Helplines & Services
If you would like a FREE listing in this section, please email the details to admin@kidaround.biz
2Smart
Essex Police award winning project that covers bullying, alcohol, drug & knife issues. www.2smart.co.uk
ACAS
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. Free, confidential and impartial advice on all employment rights issues. 08457 47 47 47
Action for Sick Children
Working to ensure that children receive the highest standard of care possible. 0800 0744519
Al-Anon
For families and friends of those affected by alcoholism. www.al-anonuk.org.uk
Apex Parent Support Group
For families whose children have social communication difficulties which may involve the autistic spectrum. Monthly 10-12. Gill Collins 01245 358489
Alcoholics Anonymous
National Helpline: 0845 769 7555. Meetings in East Anglia (includes North Essex): 01473 212224
ASK (Autistic Spectrum Kids)
Advice and support for parents with Autistic children. Lisa Ball 07956 343515. esxautismgroup@aol.com
Association for Postnatal Depression
Helpline: (10am-12pm Mon, Wed & Fri, 10am-5pm Tues & Thurs.) 020 7386 0868
Asthma UK Advice Line
Asthma Helpline. 08457 010203. www.asthma.org.uk
Behaviour Support Services
Help & advice to parents regarding behaviour of primary school children. Lines open Thurs 11.30am-1.30pm. 01206 711172
Bisexual, Lesbian & Gay Youth Group
07768 001666
BPAS
Advice and counselling on abortion, contraception, sterilisation, vasectomy and vasectomy reversal. 08457 30 40 30
Breastfriends (Colchester Breastfeeding Support Group)
9am-5pm, Mon-Fri. 01206 744028
Bullying UK
www.bullying.co.uk
Cancer Research
Join the fight against breast cancer. www.cancerresearchuk.org/breastcancer
Care for the Family
is a national charity which aims to promote strong family life and to help those hurting because of family breakdown or bereavement. www.careforthefamily.org.uk
Chelmsford Mencap
A charity providing play & support services to special needs children, adults & their carers within Essex both term time & holiday time. To find out more visit www.chelmsfordmencap.org.uk call 01245 268303 or email info@chelmsfordmencap.org.uk
Child Benefit Helpline
For enquiries relating to Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance. 08453 021 444
Childline
For confidential advice, support or just information on their services visit www.childline.org.uk
Child Protection
If you are worried about a child or young person call Essex County Council Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults on 0845 603 7634. www.escb.co.uk
Choice Advice
Provides a service to help all parents choose the right school for their child. www.essex.gov.uk/admissions
Colchester Borough Council Cloth Nappies Information
01206 282430 / 282736
Colchester Gay Switchboard
01206 869191
Colchester MIND Project
Centre for mental wellbeing offering support, info, counselling and ‘time out’ parenting group. 01206 760362
Colchester Toy Library
Special needs toys and sensory room. £10 per year membership. 01206 500211. www.freewebs.com/leesroom
Colchester Twins Club
For expectant/parents of preschool multiple births. Club offering advice, guidance, support and social network. Call Sharon Jacobs. 01206 864107
Counselling
Exploring U counselling (MBACP) A professional counselling service, Practices in Braintree, Colchester, Saffron Walden, Stanmore and Sudbury. 24 hrs confidential answering service: 07841 979450.
Counselling
Young People’s Counselling Service. 01277 230831
CRY-SIS
Provides self-help and support for families with excessively crying and sleepless babies. 020 7404 5011
CSA (Child Support Agency)
Government website containing information about the UK Child Support Agency. www.csa.gov.uk
Daycare Trust
Information on childcare options, from where to find it to how to pay for it. 020 7840 3350. www.daycaretrust.org.uk
Education Otherwise
National charity supporting home educating families. Meetings all over Essex. 0870 7300074
Equal Opportunities Commission
Advice on parental rights and sex discrimination. 08456 015901. www.eoc.org.uk
Essex FA
Providing a variety of football opportunities for people with a disability throughout Essex. Contact John Manning 01245 393 0995 john.manning@essexfa.com
Essex Family Information Service
Free and unbiased advice to parents and carers regarding childcare and support services in Essex. 0800 055 6874
Essex Police – Colchester
01206 762212
Essex Racial Equality Council
01268 465068
EXTRA
Support for Families offers free parenting workshops and courses for families in the Tendring District. Tel.01255 475001 or visit our website www.extrasupportforfamilies.co.uk
Families In Focus (Essex)
Support for families of children and young people with disabilities and special needs. 01245 353575. www.familiesinfocusessex.org.uk
Family Information Service
Provides a brokerage service for parents/carers of children with special needs. Tel: 0800 055 6874. Email fis@essex.gov.uk
Families Need Fathers
Information and support for separated, divorced and unmarried parents of either sex. Helplines: 0891 448690 (unmarried) 0891 448696 (married).
