Useful Organisations ABC

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3H Fund (Help the Handicapped Holiday Fund):
Tel: 01892 547474
Web: www.3hfund.org.uk
Organises subsidised group holidays for physically disabled children and adults where volunteer helpers accompany them so that carers have the choice of taking a respite break. When funds are available, 3H Fund provides grants to enable a modest UK holiday break for low-income families where a dependant has a disability.

The Advisory Centre for Education (ACE)
www.ace-ed.org.uk
The Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) provide free, independent advice to all parents and carers of children educated in state schools. We advise on a wide range of issues including admissions, appeals, bullying, exclusions, disabilities and special educational needs (SEN). ACE can give advice over the phone and by text. We have been advising families for over 45 years. www.ace-ed.org.uk

Text the message AskACE to 68808 and follow instructions to ask questions. Call 0808 800 5793 Mon and Tues, 9am – 5pm; Wed – Fri, 10am - 5pm

4Children
City Reach
5 Greenwich View Place
London E14 9NN
Helpline: 020 7512 2100
Office: 020 7512 2112
Fax: 020 7512 2010
Email: info@4children.org.uk
Web: www.4children.org.uk
Hours: Office & Information Line: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.
Provides confidential information and advice to parents and playworkers on all aspects of childcare. They also provide support on a wide range of children's issues.

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)
Brandon House
180 Borough High Street
London SE1 1LW
Helpline: 08457 474 747
Web: www.acas.org.uk
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Aims to improve employees working life through better employment relations.

Advisory Centre for Education (ACE)
1c Aberdeen Studios
Highbury Grove
London N5 2DQ
Helpline: 0808 800 5793
Email: enquiries@ace-ed.org.uk
Web: www.ace-ed.org.uk
Hours: Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm
Provides confidential information on a wide range of educational topics for parents of children in state funded education.

Action for Leisure:
Tel: 020 8783 0173
Web: www.actionforleisure.org.uk
Information on play, leisure and recreation for children and young adults with disabilities.

Adults Affected by Adoption - NORCAP
112 Church Road
Wheatley
Oxfordshire OX33 1LU
Office: 01865 875 000
Fax: 01865 875 686
Email: enquiries@norcap.org
Web: www.norcap.org.uk
Hours: Mon 10am-1pm, 1.30pm-4.30pm, 5pm-7.30pm. Tue, Wed, Fri 10am-1pm, 1.30pm-4.30pm. Thu 12pm-4.30pm.
Provides information, advice and support for anyone aged 18 years old and over affected by adoption, including advice on searching for relatives separated by adoption and support for adults abandoned as babies.

The Association for Post-Natal Illness:
Tel: 020 7386 0868
Help with post-natal depression from local volunteers who have had it themselves.

Association of Charity Officers
Five Ways
57-59 Hatfield Road
Potters Bar
Hertfordshire EN6 1HS
Helpline: 01707 651 777
Fax: 01707 660 477
Email: info@aco.uk.net
Web: www.aco.uk.net
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
Offers information and advice on charities belonging to the association. They can signpost the public to the charities most likely to be able to offer them help.

BREAK:
Tel: 01263 822161
Web: www.break-charity.org
A charity that provides holidays and respite care for children, adults and their families who are physically disabled or who have learning difficulties, in seaside resorts on the Norfolk coast, open throughout the year.

British Gas Energy Trust:
Tel: 01733 421021
Web: www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk
Provides grants to help their customers 'in need' to meet arrears of energy charges and other household bills and costs.

Brook
421 Highgate Studios
53-79 Highgate Road
London NW5 1TL
Helpline: 0800 018 5023
Fax: 020 7284 6050
Email: admin@brookcentres.org.uk
Web: www.brook.org.uk
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.
Provides confidential sexual health advice and services for women and men under 25 years old. Can provide contraception and counselling.

Care for the Family:
Freepost CF4636, Cardiff CF15 7G2
Tel: 029 2081 0800
Email: mail@cff.org.uk
Web: www.care-for-the-family.org.uk/holidays
Christian breaks for one-parent families with activities such as off-road cycling, abseiling, orienteering, team development tasks and archery. You don't have to be Christian to take part in the holidays.

Carers UK
20 Great Dover Street
London SE1 4LX
Helpline: 0808 808 7777
Fax: 020 7378 9781
Email: info@carersuk.org
Web: www.carersuk.org
Hours: Carers line: Wed, Thu 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm.
Offers a range of services centred on carers and their needs.

Chalfont Line Holidays:
Tel: 01895 459540
Web: www.chalfont-line.co.uk
Private company that offers accessible holiday accommodation all over the UK.

