Parents and carers

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Families come in all shapes and sizes, and relationships change. Whatever your parental role, there's a lot to making sure children grow up in a secure environment.

We've pulled together valuable parent resources on a range of parenting topics such as adoption, family mediation, stepfamilies, divorce and separation, and father's rights.  There's also useful websites offering help on financial and legal matters. 

We hope you'll find the information you're looking for here, if not get in touch. And if there are any organisations or websites that have helped you, please let us know.

 

Useful resources for parents and carers

Dad Talk

Provides opportunities for dads to talk on and offline, enables dads to access informtion and support that is specifically targeted at fathers.

Mumsnet: by parents for parents

Offers advice and information for parents and families - anything from pregnancy to starting school to troubled teens. The website has parents' chatrooms.

Netmums

A family of local websites covering the UK. Each site offers information on everything from where to find playgroups and how to eat healthily to where to meet other mothers, and has a range of parenting advice from pregnancy to teens.

One Space

Parenting website for single parents. It provides information for lone parents on issues including, bullying, parenting teenagers, life after separation.

Parentline Scotland

Free, confidential, parent support helpline for anyone caring for a child in Scotland. You can call about any problem, however big or small.

Young parents survival guide (OPFS)

The guide has key information and advice for young parents including information for dads, coping with doctors, hospitals and clinics, housing issues and continuing your education.

Aberlour Childcare Trust

Supports families affected by disability, drugs and alcohol, behaviour problems and emotional difficulties.

Childcare support for disabled children (Capability Scotland)

Capability Scotland provides support for families with disabled children who wish to access childcare.

Disability, Pregnancy & Parenthood International

Runs an information service with helpline about pregnancy and parenting for disabled parents.

Disabled Parents Network

Supports all parents with a disability and provides a telephone helpline service.

Downs Syndrome Scotland

Provides support, advice and information to people with Down's syndrome, their parents, carers and professionals.

Enable Scotland

Offers a range of services for children and adults with learning difficulties and support for families, including a helpline.

Family Fund: helping disabled children

Provides grants to low income families with severely disabled or seriously ill children, aged 17 years and under.

Grapevine Disability Information Service

Confidential advice and information for disabled people and their families in Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian. Telephone and text phone helpline available.

Update: disability information Scotland

Provides general disability information and contact details of appropriate local and specialist organisations.

Adopting and fostering children (Action for Children)

Information on adopting and fostering children through Action for Children. Includes the assessment process and case studies.

Adoption UK

The only national self-help group run by and for parents of adopted children and foster carers. Offers support before, during and after adoption. Has a helpline.

Arrangements for children when parents separate (One Parent Families Scotland)

Factsheet giving information about parental rights and responsibilities for children when parents separate.

Barnardos Scotland

Barnardo's have over 60 projects and services for children, young people and families in Scotland, including fostering children and family support.

Birthlink

Offers a range of services for people separated by adoption, and for adoptive parents. These include tracing people, go-between, information on accessing birth records and an after adoption information line.

CHILDREN 1st

Offers support for families under stress; protects children from harm and neglect; gives support for children recovering from abuse.

Civil partnership in Scotland

Information about the implications of civil partnerships for same sex couples.

Families Need Fathers Scotland

Provides information and support to parents of either sex to maintain a child's relationship with both parents during and after family breakdown. Has a telephone helpline.

Families Outside

Support and help with the emotional and practical difficulties imprisonment brings to a family. Has a telephone helpline.

Fife Gingerbread

Supports anyone who is bringing up children on their own in Fife. Services include home visits, single parent support groups, support for students, family activities.

Fostering Network Scotland

Provides learning and development opportunities for foster carers and fostering services, as well as information and advice.

Gay Dads Scotland

A group of gay fathers from all over Scotland - a mix of married, separated, divorced and single fathers who are all interested in understanding gay parenting issues.

Grandparents Apart

Provides counselling and support for grandparents who have been separated from their grandchildren because of family break-up.

