This section gives the details of a wide range of organisations which can help young people in care, foster carers or professionals who work with young people.
Please let us know if any information here is inaccurate or needs updating or if you would like your organisation to be considered for inclusion here (and to include a link to us on your site). Contact Emma Wood.
Directory:
No 2 Abuse
No2abuse is a website about child abuse aimed at adult survivors, professionals and organisations working in this field. Contains articles written by survivors, careleavers and professionals, as well as stories in the media and resources.
www.no2abuse.com
Children's Legal Centre
An independent national chairty concerned with law and policy affecting children and young people. Includes freephone for young people to talk about their rights - 0800 783 2187, open 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri. The CLC has also launched a new freephone line, the Child Law Advice Line providing information on Child Law for professionals, carers and members of the public -08088 020 008, open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri.
www.childrenslegalcentre.com
Children’s Rights Officers and Advocates
A support organisation for professionals who work for children's rights.
www.croa.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau
National Youth Advocacy Service
Organisation that helps those in or leaving care. Freephone 0800 61 61 01, 8am-8pm, Mon-Fri and 10am-4pm Sat. www.nyas.net
Voice
A major advocacy organsiation for children and young people in need, which has a free national helpline - 0808 800 5792. www.voiceyp.org
Youth Justice Board
Cruse Bereavement Care
Helping you cope with the death of someone you love. Freephone 0808 808 1677, 9.30am-5pm Mon-Fri.
www.rd4u.org.uk
Kidscape
Kidscape works with children and young people under 16 and their carers to prevent bullying and abuse.
www.kidscape.org.uk
Direct Gov
Government run website with information on a variety of issues for disabled people.
www.direct.gov.uk/en/disabledpeople
Disability Alliance
A campaigning organisation and chairty whose aim is to improve living standards of people with disabilities.
www.disabilityalliance.org
Mencap
A charity for young people with learning disabilities, their families and carers.
www.mencap.org.uk
Skill
Information on post 16 education, training and employment for young people with disabilities.
www.skill.org.uk
It's Not Your Fault
A website sponsored by Action for Children with advice for helping children, young people and parents/carers cope with a family break-up.
www.itsnotyourfault.org
ACE Advisory Centre for Education
A national charity that provides advice and information to parents and carers on a wide range of school based issues including exclusion, admissions, special education needs, bullying and attendance. General advice line 0808 800 5793 or 020 7704 9822 for the inclusion advice line with 24hr answer phone.
www.ace-ed.org.uk
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Website for the Government department dedicated to giving children, young people and their families a voice. Includes practical guidance.
The Prince’s Trust
Organisation working to help young people succeed in the world of work, in particular through business enterprise schemes. Includes mentoring scheme for young people.
www.princes-trust.org.uk
Student Finance Direct
Information on finance for students going to university.
www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
Teacher Net
The Government site for teachers. Includes guidance on lessons and a wealth of resources.
www.teachernet.gov.uk
Whitewood & Fleming
A company concerned with improving outcomes for young people, including those in care, through the arts. www.whitewoodandfleming.org
The British Agency of Adoption and Fostering
The Fostering Network
Information on fostering, campaigns, training and resources with freephone Fosterline - 0800 040 7675 or email: fosterline@fostering.net
www.fostering.net
The Fostering Network Wales
Information on fostering, campagins, training and resources with bilingual freephone Fosterline 0800 316 7664, 9.30 am-12.30pm Mon-Fri, or email fosterlinewales@fostering.net.
www.fostering.net/services/wales/fosterline.php
Multidimensional treatment foster care
Information from the government about an intensive form of foster caring for children with challenging behaviour.
www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/socialcare/childrenincare/fostercare/mtfc/
A National Voice
An organisation run by and for young people with care experience.
www.anationalvoice.org
Catch 22
A national charity providing support, advice and guidance for under-supported young people.
www.catch-22.org.uk
Centrepoint
The leading charity in the UK helping homeless and socially excluded young people to rebuild their lives. They can provide housing and advice on helath, money and learning.
www.centrepoint.org.uk
ChildLine
A free helpline open 24 hours everyday for children and young people in the UK - 0800 1111.
