Bereavement support
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK support families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, and when a child is facing bereavement.
Telephone: 0800 02 888 40
Website: https://www.childbereavementuk.org/
Facebook: @childbereavementuk
Email: support@childbereavementuk.org
Cruse Bereavement Care
Cruse’s vision is that all bereaved people will have somewhere to turn when someone dies; their mission is to offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies, and to enhance society’s care of bereaved people. Cruse offer face-to-face, telephone, email and website support, with a national freephone helpline, as well as local services and a website specifically for children and young people. Their services are provided by their network of 5,000 trained volunteers and are confidential and free.
Telephone: 0808 808 1677 (national helpline)
Website: https://www.cruse.org.uk/
Facebook: @crusebereavementcare
Holding On Letting Go
Holding On Letting Go is a Kent-based charity that helps children cope with the death of someone close to them.
Telephone: 03445 611511
Website: https://holdingonlettinggo.org.uk/
Email: info@holg.org.uk
Kent Bereavement Advice Service
Kent Bereavement Advice Service and helpline are available, free of charge, for anyone affected by the death of someone significant to them, whether the death occurred in Kent or the person who died lived in Kent or the bereaved person lives in Kent.
Telephone: 0800 634 9494
Website: https://local.kent.gov.uk/kb5/kent/directory/service.page?id=0copZZEzPCY
Miscarriage Association
This is a support group providing a platform for people to share their experiences of miscarriage, molar pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy.
Telephone: 01924 200 799
Website: https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/
Facebook: @MiscarriageAssociation
Email: info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk
Muslim Bereavement Support Service
The Muslim Bereavement Support Service supports Muslim women who have lost a loved one. They also work with other organisations – such as the NHS and hospices – to give a spiritual context to the bereavement support services that they offer.
Telephone: 020 3468 7333
Website: https://mbss.org.uk/
Facebook: @MuslimBereavementSupportService
Email: info@mbss.org.uk
Sands
Sands is the nationwide Stillbirth & Neonatal Death charity, offering support and information to anyone (parent, grandparent, sibling, families, friends, health professionals, and others) affected by the loss of a baby before, during or after birth. The charity also works to improve the care received by bereaved parents and to promote research to reduce the loss of babies’ lives. For more information, visit the website.
Telephone: 0808 164 3332 (national helpline)
Website: www.sands.org.uk
Facebook: @sandscharity
Email: helpline@sands.org.uk
Tunbridge Wells Sands
Telephone: 07504 743663
Website: https://tunbridgewellssands.org/
Facebook: @tunbridgewellssands
Email: support@tunbridgewellssands.org
West Kent and Medway Sands
Telephone: 07888 967463
Facebook: @SandsKent
Email: westkentandmedwaysands@gmail.com
Tommy’s
Tommy’s is the largest charity funding research into the causes of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. They also provide information for parents-to-be to help them to have a healthy pregnancy and baby, as well as advice on mental wellbeing. In particular, they offer information and support to the 1 in 4 parents who don’t get to take their baby home.
Telephone: 0800 0147 800
Website: https://www.tommys.org/
Facebook: @Tommys
Email: mailbox@tommys.org
Domestic abuse support services
Domestic Abuse Support Services in Kent and Medway
The Domestic Abuse Support in Kent website is a resource covering Kent and Medway which provides advice and information on services for victims, friends and family, and perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Website: http://www.domesticabuseservices.org.uk/
Karma Nirvana
Karma Nirvana is a national charity that supports victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. They work with and support all victims, regardless of age, faith, gender or sexuality.
Telephone: 0800 5999 247
Website: https://karmanirvana.org.uk/
Facebook: @karmanirvanauk
Email: info@karmanirvana.org.uk
Refuge
Refuge work to support women and children experiencing domestic abuse. They offer a freephone 24-hour domestic abuse helpline.
Telephone: 0808 2000 247
Websites: https://www.refuge.org.uk/ and https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
Facebook: @RefugeCharity
Email: helpline@refuge.org
General
Family Action
Family Action offer services for families, including mental health support.
