National organisations and forums

Directory of regional and national organisations that provide advice, support and advocacy.

If you additional advice, support and information this guide might helpful! If you'd like to see an organisation featured here, let us know using the 'Contact us' link below.

All About School Leavers
Help school leavers get jobs and understand the career paths available to them. Visit website.

Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
The 'On My Mind' project aims to empower young people to make informed choices about the mental health support they want, the treatments they receive and the outcomes they desire. Visit website

Apprenticeships London
Apprenticeships London offers all the latest apprenticeship jobs available from leading employers and apprenticeship training providers in London. Visit website

AutismLinks
An online resource dedicated to linking charities, support groups and specialist services providers all in on place. Visit website.

Beat
Founded in 1989 as the Eating Disorders Association, our mission is to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders. Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that ruin and, too often, take lives.  Visit website.

Become
The charity for children in care and young care leavers. Visit website.

Blind in Business 
They help blind and partially sighted people into work through our training and employment services. We encourage blind and partially sighted people to identify and achieve their ambitions. Visit website.

Brake
Schools and families can make a huge difference to road safety. We can help you to shout out for road safety where you live and understand the amazing solutions that are available to make roads safe for everyone. Visit website.

Brain in Hand
Personal, digital self-management support system for people who are autistic, who have learning disabilities, or who are managing mental health difficulties. Visit website.

Care in Finance
This organisation provides full financial management of all aspects of the direct payments you receive from Social Services. Visit website. 

CentrePoint 
They provide services to young people with varying needs and experiences of homelessness. Services range from night shelters for emergencies and short-stay hostels to supported flats and foyers with facilities for learning on site. Visit website.

Childline
A free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything. We’re here for anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they're going through. Call 0800 1111 or visit website.

The Children’s Trust
A national charity working with children who have multiple disabilities and complex health needs. Visit website.

Choice Forum
This forum is a safe and welcoming place to ask questions and share information about assisting people with disabilities. Visit website.

Choice Support
A national charity, formed in 1984, supporting people with autism, learning disabilities and mental health needs. Visit website

Civil Legal Advice (CLA)
You might be able to get free and confidential advice from CLA as part of legal aid if you’re in England. Issues that can be consulted on include: a child being taken into care, special education needs and discrimination. Visit website.

Clinical Partners 
The UK's largest private mental health partnership, helping thousands of families access the expert care they need.  With experienced Psychiatrists, Psychologists and Psychotherapists based across the UK, we help thousands of families every year. Visit website.

Contact a Family
A UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to parents of disabled children. Visit website.

Please see this video for more information about Contact's role and the support they can offer. Watch video.

Contact online forum
Chat to other families online about anything and everything that affects you and your child. Visit their website.

Cruse Bereavement Care 
They offer free, confidential support and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. Visit website.

Cybersmile Foundation
A multi-award-winning non-profit organisation committed to digital wellbeing and tackling all forms of bullying and abuse online. We work to promote kindness, diversity and inclusion by building a safer, more positive digital community. Visit website.

Dimensions
Dimensions provides community-based, person-centred support packages for people with learning disabilities, complex needs and autism. Visit website.

Disability Rights UK
Campaign on behalf of all disabled people in areas including: increasing opportunities in education and employment, changing attitudes to disability and independent living. Visit website.

Disabled Children's Partnership
A growing coalition of more than 50 charities and organisations which have joined forces with families to launch the Secret Life of Us campaign. Visit website.

Early Education
A national charity supporting early years practitioners with training, resources and professional networks, and campaigning for quality education for the youngest children, aged 0-8. Visit website

Elfrida Society
Homelink helps people with learning difficulties keep their independence. Our outreach workers provide support with shopping, budgeting, cooking, accessing classes and many other activities. Visit website.

ENA Care Group Ltd
Provides live-in care to people across the UK since 1994. We are one of the only care companies with a team of qualified nurses managing our carers. Visit website.

Family Fund
The UK's largest charity providing grants for families on low incomes raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people. Visit website.

Finance Care Service 
Provides daily money management for vulnerable adults. Visit website.

