Advice for families

Welcome to our support page for parents, people in a parenting role, and families living in Scotland.

It can be difficult to know where to go for reliable information about parenting, so here are links to key organisations who, even if they can’t help you directly, are a gateway to the right source of support for you.

General advice and support

First of all, if you’re looking for general advice on bringing up children and young people, we recommend Scotland’s national parenting website:

• www.parentclub.scot

And if you want to talk with someone, either on the phone or online, Children 1^st and One Parent Families Scotland have dedicated helplines for parents and carers:

• ParentLine Scotland – 0800 028 2233
• Lone Parent Helpline – 0808 801 0323

Practical matters

For advice on practical matters, such as housing, money and your rights, Citizen’s Advice Scotland also have a helpline - 0800 028 1456 – as well as an advice website, and bureaux around the country where you can talk to someone in person.

If you’re trying to juggle work and family life, Working Families can help you understand your rights at work.

Your local council is an important source of information about free childcare and choosing a childcare service, as well as education and housing. There’s a list of the Scottish council websites here.

Education, safety and well-being

Parentzone is Scotland’s education website for parents, and if your child needs some additional support for learning, we recommend getting in touch with Enquire who also have a helpline - 0345 123 2303.

If you have a child with a disability, Contact Scotland is set up to give support and advice to families with disabled children.

If you’re worried about your child’s safety, Child Accident and Prevention Trust and NSPCC are good sources of information and advice.

For any health issue, start with NHS 24 and/or your GP/doctor. If you don’t already have a doctor, find your local GP practice here.

For family counselling, mediation and support, get in touch with Relationships Scotland.

In a crisis situation?

One of the following organisations may also be able to help:

• Aberlour - Scotland’s children’s charity
• Home Start - for families facing difficult times
• Families Outside - support for prisoners' families
• Shelter Scotland - housing advice
• Scottish Refugee Council
• Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs
• Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline