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There are many organisations who provide emotional, practical and legal support to children and families involved in family breakdown and divorce.
We have added some links to information which you may find useful.
he Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service operates under the rules and direction of the family courts to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, give advice to the family courts, make provision for children to be represented in court and provide information, advice and support to children and their families.
https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/
Gov.uk site explaining the options for arranging child maintenance payments if a private arrangement between parents has not been possible, including information about how to apply.
https://www.gov.uk/making-child-maintenance-arrangement/using-child-maintenance-service
Gov.uk site hosting the Child Maintenance Service calculator, to enable families to calculate payments themselves (family based arrangements.)
https://www.gov.uk/calculate-child-maintenance
Website collecting information, resources and support for everyone involved in the child protection system in the UK.
https://childprotectionresource.online/
Organisation that offers support to families where relationships between fathers and children are under threat.
https://fnf.org.uk/
Charity that works with parents (and extended family) in England and Wales whose children are in need, at risk, or are in the care system, to champion policies and practice that can keep children safe within their family.
https://frg.org.uk/
Charity supporting single parent families to live secure, happy and fulfilling lives.
https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/
UK charity dedicated to child contact, that provides safe spaces where children can meet the parent/s they don’t live with.
https://naccc.org.uk/
Online tool and App to help parents in shared parenting arrangements with communication and organisation, including managing schedules, tracking expenses, sharing files, sending secure messages, etc.
https://www.ourfamilywizard.co.uk/
Independent charity that promotes the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children in the UK and around the world, including by producing free resources for families to help promote children’s resilience.
https://www.partnershipforchildren.org.uk/
Advice and support for parents, children and young people, including parenting programmes and contact centres.
https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/
Advice and support for children, covering a wide range of issues.
https://www.childline.org.uk/
Space created by Women’s Aid to help children and young people to understand domestic abuse, and how to take positive action if it’s happening to you.
https://thehideout.org.uk/
A collaboration between young people, the family law/mediation sectors and The Family Initiative charity to provide a dedicated place for young people to find help and support when experiencing their parent’s divorce/separation. Includes a place for young people to share their stories, as well as resources to help parents talk with their children about their experience of the divorce/separation.
https://www.voicesinthemiddle.com/
Organisation that champions advice and counselling for young people, including a search engine to find free local services, by post code.
https://www.youthaccess.org.uk/
Guide produced by the Bar Council to help people who are involved in court proceedings without a lawyer. This is referred to by the court as as being a Litigant in Person (LiP.)
https://www.thejusticegap.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Bar-Council-guide.pdf
Charity offering confidential advice and information on a wide range of issues, including family law, online, over the phone and in person, for free.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
Free and confidential advice service, paid for by legal aid, that help people deal with a wide variety of legal problems, including family law.
https://www.ukecc-services.net/Communitylegaladvice.cfm
Independent organisation of professionals offering divorce information and advice to people based in the UK, and internationally with a UK connection.
http://www.divorceaid.co.uk/
Gov.uk website where information can be found regarding court forms, court fees and help with fees and online court applications can be made.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service
A community of family law solicitors, and other family justice professionals, who work with families and individuals to resolve issues in a constructive way, which is enshrined in their Code of Practice. Resolution members can be searched for by post code.
https://resolution.org.uk/
Charity that helps people with housing problems and/or homelessness through advice, support and legal services.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/
Organisation who supports people who are representing themselves in court. They can help with filling out court forms and sometimes with attending court also.
https://www.supportthroughcourt.org/
Information about how to sort out finances when separating.
https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/family-and-care/divorce-and-separation?source=mas
Information site for single parents.
https://www.singleparents.org.uk/
Providing help and advice about violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence for people in Wales.
https://gov.wales/live-fear-free
Freephone, 24-hour national domestic abuse helpline (provided by Refuge.)
https://www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk/
Organisation helping victims of domestic abuse to overcome many different forms of violence/abuse and rebuild their lives.
https://www.refuge.org.uk/
Grassroots federation working to provide life-saving services in England and build a future where domestic abuse is not tolerated.
https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
Professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK. Members have to demonstrate high standards of practice to attain and retain their accreditation. They have a register of BACP counsellors and psychotherapists, as well as a directory of services, searchable by postcode.
https://www.bacp.co.uk/
Provider of family therapy relating to a wide range of issues, including parenting issues, marital difficulties, issues relating to divorce/separation, LGBTQ+ and family couple issues, coping with the aftermath of violence/abuse, etc.
https://www.ift.org.uk/
National organisation providing relationship (and relationship breakdown) support via counselling. Services also include help with family life/parenting. Fees are sometimes on a sliding scale, according to income.
https://www.relate.org.uk/
Free, 24-hour, National helpline to help people who are feeling suicidal.
https://www.samaritans.org/
Organisation for the education, training, accreditation and regulation of psychotherapists/ psychotherapeutic counsellors in the UK. They exist to ensure practitioners meet stringent training requirements and abide by specific ethical standards. They hold a national register of accredited professionals.
https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/