Support
Sources of support
Parenting support
Action for Children
Parent Talk Cymru - Free and confidential live chat with a parenting coach.
https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/parent-talk-cymru/
Family Lives
Provides information, advice, guidance and support on any aspect of parenting and family life, including bullying.
Free Helpline on 0808 800 2222
NSPCC Cymru/Wales
Have a Helpline – 0808 800 5000 which offers help and advice. Bilingual Welsh/English service. Open 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Textphone 0808 100 1033
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/our-services/nspcc-helpline/
The NSPCC Take 5 campaign also provides hints and tips to help parents keep their cool in challenging parenting situations.
Cry-sis
Helps families who find it difficult to cope when their baby cries a lot.
08451 228 669
Stonewall
The charity Stonewall have a dedicated page to support parents to understand their parental rights. They also have links to a number of downloadable booklets and information sheets for parents who are supporting LGBT children.
https://www.stonewallcymru.org.uk/help-advice/parenting-rights-2
Parenting courses and books
The following parenting courses have been shown to help families to have a stronger relationship with their child and promote good behaviour in the family. The organisations that have developed these courses also have books and on-line courses which you may find useful.
Incredible Years books
incredibleyears.com/category/books/
Family Links books and resources
https://www.familylinks.org.uk/parent-zone
Family Links online course
Triple P online parenting courses
Relationship support
Domestic Abuse
Please call the helpline on 0808 8010 800 or visit the Live Fear Free website for more information and sources of support
https://gov.wales/live-fear-free
Relate Cymru
Offers advice, relationship counselling and support.
0300 003 2340
One Plus One
Offers early action in relationship support by creating resources that help families and frontline workers tackle relationship issues early.
Sorting out Separation
Provides information to help separated parents work together to achieve what’s best for their children. It also provides Information on a range of topics including co-parenting, mediation and childcare arrangements.
https://www.gov.uk/separation-divorce
Parenting Together – Supporting children through separation
This is a simple and effective guide designed to help separated parents understand how to work together to identify what their children need most and support them through a separation.
https://parentingtogether.gov.wales/
Parent Educational Growth Support (PEGS)
Offers support to parents experiencing child to parent abuse.
Family support
City Hospice
Support for those suffering from cancer, their families and carers.
02920524150
Family Information Service
Is the first point of contact for advice and information on local services for families and carers.
0300 123 7777
National Childbirth Trust (NCT)
Supports families through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
0300 330 0770
Barnardo's Cymru
Runs a number of projects aimed at supporting children, young people and their families.
029 2049 3387
http://www.barnardos.org.uk/wales
Home-Start UK in Wales
Supports families with young children.
029 2049 1181
Action for Children
Offer services to children and young people and their families.
029 2022 2127
https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/our-work-and-impact/our-work-around-the-uk/our-work-in-wales/
Gingerbread Wales
Supports lone parent families in Wales.
Tel 029 2047 1900, Helpline 0808 802 0925
www.gingerbread.org.uk/content/462/Gingerbread-Wales
National Offenders' Families Helpline
Provides information on what to expect if a member of your family is arrested and what it means if they are charged.
Helpline - 0808 808 2003 (freephone: including most mobiles). The helpline is open 9am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday.
www.offendersfamilieshelpline.org
Both Parents Matter Cymru
Is a charity which supports dads, mums and grandparents to have personal contact and meaningful relationships with children following parental separation.
Helpline 0333 050 6815 (Monday to Friday 10am - 7pm excluding bank holidays).
Winston’s Wish
Is a charity to support childhood bereavement.
Freephone Helpline: 08088 020 021
LGBTQ+ households and families
The following services concerns households and families with LGBTQ+ parents, carers, children and/or young people, sometimes known as rainbow families. LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and the “plus” represents a variety of sexual orientations and gender identities.
Welsh Gender Service
The Welsh Gender Service are a multidisciplinary administrative and clinical team, made up of Consultants, Gender Clinicians, Clinical Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists and Management. They work together to provide holistic patient-centred care focussing on hormonal, psychological, and social aspects of transition (17.5, years old+).
https://cavuhb.nhs.wales/our-services/welsh-gender-service/
CAV.WGS_Enquiries@wales.nhs.uk
Phone: 029 2183 6619
Children and Young People’s Gender Dysphoria Services
https://gids.nhs.uk/referrals/
Stonewall Cymru – Parenting Rights
Stonewall Cymru | Transitioning - advice for parents, families and carers
Umbrella Cymru
Gender and sexual diversity specialist support
Phone: 0300 3023670
National Conversion Therapy Helpline
https://www.conversiontherapysupport.org.uk
Phone: 0800 130 3335
Fflag
Charity dedicated to supporting families and their LGBT+ members.