Telephone: 0808 802 6666 or Text 07537 404282
Website: https://www.family-action.org.uk/
Facebook: @familyaction
Kent County Council
Early Help and Preventative Services (EHPS) in Kent aims to target early help services for the most vulnerable children, young people and families, with a focus on delivering better outcomes. EHPS offer a wide range of support services to children, young people and families across different levels of need.
Website: https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/early-help-support-for-families
Children’s Centres offer support for 0-5s and their families. Services offered include: antenatal classes, baby clinics, support with breastfeeding, and drop-in sessions.
Website: https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/childcare-and-pre-school/childrens-centres
Family Lives
Becoming a parent is hard, and it can be even harder without family and friends around to support you. You may be worried about how you will cope financially, or how you will continue to study or afford childcare whilst looking after your baby. Family Lives offers a free and confidential helpline for families in England and Wales.
Telephone: 0808 800 2222 (9.00am-9.00pm, Mon-Fri; 10.00am-3.00pm, weekends)
Website: https://www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline/
Facebook: @familylives
Email: askus@familylives.org.uk
For single/separated parents
Dads Unlimited
Dads Unlimited believe that children of separated families should have an equal opportunity through a positive co-parenting environment where it is safe and in that child’s interests to do so. They do this through supporting the wellbeing of dads through family breakdown by mentoring them, helping them to achieve a positive ongoing relationship with their children and by improving co-parenting relationships. They protect the best interests of children by improving co-parenting relationships and reducing parental conflict, as well as challenging attitudinal and societal barriers to meaningful fatherhood.
Telephone: 01233 680150 (Mon-Fri, 9.00am-4.30pm)
Website: https://www.dadsunltd.org.uk/
Facebook: @dadsunltd
Email: esupport@dadsunltd.org.uk
Gingerbread
Gingerbread supports single parents to live secure, happy and fulfilling lives. The organisation:
- provides information to help single parents support themselves and their family
- runs programmes to equip single parents with the skills and opportunities to gain employment
- campaigns and influences policy to reduce stigma against single parents and to make services more accessible to all families, whatever their shape or size.
Their website contains lots of information regarding finance and co-parenting, and they also have a helpline.
Telephone: 0808 802 0925 (helpline)
Website: https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/
Facebook: @gingerbread
Email: groups@gingerbread.org.uk
For young parents
CXK
CXK is a charity that helps young people and adults to develop their skills, raise their aspirations and reach their full potential.
Telephone: 01233 224244
Website: https://www.cxk.org/
Facebook: @cxkltd
Email: info@cxk.org
Family Lives
Becoming a parent is hard, and it can be even harder without family and friends around to support you. You may be worried about how you will cope financially, or how you will continue to study or afford childcare whilst looking after your baby. Family Lives offers a free and confidential helpline for families in England and Wales.
Telephone: 0808 800 2222 (9.00am-9.00pm, Mon-Fri; 10.00am-3.00pm, weekends)
Website: https://www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline/
Facebook: @familylives
Email: askus@familylives.org.uk
Kelsi
Kelsi support getting young parents back into, and to remain, in education, employment or training.
Website:https://www.kelsi.org.uk/support-for-children-and-young-people/support-for-schools/young-parents
Email: kelsi@kent.gov.uk
Kent County Council
The Council provide support and advice to young women who are pregnant or have a child, young fathers (or fathers-to-be) and parents and families of young women who are pregnant, to help stay in (or get back into) education, employment or training.
Website: https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/young-people/school-age-parents
Kent Youth Health
Kent Youth Health has information on emotions, health, and sex and relationships for 11-year-olds to 19-year-olds.
Telephone: 0300 123 4496
Website: https://www.kentyouthhealth.nhs.uk/
Facebook: @kentcommunityhealth
Email: nem-tr.kentchildrenandyoungpeoplehealthservices@nhs.net
LGBTQ+
Galop
Supporting LGBT+ people who have experienced hate crime, sexual violence or domestic abuse.
Telephone: 0800 999 5428
Website: https://www.galop.org.uk/
Facebook: @galopuk
Email: help@galop.co.uk
Stonewall
Stonewall works with a range of institutions to create an inclusive and accepting culture. They work closely with different minorities, including LGBTQ+, BAME and those affected by inequality.
Telephone: 0800 050 2020
Website: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/
Facebook: @stonewalluk