The following is a list of the Scotland-wide support groups. It details all information we have including any contact names and details.
Aberlour is a leading children’s charity that provides a wide range of services, support and advice for vulnerable children, young people and families in Scotland.
Aberlour Child Care Trust
36 Park Terrace, Stirling FK8 2JR
T: 0800 085 6150
E: enquiries@aberlour.org.uk
W: www.aberlour.org.uk
Action for Children Scotland work to make sure that every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential.
Action for Children Scotland
City Park, 368 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow G31 3AU
T: 0300 123 2112
E: ask.us@actionforchildren.org.uk
W: www.actionforchildren.org.uk
Amina is a national organisation dedicated to addressing key issues affecting Muslim and minority ethnic women. They run a national helpline, and befriending projects, group activities and employability support across central Scotland.
Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre
Citywall House, 32 Eastwood Avenue, Glasgow G41 3NS
T: 0808 801 0301
E: info@mwrc.org.uk
W: www.mwrc.org.uk
Barnardo’s Scotland aim to support the most disadvantaged children, young people, families and communities to help ensure that every child has the best possible start in life. They run more than 130 community-based services for children and families across Scotland.
Barnardo’s Scotland
111 Oxgangs Road North, Edinburgh EH14 1ED
T: 0131 446 7000
W: www.barnardos.org.uk/scotland
Befriending Networks is the country’s leading resource on befriending. Their website hosts a directory of organisations that offer befriending across the UK, so you can find services near you.
Befriending Networks
63-65 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh EH2 4SD
T: 0131 261 8799
E: info@befriending.co.uk
W: www.befriending.co.uk/befriendingdirectory
The Bookbug programme gifts free bags of books and resources to all children at different stages from birth to Primary 1. Gaelic Bookbug bags are also available and we have a selection of tactile books for families and children who need additional support.
Bookbug Bags are supported by free Bookbug Sessions, where families can enjoy sharing stories, songs and rhymes with their little ones. Bookbug Sessions take place in libraries and community venues across Scotland.
Download our free Bookbug app to share children’s songs, nursery rhymes and videos for singing, dancing, and playing with all the family.
Breathing Space is a free, confidential, phone service for anyone in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. They provide a safe and supportive space by listening, offering advice and providing information. The phoneline is open 6pm–2am on weekdays and 24 hours at weekends (Fri 6pm–2am Mon).
T: 0800 838 587
E: info@breathingspacescotland.co.uk
W: breathingspace.scot
Buttle UK supports children and families in crisis. Their core activity in Scotland is in the making of grants for basic but crucial items for children and their families – beds, bedding, white goods etc. They also work with kinship carers in Ayrshire and Glasgow, in partnership with Cash for Kids and the Scottish Kinship Care Alliance.
Buttle UK
PO Box 2081, Glasgow G32 2BR
T: 0141 778 2839
W: www.buttleuk.org/need-support
Capability Scotland is Scotland’s leading disability organisation. It provides flexible services which support disabled people, their families and carers.
Capability Scotland
Osborne House, 1 Osborne Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5HG
T: 0131 337 9876
W: www.capability-scotland.org.uk/
Carers Scotland is the voice of carers in Scotland. They provide support and advice for those who provide unpaid care for family member, friend or partner.
Carers Scotland
The Cottage, 21 Pearce Street, Glasgow G51 3UT
T: 0808 808 7777
E: info@carerscotland.org
W: www.carersuk.org/scotland
Carers Trust works to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems.
Carers Trust
Skypark 3, Suite 1/2, 14/18 Elliot Place, Glasgow G3 8EP
T: 0300 123 2008
E: info@carers.org
W: carers.org/
Change Mental Health are a national mental health charity delivering non-clinical, person-centred support to people affected by mental illness in communities across the country for the last 50 years. They deliver responsive local services, targeting some of the most rural and isolated areas, and aiming to improve people’s health and wellbeing.
