1625 Independent People is a charity that supports young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. They find secure homes, teach life-skills, offer advice, help access training and job opportunities, and have a specific service for unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
Resources: Children & Young People
akt
akt supports lgbtq+ young people in the uk experiencing homelessness or living in hostile environments to find safe homes, employment, education or training, and to celebrate their identities in order to improve their life outcomes.
Al-Anon Family & Alateen
Al-Anon Family Groups provide support to anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else’s drinking, regardless of whether that person is still drinking or a part of their lives. Alateen meetings are specifically for those age 12-17 who have been affected by someone else’s drinking. A free helpline is also available.
Brandon Trust
The Brandon Trust exists to enable children, young people and adults with learning disabilities and autism to live life in the way they choose, by providing high-quality, individualised support that focuses on enabling people to achieve their dreams and truly live free.
Services are available in various locations across the UK, including Bristol, Gloucestershire, South Glos, B&NES, North Somerset, and Wiltshire.
Brandon Trust are a member of the Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Service.
Bristol Community Arts
Bristol Community Arts are a local charity which aims to improve personal wellbeing through art, mentorship, and education. They provide a range of unique creative education opportunities for the local community, prioritising under-privileged adults and young people (14+).
Bristol Drugs Project
Bristol Drugs Project provide free and confidential support to people who are looking for help with their own alcohol and drug use, and the people who care for and about them. Services include support groups, drop-ins, harm reduction, and a dedicated helpline. Specific and targeted support is available for children and young people, students, older people, women, and the LGBTQ+ community. A specific service is available for recent drug and alcohol-related bereavements.
Carers’ Support Centre (Bristol & S Glos)
The Carers Centre is a local charity supporting people in Bristol and South Gloucestershire who care for family and friends. They offer expert advice, emotional support, telephone counselling, and understanding, and support for child carers. All services are free. CarersLine helpline for carers also available
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement. They provide support nationally through their helpline and dedicated online support groups and support sessions.
ChildLine
ChildLine is a free and confidential service operated by the NSPCC. Support is available for UK residents under 19 years of age by phone (0800 1111), online, or by email, with Welsh language and BSL counsellors also available. The website also provides a range of resources for young people.
Educational Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH)
EACH is a charitable support agency for people affected by homophobia. They provide a confidential helpline for children and young people (up to the age of 18) who have been the target of homophobic, biphobic, or transphobic bullying.
Freedom
Freedom is a gender and sexuality social action project from OTR Bristol & South Glos. The Freedom Youth project provides social, informative, and safe supportive group sessions to young people aged 13-19, and the Freedom project provides a support, advice, and social opportunities for young people aged 19-25. All sessions take place online.
Galop
Galop are a LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, providing support to LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence. They provide helplines, advocacy, online support communities, and dedicated services for LGBT+ children and young people.
Grief Encounter
Grief Encounter provide free, immediate, one-to-one support to children and young people who have been bereaved. Support is also available for parents or carers when a child in the family is being supported.
HappyMaps
HappyMaps is an online directory of mental health resources for parents and carers of children and young people, developed by GPs and CAMHS professionals.
Hawkspring
Hawkspring works to support people who have been negatively affected by drug and/or alcohol abuse. Their holistic approach works to support recovery, and carers, family, and children affected by someone else’s drug/alcohol use.
Help Counselling (9-25yrs)
Help Counselling offers help to distressed young people in a confidential setting. With services available from as little as £10, Help Counselling work with both parents and children to support young people in all aspects of their life.
Kooth
Kooth is an online emotional wellbeing tool for children and young people. The platform includes self-help tools, anonymous monitored discussion boards, and support from counsellors, and is endorsed by the NHS.
Mermaids
Mermaids supports transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse youth and their families, up to their 20th birthday, and offers webchat support to gender-diverse students up to the age of 25.
Muslim Youth Helpline
Muslim Youth Helpline offers a confidential, non-judgemental, faith and culturally sensitive helpline to young Muslims in the UK.
Nacoa
Nacoa provide information, support, and advice for people of all ages affected by a parent’s drinking. Support is provided online and through a free helpline.
National Autistic Society
The National Autistic Society provide support, guidance, and advice to autistic people and their families. Social and community events are also provided for both autistic adults and autistic children and their parents locally.
Off The Record Bath and North East Somerset
Off The Record BANES provide a range of free services for children and young people, including counselling, advocacy, listening support, and targeted support for LGBTQ youth.
On My Mind
On My Mind, from the Anna Freud Centre, offers a range of self-help tools and information for young people around topics relating to mental health. The Anna Freud Centre also has a dedicated crisis text messenger service.
OTR Bristol & South Glos
OTR is a mental health social movement by and for young people aged 11 – 25 living in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Projects include social groups and workshops, talking therapies, and focused support for LGBTQ+ and BAME young people.
PAPYRUS
PAPYRUS work to prevent young suicide. They have a dedicated helpline to support young people and adults under the age of 35, and an online platform for producing suicide safety plans with the help of a helpline adviser.
Runaway Helpline
Helpline for young people who are thinking of running away or who have run away from home.
Safeline
Safeline provide support to survivors of sexual assault and rape. Online counselling is available, and there is a dedicated helpline for male survivors.
Stop It Now!
Stop it Now! is a free confidential helpline and information resource aimed at preventing child sexual abuse. The helpline is available for anyone concerned about child sexual abuse and its prevention – whether they’re concerned about their own thoughts and behaviour, the behaviour of another adult or young person, or the protection of a child.
The Mix
The Mix is a free, confidential support service for young people under 25, dealing with a range of issues from mental health to money, drugs to homelessness. Services available include a helpline, webchat, crisis text messenger, and short term counselling.