Useful Contacts For Ages 11 - 18
If you're 11-18 years old, this page lists organisations and services that can offer you support and information. All of the contact numbers listed here are helplines, unless we've noted what they're for instead.
If you're feeling overwhelmed and like you can't cope, you can:
Ring HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141
The Samaritans on 116 123
Text SHOUT to Shout's textline on 85258 If you feel like you may attempt suicide, or you have seriously hurt yourself.
Call 999 and ask for an ambulance Tell an adult you trust and ask them to call 999
General Support For Young People
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Action for Children |
| Supports children, young people and families across England with emotional and practical care. | |
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Barnardo's |
| Practical information and emotional support for: Young people Young people leaving care Young carers Provides local services for further support in some regions. | |
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Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - 0800 58 58 58 |
| Information and support for anyone who is struggling with things and needs to talk. Offers a helpline and webchat. | |
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Childline - 0800 1111 |
| Information and advice for young people on topics like bullying, your body and relationships. Also provides: A phone helpline 1-2-1 online chats with counsellors Online message boards Welsh-speaking and BSL interpreter counsellors | |
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FRANK - 0300 123 6600 / 82111(Textline) |
| Confidential support, advice and information about drugs, their effects and the law. | |
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Hub of Hope |
| A UK-wide database of mental health charities and organisations offering advice and support. | |
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Local Minds |
| Local mental health services across England and Wales. Offers talking therapies, peer support and advocacy. | |
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Mencap - 0808 808 1111 |
| Information and advice for people with a learning disability, their families and carers. Services include an online community. | |
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The Mix - 85258 (Textline) |
| Support and advice for people under 25, offering these services: Crisis messenger textline Discussion board Webchat Short-term counselling by phone and online | |
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NHS Every Mind Matters |
| Information and advice on mental health and wellbeing for young people. Includes videos about dealing with change, social media and sleep. | |
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Our Time |
| Information and workshops for children and young people whose parents or carers experience mental health problems. | |
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Reading Well |
| Self-help books to help people understand and manage their mental health and wellbeing. Also available in Welsh. | |
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Samaritans - 116 123 (Textline) |
| Samaritans are open 24/7 for people to talk about any concerns, worries and troubles they’re going through. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person. | |
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Shout - 85258 (Textline) |
| Shout is a confidential and anonymous 24/7 text support service for anyone struggling to cope. It is free to text Shout from all major mobile networks in the UK. To speak to a trained volunteer | |
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Young Minds |
| Mental health support for young people, parents and carers. Includes information about mental health problems and medication. | |
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Youth Access |
| Advice and counselling network for young people. Includes a search tool for finding free local services. |
Support for mental health problems and difficult feelings
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Alumina |
| An online, 7-week course to help people from 14 to 19 who self-harm. | |
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Anxiety UK - 03444 775 775 - 07537 416 905 (Textline) |
| Advice, support and information for people who experience anxiety. | |
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Beat - 0808 801 0677 |
| Helpline, webchat and online support groups for people with eating problems, like anorexia and bulimia. | |
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Me and My Mind |
| Advice and support for young people experiencing possible symptoms of mental health problems, like hearing voices or having unusual thoughts. Some services are only available in certain London boroughs. | |
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No Panic - 0330 606 1174 |
| Provides support to young people experiencing panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a 6-week Youth Mentoring Scheme online or by phone. | |
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OCD Youth |
| Information and resources for young people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Provides an email helpline, support group, online network and discussion group. | |
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The OLLIE Foundation |
| Help and advice for young people experiencing suicidal feelings. Provides support and information for anyone worried about another young person. | |
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Papyrus HOPELINEUK - 0800 068 4141 |
| Support and advice for people under 35 experiencing suicidal thoughts or finding it hard to cope. Provides support for anyone concerned about another young person. | |
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Self-Injury Support - 0808 800 8088 |
| Supports women and girls who self-harm, or have experienced trauma and abuse. Offers information and self-help tools online for anyone to use. | |
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Voice Collective |
| Information and support for people under 25 who: Hear voices See visions Experience other sensory issues or beliefs Offers peer support, plus support to parents, carers and families. |
Support for different identities and communities
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Bayo |
| An online search tool to find mental health and wellbeing support or services, run by and for the Black community. | |
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Being Gay is OK |
| Provides advice and information for LGBTQIA+ people under 25. | |
