Below is a selection of organisations that offer help and support. There are many more out there offering specific help on a range of issues – if you would like more information on who can help you best, please contact Mr Thompson.
National Autistic Society
The leading UK charity for autistic people and their families offering a range of help, services and support.
Kent Autistic Trust
Specialist provider of services for young people and adults with autism.
Child Bereavement UK
Support for families where a child has died or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.
Cruse Bereavement Care
Offering support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies - free helpline 0808 808 1677.
Holding on Letting Go
Provides bereavement support and advice for children and young people, aged 6-16, and their families throughout Kent and Medway.
https://holdingonlettinggo.org.uk
Kent Bereavement Advice Service
Free service and helpline (0800 258 5944) for anyone in Kent affected by the death of someone significant to them.
https://www.bereavementadvice.org/kent/
CARERS
Crossroads Care Kent
Supporting carers and the people they care for, including young carers.
Kent Young Carers
Support and advice for young carers aged 5-18.
www.imago.community/Children-and-Young-People/Kent-Young-Carers
Citizens Advice
A free, confidential, independent advice service offering help with money, housing, employment and more.
Turn2Us
A national charity that helps people in financial hardship gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services.
National Centre for Domestic Violence
Available to everyone, free legal injunction advice, including emergency injunctions - helpline 0800 2000 247 (24/7).
www.ncdv.org.uk
Sateda
Support and advice for victims of domestic abuse with weekly drop-ins available in Sittingbourne, Sheerness and Faversham.
Early Help
A service for families to help them build resilience, stay safe and resolve problems at the earliest possible opportunity, before they become more serious.
www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/early-help-support-for-families#tab-1
Kent Children and Families Information Service
Free, confidential, impartial information and advice for parents and carers wanting help with childcare, early education, parenting, family life and issues that affect young people.
https://local.kent.gov.uk/kb5/kent/directory/service.page?id=ehkENLK95w4
Kent Family Medition Service
Support for separated couples to discuss and reach amicable agreements outside of the court process, with help over arrangements for the children, housing, finances, etc.
Insight Talking Therapies
A free and confidential service, commissioned by the NHS, available to anyone aged 17+ who lives in East Kent. To help anyone going through difficult times and needs some support to cope.
https://www.insighthealthcare.org/our-services/talking-therapies/find-a-service/kent/
Live Well Kent
A free service that promotes a range of support and information on mental health and wellbeing services to connect people with support within their local community. Can help with meeting people through social activities and support to improve relationships and managing money.
Mental Health Crisis Resolution team
24 hour helpline for those living in Kent and Medway (24/7): 0300 222 0123.
Sheppey Matters
Provides more than 12 health and wellbeing community services from the Sheppey Healthy Living Centre in Sheerness, two outreach locations in Eastchurch and many other venues around the Isle of Sheppey.
https://www.sheppeymatters.org.uk
Childline
Free, confidential helpline for children, whatever their worry, big or small: 0800 1111.
Children and Young People's Mental Health Service
Provides emotional wellbeing and mental health advice and support for young people and their families across Kent. Offers advice and support for stress, low mood and depression, anxiety, self-harm or difficult-to-manage behaviours.
https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/services-kent-children-young-peoples-mental-health
Kooth
A free online counselling and emotional wellbeing platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop.
Young Lives Foundation
An independent children’s charity dedicated to helping vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people through activies and mentoring.
Young Minds
Working to improve the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people up to the age of 25 with help and advice and through a Crisis Helpline (text YM to 85258). Support is also available to parents and any adult concerned about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child. Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544.
For Us Too
A charity run by the parents and carers of disabled children, working to improve the lives of children and young people across East Kent.
Information, Advice and Support Kent (IASK)
Offering support and advice about special educational needs and disabilities.
Citizens Advice
A free, confidential, independent advice service for money/debt, housing and employment problems, facing a crisis or considering your options to find a way forward. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/local/north-west-kent/
Healthy Start Vouchers
Healthy Start provides vouchers every week to spend on milk, fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables and infant formula milk. To qualify, you must be at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four, and be claiming benefits.
https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk
Kent Support & Assistance Service (KSAS)
Run by KCC to help people for a short period of time when they are facing exceptional pressures as a result of an emergency or crisis. Includes help with utilities, groceries, items of clothing, goods for young people, household appliances, furniture, crockery, bedding, etc.
https://www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/care-and-support/benefits/home-essentials-in-a-crisis
Sittingbourne Foodbank
Provides three days’ nutritionally-balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred in crisis (referral through school).
https://sittingbourne.foodbank.org.uk