FRANK
Advice, support and information about drugs and substance abuse. www.talktofrank.com
Fun United Youth Club
For teenagers with additional needs in Basildon, Braintree, Clacton on Sea, Colchester and now in Maldon! Helen Stanley 07764 784469 www.papworth.org.uk
Gamblers Anonymous
020 7384 3040
Gaps:line
Support for parents of children with leukemia and cancer. 8pm-10pm. Mon-Sun. 0845 121 4277
Gingerbread Advice Line
Advice and information on lone parenthood, incl.legal issues, returning to work and self-help groups. 0207 488 9300 www.gingerbread.org.uk
Group B Strep Support
Information to help prevent life-threatening GBS infection in newborn babies. 01444 416176 www.gbss.org.uk.
Hands Together
A group who reach out to people who are bedridden, disabled, lonely, sick or housebound. An organization offering social visiting. CRB checked. Call 01268 417535 or visit the website www.bhmission.btinternet.co.uk
Herts and Essex Fertility Centre
www.hertsandessexfertility.com. 01992 78 50 60
Jigsaw Care Services Plus
Specialise in providing experienced, checked nannies and personal assistants for family with disabled children. Contact Lucy for details 07837 822 615 www.jcsp.org.uk
Junior Disability Football
Colchester United Community Sports Trust offers children & young people with special needs the opportunity to play sport in a fun, social and safe environment. Thursday 5:00pm-6:00pm. 6-15years old, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium. Contact David Streetley, on 07771 652434 email dstreetley@cucst.org.uk
Kids Inspire
Helping children and families across Chelmsford. www.kidsinspire.org.uk
La Leche League
Offers advice and support to mothers who breastfeed. 01206 544729
Lucid
Lucid Research’s training software (in thousands of schools and trusted for over 15 years) is now available for home use. www.lucid-research.com
Make-A-Wish
Making wishes come true for seriously ill children. www.make-a-wish.org.uk
Maternity Alliance
Maternity rights advice 020 7490 7638. www.maternityalliance.co.uk
MENCAP
Chelmsford Mencap provide play & support services to special needs children, adults & their carers within Essex both term time & holiday time. Call 01245 268303. www.chelmsfordmencap.org.uk
MOVE
The MOVE Programme supports the team around the child to teach children with physical disabilities and/or complex needs the skills required for independent sitting, standing, walking and transferring. Tel: 020 7403 6382 email: move@move-europe.org.uk. www.move-europe.oprg.uk
Narcotics Anonymous Helpline
0845 373 3366 or 020 7730 0009
National Association for Gifted Children
Support and information for gifted children. 0845 450 0221
National Childbirth Trust
Enquiries 0870 421 4705, caesarean support 01206 574931, antenatal classes, 0870 460 9762, postnatal support 0870 220 5868 www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com
Information on Antenatal, Refresher and Postnatal classes: 0844 243 6894. For information on local branches and Nearly New Sales: Basildon, Billericay & Wickford 0844 243 6040 / Brentwood: 0844 243 6060. Chelmsford & District 0844 243 6080. www.nct.org.uk
National Childminding Association
Information on choosing a childminder and drawing up a contract. 0800 169 4486. www.ncma.org.uk
National Day Nurseries Association
Fact Sheet on selecting a nursery. 0870 774 4244 www.ndna.org.uk
National Domestic Violence Helpline
0808 2000 247
New Ways To Work
Advice on flexible working 020 7503 3283. www.new-ways.co.uk
NHS Direct
Helpline for nurse advise and health information. 0845 46 47
NHS Smoke Free
With NHS support you are up to 4 times more likely to stop for good. www.smokefree.nhs.uk
NSPCC Helpline
Free 24 hour helpline for anyone concerned about a child at risk. 0808 800 5000
One Parent Families
Helpline for lone parents including specialist advice on child maintenance and money matters. 0800 018 5026. www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk
OnlyDads
Provides advice and support for single parents on financial issues, debt, legal issues, health, relationships and much more. www.onlydads.org
OnlyMums
Provides advice and support for single parents on financial issues, debt, legal issues, health, relationships and much more. www.onlymums.org
Options
Support for an unexpected pregnancy or counselling following abortion or miscarriage. 01206 368525
Parent Partnership Service
