Families, lone parents and childcare
Information for families, including support for separated families, single parents and children.
30 hours free childcare offer on GOV.UK – information on how to use the scheme
Child arrangements if you divorce or separate guide on GOV.UK – information on making child arrangements if you divorce or separate
Child maintenance arrangements on GOV.UK – information to help parents make an informed choice about child maintenance
Childcare – online social network and search for parents and childcare providers
Childcare Choices – information on government help with childcare costs for parents
Children Heard and Seen – supporting children and young people impacted by parental imprisonment
Dads Unlimited – advice, support and peer support for men who have experienced relationship breakdowns and are single parents
Family and Childcare Trust – provides information and signposting services for parenting and childcare issues
Foster care information on GOV.UK – information on how to become a foster carer
Free school meals – check to see if your child is eligible for free school meals
Gingerbread – online advice and helpline for single parents
Healthy Start – NHS Healthy Start scheme gives you free weekly vouchers to buy milk, fruit, vegetables and infant formula milk
Home Start – support for families and how to gain confidence as a parent
Internet Access Needs – a scheme to temporarily increase data allowances for mobile phone users on certain networks to help children and young people access remote education if their usual classroom based education is disrupted
Kids Eat Free – Money Saving Central – directory of places where children can eat for free during half term
Kinship – advice and support for grandparents, siblings and family members who step in to raise children when a parent can’t
Mosac – confidential support for parents and carers of children who have been abused
Netmums – an online parenting news and support community
OFSTED – check if a childcare provider is registered with Ofsted
PACEY – support to help parents choose the right childcare for them
Relate – relationship counselling, children and young people counselling and mental and emotional education
Separated parents: children and the family courts on GOV.UK – a guide on what to expect at family court
See Hear Respond – Barnardo’s led partnership to help children, young people and families cope with the effects of the pandemic with a focus on early intervention
Separating or divorcing – a GOV.UK guide – information on what you need to do when separating or divorcing
Single Parents Support and Advice Services (SPSAS) - provides help and access to support services for single parents
Sorting out Separation – information and support for separated or separating families
Steps Ahead Mentoring programme – employability mentoring programme for parents and carers returning to work
Sure Start on GOV.UK – find a Sure Start Children’s Centre for advice and support on child and family health, money, training and employment
Variety – support for sick, disabled or disadvantaged children and young people including specialist or sensory equipment
Working Families – online and advice and helpline for working parents and carers including benefits, tax credits, employment rights and maternity discrimination
Young Minds – practical advice to support your child’s mental health
Bath and North East Somerset Council-0 to 5 years - information about childcare options available in Bath and North East Somerset
Bath and North East Somerset Council -Find a Children’s Centre - locations of Children’s Centres in Bath and North East Somerset
Bath and North East Somerset Council -Children’s Centre services - services provided at Children’s Centres in Bath and North East Somerset
Bath and North East Somerset Council-help for children or young people with additional needs (SEND) - available to families with a child or young person up to the age of 25 with additional needs, a special educational need or disability
Bristol Law Centre- Free legal advice in Bristol and beyond - Provides legal advice and representation to social welfare law for people living in Bristol who could not otherwise afford access to justice
Bristol – Community Learning - Various family orientated courses
Bristol - Pause – Creating Space for Change - Works with women who have experienced the removal of two or more of their children
Bristol Children’s Centres - locations and services provided at Children’s Centres in Bristol
Bristol Early years and childcare - information about childcare options available in Bristol
Bristol- Family Information Service - search for childcare providers near to you
Bristol- Free early education for two year olds - information about childcare options available in Bristol
Bristol Fostering - information about fostering in Bristol
Bristol Help for parents starting or returning to work - services available to Bristol parents returning to work, for childcare and other activities
South Gloucestershire Council-Childcare and early years - provides a wealth of information in relation to childcare
South Gloucestershire Childcare and early years education choices – registered childcare provision which includes childminders and day nurseries
South Gloucestershire- Fostering - information about fostering in South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire Children’s centres - Details of the locations and services provided at Children’s Centres
South Gloucestershire- Find information for adults, children and families - A directory of local services relating to Children, Adults and health
South Gloucestershire- School meals - Check if your child can get free school meals in South Gloucestershire
North Somerset Online Directory-About early years and families - information on local childcare provision and rates
Mendip - Health Connections - support and links for children and family related support
North Somerset Online Directory-About children’s centres - locations and services provided at Children’s Centres in South Gloucestershire
North Somerset Council -Children’s centres and childcare - information about childcare options available in North Somerset
North Somerset Fostering -information about fostering in North Somerset
Somerset - Finding childcare - Details and locations of childcare provision, including Children’s Centres, in Somerset