Find Apprenticeships
Support for budding apprentices find their ideal apprenticeship opportunity. Visit website.

Genetic Alliance UK 
The aim is to improve the lives of people affected by genetic conditions by ensuring that high quality services and information are available to all who need them. Browse their list of member organisations to see if there is a support group for your condition. Visit website.

Get Safe Online
A source of unbiased, factual and easy-to-understand information on online safety. Visit website

Get Yourself Active (Disability Rights UK)
Get Yourself Active work with the health, social care and sports sectors to develop better opportunities for disabled people to get active. Visit website.

Internet Watch Foundation 
The UK Hotline for reporting criminal online content. Visit website.

IVA.org
A non-fee charging, not-for-profit organisation that specialises in providing confidential and impartial advice about individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) to anyone experiencing problems with their unsecured debts. Visit website.

Karma Nirvana
A UK-registered charity dedicated to supporting victims and survivors of forced marriage and honour-based abuse. Visit website.

Kidpower International
Kidpower is the global non-profit leader in personal safety education for all ages, teaching skills for strong relationships and the prevention of harm. Visit website.

Kidscape
Help with bullying for parents, carers and children. Visit website.

Kooth
Children and young people living in the City of London aged 11 to 19 years old can access free and anonymous online counselling and emotional support. Visit website.

Livability
A charity that’s committed to enabling people with disabilities to live the life they want to lead. We work to change what is unliveable, helping people to tackle the barriers they face and create a liveable life. Visit website.

The Live in Care Company
Specialist providers of live in care. Visit website.

Local Government Ombudsman
This body investigates complaints about local authorities and certain other bodies including all types of adult social care providers. Our service is independent, impartial and free. Visit website.

London Capital Credit Union
A not-for-profit co-operative dedicated to promoting saving and dealing with debt. Anyone who saves with us becomes a member of the co-operative and can use one of our savings/budgeting accounts. Visit website.

London TravelWatch
The official watchdog organisation representing the interests of transport users in and around Greater London. Visit website.

Made For Mums
An online resource where mums and mums-to-be can find useful information, entertainment and friends. Visit website.

Men's Advice Line
A free national helpline for adult men experiencing domestic abuse/violence from a partner. Visit website.

Mencap
The UK's largest organisation for people with learning disabilities and their families/carers, provides advice and support on important issues such as benefits, housing, community care, job training, leisure and daily living. Visit website.

The Mix
If you’re under 25, the Mix is here for you - for absolutely anything you’re going through. 0808 808 4994 (freephone helpline). Visit website.

Mumsnet
This forum has an active special needs website that is run by parents for parents. Any legal details should need to be double-checked with appropriate organisations. Visit website.

National Autistic Society
The society seeks to transform lives, change attitudes and create a society that works for autistic people. They provide support, information and practical advice for the 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK, as well as their three million family members and carers. Visit website.

National Careers Service (NCS)
Provides information, advice and guidance to help young people make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. We offer confidential and impartial advice, supported by qualified careers advisers. Visit website

National Childbirth Trust
Provides accurate, impartial information to pregnant women and families so that they can decide what’s best for their family, and introduce them to a network of local parents to gain practical and emotional support. Visit website.

National Citizen Service (NCS)
If you're 15 to 17 years-old, this is your chance to embark on exhilarating challenges, make your mark and build skills for work and life. Visit website.

Netmums
By parents for parents. A family of local websites offering information to mothers on everything from where to find playgroups and how to eat healthily to where to meet other mothers. Visit website.

Not Going to Uni
A one-stop website for young people considering not going to university after secondary school. Visit website

Nystagmus Network
A registered charity in England and Wales supporting people living with nystagmus. Nystagmus is a complex eye condition, characterised by involuntary movements of the eye. Visit website.

PANS PANDAS UK
PANS and PANDAS are a set of conditions which result in an inflammation of the brain causing a variety of neuro-psychiatric conditions such as OCD, tics and eating restrictions. PANS PANDAS UK is a charity which was established by a dedicated group of parents with children who are affected by these conditions. Visit website.