www.childline.org.uk
Children England
An organisation who work to promote the welfare of children, young people and their families by providing support, resources and information for the charities that work on their behalf.
www.childrenengland.org.uk
Get Connected
A confidential website that helps young people find sources of help. Freephone 0800 808 4994, 1pm-11pm everyday or email help@getconnected.org.uk and get a response within 24 hours.
www.getconnected.org.uk
National Children’s Bureau
An umbrella organisation for the childcare sector. Includes comprehensive library of information and publications.
www.ncb.org.uk
National Youth Agency
Information for those working with young people.
www.nya.org.uk
The National Youth Agency’s website 'toolkit' for all young people, not just those in care.
www.youthinformation.com
Shelter
Works to alleviate the problems of homelessness and bad housing. For urgent housing advice call - 0808 800 4444 free 8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm Sat-Sun.
www.shelter.org.uk
Care Matters: Transforming the lives of children and young people in care
Government White Paper and Implementation Plan for improving services for children and young people in care, which has since formed the basis for law passed in November 2008.
www.dcsf.gov.uk/publications/carematters/index.shtml
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Estyn
Website for the Welsh Inspectorate for Education and Training with reports, publications, advice and information on education services available.
www.estyn.gov.uk/home
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (Scotland)
Website for the Scottish education system with reports, publications, advice and information on education services available.
www.hmie.gov.uk
Direct Gov
Accesible information and guidance on a variety of public services.
www.directgov.gov.uk
Beat(formerly Eating Disorders Association)
Includes helpline for young people.
www.b-eat.co.uk
Brook
Organisation providing confidential help for young people with sexual health issues.
www.brook.org.uk
Drug Scope
Information on drug policy development.
www.drugscope.org.uk
Frank
Information and advice for anyone concerned about their or someone else’s drug misuse.
Free 24 hour phoneline, 365 days a year - 0800 77 66 00.
www.talktofrank.com
The National Youth Agency website for young people
www.youthinformation.com/health
NHS Direct
General health advice and guidance. Includes helpline open 24 hours everyday - 0845 4647.
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Quit
An organisation to help people give up smoking, with email counselling. Includes helpline - 0800 00 22 00, 9am-9pm 7 days a week.
www.quit.org.uk
Visit www.quitbecause.org.uk for information and support and advice specifically for young people to quit smoking.
Stonewall
Helping you to answer questions about your sexuality. Freephone 08000 50 20 20, 9.30am-5.30pm Mon-Fri.
www.stonewall.co.uk
The Terrence Higgins Trust
Support for people concerned about Aids and HIV.
www.tht.org.uk
ChildLine
A free helpline open 24 hours everyday for children and young people in the UK - 0800 1111.
www.childline.org.uk
HandsOnScotland
The HandsOnScotland Toolkit is an online resource for anybody working with children and young people. The website provides practical information and techniques on how to respond helpfully to children and young people's troubling behaviour. www.handsonscotland.co.uk
The Mental Health Foundation
Information on mental health issues, including publications.
www.mhf.org.uk
The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health
An independent charity that seeks to influence mental health policy and practice and enable the development of excellent mental health services through a co-ordinated programme of research, training and development.
www.scmh.org.uk
Samaritans
Confidential telephone and email ‘listening’ service open 24 hours everyday - 08457 90 90 90 (National number- local numbers can be found on the website).
www.samaritans.org.uk
Young Minds
An organisation committed to improving the emotional well-being and mental health of children and youn people. They operate a freephone helpline for parents and carers - 0808 802 5544, 10am-4pm Mon-Fri plus 6pm-8pm on Wednesdays. www.youngminds.org.uk
or www.youngminds.org.uk/parents for any adult concerned with the emotions or behaviour of a child or young person.
Ofsted - The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Community Care
A website for all those involved in social work and social care.
www.communitycare.co.uk
Social Care Institute for Excellence
Scottish Children's Reporter Administration
The website for the SCRA who hope to better the lives of vulnerable children and young people in Scotland through the Children's Hearings system.
www.scra.gov.uk