Childcare Information Service:
Tel (ChildcareLink): 0800 096 0296 (9.00am-9.00pm, Mondays to Fridays; 9.00am-12noon, Saturdays)
Web: www.childcarelink.gov.uk
Can give you details about your local services and provide listings of childminders, nurseries and out-of-school services.

ChildLine
45 Folgate Street
London
E1 6GL
Helpline: 0800 1111
Fax: 0207 650 3201
Minicom: 0800 400 222
Email: info@childline.org.uk
Web: www.childline.org.uk
Hours: General helpline: Mon-Sun 24-hours. MINICOM HELPLINE: Mon-Fri 9.30am-9.30pm. Sat-Sun 9.30am-8pm.
Provides a confidential helpline and counselling service for children and young people in trouble or danger

Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service
8th Floor
South Quay Plaza 3
189 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SH
Office: 020 7510 7000
Email: webenquiries@cafcass.gov.uk
Web: www.cafcass.gov.uk
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.
Works with children and families involved in proceedings in family courts and advises the courts on what it considers to be in the child’s best interests..

The Children's Legal Centre
www.childrenslegalcentre.com
The Children's Legal Centre is a unique, independent national charity concerned with law and policy affecting children and young people.
The Children's Legal Centre has many years of experience in providing legal advice and representation to children, their carers and professionals throughout the UK.

Child Support Agency National Enquiry Line
Office: 08457 133 133
Minicom: 08457 138 924
Web: www.csa.gov.uk
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-8pm. Sat 9am-5pm.
Provides information and advice on child support payments. Also calculates and collects maintenance from parents who do not live with their children

Child Trust Fund
Waterview Park
Mandarin Way
Washington
NE38 8QG
Office: 0845 302 1470
Minicom: 0845 366 7870
Web: www.childtrustfund.gov.uk
Hours: Mon-Sun 8am-8pm.
Provides information and advice in connection with applications for the Child Trust Fund.

Citizens Advice:
Check your telephone directory for your local bureau or find details on www.adviceguide.org.uk which also allows you to search for advice online.

Your local bureau may have a specialist money adviser who can help you. Their advice website - www.adviceguide.org.uk - has information on debt and a number of factsheets including budgeting sheets and sample debt letters.

Citizens Advice:
Check the phone book for your local Citizens Advice Bureau or find details at: www.adviceguide.org.uk
For general advice and factsheets: Ending a relationship - unmarried couples who live together and Ending a marriage.

Cobweb Foundation:
Tel: 01383 733849/739214
Web: www.cobwebfoundation.org
Run a cottage in Scotland where children and young adults with special needs and their families can holiday. They also run a Subsidised Holiday Program whereby the accommodation is also available for general hire by anyone with a disability or by a family with a member who has a disability or chronic illness.

Community Legal Service Direct (part of the Legal Services Commission):
Tel: 0845 345 4345
Website: www.clsdirect.org.uk
Can help you to find solicitors and sources of legal help. Also provides free initial independent telephone advice about debt and welfare rights and produces leaflets Dealing with debt and Welfare benefits, available on the website or by request from the helpline.

Community Legal Advice
Exchange Tower
2 Harbour Exchange Square
London
E14 9GE
Office: 0845 345 4345
Fax: 020 7718 8457
Minicom: 0845 345 4345
Web: www.clsdirect.org.uk
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6.30pm.
Provides legal information and advice on housing, employment law, debt, welfare benefits, family law and children's education for anyone eligible for legal aid. Can help you to find solicitors and sources of legal help.

Community Transport Association:
Tel: 0845 130 6195
Web: www.communitytransport.com
Can give details of local transport schemes.

Consumer Credit Counselling Service
Wade House
Merrion Centre
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS2 8NG
Helpline: 0800 138 1111
Email: contactus@cccs.co.uk
Web: www.cccs.co.uk
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-8pm.
Provides confidential, independent debt counselling and debt management plans for anyone with debts.

Contact a Family
209-211 City Road
London EC1V 1JN
Helpline: 080 8808 3555
Minicom: 080 8808 3556
Email: info@cafamily.org.uk
Web: www.cafamily.org.uk
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
Provides advice, information and support to parents of disabled children.

Cry-sis
PO Box 12
London
WC1N 3XX
Helpline: 08451 228 669
Email: info@cry-sis.org.uk
Web: www.cry-sis.org.uk
Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-10pm.
Provides telephone support for parents and carers of excessively crying, sleepless and demanding babies and young children.


Formed from the merger of the National Council for One Parent Families and Gingerbread.	Search:
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