United Kingdom
Across the United Kingdom, a variety of organizations provide advocacy, legal advice and support to parents involved in the child welfare system.
When it comes to legal representation, low-income parents are eligible for Legal Aid, though parents who qualify will not be assigned representation but will have to go out and find their own lawyer; parents are also not provided a lawyer until a court order for removal has been made. And like almost everywhere around the world, finding a quality lawyer to adequately represent you in a child welfare case can be a challenge, which makes it all the more important for parents to find their own sources of support. The organizations included below offer parent advocacy, legal advice and other information for parents navigating child welfare systems in the United Kingdom.
Special thanks to Dr. Yuval Saar-Heiman (Royal Holloway, University of London and PFAN, UK), who provided IPAN with much of the information in the UK section of our platform. For more information about his work see https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yuval-Saar-Heiman
England
The Support Not Separation Coalition (located in London, but will also help parents outside London)
The Support Not Separation Coalition provides one-on-one and support groups for parents going through child welfare cases.
Website: https://supportnotseparation.blog/
Address: Crossroads Women’s Centre
25 Wolsey Mews
Kentish Town
London
NW5 2DX
Email: SNS@legalactionforwomen.net
Phone: 020 7482 2496
Services:
- Help with individual cases (download request form here: https://supportnotseparation.blog/resources/ and email it to SNS@legalactionforwomen.net)
- The Support not Separation self-help meetings for mothers/primary carers: https://supportnotseparation.blog/resources/ (contact for more information)
- Links to information on legal representation, legal advice, court proceedings, and family rights: https://supportnotseparation.blog/resources/
- Family court self-help guide: https://sns-self-help-guide.net/
- Family Court Protest (First Wednesday of every month outside the Central Family Court, 12.30-1.30 pm, 42-49 High Holborn, WC1V 6NP. *Temporarily virtual due to Covid-19*): https://supportnotseparation.blog/events/
Locations Served: Located in London but will also help parents outside London
Family Rights Group (located in London but can help parents outside London)
Family Rights Group promotes policies and practices that keep children safe within their family, have their voices heard, be treated fairly and get help early to prevent problems escalating. They also provide a free hotline for parents facing child welfare proceedings as well as online interactive advice.
Website: https://frg.org.uk/
Address: Second Floor
The Print House
18 Ashwin Street
London
E8 3DL
Email: office@frg.org.uk
Phone: 0808 801 0366 (hotline)
020 7923 2628 (administrative)
Services:
- Free Advice Line, Monday to Friday 9:30am to 3pm, excluding Bank Holidays: 0808 801 0366 (for deaf or hard of hearing, dial 18001 and then 0808 801 0366) https://frg.org.uk/get-help-and-advice/
- Online interactive forums for parents and kinship carers: https://frg.org.uk/get-help-and-advice/who/parents/
- Online written advice for mothers, fathers, kinship carers, parents to be and young parents: https://frg.org.uk/get-help-and-advice/
Locations Served: Located in London but advice line and online interactive forums can help parents outside of London
Caring for Communities and People (Cheltenham and surrounding area)
Caring for Communities and People (CCP) is a charity supporting families through services including parent advocacy for those under investigation by Child Protection. CCP also offers a range of other drop-in services for housing, debt, benefits, homelessness prevention and general advice. Parent advocacy is provided at a fee of 35 pounds/hour with a minimum purchase of 16 hours. Parents must be referred by a social worker, health care professional or solicitor.
Website: https://www.ccp.org.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCPCharity/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CCPCharity
Address: Head Office: 340 High Street, Cheltenham, GL50 3JF
Email: advocacy@ccp.org.uk
Phone: 0300 365 8999
Parent advocacy: 01242 694535
Phone numbers by location: https://www.ccp.org.uk/contact-information
Services:
- Parent advocacy (at any stage in the child protection process; one-on-one support including accompanying parents to court and child protection conferences: https://www.ccp.org.uk/advocacy-service
- Other services include housing support, financial advice, health/wellbeing support, and a food pantry (foodshare@ccp.org.uk)
Locations Served: Cheltenham and surrounding areas
Families in Care (Tyneside/Newcastle Upon Tyne—may be able to serve parents outside catchment area)
Families in Care provides advocacy, support and counselling for parents and other family members involved with child protection services.
