6600
Webchat available
Nacoa (The National Association for Children of Alcoholics)
Nacoa (The National Association for Children of Alcoholics) is a charity that supports the needs of children growing up in families where one or both parents suffer from alcoholism or a similar addictive problem. Whatever your age, if you’ve been affected by a parent’s drinking and would like talk to someone, call the helpline or get in touch by email.
Helpline: 0800 358 3456
Emotional support and mental health & wellbeing
Samaritans
Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.
Phone: 116 123
SupportLine
SupportLine offers confidential emotional support to children, young adults and adults on a wide range of subjects.
Phone 01708 765200.
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood offers support, advice and guidance to adult survivors of any form of childhood abuse.
Phone: 0808 801 0331
Visit the National Association for People Abused in Childhood website
Mind
Mind provides advice and support on a range of topics including types of mental health problems, self-harm, legislation and details of local help and support in England and Wales.
Phone: 0300 123 3393
Rethink Mental Illness
Rethink Mental Illness advice offers practical help and information for anyone affected by mental illness on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, living with mental illness, medication and care.
Phone: 0808 801 0525
SANE
SANE provides confidential emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness. It also provides a resource for anyone affected by suicide.
Phone: 0300 304 7000
