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We’ve put together a list of services that provide advice, support and information to young people on a range of different issues.

Help at Hand

Help at Hand is a helpline for teenagers in care and care leavers offering free, independent advice, assistance and representation. If you need support with a difficult issue, get in touch with them:

Freephone: 0800 528 0731

Email: [email protected]

Find out more about Help at Hand here. 

General advice and support

Always Heard

Tel: 0808 800 5792
Email: [email protected]
If you are in care or a care leaver, Coram Voice can help you get access to an advocate to speak on your behalf with issues concerning children’s services.

Become Charity

Tel: 0800 023 2033
Email: [email protected]
Opening Times: 10:30am-5pm Monday-Friday
Become is a charity specifically for those in care and care leavers. They offer advice and support, and work directly with you to improve the care system.

The Mix

Tel: 0808 808 4994
The Mix offers free and confidential information and help on a wide range to issues for 13 to 25-year-olds, including sex and relationships, your body, mental health, alcohol and drugs, housing, money, work, study, crime and safety.

Childline

Tel: 0800 1111
Childline is a 24-hour support and advice line providing free and confidential support on a range of issues from mental health to your home life. They also offer 1-2-1 counselling.

Action for Children

Tel: 020 312 40600
9.00am – 5.00pm, Monday – Friday
Email: [email protected]
Action for Children offers practical and emotional support to young carers, children with care experience and disabled children. It also helps vulnerable children get into education, training and employment.

Your rights

Rights4Children

Rights4Children is a website created by Article39 and young people. It contains lots of useful information about your rights, including a section just for children in care and care leavers.

The Children’s Legal Centre

Tel: 08088 020 008
The Children’s Legal Centre offers legal advice and information on various of issues including your education, family abuse and bullying, regardless of your care status.

Equality Advisory & Support Service

Tel: 0808 800 0082
Information, advice and support on issues relating to equality and human rights.

The Migrant Children’s Project

Tel: 0207 636 8505
Email: [email protected]
Opening Times: 10am – 2pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
A confidential 1-2-1 advice service advising and supporting migrant children, run by Coram. The service offers legal advice on all issues affecting migrants, asylum-seeking and refugee children and young people, with or without family support.

Advocacy and representation

Reconstruct

Tel: 0800 3891 571
The Children’s Legal Centre offers legal advice and information on various of issues including your education, family abuse and bullying, regardless of your care status.

National Youth Advocacy Service

Tel: 0808 808 1001
The National Youth Advocacy Service provides you with advocacy and legal representation when important decisions are being made about your future.

Voiceability

Tel: 01223 555800
Voiceability is an advocacy service that works with you to listen to your concerns and issues, to make sure that you get a say in decisions that are made about your wellbeing.

Bullying, mental health and wellbeing

Bullying UK

Tel: 0808 800 2222
An advice service for children and young people in or out of care providing support and information on how to deal and cope with lots of different kinds of bullying. Contact Bullying UK for support if you or someone you know is experiencing bullying.

B-eat

Youthline: 0808 801 0711
Adult Helpline (18+): 0808 801 0677
Email: [email protected]
Opening hours: 3pm – 10pm
Beat provides support, advice and information for adults and young people on eating disorders.

Childline

Tel: 0800 1111
Childline is a 24-hour support and advice line providing free and confidential support on a range of issues from mental health to your home life. They also offer 1-2-1 counselling.

Samaritans

Free phone, all day and night: 116 123
Email: [email protected]
The Samaritans offer free advice and support, all day every day, and will listen and talk you through any issues and problems you may face.

Young Minds

Text: YM to 85258
Free support on their website: https://youngminds.org.uk
Young Minds provides free advice and support to young people with mental health issues

Disability and special needs

I CAN

Tel: 020 7843 2544
Email: [email protected]
I CAN works with experts to help you develop your speech, language and communication skills. Their service focuses on ways to positively influence children and young people that have speech, language and communication needs.

Scope

Tel:0808 800 3333
Email: [email protected]
Scope provides support, information and advice for disabled people and their families and carers.

Disability Rights UK

Disabled Students Helpline: 0800 328 5050
Personal Budgets Helpline:  0300 555 1525
Disability Rights UK works to support disabled people to access equal opportunities as well find information, advice and support services to meet their needs.

LGBTQ+

Stone Wall

Tel: 08000 50 20 20
Email: [email protected]
Stonewall’s information service provides details on lesbian, gay, bi and trans rights and issues affecting LGBT people.

Switchboard

Tel: 0300 330 0630
10am – 10pm every day
Email: [email protected]
Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men and bisexual and trans people – and anyone considering issues around their sexuality and/or gender identity.

Financial advice and benefits

Citizen’s Advice Bureau

Tel: 08444 111 444
If you need financial advice, calling Citizens Advice gets you the support you need to help with benefits, debt and housing.

Big Deal

Tel: 0808 8020 133
Information, advice and support for anyone experiencing or at risk of problem gambling.

Catch 22

Tel: 020 7336 4800
A support and advice service for young people making the transition from the care system to independence. They provide services ranging from benefit and job support to advice on general matters and education.

Money Saving Expert

Visit the Money Saving Expert website for up-to-date information on loans, debt and benefits. You can also find great deals updated weekly.