Links to help and support

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.

ASD

National Autistic Society

The leading UK charity for autistic people and their families offering a range of help, services and support.

National Autistic Society (autism.org.uk)

Kent Autistic Trust

Specialist provider of services for young people and adults with autism.

The Kent Autisic Trust (kentautistictrust.org)

BEREAVEMENT

Child Bereavement UK

Support for families where a child has died or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.

Child Bereavement UK

Cruse Bereavement Care

Offering support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies - free helpline 0808 808 1677.

Home - Cruse Bereavement Support

Holding on Letting Go

Provides bereavement support and advice for children and young people, aged 6-16, and their families throughout Kent and Medway.

Home - Holding on Letting Go (holg.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.

Bereavement Advice Centre | Free Helpline

CARERS

Crossroads Care Kent

Supporting carers and the people they care for, including young carers.

Crossroads Care Kent - Kent's leading charity for Carers (crossroadskent.org)

Kent Young Carers

Support and advice for young carers aged 5-18.

Kent Young Carers (imago.community)

DEBT

Citizens Advice

A free, confidential, independent advice service offering help with money, housing, employment and more.

Citizens Advice

Turn2Us

A national charity that helps people in financial hardship gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services.

Tackling Financial Insecurity Together | Turn2us

DOMESTIC ABUSE

National Centre for Domestic Violence

Available to everyone, free legal injunction advice, including emergency injunctions - helpline 0800 2000 247 (24/7).
Domestic Violence & Abuse · Emergency Injunction Service (ncdv.org.uk)

Sateda

Support and advice for victims of domestic abuse with weekly drop-ins available in Sittingbourne, Sheerness and Faversham.

SATEDA – Domestic Abuse Charity in Kent, Swale & Medway

FAMILY/RELATIONSHIPS

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. 

Early Help (support for families) - Kent County Council

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.

Kent Children and Families Information Service | Local Kent Directory

Kent Family Mediation 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.

Family Mediation Services in Kent | Affordable Fees, Dispute Resolution & Fee Support (kentfms.co.uk)

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING (ADULT)

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.

Counselling in Kent | Everyturn

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.

Welcome | Live Well Kent

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.

A Health & Wellbeing Charity On The Isle Of SheppeySheppey Matters

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING (CHILD)

Childline

Free, confidential helpline for children, whatever their worry, big or small: 0800 1111.

Childline | Childline

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.

Kent & Medway Children & Young People's Mental Health Service (CYPMHS) | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

Kooth

A free online counselling and emotional wellbeing platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop.

Home - Kooth

Young Lives Foundation

An independent children’s charity dedicated to helping vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people through activities and mentoring.

The Young Lives Foundation - Making a Difference (ylf.org.uk)

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.

YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds

SEN

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.

A charity run by parents & carers of disabled children & young people (forustoo.org)

Information, Advice and Support Kent (IASK)

Offering support and advice about special educational needs and disabilities.

Information, Advice and Support Kent (IASK) - Kent County Council

SUPPORT

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.

Citizens Advice in North & West Kent (citizensadvicenwk.org.uk)

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. 

Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)

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.

Food or energy in a crisis - Kent County Council

Sittingbourne Foodbank

Provides three days nutritionally-balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred in crisis (referral through school).

The Trussell Trust - Stop UK Hunger

 St Mary and the Holy Cross Church, Milstead