Family Rights Group
Free, confidential specialist advice for parents, relatives and friends involved with children’s services in England.
Advice line: 0808 801 0366 · Monday to Friday, 9.30am–3pm, excluding bank holidays
Get adviceHelpful organisations
What do you need help with?
Choose the subject that is closest to your problem. National services are listed first, followed by clearly labelled local options where we know of them.
Before contacting a service
Match the help to the problem.
Urgency comes first.Use 999 for immediate danger and NHS 111’s mental-health option for urgent mental-health help.
Legal advice is its own job.A support worker, online group or general helpline cannot safely interpret court papers or advise what you should do in your case.
Share carefully.Explain the issue briefly first. Ask what documents are actually needed before sending confidential records or information about a child.
Support directory
National help, with local options
This is a national directory. The label on each service says where it is available, and local organisations are included only as clearly marked extra options. Check the service’s own website for current opening times and who can use it.
Children’s services and family networks
Use this section if children’s services are involved, or a relative or friend is caring for a child.
Kinship
Information, expert advice, workshops and local support for relatives or friends raising a child.
Find kinship supportYour local council
Ask for the local family-help offer, children’s social care, family group decision-making, kinship support and the published complaints procedure.
Find your councilLegal advice and family proceedings
Use this section if you need legal advice about court, care proceedings or a child’s living arrangements.
Find a Legal Aid Adviser
The official search for legal-aid advisers in England and Wales. Choose the category that matches your problem and ask whether the firm handles public children law.
Search for an adviserGOV.UK legal-aid checker
General information about what legal aid may cover, including where a child in the family is at risk of being taken into care.
Check legal-aid eligibilityThe Law Society
Search for regulated solicitors by legal issue and location. Check that the person has the right children-law experience for your situation.
Find a solicitorDomestic abuse and safer relationships
Use this section if you are experiencing abuse, recovering from abuse or worried about your own behaviour.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Free, confidential support for women in England, run by Refuge.
Freephone: 0808 2000 247 · 24 hours a day
Visit the helplineNHS domestic-abuse support guide
A national list of support routes for women, men and LGBT+ people, plus advice about getting help safely.
See support optionsRespect Phoneline
Confidential help for people concerned about their own abusive behaviour and wanting to change.
Get help to changeThe Freedom Project West Cumbria
Local practical and emotional support, counselling and group support for people and families affected by domestic or sexual abuse.
Support helpline: 07712 117986 · Based in Workington and serving West Cumbria
Find Freedom Project supportGateway 4 Women
A welcoming women-only service offering practical help, one-to-one support, confidence-building activities and domestic-abuse recovery support.
Carlisle and Workington · Telephone: 01228 212090
Visit Gateway 4 WomenPreventing sexual harm and creating safer environments
Use this section if you are worried about child sexual abuse, sexual behaviour or how to make a family environment safer.
Lucy Faithfull Foundation and Stop It Now
Specialist, confidential and anonymous advice for anyone concerned about child sexual abuse or its prevention. The service can help people think through concerns and protective actions; it is not a reporting agency.
Confidential helpline: 0808 1000 900
Get confidential adviceParents Protect
Child-sexual-abuse awareness and prevention information for parents and carers, including safer-family guidance and resources for responding to concerns.
Use Parents ProtectLucy Faithfull Foundation
Information about specialist programmes, training and professional work to prevent child sexual abuse and address harmful sexual behaviour.
Visit the foundationMental health and emotional support
Use this section for treatment, urgent help, someone to listen or gardening activities that support wellbeing.
NHS mental-health services
Information about accessing NHS treatment, talking therapies and urgent support.
Find NHS supportNHS 111 mental-health option
For urgent mental-health help in England. Use 111 online or call 111 and select the mental-health option.
Call 999 or go to A&E if there is a serious immediate risk to life
Get urgent helpSamaritans
Free emotional support from a trained volunteer at any time, without needing to be suicidal.
Freephone: 116 123 · 24 hours a day
Contact SamaritansGrowing Well Cumbria
A free adult mental-health recovery service using supported horticultural activity in calm, productive outdoor settings. Self-referrals and professional referrals are accepted.
Sites near Kendal, at Tebay and in Egremont; transport support is available on some routes
Explore Growing WellThrive
The national gardening-for-health charity, with accessible gardening advice and information about social and therapeutic horticulture.
Use Thrive's gardening adviceDisability, communication and equality
Use this section if disability or communication difficulties make it harder to understand or take part.
Equality Advisory and Support Service
Information and advice for people who believe they may have experienced discrimination.
Advice line: 0808 800 0082
Contact EASSEquality and Human Rights Commission
Official guidance explaining disability discrimination and the duty to make reasonable adjustments.
Read the guidanceLocal advocacy support
Ask the council, health service or meeting organiser what independent advocacy or communication support is available and who is eligible.
Find local contactsSafeguarding concerns
Use this section to report a concern. Branches of Safety cannot receive or investigate safeguarding reports.
Local council children’s social care
Contact the council where the child lives if you are worried a child is being abused, neglected or otherwise at risk.
Find the reporting routeNSPCC Helpline
Advice if you are worried about a child. The helpline can pass concerns to the relevant services where needed.
Call: 0808 800 5000
Contact the NSPCCImmediate danger
Call 999 if a child, adult or anyone else is in immediate danger or a crime is happening now.
Police contact guidanceA quick check
Questions that prevent a wasted referral
- Does the service cover my area and the kind of issue I have?
- Is it information, emotional support, advocacy, treatment or legal advice that I actually need?
- Is the service confidential, and what are the limits if someone may be at risk?
- Is it free, funded, means-tested or paid—and is there a waiting list?
- What information should I prepare, and is it safe and lawful to share it?
- If they cannot help, can they name the service that usually handles this issue?
If the first service cannot help
Ask for the next door, not just a closed one.
Write down the date, service and advice given. Ask whether there is another local or national route, whether a professional referral is needed and what to do while waiting.
State the immediate issue
Give a short, factual description and say if there is a deadline, court date or current safety concern.
Ask about eligibility
Check area, age, relationship to the child, legal status, referral route and any cost.
Record the next action
Note who will do what, when you should hear back and who to contact if nothing happens.
Links checked in August 2026.
Branches of Safety does not control these services and inclusion is not an endorsement of every decision they make. Always check current contact details, eligibility and confidentiality directly with the organisation.