If you need urgent support


Home-Start Cymru does not provide emergency support.  

We provide longer term assistance through our service. Volunteers are matched with families and work alongside them to give compassionate and confidential support. We also run groups, providing social connection for parents.

We recognise there will be times that families might need to talk to someone urgently.

There are a number of charities who can offer immediate help in different ways:

Family and Parenting helplines (by region)

England & Wales

Family Action helpline ‘FamilyLine’

Tel: 0808 802 6666. Open Mon – Fri 9am – 9pm. 
Text: 07537 404 282
Email: familyline@family-action.org.uk
Online: Live web chat

Family Lives helpline (previously known as ParentLine)

Family Lives offer emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life.
Tel: 0808 800 2222. Open Mon – Fri 9am – 9pm. Weekends 10am – 3pm
Email: askus@familylives.org.uk
Online: Live web chat 

Scotland

Children First support line

Tel: 08000 28 22 33. Open Mon – Fri 9am – 9pm. Weekends 9am – noon.
Online: Live web chat 

Northern Ireland

‘Parenting NI’ helpline from ParentingNI 

Tel: 0808 8010 722. Open Mon – Thurs, 9.30am – 3.30pm, Friday 9.30am -12.30pm
Online: Live web chat

‘ParentLine NI’ helpline from Children In Northern Ireland 

Telephone: 0808 80 20 400. Open Mon – Thurs, 9am – 9pm, Fri 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am – 1pm.
Email: parentline@ci-ni.org.uk
Online: Live webchat 

Nationwide

Cry-sis

Cry-sis offer support for crying and sleepless babies.
Telephone: 0800 448 0737 Open 9am – 10pm everyday. 

Child safety

NSPCC

If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child, even if you are unsure, you can speak to the NSPCC about your concerns. If your concern is urgent, call the Police on 999.

Help for adults concerned about a child – Call 0808 800 5000
Help for children and young people – Call Childline on 0800 1111

Mental Health

Samaritans

If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or another parent or child, or if you are having suicidal thoughts, call the Samaritans  

Helpline: 116 123 (free to call and will not appear on your phone bill), Open 24/7, 365 days of the year.
Welsh language helpline: 0808 164 0123
Online: Webchat  

Shout: mental health text support

Shout is a 24/7 crisis text service, free on all major networks.  
Text: 85258. Available 24/7, 365 days of the year 

Mind: mental health support

Infoline: 0300 123 3393. Open 9am – 6pm.
Website: lists a number of support services available when they are out of hours.

PANDAS

Pandas Foundation supports parents experiencing a perinatal mental illness.
Tel (nationwide): 0808 1961 776. Open: 9am – 8pm, 365 days a year 

The Parent Infant Foundation

The Parent Infant Foundation support 42 specialised parent-infant relationship teams across the UK and may have a team near you. 

Antenatal Results & Choices (ARC)

ARC  Helpline  02077137486  (Mon-Fri 10am- 5.30pm) ARC offer impartial information and support to expectant parents facing decisions about antenatal tests and results.

British Pregnancy Advice Service (BPAS)

BPAS help women to consider options with their pregnancy, supporting women who feel they are unable to continue with their pregnancy to make a decision that it right for them. They have a contact line 03457 30 40 30 or visit their website to request a call back and find information.

CALM

CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably. They offer practical suggestions for all of life’s problems – whether that’s anxiety, relationship concerns, health worries, money worries or suicidal thoughts.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58. Open 5pm – midnight, everyday
Online: Webchat available 5pm – midnight, everyday

Breathing Space (Scotland)

Free, confidential phone and web-based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.
Phone: 0800 83 85 87
Web: breathingspace.scot/

Domestic Violence

National Domestic Violence Helpline

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. You can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free. 
Telephone: 0808 2000 247  open 24 hours a day.

Refuge

Refuge offer Advice on dealing with domestic violence.
Telephone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline).

Women’s Aid (England)

Webchat open Mon-Fri, 8am – 6pm, Weekends 10am – 6pm. 

Women’s Aid (Scotland)

Telephone: 0800 027 1234. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Online: Webchat

Welsh Women’s Aid

Telephone: 0808 80 10 800. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Text: 078600 77 333. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Online: Webchat

Women’s Aid Northern Ireland

There are 9 local centres, open weekdays 9am-5pm. Find out more. 

  • Out of hours support: Freephone 24hr Domestic & Sexual Abuse Helpline, managed by Nexus NI on 0808 802 1414

Mankind: Nationwide Men’s domestic abuse support 

Telephone: 01823 334244. Open weekdays 10am – 4pm.

AMIS: Abused Men in Scotland

Telephone: 03300 949 395. Open Mon – Fri 9am-4pm.

Relationships

If you want to speak to someone about relationship breakdown and conflict in the home

If you want to speak to someone about relationship breakdown and conflict in the home.

Relate

Relate offers relationship counselling. They have centres around the UK which have their own contact numbers and varying opening times. Find info.
The Relate chatbot can help you find appropriate support 

Scotland Relationships

Infoline: 0345 119 2020. Open Mon-Fri, 9.30am – 4pm

Debt or money issues

Citizens Advice

You can contact Citizens Advice for information around benefits, work, money and debts, housing, immigration and information surrounding the Coronavirus. Simply type in your postcode for information from your local Citizens Advice. 

If you call from a mobile, you’ll be asked to enter a local landline number on your keypad. This can be any number – it is used to help locate a local adviser if one is available.

Northern Ireland – support available in various locations. Check website for details. 

Advice NI

Independent Advice Line
Telephone: 0800 915 4604 

Foodbanks

Trussell Trust

If you need help with food and provisions, enter your postcode into the Trussell Trust website to find your nearest food bank.

Health

NHS – Call 111 or visit the NHS website before going to the GP. If it’s an emergency, call 999.