Families, lone parents and childcare

Information for families, including support for separated families, single parents and children.

England: national support

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

� information to help parents make an informed choice about child maintenance

� online social network and search for parents and childcare providers

� information on government help with childcare costs for parents

� supporting children and young people impacted by parental imprisonment

� advice, support and peer support for men who have experienced relationship breakdowns and are single parents

� 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

� online advice and helpline for single parents

� NHS Healthy Start scheme gives you free weekly vouchers to buy milk, fruit, vegetables and infant formula milk

� 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

� directory of places where children can eat for free during half term

� advice and support for grandparents, siblings and family members who step in to raise children when a parent can’t

� confidential support for parents and carers of children who have been abused

� an online parenting news and support community

� check if a childcare provider is registered with Ofsted

� support to help parents choose the right childcare for them

� 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

� 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

- provides help and access to support services for single parents

� information and support for separated or separating families

� 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

� support for sick, disabled or disadvantaged children and young people including specialist or sensory equipment

� online and advice and helpline for working parents and carers including benefits, tax credits, employment rights and maternity discrimination

� practical advice to support your child’s mental health

Avon, Somerset and Gloucestershire

- information about childcare options available in Bath and North East Somerset

- locations of Children’s Centres in Bath and North East Somerset

- services provided at Children’s Centres in Bath and North East Somerset

- available to families with a child or young person up to the age of 25 with additional needs, a special educational need or disability

- Provides legal advice and representation to social welfare law for people living in Bristol who could not otherwise afford access to justice

- Various family orientated courses

- Works with women who have experienced the removal of two or more of their children

- locations and services provided at Children’s Centres in Bristol

- information about childcare options available in Bristol

- search for childcare providers near to you

- information about childcare options available in Bristol

- information about fostering in Bristol

- services available to Bristol parents returning to work, for childcare and other activities

- provides a wealth of information in relation to childcare

� registered childcare provision which includes childminders and day nurseries

- information about fostering in South Gloucestershire

- Details of the locations and services provided at Children’s Centres

- A directory of local services relating to Children, Adults and health

- Check if your child can get free school meals in South Gloucestershire

- information on local childcare provision and rates

- support and links for children and family related support

- locations and services provided at Children’s Centres in South Gloucestershire

- information about childcare options available in North Somerset

-information about fostering in North Somerset

- Details and locations of childcare provision, including Children’s Centres, in Somerset

- information about childcare options available in Somerset

- If you are struggling to find appropriate childcare

- includes a step-by-step guide to becoming a foster carer and provides further information about the fostering process

- Giving parents, carers and young people advice and support to prevent a crisis

-Support for Young Parents

- several links to support for families and children

- information on local childcare provision and rates

- Aspects of family life that include all stages of a child’s development, issues with schools and parenting/relationship support

- information about childcare options available in Gloucestershire

- locations and services provided at Children’s Centres in Gloucestershire

- information about fostering in Gloucestershire

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

- help families with young children deal with the challenges they face

- Children’s Centres in Bedfordshire

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

- Information, support, childcare and things to do for families, children and young people

- 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

- Information and support for children, young people and families in Oxfordshire

Devon and Cornwall

- Children’s Centres 

- A list of useful information for parents and carers of 0-19 year olds

- Children’s centres

- Children’s centres

Essex

� 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

Kent

� runs a Lone Parent Support Resource Project in Chatham to support lone parents into sustainable work

� runs a Childcare Advice Line and provides a directory of children centres

- runs a Separated Parents Information Programme to help parents manage conflict and gain practical parenting knowledge

� a directory of Children and Family Hubs in Medway

� access to the Kent Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service

� provides support for parents and carers of children with special needs in Canterbury

Surrey and Sussex

- For families with disabled children and young people in Sussex

- provide practical support, education, and advice

- support for parents

Cheshire

- Care and support for children

Durham and Tees Valley

- provides information, advice and guidance on services and support for children, young people and families

- Provides services for children, young people and adults

- Support for families

Merseyside

- Family Information Service

- Find your nearest children centre in Runcorn and Widnes

- Find a nursery or childcare provider

- Children’s centres

- Family Information Service

- Childcare

Early years and childcare

South Yorkshire

- Supporting new mothers and families who are struggling to meet the financial and practical burden of looking after a new baby

- support with parenting.

West Yorkshire

- Family Hubs

- Free early education and childcare for two year olds

- Uniform exchange for Kirklees

- support for women

- support for families with sick or disabled children

Black Country

- provides free, up to date information, advice and contacts for families

- offers free, impartial information to families with children

� provides provision for play and leisure activities for disabled children

- provides information on childcare

� provides information on how you can foster or adopt a child in Wolverhampton

East Anglia

� provides family support for families struggling with ADHD, requires a Work Coach referral

� 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

� provides mental health support for children, families and new mums when a loved one is in prison across East Anglia

� 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

� provides an Into Work programme for disadvantaged families, including lone parents across East Anglia

Leicestershire and Northamptonshire

- provides support to families and children 0-5 years old on how to access high quality childcare and free entitlements

- search for nurseries and child carers or find out about children’s centres

- offer regular support, friendship, and practical help to families

� provides emergency baby supplies and support with baby feeding

Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland

- provides information on childcare

- provides information on childcare

� offers support to parents as they learn to cope, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children

Mercia

- offers support to children, young people and their families to find and get help from different services in the area