Somerset-Early Years and childcare - information about childcare options available in Somerset
Somerset - Finding childcare - If you are struggling to find appropriate childcare
Somerset Fostering - includes a step-by-step guide to becoming a foster carer and provides further information about the fostering process
Somerset Children’s Social Care - Giving parents, carers and young people advice and support to prevent a crisis
Somerset Young Parents - Helpful Advice on Pregnancy & Raising Kids -Support for Young Parents
Wellbeing South Somerset - Support to Improve Your Health and Wellbeing- several links to support for families and children
Gloucestershire County Council Family Information Service - information on local childcare provision and rates
Family Lives Gloucestershire - Aspects of family life that include all stages of a child’s development, issues with schools and parenting/relationship support
Gloucestershire Childcare Directory - information about childcare options available in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire Children and Family Centres - locations and services provided at Children’s Centres in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire Fostering - information about fostering in Gloucestershire
Home Start Hertfordshire - help families with young children deal with the challenges they face
Central Bedfordshire Family information directory - Children’s Centres in Bedfordshire
Buckinghamshire Family Information Service - Information, support, childcare and things to do for families, children and young people
Buckinghamshire Council - provide free, confidential, impartial information, advice and support on all matters relating to special educational needs and disability for children and young people aged 0 to 25 and their parents/carers
Oxfordshire Family Information Service - Information and support for children, young people and families in Oxfordshire
Care and Support in Cornwall - Children’s Centres
Family Information Service - Devon County Council - A list of useful information for parents and carers of 0-19 year olds
Pinpoint Devon - Children’s centres
Plymouth Online Directory - Children’s centres
Essex Family Information Services – a resource of local support and schemes available to families in Essex
Morgan Sindall – contact your Work Coach about this lone parent mentoring opportunity across Essex
Community Coaching and Training – runs a Lone Parent Support Resource Project in Chatham to support lone parents into sustainable work
Kent County Council – runs a Childcare Advice Line and provides a directory of children centres
Kent Family Mediation Service - runs a Separated Parents Information Programme to help parents manage conflict and gain practical parenting knowledge
Medway Council – a directory of Children and Family Hubs in Medway
NHS – access to the Kent Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service
SNAAP – provides support for parents and carers of children with special needs in Canterbury
Amaze - For families with disabled children and young people in Sussex
Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project (BUCFP) - provide practical support, education, and advice
Open for parents - support for parents
Cheshire East Council) - Care and support for children
Hartlepool Borough Council - The Children’s Hub - provides information, advice and guidance on services and support for children, young people and families
Kilmarnock Road Centre - Provides services for children, young people and adults
Thirteen - Support for families
Halton Borough Council - Family Information Service
Halton Borough Council - Find your nearest children centre in Runcorn and Widnes
Liverpool City Council - Find a nursery or childcare provider
Liverpool City Council - Children’s centres
St Helens Council - Family Information Service
Sefton Council - Childcare
Wirral Council Early years and childcare
Baby Basics - Supporting new mothers and families who are struggling to meet the financial and practical burden of looking after a new baby
Sheffield City Council - Positive parenting - support with parenting.
Bradford Council - Family Hubs
Bradford Council - Free early education and childcare for two year olds
Uniform Exchange - Uniform exchange for Kirklees
WomenCentre Calderdale and Kirklees - support for women
Yorkshire Children’s Trust - support for families with sick or disabled children
Dudley Family Information Service - provides free, up to date information, advice and contacts for families
Sandwell Family Information Service - offers free, impartial information to families with children
Sandwell Parents for Disabled Children – provides provision for play and leisure activities for disabled children
Wolverhampton Information Network Childcare - provides information on childcare
Wolverhampton Fostering and adoption – provides information on how you can foster or adopt a child in Wolverhampton
ADHD Norfolk – provides family support for families struggling with ADHD, requires a Work Coach referral
ASD Helping Hands – provides support for families in Norfolk where an adult or child has autism
Crystal Pathways – contact your Work Coach about this employability and skills programme for lone parents in Norwich
Ormiston – provides mental health support for children, families and new mums when a loved one is in prison across East Anglia
Peterborough Children and Family Centre – a directory of local organisations in Peterborough that supports families
Realise Futures – contact your Work Coach about this families and early years courses for parents and carers in Suffolk
TCHC – provides an Into Work programme for disadvantaged families, including lone parents across East Anglia
Early years and childcare - provides support to families and children 0-5 years old on how to access high quality childcare and free entitlements
Nurseries and childcare - search for nurseries and child carers or find out about children’s centres
Home-Start Northampton - offer regular support, friendship, and practical help to families
Starting Well Leicester – provides emergency baby supplies and support with baby feeding
Childcare and family support – Lincolnshire County Council - provides information on childcare
Childcare Nottingham City Directory - provides information on childcare
HomeStart Newark – offers support to parents as they learn to cope, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children