Grandparents Association

Offers a range of support, including a helpline, welfare benefits advice, local support groups and information for grandparents.

Home-Start

One-to-one support, practical help and friendship to families with young children. Telephone helpline service.

HomeDad

Online support group for stay-at-home dads with useful news articles.

Kinship Care Guide (Children 1st)

This booklet gives you some of the advice, information and support on problems you may experience on becoming a kinship carer.

Living in stepfamilies

Publications from Stepfamily Scotland. Topics include: parenting, parental responsibilities and rights, adoption, grandparents and changing a family name.

MATCH (Mothers Apart From Their Children)

Aims to protect the good mental health of mothers living apart from their children for whatever reason. Offers non-judgemental emotional support, information and advice.

One Parent Families Scotland

Provides information to lone parents and others working with them, develops parents' confidence and employability, and provides flexible childcare. A telephone helpline service is provided.

OnlyDads: celebrating single parenting

Run by two single parents, this website is set up to help you find the support and advice you need as a single dad.

OnlyMums: celebrating single parenting

Run by two single parents, this website gives practical, up-to-date information and guidance on separation and divorce for single mums.

Parent Connection: separation and co-parenting

The website supports parents through separation and co parenting difficulties.

Parents under 16 (Adviceguide)

Information for parents in Scotland who are aged under 16 on issues such as benefits, tax credits and maintenance.

Proud Grandparents

Useful information and tips for being a grandparent.

Scottish Adoption

Recruits adoptive families, and provides information, counselling and support to adoptive parents, birth parents and relatives, adopted children and adults.

Stepfamily Scotland

Runs a helpline to provide support and information to all members of stepfamilies, people about to become part of one.

Who Cares Trust

Works to improve public care for children and young people who are separated from their families and living in residential or foster care.

Action on Depression

A range of services to help with depression, including phone and email support, community courses, self-help support groups and online services.

Adfam: families, drugs and alcohol

Real stories by families affected by substance misuse and the opportunity to share your own story. Information about helplines and local support for families of addicts.

Birth Trauma Association

Supports all women who have had a traumatic birth experience leading to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Bluebell at ParentLine Scotland

Dedicated postnatal depression telephone helpline - available to anyone in Scotland affected by postnatal depression.

Breastfeeding and returning to work (NHS Health Scotland)

Breastfeeding Information for mothers who are thinking about combining working and breastfeeding. Includes maternity rights to breastfeed at work.

Breathing Space Scotland

Telephone helpline service and website supporting anyone feeling down or depressed.

British Dental Health Foundation

Have a helpline, and their website includes a lot of useful information including dental care for mother and baby, children's teeth.

Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland

Offers a free confidential bereavement counselling and support to people of all ages. Has telephone helpline.

Drinkline and Drink Smarter

Helpline for anyone who wants more information about alcohol, local services that can help, or simply to talk about drinking and alcohol issues. There's also a website 'Drink Smarter' about sensible drinking.

Families Anonymous: families of drug users

This site provides help the family and friends of people with a current, suspected or former drug problem.

NHS 24

If you or your child is feeling ill call the NHS 24 helpline. Alternatively use the self-help guide on the website.

NHS Inform

NHS Scotland's health information service. Includes a health A-Z, common health questions, local and national support groups directory, and news on health issues.

Perinatal depression (Action on Depression)

Information about post natal depression (PND) and ante natal depression with options on where to go for help.

Post Natal Depression Support Network

Post natal depression service providing information, support and help via its website, online forum, and telephone helpline.

Samaritans

Provides confidential, non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day by phone or email.

Scottish Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse helpline and website offering confidential help and advice to people who are affected by abuse and their children.

Take life on - exercise and diet

The website provides lots of handy tips to help you improve you and your families diet and fitness.

Web4Health: Psychology Free Online

Answers to more than 900 questions about psychology, mental health and relationships.

Adviceguide: online help from Citizens Advice

Comprehensive information and advice website on money, the law and rights.