Website: https://www.familiesincare.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/familiesincare1
Email: yoursupport@familiesincare.com
Phone: 07710983420
Services: https://www.familiesincare.com/services
- Phone support 07710983420
- One-on-one appointments, to help you better understand child protection processes, how to communicate with your children’s social worker and prepare for other meetings
- Assistance during professional meetings and in court: https://www.familiesincare.com/advocacy
- Confidential therapeutic counselling: https://www.familiesincare.com/counselling
- Peer support sessions to meet other parents in similar situations (please note these are not drop-in groups and you must contact to attend https://www.familiesincare.com/contact): https://www.familiesincare.com/peer-support-group
Locations Served: Tyneside/Newcastle Upon Tyne (contact for inquiries regarding support for birth families who live outside of the agency’s practice area)
Southern Advocacy Services (South of England)
Southern Advocacy Services connects parents undergoing child protection investigations to parent advocates to help them better understand the process.
Website: https://www.southernadvocacyservices.co.uk/index.html
Address: The Riverside Center, The Quay
Newport, Isle of Wight
PO30 Q2R
Email: Contact Form: https://www.southernadvocacyservices.co.uk/contact.html
Phone: 01983 559299
Services:
- Parent advocacy including meeting preparation, support in understanding legal documents and processes, and accompaniment to meetings: https://www.southernadvocacyservices.co.uk/family-advocacy.html
Locations Served: South of England
Warrington Speak Up (Warrington)
Warrington Speak Up supports the rights of parents and others through advocacy in many different situations, including support with individual child protection cases.
Website: https://www.warringtonspeakup.org.uk/
Address: The Gateway, 89 Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1SR
Email: info@advocacyhub.org.uk
Make a referral email: referral@advocacyhub.org.uk
Phone: 01925 246888
Services: https://www.warringtonspeakup.org.uk/our-work/
- Parent advocacy including one-on-one assistance with child protection cases: http://www.warringtonspeakup.org.uk/our-work/parent/
- “Self-help” Parent Pack of information to help parents involved in child protection and family court proceedings: https://www.warringtonspeakup.org.uk/self-help/parent-pack/
Locations Served: Warrington
Onside Advocacy (Worcester)
Onside offers a range of advocacy services for a range of different issues, including one-on-one parent advocacy for parents dealing with child protection.
Website: https://www.onside-advocacy.org.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Onsideadvocacy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OnsideAdvocacy
Address: (Mailing) Onside Independent Advocacy,
Williamson House,
14 Charles Street,
Worcester,
WR1 2AQ
Email: info@onside-advocacy.org.uk
Email by department: https://www.onside-advocacy.org.uk/contact-onside
Phone: 01905 27525
Services: https://www.onside-advocacy.org.uk/advocacy-services
- Parent advocacy including advice and guidance on court proceedings, and accompaniment to meetings (**Referrals to this service can only be made via Children’s Social Workers. For direct referrals there is a charge for the service. Contact for more information accesshub@onside-advocacy.org.uk): https://www.onside-advocacy.org.uk/advocacy-for-parents
Locations Served: Worcester
Appoint Us (Midlands)
Appoint Us Services supports families involved with child protection services through one-on-one case support.
Website: https://www.appointusservices.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/appointusservices/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appoint_us
Address: Rural Innovation Centre, Avenue H, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh CV8 2LG
Email: info@appointusservices.co.uk
Family support services point person: julie@appointusservices.co.uk
Phone: 024 7699 8414
Family support services: 02476998416
Text / WhatsApp: 07834 153 716
Services: https://www.appointusservices.co.uk/services/
- Parent advocacy and family support (including assistance with legal services, support through court proceedings, and accompaniment to any meeting/conference throughout the investigation): https://www.appointusservices.co.uk/services/social-care-department/safeguarding-children-advocacy/
- Other support including housing, health, and grocery shopping: https://www.appointusservices.co.uk/services/support-services/shopping/
Locations Served: Midlands
Eos Advocacy (Location not specified)
Eos Advocacy offers advocacy and support services for those involved in child protection proceedings for a fee of 49 pounds an hour, with a special expertise in advising parents in cases related to Fabricated and or Induced Illness. Advocates offer a free 15 minute consultation. They can help you understand the legislation relevant to your case, and can provide advocacy and emotional support.
Website: http://www.eosadvocacy.co.uk/
Email: info@eosadvocacy.co.uk
Services: http://www.eosadvocacy.co.uk/services/
- Education on legislative aspects of a child protection case
- Support with family court applications and statement writing
Locations Served: Location not specified
Scotland
Advocacy Orkney (Orkney)
Advocacy Orkney offers a range of advocacy services for a range of different issues, including one-on-one parent advocacy for parents dealing with child protection.
Website: http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/advocacyorkney/index.asp
Address: (Mailing) Advocacy Orkney, 18 Queen Street, Kirkwall, Orkney. KW15 1JE
Email: info@advocacyorkney.org
Phone: 01856 870111
Locations Served: Orkney