Provides information and support to parents and carers of children with special educational needs. Tel: 01245 436036. Email: parentpartnership@essex.gov.uk www.essex.gov.uk/parentpartnership
Parentline Plus
Helpline for parents 0808 800 2222. www.parentlineplus.org.uk
Parents at Work
Free fact sheets on topics from childcare to maternity rights and financial concerns, 24 hr ansaphone 0207 628 3578. Free helpline for families on low income 0207 628 2128. www.parentsatwork.org.uk
Phab in Essex
Encouraging disabled and non-disabled people to come together on equal terms. Nine junior clubs in Essex. 01277 216712
Preschool Learning Alliance
Umbrella organisation offering support, help & guidance for parents and preschool providers. 01245 445444. www.pre-school.org.uk
Professional Assoc. of Nursery Nurses
Information pack on employing a nanny (£5) 01332 372 337 www.pat.org.uk
Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD)
RAD provides support and activities for Essex-based families with parents and/or children who are Deaf or hard of hearing. They also provide free activities for young deaf people aged from 5 to 25. For further information, contact Andrew Eadie telephone: 0845 688 2525 or email: andrew.eadie@royaldeaf.org.uk
Royal School for the Deaf Derby
Provides personalised learning for deaf pupils. Ofsted Care rating for weekly residence was ”Outstanding”. Call 01332 362512 (Voice/Text) www.rsd-derby.org
Sargent Cancer Care for Children
A charity supporting children who are diagnosed with cancer and their families. 0208 752 2800.
Senplaytion
Tailormade Occupational Therapy for children with an expertise in the field of Sensory Processing Dysfunction and Autistic Spectrum Disorder. call Marlise 07716 181000 r email senplaytion@yahoo.co.uk
Short Breaks
For further information about Short Breaks, call the Family Information Service on 0800 055 6874 or visit www.essexinfo.net/ahdc
SNAKE
Offers an environment where parents can interact whilst children enjoy the activity play centre. Call 01268 491511 or 07580 668457 or visit www.s-n-a-k-e.co.uk
SNAP (Special Needs And Parents)
Provides help and support to Essex families who have children aged 0-25 years with special needs and disabilities. Call 01277 211300 or visit www.snapcharity.org
Special Needs Activity Club SNAC
Regular clubs and holiday activities/trips for the whole family. 01375 389867 snac2007@googlemail.com www.snac@btik.com
Stardust
A support group for parents of children with a visual impairment and other special needs. Contact Sophie Munnery on 07834 237393
Stillbirth and Neo-Natal Death Society
Information and support when a baby dies 0207 436 5881 (helpline) 0207 436 7940 (information). www.uk-sands.org.
Tax Credits Helpline
Provides information about tax credits, including Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. 0845 300 3900
The Lighthouse Family Trust
Free pregnancy testing and support for those facing an unexpected pregnancy, also counselling following abortion or miscarriage. 01245 494838. (National Helpline 0800 0282228)
The Miscarriage Association
Offering support and understanding from the perspective of having been through miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
The MOVE Programme
Supports the team around the child to teach children with physical disabilities and/or complex needs the skills required for independent sitting, standing, walking and transferring. Call 020 7403 6382 or visit www.move-europe.oprg.uk
The Samaritans
Confidential emotional support for anyone who is suicidal or despairing. 08457 909090
Time for Children & Young People (Essex)
Support for children with a parent in prison. 01206 562033
Total Sensory
Supply an innovative range of sensory equipment including bubble walls, fibre optics & projectors. Request a free catalogue. Telephone: 01702 542231
Toy Libraries
Colchester - Unit D3, Cowdray Centre, Cowdray Avenue. 01206 500211 Brightlingsea - St James Church Hall, 01206 305993
Two Hands Plus
Support for single parents. 01245 399541
Whiz Kids
Session offering fun activities, including trampolining, bouncy castle, football and much more. Wednesdays 4.15 – 5.45pm, £3.90 Leisure World Colchester. 01206 282000
Wipe Away Those Tears (WATT)
Support for seriously or terminally ill children (and their families) in Essex. 01708 330600. www.wipeawaythosetears.org
Y-HIPP
For young parents and parents-to-be (under 20’s). Drop in every Monday 11am-2pm at the Colchester Town House. Colchester Fiona Gooch on 0783 425407