Alcohol, young people and the law (Adviceguide)

Information about the legal aspects of children, teenagers and alcohol use.

Arrangements for children when parents separate (One Parent Families Scotland)

Factsheet giving information about parental rights and responsibilities for children when parents separate.

Birthlink

Offers a range of services for people separated by adoption, and for adoptive parents. These include tracing people, go-between, information on accessing birth records and an after adoption information line.

Breastfeeding and returning to work (NHS Health Scotland)

Breastfeeding Information for mothers who are thinking about combining working and breastfeeding. Includes maternity rights to breastfeed at work.

Children in local authority care (Adviceguide)

Information and advice from Citizens Advice about children in care, including reasons for placing children in care, parental rights, challenging decisions and contact arrangements.

Citizens Advice Scotland

Network of centres (CABs) all over the country, giving advice on money and rights, including consumer rights, discrimination and employment rights.

Civil partnership in Scotland

Information about the implications of civil partnerships for same sex couples.

Education choices from 5 to 16

Information from Citizens Advice on parental rights in relation to education, including choosing a school, home education, and what to do if your choice of school is refused.

Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland

Provides information and advice on equality issues regarding age, race, disability, gender, religion or belief and sexual orientation and transgender status. Has a helpline.

Equality Network

Campaigns for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Scotland. Website includes a rights section.

Families Need Fathers Scotland

Provides information and support to parents of either sex to maintain a child's relationship with both parents during and after family breakdown. Has a telephone helpline.

Families Outside

Support and help with the emotional and practical difficulties imprisonment brings to a family. Has a telephone helpline.

General Register Office for Scotland

Responsible for the registration of births, marriages, civil partnerships, deaths, divorces, name changes and adoptions.

Govan Law Centre

A charitable community-managed law centre providing a range of free and low cost legal services throughout Scotland.

Housing options for separating or divorcing couples (One Parent Families Scotland)

This factsheet gives information about your housing rights and options in divorce and separation.

Kinship care (Adviceguide)

Rights and financial information for carers of a relative or family friend's child - from Citizens Advice Scotland. A specialist telephone helpline is also available.

Maternity Action

Information about employment rights, welfare benefit rights and health care rights for parents. They have a helpline.

Maternity rights for lone parents (One Parent Families Scotland)

Maternity rights at work, benefits you are entitled to if you are not working, and legal issues for unmarried parents in Scotland.

OnlyDads: celebrating single parenting

Run by two single parents, this website is set up to help you find the support and advice you need as a single dad.

OnlyMums: celebrating single parenting

Run by two single parents, this website gives practical, up-to-date information and guidance on separation and divorce for single mums.

Parents under 16 (Adviceguide)

Information for parents in Scotland who are aged under 16 on issues such as benefits, tax credits and maintenance.

Paternity leave (Fatherhood Institute)

Information for dads about applying for and taking paternity leave.

Scottish Child Law Centre

Legal advice for and about children and young people. Provides a telephone helpline, email and text service for under 18s. Parents and carers can call the general office phone line.

Scottish Childrens Reporter Administration

The centre of the child protection and youth justice system for children in Scotland (Children’s Hearings System). Website provides information for parents and carers whose children have been asked to attend a hearing.

Stepparent adoption (Stepfamily Scotland)

Legal information about adoption for stepfamilies from Stepfamily Scotland.

Work and families - employment rights (Directgov)

Employment rights for parents, including pregnancy and maternity rights, paternity rights, parental leave and flexible working, adoption rights in the workplace.

Young peoples rights (Adviceguide)

Information on the rights of children and young people in Scotland. Includes proof of age, discrimination, human rights, nationality and immigration, punishment, religion and voting.

Your children matter: parental responsibilities and rights (Scottish Government)

Guide for parents on their rights and responsibilities. Covers adoption, birth and name registration of children, and divorce and separation.

Adviceguide: online help from Citizens Advice

Comprehensive information and advice website on money, the law and rights.

