A helping hand
Information and support for issues you may need help with.
Addiction
Information and Support - Addiction (alcohol, drugs and gambling)
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by addiction, the following organisations may be able to help.
Alcohol Addiction
Drinkline
Drinkline is a confidential helpline for those worried about their own or someone else's drinking. They can put you in touch with your local alcohol advice centre for help and support.
Phone: 0300 123 1110
NHS Information
NHS information on alcohol abuse
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous provides opportunities to share experience, strength and hope to recover from alcoholism.
Phone: 0800 9177 650
Visit the Alcoholics Anonymous website
AddictionNI
AddictionNI provides support and treatment to people affected by alcohol or drug addiction in Northern Ireland.
Phone on 0289 066 4434
Al-Anon Family Groups
Al-Anon Family Groups provide support to anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else’s drinking, through regular meetings throughout the UK, where members share their own experience of living with alcoholism.
Alateen is part of Al-Anon, for teenage (12-17) relatives and friends of alcoholics.
Phone: 08000 086 811
Nacoa
Nacoa (The National Association for Children of Alcoholics) provides information, advice and support for everyone affected by a parent's drinking.
Phone 0800 358 3456
Visit the Nacoa website
Drug Addiction
FRANK
FRANK provides a confidential service to anyone wanting information, advice or support about any aspect of drugs.
Phone: 0300 123 6600
Online chat facility (2-6pm weekdays)
The following organisations provide opportunities to share experience, strength and hope to recover from addiction to mind-altering substances.
Drug Addicts Anonymous
Phone: 0300 030 3000
Visit the Drug Addicts Anonymous website
Narcotics Anonymous UK
Phone: 0300 999 1212
Visit the Narcotics Anonymous UK website
DrugFAM
DrugFAM provides support to families, friends and carers who are struggling to cope with a loved one’s addiction to drugs or alcohol, including addiction-related bereavement support.
Phone: 0300 888 3853
Gambling Addiction
The National Gambling Helpline
The National Gambling Helpline, operated by GamCare offers confidential support, advice and free counselling to people concerned about their gambling, or the gambling of friends or family.
Phone: 0808 8020 133
Information and advice for young people
Gam-Anon
Gam-Anon is a fellowship of men and women who have been affected by someone else’s gambling.
Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous provides a list of support meetings for problem gamblers.
Visit the Gamblers Anonymous website (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
Adoption/ Fostering
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by adoption issues, the following organisations may be able to help.
Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) UK
Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) UK provide support and guidance to people interested in adoption.
Barnardo's
Barnardo's provide a range of fostering and adoption services and can also offer help and support to someone trying to trace their birth family.
Phone: 0800 0277 280
Health and Social Care (HSC) Adoption & Fostering
Health and Social Care (HSC) Adoption & Fostering recruit and support foster carers and adopters across the five HSC Trusts in Northern Ireland.
Phone: 0800 072 0137
Visit the Health and Social Care (HSC) Adoption & Fostering website
Bereavement
Information and Support - Bereavement
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by bereavement, the following organisations may be able to help.
Cruse Bereavement Care
Cruse Bereavement Care provides support after the death of someone close including face to face, telephone, group support, as well as bereavement support for children.
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
Visit the Cruse Bereavement Care website
Hopeagain
Hopeagain (Cruse for young people) - support for children and young people affected by the death of someone close.
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Mon-Fri, 9:00am-5:00pm)
The National Bereavement Partnership
The National Bereavement Partnership provides a support helpline, counselling referral and befriending service for all those suffering from bereavement, grief, living loss, mental health issues, and those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phone: 0800 448 0800
Visit The National Bereavement Partnership website
Sudden
Sudden is an early intervention service providing emotional and practical support following an unexpected bereavement.
Phone: 0800 2600 400
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide exists to meet the needs and break the isolation of those bereaved by the suicide of a close relative or friend.
Phone: 0300 111 5065 (9am to 9pm daily)
Visit the Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide website
Child Bereavement
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by child bereavement, the following organisations may be able to help.
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK supports families when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.
Phone: 0800 02 888 40
Visit the Child Bereavement UK website
Child Death Helpline
The Child Death Helpline offers support to anyone affected by the death of a child of any age, from prebirth to adult, under any circumstances, however recently or long ago.
Phone: 0800 282 986
Visit the Child Death Helpline website
Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends offer support, understanding and comfort to bereaved siblings and parents after the death of a child, of any age, from any cause.
Phone: 0345 123 2304 (daily 10am-4pm and 7pm-10pm)
Visit the Compassionate Friends website
Grief Encounter
Grief Encounter provides child bereavement counselling, workbooks, a Grief Relief Kit and family days for bereaved children, young people and their families.
Phone: 0808 802 0111 (Mon-Fri 9am-9pm)
Visit the Grief Encounter website
Sands NI
Sands operates throughout the UK, supporting anyone affected by the death of a baby, working to improve the care bereaved parents receive, and promoting research and working closely with many different organisations to reduce the loss of babies’ lives.
Winston's Wish
Winston's Wish provides services to bereaved children, young people and their families and offer practical support and guidance to anyone concerned about a grieving child.
Phone: 08088 020 021