Separating and Divorced Families
Gingerbread support for single parents
Gingerbread is a free service for single parents. It offers advice and support services to help you get the right support when and where you need it the most. You can meet other single mums and dads on the online forum or in local or digital groups. It also provides advice, information pages, web chat and a helpline to provide expert guidance on a wide range of topics. They have an urgent mental health support with Shout when you are feeling anxious, worried or overwhelmed. Text the word Ginger to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained volunteer. This service is available 24 hours a day. It's free and confidential and won't show up on your phone bill.
0808 802925
Family Lives
Family lives provides targeted early intervention on a variety of issues. They have a range of advice including information on mental health, anger and violence as well as when your relationship isn't working. If your relationship isn't working they have information on relationship problems, splitting up or staying together, coping in the early days, finding support during divorce, how to get counselling and legal advice. They also have a free helpline and online chat and email options to access support.
0808 8002222
NSPCC
This page gives you information on how to support your child during a separation and to find out what the law says about parental rights. It also has links to other agencies that you can talk to at this time.
0808 800 500
Separated Families
Seperated families gives child focussed information for separated families. It's section on coping with separation gives information if you are considering separation or divorce, what you might feel, taking care of yourself and how to deal with anger. There is also a section about your children which gives information on how to tell your child about separation and divorce, what your child might feel, helping your child to talk and adjust to the changes. The last section is about parenting apart. This focusses on building a new parenting relationship, improving communications, time arrangements and how to make a parenting agreement.
Place2Be
This site gives you information on how to support your chid through a separation or divorce. It also gives you information about Cafcass.
Cafcass
Cafcass advises the family courts about the welfare of children and what's in their best interest. They make sure that children's voices are heard in the family court and that decisions are made in their best interest.
0300 4564000
Resolution
If you are dealing with family breakdown, it is likely you will have a lot of questions about the legal process of divorce, potential alternative to court and information about sorting out arrangements for children, money and the home.
020 38410300
Citizens Advice
Citizens advice can offer support and information on a range of worries and concerns. They have information on living together, marriage and civil partnership, how to separate, sorting out money if you do separate and how to make arrangements for your children at this time.
0808 2787854
Family Mediation Council
Mediation is simpler, less stressful than going to court. It can help all family members including children move on quickly to the next stages of their lives and maintain important family relationships. This site helps you find local mediators.