Parent & Family Support Signposting
There is information on:
- Bereavement
- Bullying
- Finance
- General Support
- Housing
- Mental Health
- Single Parents
- Travel to School
Bereavement
Bereavement UK
A valuable hub providing bereavement support and information for families.
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement. National Helpline 0800 02 888 40 or Live Chat via the website or email at [email protected]
Cruse Bereavement Care
Cruse Bereavement Care exists to promote the well being of bereaved people and to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. Services are FREE to bereaved people. The charity provides support and offers information, advice, education and training services.
National Helpline: 0808 808 1677
The Compassionate Friends
This is a UK peer support group, a registered charity formed by and for parents whose children have died, irrespective of the child’s age at death and the cause of death and is dependent of any religious, philosophical or government body.
Helpline 0345 123 2304
Winston’s Wish
This is a charity for bereaved children and helps young people to readjust to life after the death of a parent or sibling. By providing professional assistance before, during and after bereavement, they help children to understand the nature of loss and offer practical support and guidance in order to cope throughout the grieving process. For support – Freephone National Helpline 08088 020 021 or email [email protected]
Bullying
Bullying UK
Practical help and advice for children and adults dealing with bullying at school or work.
National Bullying Helpline 0845 22 55 787
Bullying UK: Bullying Advice
Bullying UK, part of Family Lives, is a leading charity providing advice and support to anyone affected by bullying. Helpline 0808 800 2222 or email [email protected]
Bullying: Young Minds
Young Minds Parents Helpline is available to offer advice to parents/carers worried about a child or young person under 25.
Call FREE on 0808 802 5544 from Mon-Fri 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Bullying & Cyberbullying: NSPCC
Advice for parents/carers to help keep children safe from bullying wherever it happens. Call on 0808 800 5000 or email [email protected]
Finance
Family Fund
This is a UK based registered charity for disabled children and their families. It is the UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people.
Call on 01904 550055
Welfare Rights and Money Advice Service
WRAMAS provides advice, consultancy, information and training, to a range of clients, services and organisations in Bristol. If you need help or advice, there is a confidential helpline 0117 352 1888 or email [email protected] You can also find advice and information on the website.
Talking Money
Talking Money provide FREE, independent, specialist debt advice to individuals and their families. This includes energy debt and efficiency advice, benefits and income maximisation advice. They also provide money mentoring support via their self-help service, appointments and group workshops.
Freephone 0800 121 4511 or 0117 954 3990 or email [email protected]
General Support
Bristol City Council – support for families
Children’s Centres
Children’s Centres provide a range of early years and childcare services to local families, all year round. Services include: day care and early education, family health services including ante-natal and post-natal care, parenting and family support services, support for children with additional or special educational needs, outreach services such as home visits and community support benefits advice. To find your local Children’s Centre, visit the website.
Find your local Children’s Centre
Low Cost Computer
Do you need a low-cost computer? Get connected for as little as £75.
Call 0117 3706 375
Home-Start Bristol
A registered charity that supports struggling families, with at least one child under five, living in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Many parents need help, friendship, advice or support during those early years when children are young. Contact 0117 950 1170 or 0117 950 1197 or www.homestartbristol.org.uk to complete a contact form.
Sure Start Children’s Centres
Children’s Centres are for children under 5 and their families. They offer a range of activities, play, information and support from professionals working in a wide range of fields.
Bristol Family Information Service – 0117 357 4192
Housing
Acorn Communities
This is a community union. Community based membership organisation campaigning for better lives. Housing justice in Bristol. End the rental rip-off.
Call 07432 473293
Bristol City Council Housing
Statutory Agency who can support families should you experience housing difficulties.
Call: 0117 922 2200.
Bristol – Shelter England
Shelter run a free advice service for all housing and homelessness related issues, available to residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset, and North Somerset. Services can be accessed through their support centre in central Bristol.
For advice or guidance, call 0344 515 1430 between the hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.
If you require assistance with a legal matter within the next seven days – including a court hearing – or need an appointment with our Legal team, call 0344 515 1430 between the hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.
Chas Bristol – Housing Advice Service
A community-based housing advice service offering free, independent and confidential advice on housing related matters to anyone in need in Bristol. Contact www.chasbristol.co.uk or 0117 935 1260.
HomeChoice Bristol
There are a range of housing options that are available in the Bristol area via HomeChoice. Contact www.homechoicebristol.co.uk or 100 Temple Street, Redcliffe, Bristol, BS1 6AG or 0117 922 2400.