- 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

- offers flexible support for families with young people aged 0-19 (25 with additional needs)

- provides a range of information, parenting groups and courses based around the specific needs of the communities

Staffordshire and Derbyshire

- promotes the interests and rights of people with a disability, their families and carers, in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire

- provides support to families when raising a child with a disability

- information and signposting service for families with children and young people

- offers a range of services, evidence-based programmes and guidance to children, families and professionals

- offers support to families with children who suffer from ADHD, Autism and other associated conditions

- supports parents in and around Tamworth, who are going through challenging times

- provides support to families who are experiencing long or short term difficulties

Scotland: national support

30 hours free childcare offer on GOV.UK � information on how to use the scheme

� family support groups for families affected by alcohol issues

� a local information service for Scotland which includes help for families and lone parents

� support for disabled children and their families

� information to help parents make an informed choice about child maintenance

� online social network and search for parents and childcare providers

� information on government help with childcare costs for parents

� Scottish children’s charity offering support to prevent abuse and neglet

� supporting children and young people impacted by parental imprisonment

� support for families across Scotland

� advice, support and peer support for men who have experienced relationship breakdowns and are single parents

� provides information and signposting services for parenting and childcare issues

Foster care information on GOV.UK � information on how to become a foster carer

� check to see if your child is eligible for free school meals

� online advice and helpline for single parents

� NHS Healthy Start scheme gives you free weekly vouchers to buy milk, fruit, vegetables and infant formula milk

� information and support for people divorcing or separating in Scotland

� 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

� directory of places where children can eat for free during half term

� advice and support for grandparents, siblings and family members who step in to raise children when a parent can’t

� advice for kinship carers in Scotland

� confidential support for parents and carers of children who have been abused

� an online parenting news and support community

� check if a childcare provider is registered with Ofsted

� runs online support services and a lone parent helpline

� support to help parents choose the right childcare for them

� relationship counselling, children and young people counselling and mental and emotional education

� information for parents about child online safety

� support for childminders across Scotland and advice for anyone who’d like to become a childminder

� 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

� 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

- provides help and access to support services for single parents

� information and support for separated or separating families

� 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

� offers relationship and individual counselling sessions remotely across Scotland

� support for sick, disabled or disadvantaged children and young people including specialist or sensory equipment

� online and advice and helpline for working parents and carers including benefits, tax credits, employment rights and maternity discrimination

� practical advice to support your child’s mental health

Central Scotland

� 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

East Scotland

� information and support for young parents aged 16-24 in Forth Valley and Clackmannanshire

North East Scotland

� offers meditation and counselling services for families that are separating in Aberdeenshire

� access to a voluntary home visiting programme for first time mums aged 19 and under at the start of pregnancy in Tayside

� 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

Northern Scotland

� provides childcare practice and learning support services for children up to the age of 16 and their families in Inverness

� local information and access to the Children and Family Services for Inverness, Nairn and Inverness-shire

� support and information for families of children with additional special needs in the Highlands

South West Scotland

Parental Employment Support � contact your Work Coach about this job search and confidence building service for parents in South Lanarkshire

� offers money advice for families in North and South Carrick

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp Lennox Partnership â€� contact your Work Coach about this tailored support service for families with children under 5 in North Ayrshire

Wales: national support

30 hours free childcare offer on GOV.UK � information on how to use the scheme

� online social network and search for parents and childcare providers

� 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

� information to help parents make an informed choice about child maintenance

� supporting children and young people impacted by parental imprisonment

� advice, support and peer support for men who have experienced relationship breakdowns and are single parents

� provides information and signposting services for parenting and childcare issues

� each local authority has its own Family Information Service

Foster care information on GOV.UK � information on how to become a foster carer

� check if your child can get free school meals in Wales

� online advice and helpline for single parents

� NHS Healthy Start scheme gives you free weekly vouchers to buy milk, fruit, vegetables and infant formula milk

� 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

� directory of places where children can eat for free during half term

� advice and support for grandparents, siblings and family members who step in to raise children when a parent can’t

� confidential support for parents and carers of children who have been abused

� an online parenting news and support community

� check if a childcare provider is registered with Ofsted

PaCE � contact your Work Coach about this Parent, Childcare and Employment support service

� support to help parents choose the right childcare for them

� 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

� 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

- provides help and access to support services for single parents

� information and support for separated or separating families

� 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

� support for sick, disabled or disadvantaged children and young people including specialist or sensory equipment

� online and advice and helpline for working parents and carers including benefits, tax credits, employment rights and maternity discrimination

� practical advice to support your child’s mental health

North and Mid Wales

� helps people in Wrexham overcome challenges such as postnatal depression, lack of confidence and low self-esteem

� support Wrexham families who are under stress and have at least one child aged 5-11

� 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 â€� contact [email protected] for access to this project in Denbighshire

� provides a prison bus service to the family and friends of offenders serving custodial sentences

� support for parents who are unemployed or on a low income in Powys with education, training or help with equipment to start a job

� targets training and recruitment of professional workers in rural communities

� supports families with special educational needs (SEN)

South East Wales

� wellbeing workshops across South East Wales both remotely and in person

South West Wales

� runs Kids Clubs across South West Wales

� provides support to disadvantaged families to have a holiday

� provides family support signposting for families in South West Wales

� an early years initiative for children under 4 in Ceredigion

� a family community centre based for Pyle

� parent and child centre in Bridgend focussed on supporting parents with disabled children