Useful Contacts
At Bridging Gaps Fostering Agency we aim to provide as much assistance as we can. We have therefore included a list of various agencies that provide help and can support across a wide range of services.
If the list cannot be found, please contact us for further details.
Advisory Centre for Education
Registered charity offering support and information to parents about state education in England and Wales for 5 to 16 year olds.
Advice line Monday to Friday, 2 to 5pm Freephone 0808 800 5793
Exclusion line 0207 704 9822
www.ace-ed.org.uk
Association for Infant Mental Health UK
Brings together professionals to promote the mental health of infants
Tel/Fax 0117 9145526
E. info@aimh.org.uk
www.aimh.org.uk
Association for Postnatal Illness
Information and advice on post natal depression
Helpline: 0207 386 0868
Fax 02073868885
E. info@apni.org
www.apni.org
Association of Child Psychotherapists
120 West Heath Road
London NW3 7TU
Tel 020 8458 1609
Fax 020 8458 1482
E. inquiries@acp.uk.net
www.acp.uk.net
Centre for Emotional Development
Based in Brighton, the Centre runs lectures and seminars on the emotional development of children. It offers a psychodynamic approach and speakers include child and adolescent psychotherapists from the UK and abroad.
www.emotionaldevelopment.co.uk
ChildcareLink
Childcare and early years services in your local area and helpline. Includes local one-stop-shop Children's Information Services
Helpline Freephone: 0800 096 0296
www.childcarelink.gov.uk
ChildLine
Free 24-hour confidential help line for children – now part of NSPCC.
Tel 0800 1111
www.childline.org.uk
Contact a Family
Help for parents and families who care for children with any disability or special need.
Helpline Freephone: 0808 808 3555
Textphone 0808 808 3356
Tel 020 7608 8700
E. info@cafamily.org.uk
www.cafamily.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement Care
Support for anyone affected by death
Day by day helpline (national rate): 0870 167 1677
Young persons help freephone 0808 808 1677
E. helpline@crusebereavementcare.org.uk
www.crusebereavmentcare.org.uk
Cry-sis
Local support for families with excessively crying, sleepless and demanding babies
Helpline 0207 404 5011, 7 days a week 9am - 10pm
www.cry-sis.org.uk
Eric – Education and Resources for Improving Childhood incontinence
Helpline0117 960 3060, 10am – 4pm Monday–Friday
www.eric.org.uk
Family Rights Group
Promoting family rights and kinship care
Advice service tel. 08007311696 M0n - Fri 10-12 am 1.30-3.30pm
Kinship Carers Group tel.020 7923 2628
www.frg.org.uk
Fathers Direct
National information centre on fatherhood
Tel. 0845 634 1328
www.fathersdirect.com
The Fostering Network
Promotes good quality fostercare and offers practical support to foster children
Tel: 020 7620 6400
www.thefostering.net
Gingerbread
Information advice and support for lone parent families in England and Wales.
Advice line Freephone 0800 018 4318
www.gingerbread.org.uk
Grandparents Association
Promoting access to grandparents
Advice and Information Line 01279 444 964
E. info@grandparentsassociation.org.uk
www.grandparents-association.org.uk
Grandparents plus
Promoting kinship care and supporting grandparents and extended families caring for children
Tel 0208 981 8001
E. info@grandparentsplus.org.uk
www.grandparentsplus.org.uk
Home-Start
Offers support, friendship and practical help to parents with young children in local communities
Freephone information line 08000 686368
www.home-start.org.uk
Meet-a-Mum Association (MAMA)
Set up to help mothers who feel depressed and isolated when their babies are born
Tel 0845 120 6162
E. meet_a_mum.assoc@btinternet.com
www.mama.org.uk
National Association of Child Contact Centres
Keeps children in touch with both parents through a network of child contact centres.
Tel 0845 4500 280
E. contact@naccc.org.uk
www.naccc.org.uk
National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service
Providing information and resources about ADHD.
Tel: 0208 906 9068
E. info@addiss.co.uk
www.addiss.co.uk
National Childbirth Trust
Helps parents and parents to be to enjoy pregnancy, birth and early parenthood
Local branches Tel. 0870 4448707
www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com
National Family Mediation
Network of over 60 local not-for-profit family mediation services in England and Wales, offering help to couples who are in the process of separation and divorce
Tel 0117 940 2825
www.nfm.u-net.com
NSPCC – National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Telephone and leaflet advice for parents, carers, children and young people
Child Protection Helpline 0808 8005000
Childline 0800 1111
www.nspcc.org.uk
Ofsted – regulators of child based services.
enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk
08456404040 – about children’s services or any other aspect of their work
One Parent Families
Promotes the welfare of lone parents and their children.
Helpline 0800 018 5026 Monday-Friday 9-5pm
Practical information available on the website
www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk
Parenting UK
National umbrella organisation for those working in education and family support
Tel 0113 240 3040
www.parentinguk.org
Pace
Working against Child Sexual Exploitation
Tel 020 7284 8370
www.paceuk.info
Parentline
The national help, advice and support service for anyone looking after a child. Includes an email helpline and useful leaflets.
Helpline Freephone: 0808 800 2222 or free textphone 0800 7836783
www.parentlineplus.org.uk
Pippin
Parents in partnership and parent infant network, support groups for expectant and new parents promoting positive early family and parent-infant relationships. Runs free groups for parents and other carers.
Tel: 01727 899099
www.pippin.org.uk
Post-Adoption Centre
Support for adopted adults and children, adopted parents and birth relatives.
Advice line o870 777 2197, 10am–1pm, not Thursdays or weekends
E. advice@postadoptioncentre.org.uk
www.postadoptioncentre.org.uk
Relate
Relationship counselling organisation
Relate Direct for phone appointments booking line 0845 130 4016 Mon-Fri 9 - 5pm
For Relate counsellors 0845 456 1310 local rate
Helpline 0845 130 4010 Mon-Fri 9.30 - 4.30
www.relate.org.uk
Sure Start
There are a number of Sure Start programmes in the UK; for children, parents, communities across the country offering services and information for parents and children under 4 years.
Public enquiries Tel 0870 0002288
www.surestart.gov.uk
TAMBA – Twins and Multiple Births Association
Information and mutual support for parents and carers with multiple births.
Tel: 0870 770 3305
www.tamba.org.uk
Winston's Wish
Guidance and information for families of bereaved children.
Family Line (local rate): 0845 2030 405
General enquiries 01242 515157
E. info@winstonswish.org.uk
www.winstonswish.org.uk
YoungMinds
Information and advice for anyone concerned about the mental health of a child or young person
YoungMinds parents' information service Freephone: 0800 018 2138
www.youngminds.org.uk
Youth Access
Provides telephone signposting for young people
Tel.02087729900 Mon - Fri
E. admin@youthaccess.org.uk
www.youthaccess.org.uk
