Parents' page

Useful Contacts

Local Information

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) - this charity provides free advice, assistance and information. To obtain telephone advice call 08444 111 444.

Family Matters - Family Matters suppports families and carers living in West Norwich.  To contact their Parent Resource Centre, call (01603) 747471.

• - For family information and childcare details, education and school matters,
•   call 0344 800 8001;
• - For social care issues relating to a child or young person, 0344 800 8014;
• - To find out about short breaks for disabled children, call 0800 032 0005.

Norfolk Family Mediation Service - provide a calm, neutral meeting place for people, experiencing the pain and distress of separation or divorce, where they can meet with an experienced mediator to discuss their arrangements and agree a way forward.  Click here to find out more or telephone (01603) 620588

Parent Partnership - is a statutory funded service which offers information, advice and support to parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN).  Click here to go to their national website or contact their local office on (01603) 704070 and their local website by clicking here.

Musical Keys - operating across Norfolk, music, movement and fun for children and young people with special needs.  Click here to visit their website.

Break - helps vulnerable people in the community through a range of services.  Telephone (01263) 822161 or visit their website by clicking here.

The Benjamin Foundation - exists to help people in Norfolk deal with many of the challenges that life throws at them; whether 'everyday' issues such as childcare or heartbreaking problems like abuse and homelessness.  Click here to visit their website or telephone (01692) 500999

Information for Separated Parents

The Centre for Separated Families - is a national charity that works with everyone who is affected by family separation. Click here to be taken to their website.

Dads UK - an online forum for single dads. Click here to go to their website.

Dadtalk - a social networking site for any man in a fathering role.  Click here to go to their website. 

Families Need Fathers - a charity that supports people in maintaining a relationship with their child after family breakdown.  They offer information, advice and support.  Click here to be taken to their website or ring their helpline
0300 0300 363 (6 pm - 10 pm week days).

Gingerbread - is a charity that specifically supports single parents. They have a free national helpline 0808 802 0925 which offers advice and guidance open Monday 10am - 6pm, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am - 4pm and Wednesday 10am - 1pm and 5pm - 7pm.  Click here for their website.

MATCH (Mothers Apart From Their Children) - a charity that offers support and information to mothers apart from their children in a wide variety of circumstances.  Click here to find out more.

One Space For Single Parents is a website for single parents.  Click here for online parenting support and information.

One Up - an online magazine for single and step parents.  Click here to go to their website.

Separated Families Matter - this website is aimed at professionals working with families who are separated.  It provides information on separation and divorce. Click here for further information.

Single with Kids - a website providing information on single parent holidays, a chat forum and other information.  Click here to find out more.

The Parent Connection - this website, provided by One Plus One, provides support to separating and separated parents.  Click here to go to their website.

Single Parents Action Network - aimed at disadvantaged single parents managing difficult situations, with one-to-one expert advice and virtual learning courses.  Click here to go to their website. 

Other useful contacts

Consumer Credit Counselling Service - this charity provides free anonymous advice for anyone in debt.  Contact their free helpline on 0800 138 1111 or go to their website for more information here.

Family and Parenting Institute - a charity that aims to make the UK a better place for families and children.  Click here to go to their website. 

Netmums - a family of local sites across the UK offering information and support on a range of issues from depression and domestic abuse to relationships and childcare.  Click here to go to their website. 

Contact a Family - this website provides a one-stop shop for parents and other family members who care for a disabled child, or a child with special education needs.  Click here to go to their website.  Helpline: freephone 0808 808 3555 open Monday to Friday 9:30am - 5pm

Family Lives - provides support for parents and carers of children on any issue.  Click here to find out more.  Helpline: freephone 0808 800 2222 open seven day a week 7am - midnight

Family Rights Group - provides advice and information for parents, friends or relatives, and social workers who may be involved in a child's life.  Click here to take you to their website for free, confidential and independent advice.  Helpline: freephone 0808 801 0366 open Monday to Friday 9:30am - 3:30pm

The Couple Connection - this website, provided by One Plus One, provides an innovative, do-it-yourself approach to improving relationships.  Click here.

Relate - this website provides a real-time online live chat service to support families.  Experienced counsellors help people to explore any issues or concerns about their relationships.  Click here to go to their website.

Young Minds Offers - a confidential online and free telephone information and advice support services for anyone worried about the emotional problems, bahaviour or mental health of a child or young person up to 25 years old.  Helpline: freephone 0808 802 5544 open Monday to Friday 9:30am - 4pm.  Online live chat service open Monday to Friday 11am - 1pm.  Click here for more information.
 

Is it Legal? 

Coram Children's Legal Centre provides access to legal factsheets, free legal advice on family, child and education law - including advice on school admission appeals and exclusions.  Click here for more information.  Helpline: freephone 0808 802 0008 open Monday - Friday 8am - 8pm.  Web chat advice with a legally trained adviser available 9am - 6pm

When can children work by law, or go to the doctor alone?  What does the law say about term time holidays? 

The laws affecting children and families are numerous and can be confusing.  Myths about what age a child can be left alone are common.  Yet it is essential for families and for those who work with families to understand the legal framework; to know the basics about childcare, parents and partners' rights and children in trouble.  

Click here for a families guide to the law.

ADHD child parenting

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) child parenting can be incredibly difficult, parents often don't know where to turn to find help.  Click here for a guide to raising ADHD children www.adhdchildparenting.com

Financial Tips

As family life gets more and more expensive, we all need help in saving money.  Particularly parents who are already on a low income.  For all sorts of ways to save money or increase your income click here.  See some of these tips below:

- Childcare - if you are paying for childcare, including after-school clubs, you earn under £40,000 and work over 16  
  hours per week you may be entitled to Childcare Tax Credits or Childcare Vouchers.  Click here to find out more.

- Benefits - take this test to find out whether you are entitled to any more benefits. Click here to find out.

- Switching gas and electricity supplier - find out whether your bills could be reduced by going to any of these 

  comparison sites: Energyhelpline, Moneysupermarket, Uswitch. They all provide incentives to switch.

- Uniforms - do any of your family wear a work uniform? If you wash, repair or replace it yourself, you may be able to
  reclaim £100s of tax for up to six years.  Find out more by clicking here.
 

25th June 2012 - Minister unveils Innovation Fund to pioneer new support services for separating parents.

Shared parenting key to children's future, says Maria Miller.  "The Government is taking radical steps to promote collaborative parenting in separated families.  A fund, worth up to £14 million over two years, is being established to develop effective and innovative support services for separated and separating families.  The new services will help parents to foster collaborative relationships with each other after separation, including agreeing child maintenance.  Click here for more information.
 

Securing Children's Futures - consultation document July 2012 

Click here to read the consultation document.