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Kids of Colour |
| Online platform for young people to learn about race, identity and culture, and to challenge racism. Offers a YouTube channel, summer school and workshop | |
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Mermaids UK |
| Support for transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse people up to 18. Runs events, local groups, online courses and a webchat. | |
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Muslim Youth Helpline |
| Provides faith and culturally sensitive support to young Muslims by phone, webchat, WhatsApp and email. | |
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The Proud Trust |
| Support for LGBTQIA+ young people through youth groups, peer support, mentoring schemes and a webchat. | |
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Stonewall |
| Information and advice for LGBTQIA+ people on a range of issues, like coming out and hate crimes. Provides an information phoneline for people and their families. | |
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Switchboard |
| Provides a helpline, webchat and nationwide database of LGBTQIA+ services. A safe space to discuss topics like sexuality, gender identity and wellbeing. |
Support for grief, trauma and abuse
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Child Bereavement UK - 0800 028 8840 |
| Help for children, young people, parents and families after the death of someone close. Offers support through local services, groups for young people, plus films and blogs. | |
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Talk Grief |
| An online tool by Winston’s Wish, a charity supporting young people after the death of someone close. Advice and resources for coping with grief, plus an email helpline and webchat. | |
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Hope Again - 0808 808 1677 |
| Information, resources and support for young people coping after the death of someone close. Also available in Welsh. | |
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Kidscape |
| Information and advice for young people, parents and carers with concerns about school bullying and abuse. | |
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National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) |
| Support and information for children who have experienced abuse, or anyone worried about a child. Provides local services to help young people and families overcome abuse. | |
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Refuge - 0808 200 0247 |
| Help and support for women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse. | |
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Safeline |
| Information and support for young people and adults who have experienced sexual abuse and rape. Offers face-to-face services in Coventry and Warwickshire. | |
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Stop Hate UK - 0808 801 0576 |
| Offers a 24-hour phone and text service for people under 18 who have experienced or seen a hate crime. Provides an online service for reporting hate crimes | |
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Victim Support - 0808 168 9111 |
| Emotional and practical support for people affected by crime and traumatic events. Offers specific information for young people. | |
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Women's Aid (England) |
| Information and support for women and children who have experienced domestic abuse. Provides support by live chat, a directory of local services and a forum. |
Support for different living situations
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Become - 0800 023 2033 |
| Information and support for young people in care, and young care leavers | |
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Carers Trust |
| Information and support for unpaid carers. Includes specific information and local support for young carers. | |
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Centrepoint - 0808 800 0661 |
| Provides advice, housing and support for people from 16 to 25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in England. | |
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Children’s Society Young Carers - 01962 711511 |
| Information and advice for young carers, including help with things like education and rights. Offers a local service finder for young carers’ projects. | |
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Coram Voice - 0808 800 5792 |
| Information, support and advocacy for young people who are care leavers. | |
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Gingerbread |
| Offers information for young people whose parents are splitting up, or who have lost a parent. | |
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Runaway Helpline - 116 000 |
| Support by phone, text and email for people who: Are running away Have already run away Have returned after running away Are worried about someone who might run away Also offers online information and a 1-2-1 webchat. | |
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Shelter |
| Supports people in need of housing by providing independent, expert advice. Includes specific information for young people. |
Legal rights and advocacy support
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Citizens Advice - 0800 144 8848 |
| Information and advice on your rights, covering topics like money, housing and discrimination. Offers some local branches and an online chat. | |
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Law Stuff |
| Legal information for young people who have come to the UK from a different country. Covers topics like immigration, work and education. | |
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Meic - 0808 802 3456 |
| Information and advice on rights in Wales, for people up to 25. Available in English or Welsh by phone, text or online chat. | |
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NYAS and NYAS Cymru - 0808 808 1001 |
| Advocacy services and helplines to listen to what young people want and empower them to get their voice heard. | |
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POhWER - 0300 456 2370 |
| Information, advice, support and advocacy in England for people facing difficult issues who want to make their voice heard. Offers specific advocacy services for young people. | |
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rights4children |
| Offers information and advice for young people in England to help them understand their legal rights. | |
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VoiceAbility - 0300 303 1660 |
| A charity which is one of the UK’s largest providers of advocacy services. Offers information and advice on how advocates can help. |