Wider family matters
Chapter 11: Useful contacts
Introduction
There is a vast range of organisations that may be helpful to you. We have aimed to give you those referred to in this guide and a range of others we think may be useful. Inevitably organisations open, close, move, change their name, and sometimes change their purpose. So the information we have provided is the best we can do at the time of publication, but some of it will inevitably go out of date.
If you have access to the web at home, or for example, at a library, community centre, or a friend’s house, there is now a vast amount of information available on every conceivable topic. If you haven’t used the web before, see if you can get someone to show you how to use it, or to search it for you. Often nowadays it is enough to put a topic or name into a search engine such as Google or Yahoo to get to the information you want. We have included websites so that you can be sure of getting to the right place on the web. Some websites offer a chat room so that you can communicate with others in similar situations or interested in the same issue.
Increasingly the web is a key way of obtaining information but it does not suit everyone and therefore we have still given you addresses, faxes, phone numbers and helplines. Helplines can be invaluable when you have specific queries about your own situation or when you feel you want to talk to someone in person. We have given you the hours of helplines but they do change. You also need to expect that you may have to phone more than once to find some helplines open and available.
If you would prefer to use a language other than English, it is sometimes possible to get web information in a different language. Some organisations also offer their information in certain other languages or formats. A few may be able to offer telephone interpretation.
The information below lists more than 70 of the most relevant organisations. It is organised alphabetically by subject and within each subject, except for Parenting and Families and our own organisation, the Family Rights Group, with which we start.
Useful contacts:
Advocacy for children and young people
Child abuse, bullying and domestic violence
Education including special educational needs
Government information Human rightsMoney/benefit advice including finance helplines
- NEW - Website survey - please tell us what you like and what you think could be improved about the website & discussion boards
- Family and Friends Carers Matter discussion board
- Family and Friends Carers notice board for practitioners
- Fathers Matter discussion board for dads & family members
- Fathers Matter notice board for practitioners
- FGC Network message board