Change Mental Health
6 Newington Business Centre, Dalkeith Road Mews, Edinburgh EH16 5GA
Information Line: 0300 323 1545
Office number: 0131 662 4359
Email: info@changemh.org
Website: www.changemh.org
CHAS is a Scottish charity that provides the only hospice services in Scotland for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.
CHAS
Canal Court, 42 Craiglockhart Avenue, Edinburgh EH14 1LT
T: 0131 444 1900
E: support@chas.org.uk
W: www.chas.org.uk
Childline provide help and advice on a wide range of issues. Children and young people can call the telephone helpline, talk to a counsellor online, send an email, or post on the message boards.
T: 0800 1111
W: www.childline.org.uk
Children 1st is a charity that supports families under stress, protects children from harm and neglect, helps children recover from abuse, and promotes children’s rights. They deliver a wide range of services across Scotland, some of which are dedicated kinship care services.
Children 1st
83 Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh EH9 1AT
T: 0800 028 2233 (helpline)
T: 0131 446 2300 (office)
E: cfs@children1st.org.uk
W: www.children1st.org.uk
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland is responsible for making sure that all children and young people in Scotland have their rights respected.
Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
Rosebery House, 9 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ
T: 0800 019 1179 (young person’s freephone)
T: 0131 346 5350 (office)
text: 07702 335 720
W: www.cypcs.org.uk/
Children’s Health Scotland promotes and campaigns for the best possible standards of healthcare for all children and young people. They offer advice and information, provide family support, and deliver a range of workshops and resources for families caring for a sick child or young person.
Children’s Health Scotland
22 Laurie Street, Edinburgh EH6 7AB
T: 0131 553 6553
E: enquiries@childrenshealthscotland.org
W: www.childrenshealthscotland.org
Circle works across central Scotland, providing holistic, community-based support to marginalised children and families. They work with families affected by parental substance misuse, families affected by parental imprisonment and other vulnerable families.
Circle
18 West Pilton Park, Edinburgh EH4 4EJ
T: 0131 552 0305
E: info@circle.scot
W: www.circle.scot
Citizens Advice Scotland, the 61 Citizens Advice Bureaux and their consumer helpline together form Scotland’s largest independent advice network. They help more than 300,000 people solve their problems each year in communities everywhere from city centres to the Highlands and Islands. They also run a dedicated kinship care helpline.
Citizens Advice Scotland
1st Floor, Spectrum House, Powderhall Road, Edinburgh EH7 4GB
T: 0131 550 1000 (office)
W: cas.org.uk/
Clan Childlaw lawyers provide free legal advice and representation to children and young people up to the age of 18, or 21 if they have been a Looked After Child. They can represent children and young people in court and at Children’s Hearings and also provide information about the law by phone or email to children and young people throughout Scotland.
Clan Childlaw
Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh EH7 5QY
Clan Childlaw
First floor, 5 Oswald Street, Glasgow G1 4QR
T: 0808 129 0522
E: info@clanchildlaw.org
W: www.clanchildlaw.org/
CPAG in Scotland works for a better life for low-income families in Scotland. Through campaigning and lobbying, training and information, they work to ensure that families get the correct information about their welfare rights.
CPAG in Scotland
Unit 9 Ladywell, 94 Duke Street, Glasgow G4 0UW
T: 0141 552 3303
E: staff@cpagscotland.org.uk
W: www.cpag.org.uk/scotland
Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland helps anyone experiencing bereavement to understand their grief and cope with their loss. They work primarily through volunteers, providing free care to bereaved people. They have offices across Scotland and they take enquiries from people through their helpline and arrange local contact as appropriate.
Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland
Riverview House, Friarton Road, Perth PH2 8DF
T: 0845 600 2227 (Freephone)
E: support@crusescotland.org.uk
W: www.crusescotland.org.uk/
Dyslexia Scotland represents the needs and interests of people with dyslexia. They provide a range of services that aim to encourage and enable children, young people and adults with dyslexia to reach their potential. These include a national helpline, toolkits and resources, volunteer-led local services, and dyslexia assessments at their offices in Stirling.
