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 LGBTQIA+ 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 Groups – Bristol
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 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 LGBTQIA+ community. A specific service is available for recent drug and alcohol-related bereavements.
Carers’ Support Centre (Bristol & South 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
Dads Rock (from Evolve Music)
Providing opportunities for dads to bond with their infants. Aimed at supporting new dads who are struggling with their mental health
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 LGBTQIA+ anti-abuse charity, providing support to LGBTQIA+ people who have experienced abuse and violence. They provide helplines, advocacy, online support communities, and dedicated services for LGBTQIA+ children and young people.
Grief Encounter (South West)
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.
Love Squared
Love Squared (previously Leading Lights)is a charity that offers free wellbeing support services for young people with SEMH needs along with their parents/carers.
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.
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, Bristol Branch
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 LGBTQIA+ youth.
Off The Record (Bristol & South Glos)
Off The Record (Bristol and South Gloucestershire) provide a range of free services for children and young people, including counselling, projects and activities, support groups, and targeted support for LGBTQIA+ youth.
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 LGBTQIA+ and BAME young people.
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.
WECIL
WECIL is a charity run by and for disabled people in Bristol and the surrounding areas. Services include helplines and employment support.
In B&NES, WECIL provides services for disabled children and young people, including volunteer befriending and activities.
Wellspring Counselling
Wellspring offers confidential help and support to residents of North Somerset who are experiencing loss and bereavement, relationship difficulties, stress and anxiety, depression or emotional abuse. Services are available for children and young people (aged 11 – 18) and adults (18+).
Winston’s Wish (South West)
Winston’s Wish provide support to children and young people after the death of a parent or sibling. Support available includes a free helpline: 08088 020 021 and email service, grief support groups, and guidance and support for parents who are supporting bereaved children.
YMCA
YMCA England and Wales support young people with issues like housing and homelessness, health and wellbeing, and information and advice.
YoungMinds
YoungMinds provide advice, information, and tools to help young people to look after their mental health, and to inform parents of young people on issues relating to youth mental health.