Phone: 0300 688 0368
Galop – Children & Young People
Support young people who are experiencing or worried about abuse (13-25, years old).
https://galop.org.uk/get-help/children-young-peoplev/
Contact – Viva LGBT
Support for children and young people Identifying as LGBT or for those who are unsure (14-25, years old).
http://www.vivalgbt.co.uk/contact
Phone: 01745 357941
Books for Families and Young People
The Welsh Government has supported Stonewall Cymru and Peniarth to translate into Welsh two books. 'Early One Morning' and 'Bedtime Not Playtime!' focus on LGBTQ+ families. The books have been distributed to primary schools. This ensures children have access to inclusive materials that reflect on the diversity of Wales.
Mental health
C.A.L.L. Helpline
This is a confidential helpline which offers emotional support on mental health and related matters.
Telephone: 0800 132 737 (24 hour service) - Community Advice and Listening Line - (or text ‘help’ to text 81066).
Samaritans
Offer a confidential helpline on freephone number 116 123 (confidential 24 hour service). You can get in touch about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how large or small the issue.
Mind
Offer information and advice on a range of topics relating to mental health. Helpline - 0300 123 3393 Lines are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays).
0808 80 23456/free text 84001 (24-hr)
Drugs and alcohol
DAN 24/7
Is a free confidential Drug Helpline and Alcohol Helpline. It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year and is run by fully trained operators.
Freephone: 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to: 81066
Adfam
Provides support and advice for families affected by drugs and alcohol
Language development
Cymraeg for Kids
Begin the bilingual journey. With over 65,000 children in Welsh-medium or bilingual primary schools in Wales, why do parents consider the Welsh language important for their children?
https://gov.wales/cymraeg-for-kids
Words for Life
Activities and tips for parents to help their children develop vital communication and literacy skills from birth to age eleven.
I can
Is a charity working for children with speech and language difficulties. Call 020 7843 2544 to arrange a free phone call from one of their speech and language therapists through the I CAN Help Enquiry Service or you can email your questions to help@ican.org.uk
Mudiad Meithrin
Promotes the education and development of children under 5 years old through the language of Welsh.
Telephone: 01970 639639, Fax 01970 639638
https://meithrin.cymru/?lang=en
BookTrust
Is the largest reading charity in Wales. Their programmes in Wales support children and families to read together and enjoy books, stories and rhymes from an early age. Their work in Wales also helps children to develop literacy and numeracy skills, and helps parents and carers to support their children to read and learn.
General support
Citizens Advice
Advicelink Cymru offers quality assured advice on welfare benefits, debt, employment, education, housing, immigration and discrimination.
People in Wales can access the service Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm through our Advicelink Cymru number: 0800 702 2020.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales
NHS 111 Wales
Gives health advice and information 24 hours a day, every day in English and Welsh.
0845 4647
Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT)
Is the UK’s leading charity working to reduce the number of children and young people killed, disabled or seriously injured in accidents.
020 7608 3828
UN Convention on the rights of the child: guide for parents
They outline what children need to have the best chance of growing up happy, healthy and safe.
Blue Light Hub
Is a free app designed to teach 7-12 year olds about what happens when they call 999, appropriate use of 999 and how ambulance resources are dispatched and managed.
You can download the Blue Light Hub app for free on the apple app store for iOS, and on Google Play from a Google Android device by searching for either "Blue Light Hub" or "Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust".
Support for children with additional needs
Contact Cymru
Is an organisation dedicated to helping families who care for children with any disability or additional need.
Free Helpline 0808 808 3555, Textphone 0808 808 3556, Telephone: 029 2039 6624
Autism Wales
Is a website helping to improve the lives of autistic people and their families in Wales. There are also a wide range of free downloadable resources that have been developed with autistic people, parents/carers and professionals from across Wales.
Positive about Down syndrome
Is a website created by parents who have children with Down syndrome and offer support from screening and diagnosis to raising happy children and celebrating their families experiences.
https://positiveaboutdownsyndrome.co.uk/
SNAP Cymru
Offers information and support to families of children and young people who have special educational needs.
Helpline 0845 120 3730 or, from mobile 0345 120 3730. Office 029 2034 8990.