POhWER
This organisation helps people who, because of disability, illness, social exclusion and other challenges, find it difficult to express their views or get the support they need. Visit website.

Prince's Trust
The Trust supports 13 to 30 year olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion. They are also committed to the employment of disabled people.  Visit website.

RareConnect
Provides moderated forums and discussion groups in seven European languages for many rare diseases. Visit their website.

Rate My Apprenticeship
A resource for students, schools and parents. We aim to educate young people about their career options, and inspire them to take an exciting next step after they leave school or college. Visit website.

reconstruct
A website with a large portfolio of courses aimed at improving skills and knowledge for child care professionals. Visit website

Refugee Council’s employment service
The aim is to provide information, advice, guidance and support to refugees looking to access training, volunteering and employment opportunities to those based in Greater London. Visit website.

Remark Living
Provides specialist care and support to deaf people to enable them to live as independently as possible. Visit website.

Remploy
This organisation works to improve the lives of disabled people and those with complex needs through the power of work. Visit website.

Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC)
A user-led research charity, run by – and for – people with a personal experience of disability. Visit website.

Respect
The phoneline is a free national helpline for adults being abusive/violent to a partner and looking for help to change their behaviour. Call 0808 802 4040 or visit website.

Routes Home
The service to supports non-UK nationals that sleep rough in London. They work with those that are vulnerable, and not eligible to access services in the UK to assist in getting them off the streets. Visit website.

Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD)
Provides a wide range of services which Deaf people want and need. All of our services are delivered in British Sign Language (BSL). Visit website.

Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC)The Royal Society for Blind Children supports blind and partially sighted children and young people, and their families. Visit website.

RNID
Provides information, care and support for people with hearing loss and tinnitus. Visit website

The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC)
A co-educational specialist residential college for young people aged 16-25 who are blind or partially sighted. Visit website.

Safer Schools App
The City of London Corporation's Safer Schools App provides support on topics including sexting, bullying, mental health, media literacy, gaming and sexual exploitation online.

  • If your child attends primary school scan this: Code 
  • If you child attends secondary school scan this: Code

Sands
The stillbirth and neonatal death charity. Sands supports anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby before, during or shortly after birth. Visit website.

Say Something
A free, 24/7, anonymous helpline for young people to discuss and report child sexual exploitation (CSE). Call 116000 or visit website

Stack Recruitment
An agency for neurodiverse job-seekers who connect those with autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia to job opportunities with inclusive employers, to help them find meaningful work. Visit website

Step by Step
Step by Step is a specialist organisation offering group-based play andVolunteer Team London leisure activities for disabled children and young people which meet the cultural requirements of the Orthodox Jewish community. Visit website.

Sunshine Support
This organisation provides independent information, advice and support to parents/carers and professionals of children and young people with special educational needs. Visit website.

SWAN UK (syndromes without a name) 
The only dedicated support network in the UK for families of children and young adults with undiagnosed genetic conditions. We are run by the charity Genetic Alliance UK. Visit website.

Team London
The Mayor’s volunteering programme for London. Team London makes it quick and easy for Londoners to give their time, find volunteering opportunities and do great things for their city. Visit website.

Thinkuknow
An education programme from the National Crime Agency's CEOP Command. They provide education about sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. Visit website.

Tired Out
Family Fund's sleep support hub for families raising disabled and seriously ill children to find help and information about sleep issues. Visit website.

UCAS
An independent charity providing information, advice, and admissions services to inspire and facilitate educational progression. Visit website.

UK Safer Internet Centre
Do you have a cyberbullying or digital safety concern? Visit website.

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Whizz-Kidz
Working hard to transform the lives of wheelchair users across the UK, supporting them to become confident and independent young adults. They also provide work placements and work skill days to disabled young people in two ways  Visit website.

Working Families
Help working parents and carers and their employers find a better balance between responsibilities at home and work. Visit website.

YoungMinds
The organisation's purpose is to stop young people's mental health reaching crisis point. Visit website.

You're Able
A forum by Disabled Living Foundation aimed primarily at disabled people of working age. It contains a section on children's disability equipment. Visit website