Dyslexia Scotland
2nd Floor – East Suite, Wallace House, 17-21 Maxwell Place, Stirling FK8 1JU
T: 0344 800 8484
E: helpline@dyslexiascotland.org.uk
W: www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk
Enquire is a national independent advice and information service for parents, carers, grandparents, teachers and pupils to understand additional support for learning. They provide impartial advice through their helpline, email enquiry service, web resources and a dedicated website for young people.
Enquire
Level 1, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ
T: 0345 123 2303
E: info@enquire.org.uk
W: www.enquire.org.uk
W: www.reach.scot (young person’s website)
Families Outside is an independent charity which helps prisoners’ families in Scotland. They provide information for children and young people and families, they run a support and information helpline and they provide direct family support to meet the needs of families affected by imprisonment throughout the whole of Scotland.
Families Outside
13 Great King Street, Edinburgh EH3 6QW
T: 0800 254 0088 (helpline)
T: 0131 557 9800 (office)
E: support@familiesoutside.org.uk (helpline)
E: admin@familiesoutside.org.uk (office)
W: www.familiesoutside.org.uk
FASD Hub Scotland provides a tiered support service for all parents and carers of children and young people who have been affected – or may have been – by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). This prenatal exposure to alcohol can lead to a condition called fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
Adoption UK
Gf2 Rooms 3 & 4, Great Michael House, 14 Links Place, Edinburgh EH6 7EZ
T: 0300 666 0006 – select option 2
E: fasdhub.scotland@adoptionuk.org.uk
W: www.adoptionuk.org/Pages/Site/scotland/Category/fasd-hub-scotland
Home-Start centres provide a range of support to families with at least one child under five years old. There are 32 local Home-Starts across Scotland, where trained volunteers support families who may be struggling with isolation, physical health, bereavement or a range of other issues.
Home-Start
c/o SCVO, 23 Lauriston Street, Edinburgh EH3 9DQ
T: 0131 281 0879
E: scotland@home-start.org.uk
W: www.home-start.org.uk/find-a-home-start-in-scotland
Kindred Advocacy exists to ensure that families of children with additional support needs in Scotland have the information, services and emotional support that they need to care for their children to their best ability. They provide an advocacy service for parents/carers of children with complex needs who have difficult situations to resolve with regard to the care of the child.
Kindred Advocacy
7 Rutland Court Lane, Edinburgh EH3 8ES
T: 0800 031 5793
E: enquiries@kindred-scotland.org.
W: www.kindred-scotland.org/
LGBT Youth Scotland is a national youth organisation working for the inclusion of LGBT young people in the life of Scotland. they provide a range of services and opportunities for young people and families.
LGBT Youth Scotland
40 Commercial Street, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JD
T: 0131 555 3940
E: info@lgbtyouth.org.uk
W: www.lgbtyouth.org.uk
The Moira Anderson Foundation provides a place of safety and support for children and adults who have been affected by Childhood Sexual Abuse. They provide counselling and therapeutic services, ongoing support and a weekly drop-in service.
Moira Anderson Foundation
3 Mavisbank Street, Airdrie, North Lanarkshire ML6 0JA
T: 01236 602 890
W: www.moiraanderson.org
NSPCC Scotland deliver training and parenting programmes to families in Scotland. These include programmes that support families affected by substance misuse, parenting programmes and therapeutic support programmes.
NSPCC Scotland
62 Templeton House, Glasgow G40 1DA
T: 0141 420 3816
E: scotland@nspcc.org.uk
W: www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/Scotland/
One Parent Families Scotland exists to ensure that one parent families have the support, contacts and confidence needed to play a full part in Scotland’s economic and social life. They provide a range of childcare and support services, including a national helpline.
One Parent Families Scotland
13 Gayfield Square, Edinburgh EH1 3NX
T: 0808 801 0323
E: advice@opfs.org.uk
W: www.opfs.org.uk
Parent Network Scotland run workshops, co-ordinate support groups and provide training tailored to meet the needs of parents and carers in communities across Scotland.
