Resources

The BACP is the professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK. It helps people make informed choices about the provision of counselling and continues to raise the ethical and professional standards of the profession. Its resources include database of counsellors and psychotherapists across the UK.

CPAG works on behalf of children growing up in poverty in the UK. It provides information, training and advice for professionals working with people working with hard-up families, promotes solutions to help lift families out of poverty and works with people in need at some foodbanks.

Childline is a free, private and confidential service where children can be themselves whatever their worries, whenever they need help, however they want to get in touch. It is run 24:7 online and on the phone.

Part of the Coram group of charities, the Children’s Legal Centre promotes and protects the rights of children in the UK and worldwide in line with the UN Convention on the Child. It provides free legal information, advice and representation to children, young people, their families, carers and professionals, as well as international consultancy on child law and children’s rights.

Citizens Advice is a network of 316 independent charities throughout the United Kingdom that give free, confidential information and advice to assist people with money, legal, consumer and other problems. The twin aims of the service are to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and to improve the policies and principles that affect people's lives.

CLS Direct offers free, impartial, legal information for for residents of England and Wales, including on family issues.

Texas-based ‘divorce coach’ Christina McGhee offers advice on ‘helping separated and divorced parents raise happy and secure kids’.

The FMC is made up of national family mediation organisations in England and Wales and is dedicated to promoting best practice in family mediation. Its central aim is to ensure the public can confidently access family mediation services that offer high quality mediation provided by mediators who meet its standards. The website features a database of local mediators.

Gingerbread is a prominent UK charity for single parent families. It offers support, advice and practical help for via a national network of local self-help groups. Its website includes a library of online information, stories and news and parents can also use its advice line.

Grandparents Plus is the only national charity (England and Wales) dedicated to grandparents and their role in the care and development of their grandchildren. It provides an advice service and support network and runs support programmes and independent guidance schemes.

Home-Start is one of the leading family support charities in the UK.

Its volunteers help families with young children deal with the challenges they face. It offers friendship, support and practical help in the home to families with at least one child under five years old, as well as information and training for volunteers.

The IFT works to prevent family breakdown and enhance family strengths. The largest family therapy organisation in the UK, it provides training and clinical work in the field of systemic psychotherapy with families, couples and individuals.

The NACCC helps children keep in touch with parents following separation. It is the only charity in the UK to provide safe spaces where children can meet the parents they don't live with. Its approximately 400 contact centres across the UK are run by a network of nearly 4,000 volunteers.

The NYAS is a rights-based charity which operates across England and Wales. It provides specialist help for children, young people and adults, including a national advocacy helpline.

The NSPCC is the UK's leading children's charity, preventing abuse and helping those affected to recover. The NSPCC helpline offers the support of professional counsellors 24/7 to adults who are worried about a child

OnePlusOne specialises in relationship science and offers research and innovation, digital services and training to help people to build stronger relationships. It aims to equip couples, parents and children with the skills and knowledge they need to be happier, healthier and more successful. 

Refuge is ‘for women and children’ and ‘against domestic violence’. Its ethos is that no-one should have to live in fear of violence and abuse. On any given day Refuge supports more than 6,000 clients, helping them rebuild their lives and overcome many different forms of violence and abuse; for example, domestic violence, sexual violence, so-called ‘honour’-based violence, human trafficking and modern slavery, and female genital mutilation.

The UK's largest provider of relationship support, every year Relate helps over a million people of all ages, backgrounds and sexual orientations to strengthen their relationships. Its services include relationship counselling for individuals and couples, family counselling, mediation, children and young people's counselling and sex therapy. It also provides workshops for people at important stages in their relationships.

Resolution’s 6,500 members are family lawyers and other professionals committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes. They follow a Code of Practice that promotes a non-confrontational approach to family problems. Its members encourage solutions that consider the needs of the whole family - and in particular the best interests of children. The website features a nationwide database of Resolution family lawyers, information on family law and getting a divorce and information on current campaigns.

The Samaritans helps people in distress who feel they have no one to turn to. It operates 201 branches across the UK and the Republic of Ireland and currently is contacted every six seconds by someone who is looking for support. 

CAFCASS represents young people in family court cases in England. Its website includes information for young people, parents, carers and professionals, including advice, fact sheets, leaflets, contacts and a newsletter.

The charity works to support vulnerable children in England and Wales. It fights poverty and neglect and aims to help all children have a better chance in life. Its website features detailed resources for ‘churches and schools to listen to and work with children and young people’.

The UKCP is the leading organisation for the education, training, accreditation and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors in the UK. Among other elements, its website features a database of psychotherapists and information about what psychotherapy does.

This national charity is committed to improving the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. It works to prevent mental illness from developing as well as to improve early intervention and care for those living with a mental health problem.