Coventry City Council family hubs - offers support to children, young people and their families to find and get help from different services in the area
Shropshire Council parents and carers - offers advice for parents and carers
Strickland Mums - offers mums mental health and addiction support postnatally as well as during their pregnancy - contact your Work Coach about this support
Warwickshire County Council children and family centres - offers flexible support for families with young people aged 0-19 (25 with additional needs)
Worcestershire County Council children’s centres - provides a range of information, parenting groups and courses based around the specific needs of the communities
Ability Care Chesterfield - promotes the interests and rights of people with a disability, their families and carers, in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire
Caudwell Children - provides support to families when raising a child with a disability
Childcare and early years education - Derby City Council - information and signposting service for families with children and young people
Diamond Families - offers a range of services, evidence-based programmes and guidance to children, families and professionals
Frantic Families Support Group - offers support to families with children who suffer from ADHD, Autism and other associated conditions
Home-Start Tamworth - supports parents in and around Tamworth, who are going through challenging times
Sporting Communities Tamworth - provides support to families who are experiencing long or short term difficulties
30 hours free childcare offer on GOV.UK – information on how to use the scheme
Al Anon – family support groups for families affected by alcohol issues
ALISS – a local information service for Scotland which includes help for families and lone parents
Caudwell Children – support for disabled children and their families
Child maintenance arrangements on GOV.UK – information to help parents make an informed choice about child maintenance
Childcare – online social network and search for parents and childcare providers
Childcare Choices – information on government help with childcare costs for parents
Children 1st – Scottish children’s charity offering support to prevent abuse and neglet
Children Heard and Seen – supporting children and young people impacted by parental imprisonment
Circle – support for families across Scotland
Dads Unlimited – advice, support and peer support for men who have experienced relationship breakdowns and are single parents
Family and Childcare Trust – provides information and signposting services for parenting and childcare issues
Foster care information on GOV.UK – information on how to become a foster carer
Free school meals – check to see if your child is eligible for free school meals
Gingerbread – online advice and helpline for single parents
Healthy Start – NHS Healthy Start scheme gives you free weekly vouchers to buy milk, fruit, vegetables and infant formula milk
Help after a break up – information and support for people divorcing or separating in Scotland
Home Start – support for families and how to gain confidence as a parent
Internet Access Needs – a scheme to temporarily increase data allowances for mobile phone users on certain networks to help children and young people access remote education if their usual classroom based education is disrupted
Kids Eat Free – Money Saving Central – directory of places where children can eat for free during half term
Kinship – advice and support for grandparents, siblings and family members who step in to raise children when a parent can’t
Kinship Care Scotland – advice for kinship carers in Scotland
Mosac – confidential support for parents and carers of children who have been abused
Netmums – an online parenting news and support community
OFSTED – check if a childcare provider is registered with Ofsted
One Parent Families Scotland – runs online support services and a lone parent helpline
PACEY – support to help parents choose the right childcare for them
Relate – relationship counselling, children and young people counselling and mental and emotional education
Parent Club: Online Safety – information for parents about child online safety
Scottish Childminding Association – support for childminders across Scotland and advice for anyone who’d like to become a childminder
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs – offers online support, local services and a helpline
Separated parents: children and the family courts on GOV.UK – a guide on what to expect at family court
See Hear Respond – Barnardo’s led partnership to help children, young people and families cope with the effects of the pandemic with a focus on early intervention
Separating or divorcing – a GOV.UK guide – information on what you need to do when separating or divorcing
Single Parents Support and Advice Services (SPSAS) - provides help and access to support services for single parents
Sorting out Separation – information and support for separated or separating families
Steps Ahead Mentoring programme – employability mentoring programme for parents and carers returning to work
Sure Start on GOV.UK – find a Sure Start Children’s Centre for advice and support on child and family health, money, training and employment
The Spark – offers relationship and individual counselling sessions remotely across Scotland
Variety – support for sick, disabled or disadvantaged children and young people including specialist or sensory equipment
Working Families – online and advice and helpline for working parents and carers including benefits, tax credits, employment rights and maternity discrimination
Young Minds – practical advice to support your child’s mental health
Geeza Break – offers parenting, budgeting, welfare ad housing support to parents living within the north east and east end of Glasgow
Horizons – contact your Work Coach about this lone parent training programme in Govan, Maryhill and Parkhead
REACT – contact your Work Coach about this young parents workshop and group activities service for east end of Glasgow
School Gates Initiative – contact your Work Coach about this parental employment opportunity in Glasgow
Clackmannanshire Council Young Parents Project – information and support for young parents aged 16-24 in Forth Valley and Clackmannanshire