Benefits and financial support (Directgov)

Series of factsheets about benefits for families including child benefit, child maintenance, child tax credit, housing benefits, maternity allowance.

Child Maintenance Options

Impartial information for both parents about child maintenance after divorce and separation. Telephone helpline service is provided.

Citizens Advice Scotland

Network of centres (CABs) all over the country, giving advice on money and rights, including consumer rights, discrimination and employment rights.

Divorce and separation (Money Advice Service)

Website giving impartial information on your finances if you are going through divorce or separation.

Expecting or bringing up children benefits (Directgov)

Money, tax and benefits information for parents, including maternity and paternity pay, child benefit and tax credits.

Family Fund: helping disabled children

Provides grants to low income families with severely disabled or seriously ill children, aged 17 years and under.

Fuel advice factsheets (One Parent Families Scotland)

Set of factsheets on energy and money saving, payment methods and fuel debt, with useful contacts.

Grandparents Association

Offers a range of support, including a helpline, welfare benefits advice, local support groups and information for grandparents.

Kinship care (Adviceguide)

Rights and financial information for carers of a relative or family friend's child - from Citizens Advice Scotland. A specialist telephone helpline is also available.

Maternity Action

Information about employment rights, welfare benefit rights and health care rights for parents. They have a helpline.

Maternity rights for lone parents (One Parent Families Scotland)

Maternity rights at work, benefits you are entitled to if you are not working, and legal issues for unmarried parents in Scotland.

Money for Mums

Lots of information about family finances. Includes advice about benefits, tax credits, childcare vouchers, savings and returning to work.

Parents under 16 (Adviceguide)

Information for parents in Scotland who are aged under 16 on issues such as benefits, tax credits and maintenance.

Paternity leave (Fatherhood Institute)

Information for dads about applying for and taking paternity leave.

Paying for Childcare

Website where you can find out about the financial support you may be able to receive to help with the costs of childcare.

Paying for childcare (HM Revenue & Customs)

Money-saving government scheme for working parents who pay for childcare.

Work and families - employment rights (Directgov)

Employment rights for parents, including pregnancy and maternity rights, paternity rights, parental leave and flexible working, adoption rights in the workplace.

Civil partnership in Scotland

Information about the implications of civil partnerships for same sex couples.

Couple Connection: where parents work it out

Website providing tools and resources for couples to use to improve their relationships.

Divorce and separation: info for parents (Young Minds)

Information for parents who are going through divorce and separation on how parents can help their children to cope.

Effects of a new baby on a relationship (Dad Talk)

Advice for new dads if their partner doesn't want to have sex after the new baby is born.

Families Outside

Support and help with the emotional and practical difficulties imprisonment brings to a family. Has a telephone helpline.

Family Support Partnership Lanarkshire

Provides relationship counselling, family mediation and sexual therapy for parents with children in Lanarkshire. Also child contact centres.

Parent Connection: separation and co-parenting

The website supports parents through separation and co parenting difficulties.

Parentline Scotland

Free, confidential, parent support helpline for anyone caring for a child in Scotland. You can call about any problem, however big or small.

Relate for Parents & Families: free relationship advice

This website has live chat online where you can talk to a trained consultant. There’s also a support library with articles, videos and podcasts.

Relationships Scotland

National network of local services providing relationship counselling, family mediation, child contact centres and other family support services.

Sex and relationships after birth (BabyCentre)

Series of articles and questions, covering sex after childbirth, your relationship after having a baby, breastfeeding and sex, contraception after birth and domestic violence.

SMC (formerly Scottish Marriage Care)

Relationship counselling to couples and individuals of all ages and stages in their relationship. Helpline available.

Web4Health: Psychology Free Online

Answers to more than 900 questions about psychology, mental health and relationships.

When Parents Part: advice for parents who are separating or divorcing

Hear what children and young people say about family breakdown. Learn about things that made the situation easier or harder for children in divorce and separation.