Private Renting
Find a home to rent with a private landlord – housing
Properties to rent in Bristol with a private landlord
Rooms for rent from private landlords
Realising Ambition – Shelter
This is Shelter’s housing support services funded by the Big Lottery Fund. They can work with you to prevent homelessness and help the 8-14-year olds in your family realise their potential and avoid risky behaviour. To request a referral form, please call 0344 515 1430 or email [email protected]
Mental Health
Alive ‘n’ Kicking
A successful weight management programme that helps children and young people aged between 5 and 19 years of age reach and maintain a healthier weight.
Call 0117 942 2602
Beat
Beat is the UK’s leading supporting those affected by eating disorders and campaigning on their behalf.
Helpline 0808 801 0677 is open 365 days a year
Bristol Community Support Services
This support service has been working for many years to help Bristol-based people with mental health issues make a positive difference in their lives. The service works with anybody who has mental health problem.
Call: 0117 903 1801
Bristol Drugs Project
Website and helpline to support parents who may be concerned their children are involved with drugs. Access free and confidential information, advice and services to support you around problematic drug or alcohol use.
Tel: 0117 987 6000
Bristol Mental Health – The Sanctuary
Bristol Sanctuary is a place to go when you are in serious emotional distress. They aim to provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment where you can take stock and find some balance.
Call: 0117 954 2952
Bristol Mental Health – ACE
The Assertive Contact and Engagement (ACE) Service reaches out to people and groups who face complex barriers to services, including barriers due to cultural background or chaotic lifestyles. Staff work with people from different communities in Bristol, including the LGBT community, asylum seekers and refugees, rough sleepers, parents, and those with risky drug and alcohol use.
Call: 0117 239 8969
Bristol Mental Health – Men’s Crisis House
The Men’s Crisis House supports men experiencing mental health problems where hospital admission might be the only other alternative available. The service provides ten bedrooms in a large house with 24-hour support. Men can stay in the house for up to four weeks and will, at the end of their stay, then have to move from the house into appropriate accommodation.
Call: 0117 934 9848
Childline
A counselling service for children and young people up to their 19th birthday in the UK, provided by the NSPCC.
Tel: 0800 1111 (free)
FRANK
A charity which supports children and families affected by drugs.
Tel: 0300 123 6600
Heart to Heart
Low cost counselling service in Kingswood, Bristol who offer a safe and confidential place to explore your issues and concerns.
Call 07926 314739
Missing Link Bristol
As well as a mental health service, they provide domestic abuse support services and independent support for victims of rape and sexual abuse.
Helpline 0117 925 1811
National Childbirth Trust
The UK’s leading charity for parents for your First 1,000 Days, right through your pregnancy, birth and beyond.
Tel: 0300 330 0700
Next Link Bristol
This organisation provides domestic abuse support services as well as women’s mental health support.
Helpline 0117 925 0680
Off the Record (Bristol)
A mental health social movement by, and for, young people aged 11-25 living in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
Tel: 0808 808 9120.
Relate
Nationwide service for those needing support with relationship issues. This can mean couple counselling, individual counselling and family counselling.
Call: 0117 942 8444
Samaritans
An organisation who offer support to people in distress, providing confidential, emotional support to those in need of a safe space to talk over problems, feelings stress or anything that may be worrying them, especially those in extreme despair.
Call FREE, day or night, 365 days a year, Bristol Samaritans 116 123
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation – Stop it now
The only UK wide charity dedicated solely to preventing child sexual abuse. The foundation manages the Stop It Now! Helpline and campaign, and trained staff provide a call back and face to face service to helpline callers who need specialist, ongoing advice and support.
Confidential helpline 0808 1000 900
Young Minds
The UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people’s mental health.
Tel: 020 7089 5050
Young Minds-Bristol Mind
This is a national charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of all children and young people under the age of 25.
Information and signposting 0117 980 0370.
Single Parents
Gingerbread
An organisation that can provide expert advice and practical support for single parents.
Tel: 0808 802 0925
NHS
Help and information if you’re bringing up a child as a single parent, including money issues, co-parenting and making friends.
Single Parent Travel Club
An organisation which promotes interaction between single parent families via holidays etc.
Single Parents
The parenting site for single parents which offers support from experienced parenting facilitators, links to other support organisations and news.
Family Lives
Advice on becoming a single parent.
Helpline 0808 800 2222
Travel to School
Photo ID – First Bus
Photo ID passes are FREE for children aged 5-15.
School Travel Support
What home to school travel support is. Statutory walking distances – check the Home School Travel policy