Avenue – offers meditation and counselling services for families that are separating in Aberdeenshire
NHS Tayside Family Nurse Partnership – access to a voluntary home visiting programme for first time mums aged 19 and under at the start of pregnancy in Tayside
Parent to Parent – support and advocacy for parents of children with additional support needs or a terminal illness in Angus, Dundee or Perth and Kinross
Whole Family Wellbeing Fund – contact your Work Coach for information about this initiative to prevent families reaching a crisis point in Aberdeenshire
Care and Learning Alliance – provides childcare practice and learning support services for children up to the age of 16 and their families in Inverness
Highland Council – local information and access to the Children and Family Services for Inverness, Nairn and Inverness-shire
Thriving Families – support and information for families of children with additional special needs in the Highlands
Parental Employment Support – contact your Work Coach about this job search and confidence building service for parents in South Lanarkshire
Stepping Stones for Families – offers money advice for families in North and South Carrick
The Lennox Partnership – contact your Work Coach about this tailored support service for families with children under 5 in North Ayrshire
30 hours free childcare offer on GOV.UK – information on how to use the scheme
Childcare – online social network and search for parents and childcare providers
Childcare Choices – information on government help with childcare costs for parents
Child arrangements if you divorce or separate guide on GOV.UK – information on making child arrangements if you divorce or separate
Child maintenance arrangements on GOV.UK – information to help parents make an informed choice about child maintenance
Children Heard and Seen – supporting children and young people impacted by parental imprisonment
Dads Unlimited – advice, support and peer support for men who have experienced relationship breakdowns and are single parents
Family and Childcare Trust – provides information and signposting services for parenting and childcare issues
Family Information Service – each local authority has its own Family Information Service
Foster care information on GOV.UK – information on how to become a foster carer
Free School Meals – check if your child can get free school meals in Wales
Gingerbread – online advice and helpline for single parents
Healthy Start – NHS Healthy Start scheme gives you free weekly vouchers to buy milk, fruit, vegetables and infant formula milk
Home Start – support for families and how to gain confidence as a parent
Internet Access Needs – a scheme to temporarily increase data allowances for mobile phone users on certain networks to help children and young people access remote education if their usual classroom based education is disrupted
Kids Eat Free – Money Saving Central – directory of places where children can eat for free during half term
Kinship – advice and support for grandparents, siblings and family members who step in to raise children when a parent can’t
Mosac – confidential support for parents and carers of children who have been abused
Netmums – an online parenting news and support community
OFSTED – check if a childcare provider is registered with Ofsted
PaCE – contact your Work Coach about this Parent, Childcare and Employment support service
PACEY – support to help parents choose the right childcare for them
Relate – relationship counselling, children and young people counselling and mental and emotional education
Separated parents: children and the family courts on GOV.UK – a guide on what to expect at family court
See Hear Respond – Barnardo’s led partnership to help children, young people and families cope with the effects of the pandemic with a focus on early intervention
Separating or divorcing – a GOV.UK guide – information on what you need to do when separating or divorcing
Single Parents Support and Advice Services (SPSAS) - provides help and access to support services for single parents
Sorting out Separation – information and support for separated or separating families
Steps Ahead Mentoring programme – employability mentoring programme for parents and carers returning to work
Sure Start on GOV.UK – find a Sure Start Children’s Centre for advice and support on child and family health, money, training and employment
Variety – support for sick, disabled or disadvantaged children and young people including specialist or sensory equipment
Working Families – online and advice and helpline for working parents and carers including benefits, tax credits, employment rights and maternity discrimination
Young Minds – practical advice to support your child’s mental health
Advance Brighter Futures – helps people in Wrexham overcome challenges such as postnatal depression, lack of confidence and low self-esteem
Family Friends – support Wrexham families who are under stress and have at least one child aged 5-11
Hafal – help people with severe mental health issues and their families towards recovery
Home Start – call 0800 068 6368 to access support and advice for parents when their children are young
JIGSAW Autism Project – contact [email protected] for access to this project in Denbighshire
JIGSAW Prison Bus Service – provides a prison bus service to the family and friends of offenders serving custodial sentences
Open Door Family Centre – support for parents who are unemployed or on a low income in Powys with education, training or help with equipment to start a job
Rural Health and Care Wales – targets training and recruitment of professional workers in rural communities
SNAP Cymru – supports families with special educational needs (SEN)
Single Parents Wellbeing – wellbeing workshops across South East Wales both remotely and in person
Clybiau Plant Cymru – runs Kids Clubs across South West Wales
Family Holiday Charity – provides support to disadvantaged families to have a holiday
Family Point Cymru – provides family support signposting for families in South West Wales
Flying Start (Integrated Children’s Centre) – an early years initiative for children under 4 in Ceredigion
Splice Child and Family Project – a family community centre based for Pyle
Y Bont – parent and child centre in Bridgend focussed on supporting parents with disabled children