Useful contacts – Parenting and families
Action for Prisoners Families
Promotes the just treatment of families by the prison system; provides a nationwide network of support services to prisoners' families; offers a helpline to anyone with a relative or friend in prison in England or Wales.
Head Office
Unit 21, Carlson Court
116 Putney Bridge Road
London SW15 2NQ
Helpline: 0808 808 2003
Open M-F 10-4.30 & M/Tues 6-8pm
Admin: 020 8812 3600
Fax: 020 8871 0473
Email: info@actionpf.org.uk
Website: www.prisonersfamilies.org.uk
Children in Wales
Children in Wales is the national umbrella organisation for those working with children and young people in Wales. A membership body; it collect and disseminate information about children and young people’s issues; offers policy services; organises training courses, events and conferences; co-ordinates campaigns and research projects; provide consultancy services and co-ordinates specialist forums and networks across Wales. Children in Wales hosts Fforwm Magu Plant/Parenting Forum. This is a multi-agency network of parenting organisations. The Forum promotes the sharing of good practice, dissemination of relevant information, training and quality standards, and communicates the views of parents, carers and children to policy makers in Wales. Amongst the forums Child in Wales hosts is the Fatherhood Wales Forum.
25 Windsor Place
Cardiff
CF10 3BZ
Tel: (029) 2034 2434 Fax: (029) 2034 3134
Email: info@childreninwales.org.uk
Website: http://www.childreninwales.org.uk/index.html
Plant yng Nghymru
25 Plas Winsor
Caerdydd
CF10 3BZ
Ffôn: (029) 2034 2434
Ffacs: (029) 2034 3134
E-bost: info@childreninwales.org.uk
Gwefan: www.plantyngnghymru.org.uk
Family Welfare Association
Provides social work support and grants to some of the poorest families. Helps children to have fun and excitement, lone parents to make friends, and those with mental illness to rebuild their lives.
501-505 Kingsland Road
London E8 4AU
Tel: 020 7254 6251
Fax: 020 7249 5443
Email: fwa.headoffice@fwa.org.uk
Website: www.fwa.org.uk
Families Need Fathers
Provides information and support to parents and carers of either sex. Is chiefly concerned with maintaining a child's relationship with both parents following family breakdown.
134 Curtain Road
London EC2A 3AR
Tel: 020 7613 5060
Helpline: 0300 0300363
Open M-F 6-10pm
Email: fnf@fnf.org.uk
Website: www.fnf.org.uk
The Fatherhood Institute
Provides the UK information centre on fatherhood through newsletters, training information, policy updates, research summaries and guides.
9 Nevill Street
Abergavenny
NP7 5AA
Tel: 08456 341328 (Note: this is not an advice line)
Email: mail@fatherhoodinstitute.com
Website: www.fatherhoodinstitute.com
The Grandparents' Association
Works to improve the lives of children by working with and for all grandparents, especially those who have lost or are losing contact with their grandchildren because of divorce, family feud or other problems; those caring for their grandchildren on a full-time basis; and those with childcare responsibilities for their grandchildren.
Moot House
The Stow
Harlow
Essex CM20 3AG
Advice Line: 0845 4349585
Open 10-4 M- F
Welfare Benefits advice: 0844 3571033 M & W 10-12
Admin Tel: 01279 428040
Fax: 01279 428040
Email: info@grandparents-association.org.uk
Website: www.grandparents-association.org.uk
Grandparents Plus
Works to raise the profile of grandparents and the extended family as providers of essential care; and to establish policy and good practice in the support of grandparents and the extended family in caring for children, especially vulnerable children. Shares this with policy makers, practitioners and the public.
18 Victoria Park Square
London E2 9PF
Tel: 020 8981 8001
Email: info@grandparentsplus.org.uk
Website: www.grandparentsplus.org.uk
Home-Start UK
Trains volunteer parents to provide support to parents and carers who are struggling and looking after at least one child under five. Home-Start is available in nearly all parts of the UK. You can find your local Home-Start through the website or by contacting the head office as below.
