Helpful Contacts
Useful Contacts for Children and Young People
Action for Children
actionforchildren.org.uk
Charity supporting children, young people and their families across England.
Anxiety UK
03444 775 774 (helpline)
07537 416 905 (text)
anxietyuk.org.uk
Advice and support for people living with anxiety.
Beat
0808 801 0711 (youthline)
0808 801 0811 (studentline)
beateatingdisorders.co.uk
Under 18s helpline, webchat and online support groups for people with eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
0800 58 58 58
thecalmzone.net
Provides listening services, information and support for anyone who needs to talk, including a web chat.
Centrepoint
0808 800 0661
centrepoint.org.uk
Provides advice, housing and support for young people aged 16–25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in England.
Childline
0800 1111
childline.org.uk
Support for children and young people in the UK, including a free helpline and 1-2-1 online chats with counsellors.
FRANK
0300 123 6600
talktofrank.com
Confidential advice and information about drugs, their effects and the law.
Hope Again
0808 808 1677
hopeagain.org.uk
Support for young people when someone dies.
Kooth
kooth.com
Counsellors available until 10pm every day. Free, safe and anonymous online counselling for young people. Check whether this is offered in your area.
Me and My Mind
meandmymind.nhs.uk
Advice and support for young people struggling with unusual experiences, such as hearing voices.
Mencap
0808 808 1111 (Learning Disability Helpline)
mencap.org.uk
Information and advice for people with a learning disability, their families and carers. Services include an online community.
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
0800 800 5000 (for adults concerned about a child)
0800 1111 (18 or under – Childline helpline)
nspcc.org.uk
Support and information for children and anyone worried about a child.
NHS Go
nhsgo.uk
NHS app with confidential health advice and support for 16–25 year olds.
No Panic
0330 606 1174
nopanic.org.uk/no-panic-youth-hub
Charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
OCD Youth
ocdyouth.org
Youth Support for young people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
On My Mind
annafreud.org/on-my-mind
Information for young people to make informed choices about their mental health and wellbeing.
Papyrus HOPELINEUK
0800 068 41 41
07860 039967 (text)
pat@papyrus-uk.org
papyrus-uk.org
Confidential support for under-35s at risk of suicide and others who are concerned about them. Open daily from 9am–midnight.
Refuge
0808 200 0247
refuge.org.uk
Help and support for young people affected by domestic violence.
Relate
0300 003 0396
relate.org.uk
Provides help and support with relationships, including counselling and telephone support.
Rethink Mental Illness
0808 801 0525
rethink.org
Provides support and information for anyone affected by mental health problems, including local support groups.
Safeline
0808 800 5007 (Young people’s helpline)
0808 800 5005 (National Male Survivor helpline)
safeline.org.uk
Helplines for adults and young people who have experienced sexual abuse and rape. Offers face-to-face services in Coventry and Warwickshire and another helpline specifically for male survivors.
Samaritans
116 123 (freephone)
samaritans.org
Samaritans are open 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person. Samaritans also have a Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).
Shelter
shelter.org.uk/youngpeople
Charity working for people in housing need by providing free, independent, expert housing advice.
The Mix
0808 808 4994
85258 (crisis messenger service, text THEMIX)
themix.org.uk
Support and advice for under 25s, including a helpline, crisis messenger service and webchat.
Time to Change
time-to-change.org.uk (England)
timetochangewales.org.uk (Wales)
National campaign to end stigma and discrimination against people with mental health problems in England and Wales. The campaign for England ended in 2021, but its resources are still available online.
Victim Support
0808 168 9111
victimsupport.org.uk
Provides emotional and practical support for people affected by crime and traumatic events.
Voice Collective
voicecolleactive.co.uk
Support for people under 25 who hear voices, have visions or other unusual sensory experiences
YoungMinds
0808 802 5544 (parents helpline)
85258 (crisis messenger service, text YM)
youngminds.org.uk
Committed to improving the mental health of babies, children and young people, including support for parents and carers. Provides information on medication for young people.
Young Stonewall
0800 050 2020
youngstonewall.org.uk
Information and support for all young lesbian, gay, bi and trans people.
Youth Access
youthaccess.org.uk
Advice and counselling network for young people, including details of free local services.