Parent Network Scotland
Robertson House, 152 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4TB
T: 0141 353 5604
E: jackiet@pns.org.uk
W: www.parentnetworkscotland.com
ParentLine Scotland is the national kinship care helpline, which is a free, confidential service offering advice and support to kinship carers on a variety of issues. The helpline is open Mon-Fri 9:00-21:00. Children 1st also run a range of national services for kinship carers, including training, outreach and a newsletter with information about support, policy and events.
ParentLine Scotland
Children 1st, 83 Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh EH9 1AT
T: 0800 028 2233
E: parentlinescotland@children1st.org.uk
W: www.children1st.org.uk/what-we-do/how-we-help/kinship-care
Play Scotland works to promote the importance of play for all children and young people, and campaigns to create increased play opportunities in the community. Their website has a range of information and resources on play ideas that can help build relationships and improve your child’s learning and imagination.
Play Scotland
Level 1, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ
T: 0131 313 8859
E: info@playscotland.org
W: www.playscotland.org/parents-families/
The Prince’s Trust helps 13 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed or struggling at school to transform their lives. They run a range of free programmes that give young people the practical and financial support they need to stabilise their lives, and help them develop key skills while boosting their confidence and motivation. Many of the young people they help are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness or mental health problems, or have been in trouble with the law.
The Prince’s Trust Wolfson Centre
15 Carlton Court, Glasgow G5 9JP
E: general.scotland@princes-trust.org.uk
The Prince’s Trust Edinburgh Centre
73 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH6 4AQ
E: edinburghcentre@princes-trust.org.uk
The Prince’s Trust Dundee Centre
1B Kemback Street, Dundee DD4 6ET
T: 0800 842 842
text: 07983 385 418
W: www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/programmes
Quarriers provide a diverse range of services in Scotland, including supporting and caring for adults and children with a disability, children and families, young people with housing support needs, and carers.
Quarriers Head Office
Quarriers Village, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3SX
T: 01506 612 224
E: hello@quarriers.org.uk
W: www.quarriers.org.uk
Relationships Scotland’s network provide counselling, family mediation, child contact centres and other family support services across all of mainland and island Scotland. Their work supports individuals, couples and families experiencing relationship difficulties.
Relationships Scotland
18 York Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EP
T: 0345 119 2020
E: enquiries@relationships-scotland.org.uk
W: www.relationships-scotland.org.uk
The Richmond Fellowship Scotland is a charity which supports over 2800 people across Scotland. Their service users have a range of needs including mental health difficulties, learning disabilities or autism.
The Richmond Fellowship Scotland
3 Buchanan Gate Business Park, Cumbernauld Road
Stepps, North Lanarkshire G33 6FB
T: 0845 013 6300
W: www.trfs.org.uk
The Samaritans provide confidential emotional support 24/7 to those experiencing despair distress or suicidal feelings.
Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK
Chris, PO Box 9090, Stirling FK8 2SA
T: 116 123
E: jo@samaritans.org
W: www.samaritans.org
Save the Children works to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. In Scotland, they help families in poverty by providing grants for essential items; and their FAST and Families Connect programmes help families to support children’s learning so they can achieve their full potential.
Save the Children Scotland
Prospect House, 2nd floor, 5 Thistle Street, Edinburgh EH2 1DF
T: 0131 527 8200
E: infoscotland@savethechildren.org.uk
W: www.savethechildren.org.uk/about-us/where-we-work/united-kingdom/scotland
Scottish Autism is an organisation dedicated to enriching the lives of people with autism. They provide a range of services for children, families and adults, including an advice line and dedicated children’s services in Argyll & Bute, Clackmannanshire, Fife and Moray.
Scottish Autism
Hilton House, Alloa Business Park, Whins Road, Alloa FK10 3SA
T: 01259 720 044
E: autism@scottishautism.org
W: www.scottishautism.org
The Scottish Conflict Resolution Service is an online resource for information, advice and resources. Their website includes a directory of mediation services across Scotland, and the service also offers free conflict resolution (prevention) training to kinship care groups – contact the team for further information. In addition, Cyrenians deliver mediation and support to families in Edinburgh and East Lothian (see local services for more information).
Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution
Cyrenians, Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh EH7 5QY
T: 0131 457 2493
E: sccr@cyrenians.scot
W: scottishconflictresolution.org.uk
The Scottish Child Law Centre provides a free legal advice service, by telephone, email and text message, on all aspects of Scots law relating to children and young people, including education; health; social work; divorce; residence; contact; children’s rights; youth offenders; and access to files. All calls are answered by fully qualified lawyers.
Scottish Child Law Centre
54 East Crosscauseway, Edinburgh EH8 9HD
T: 0131 667 6333
E: advice@sclc.org.uk
W: www.sclc.org.uk
Scottish Families run a range of services for families in Scotland who have been affected by a loved one’s substance misuse. They run a helpline, which is accessible via phone or email; they run a telehealth service, bereavement counselling and a network of family support groups across Scotland; and they have a database of services for families affected by alcohol and drugs.
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs
199 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3EX
T: 08080 10 10 11
E: helpline@sfad.org.uk
W: www.sfad.org.uk
The Alliance is a national network of kinship care support groups in Scotland. it is primarily a campaigning organisation that seeks to represent and unify kinship care groups.
E: scottishkinshipcarealliance@gmail.com
W: scottishkinshipalliance.wordpress.com
Shared Care Scotland is a national charity that works to improve the quality, choice and availability of short break (respite care) provision across Scotland.
Shared Care Scotland
Unit 2, Dunfermline Business Centre, Izatt Avenue, Dunfermline, Fife KY11 3BZ
T: 01383 622 462
E: office@sharedcarescotland.com
W: www.sharedcarescotland.com
Shelter is a charity that works to alleviate the distress caused by homelessness and bad housing.
Shelter Scotland
4th floor, Scotiabank House, 6 South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh EH2 4AW
T: 0808 800 4444
W: scotland.shelter.org.uk
We support adults and young people who are homeless and sleeping rough by providing them with emergency shelter as well as homes in the community. They operate drop-in centres in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Simon Community Scotland
472 Ballater Street, Glasgow G5 0QW
T: 0808 800 4444
E: hello@simonscotland.org
W: simonscotland.org
Sleep Scotland promotes healthy sleep in children and young people through sleep awareness, sleep counselling and education. The organisation works throughout Scotland developing sleep services and providing intensive sleep programmes for children with additional support needs by training sleep counsellors to work directly with families in need of sleep support. They also run an information helpline.
Sleep Scotland
8 Hope Park Square, Edinburgh EH8 9NW
T: 0131 258 1258
E: enquiries@sleepscotland.org
W: www.sleepscotland.org
The Spark has a network of 17 counselling centres across mainland Scotland that deliver a range of relationship counselling and support services. The Spark also delivers counselling and education programmes to children and young people in schools and colleges. And they run a free relationship helpline, open 11:00-14:00, Tuesday-Thursday.
The Spark
72 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 7DA
T: 0808 802 2088 (helpline)
T: 0808 802 0050 (enquiries)
W: www.thespark.org.uk
Together is an alliance of Scottish children’s charities that improves the awareness, understanding and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Together
Level 1, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ
T: 0131 337 9015
E: info@togetherscotland.org.uk
W: www.togetherscotland.org.uk
Who Cares? Scotland is a voluntary organisation that works with care experienced young people and care leavers across Scotland.
Who Cares? Scotland
40 Wellington Street, Glasgow, G2 6HJ
T: 0141 226 4441
T: 0330 107 7540 (Helpline)
E: help@whocaresscotland.org
W: www.whocaresscotland.org
Young Scot is the national youth information and citizenship charity. We provide young people aged 11-26 with a mixture of information, ideas and incentives to help them become confident, informed and active citizens.
Young Scot
Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ
T: 0808 801 0338
E: info@young.scot
W: www.youngscot.org
YouthLink Scotland is the national agency in Scotland for youth work.
YouthLink Scotland
Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ
T: 0131 313 2488
W: www.youthlinkscotland.org/