Home-Start UK
2 Salisbury Road
Leicester LE1 7QR
Freephone: 0800 068 6368
Admin: 0116 233 9955
Fax: 0116 233 0232
Email: info@home-start.org.uk
Website: www.home-start.org.uk
Wales Office:
Home-Start UKBaltic House, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff
CF10 5FH
Tel: 0292 049 1181
Fax: 029 20491182
Email: walesoffice@home-start.org.uk
National Association of Child Contact Centres
Promotes safe child contact through child contact centres. These are places where children of separated families can spend time with parents and other family members when there are no other viable options.
Minerva House
Spaniel Row
Nottingham NG1 6EP
Tel: 0845 4500 280
Email: contact@naccc.org.uk
Website: www.naccc.org.uk
The National Children's Bureau
Promotes the voice, interests and well-being of children and young people in England and Northern Ireland. The website has information on a very useful range of topics that link to many other useful sites.
8 Wakely Street
London EC1V 7QE
Tel: 020 7843 6000
Fax 020 7278 9512
Email: library@ncb.org.uk
Website: www.ncb.org.uk
The National Council for Voluntary Child Care Organisations
Umbrella group for the voluntary sector operating in England. Ensures the safety and well-being of children through the voluntary sector's contribution. Provides information and consultation, and represents the views of its member organisations to central, regional and local government. The website has a very useful wide range of links to its numerous member websites.
Unit 4, Pride Court
80-82 White Lion Street
London N1 9PF
Tel: 020 7833 3319
Fax: 020 7833 8637
Email: office@ncvcco.org
Website: www.ncvcco.org
National Family and Parenting Institute
A leading centre of expertise on families and parenting in the UK, the Institute carries out research and policy work and works to inform policymakers and public debate, as well as develop practice resources to promote the well-being of families.
430 Highgate Studios,
53-79 Highgate Road,
London NW5 1TL
Tel: 020 7424 3460
Fax: 020 7485 3590
Email: info@nfpi.org
Website: www.nfpi.org.uk
One Parent Families|Gingerbread
Offers a range of services for lone parent families throughout England and Wales: a telephone helpline, membership, training and learning opportunities, free publications and campaigning work.
Lone Parent Helpline: 0800 018 5026
Membership: 0800 018 4318
e-mail: info@oneparentfamilies.org.uk
website: www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk
Head office
One Parent Families|Gingerbread
255 Kentish Town Road
London NW5 2LX
Tel: 020 7428 5400
Wales office
One Parent Families/Gingerbread Wales
4th floor Baltic House
Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff Bay,
Cardiff CF10 5FH
Tel: 029 20 471 900
Parenting UK (previously the Parenting Education Support Forum)
National umbrella group for those who work in parenting education and support.
Unit 431 Highgate Studios
53-79 Highgate Road
London NW5 1TL
Tel: 020 7284 8370
Fax: 020 7485 3587
Email: pesf@dial.pipex.com
Website: www.parenting-forum.org.uk
Parentline Plus
Works for and with parents, offering range of services including a helpline, text phone, email advice service, groups and workshops.
520 Highgate Studios
53-79 Highgate Road
Kentish Town
London NW5 1TL
Parentline: 0808 800 2222
Open 7 days a week, 24 hours
Fax: 020 7284 5501
Textphone: 0800 783 6783
Open M-F 9-5
Email: headoffice@parentlineplus.org.uk
Website: www.parentlineplus.org.uk
Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT)
A charity which supports people affected by imprisonment across the South of England and Wales. Works with children and families of prisoners, and with prisoners inside and on release.
The charity runs a Kinship Care Support Service in two prisons - HMP Holloway and HMP Wormwood Scrubs in London. The Service aims: to support family members and friends who care for children whose parents are in either prision; resolve conflicts between the carers and parents and help facilitate contact between children and their parents. The Services offers support to carers, including concerns, additional support and relationship counselling. For further information click http://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/?q=kinshipcare.Prisoners' Families Helpline 0800 8082003
Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm & 10am-3pm Sat
Email: info@prisonersfamilieshelpline.org.uk
Website: www.prisonadvice.org.uk
Sure Start
The Government programme to deliver the best start in life for every child. It brings together early education, childcare, health and family support. England only.
Level 2 Caxton House
Tothill Street
London SW1H 9NA
Tel: 020 7273 4830
Fax: 020 7273 5182
Email: sure.start@dfes.gov.uk
Website: www.surestart.gov.uk
