Need help or advice in relation to a specific area? In this section you’ll find a number of organisations providing a range of specialist support and information services to parents.
FAMILY SUPPORT, INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE
Citizens Advice N. Ireland
Citizens Advice is the largest advice charity in Northern Ireland. Advice is available to all communities from 28 main offices across Northern Ireland, and from over 110 other outlets.
T: 028 9023 1120
E: info@citizensadvice.co.uk
W: www.citizensadvice.co.uk
Crossroads
A charity responsible for caring for carers.
T: 028 9181 4455
Family Fund
Charity aiming to support, advise and possibly help with funds for families with severely disabled children.
T: 0845 130 4542
E: info@familyfund.org.uk
The Frank Buttle Trust
The largest UK charity providing grant aid to individual children and young people in need.
T: 028 9064 1164
E: nireland@buttletrust.org
Gingerbread
Gingerbread is the lead NI agency working with and for lone parents and their children.
Freephone Advice Helpline: 0808 808 8090
Central Office T: 028 9023 1417
E: enquiries@gingerbreadni.org
Home Start
Offers support, friendship & practical help to parents with young children in local communities.
T: 028 9046 0772
E: northerirelandoffice@home-start.org.uk
W: www.home-start.org.uk
La Leche League
Helps mothers to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information and education, and to promote a better understanding, of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and the mother.
24 hr Helpline: 0845 120 2918
W: www.laleche.org.uk
East Antrim: 028 9336 2387
Larne: 028 2827 9218
Bangor: 028 9145 9772
Lifestart
The Lifestart Foundation offers the Growing Child - a parent-directed, child-centred programme on child development to parents of children aged from birth to five years of age, in various locations throughout Northern Ireland.
T: 028 7136 5363
E: foundation@lifestart01.fsnet.co.uk
W: www.lifestartfoundation.org
The National Childbirth Trust
NCT provides information and practical support on all aspects of pregnancy, childcare and early parenthood with antenatal classes and postnatal support groups
T. 0870 990 8040 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) for details.
Breastfeeding Line: 0870 444 8708
Pregnancy and Birth Line: 0870 444 8709
W: www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com
Parents Advice Centre
Parents Advice Centre provides a telephone helpline and face-to-face support and guidance service for families.
T: 0808 8010 722 - Helpline Freephone
T: (028) 9031 0891 - Office Line
E: belfast@pachelp.org
W: www.parentsadvicecentre.org
Twins and Multiple Births Association
The Twins and Multiple Births Association, Tamba is a nationwide UK charity providing information and mutual support networks for families of twins, triplets and more.
T: 028 9023 9050
E: nioffice@tamba.org.uk
W: www.tamba.org.uk
DISABILITY AND ILLNESS
Breathe Easy
The support network of the British Lung Foundation providing information, support and friendship to all people living with a lung condition, their family, friends and carers.
Contact Sandra Phoenix
T: 028 9260 5267; 07974 981 972.
Contact a Family
For families with disabled children.
Helpline 0808 808 3555 - free for parents and carers (10am - 4pm Mon-Fri)
General e-mail: info@cafamily.org.uk
W: www.cafamily.org.uk
In Northern Ireland:
T: 028 9262 7552
The Cedar Foundation
Provides information and support for families with a child with cerebral palsy
T: 028 9066 6188
E: info@cedar-foundation.org
W: www.cedar-foundation.org
Cerebra
Cerebra works to ensure that up-to-date, evidence-based knowledge is available and applied for the prevention of brain damage and for proven treatments.
T: 01267 244200
W: www.cerebra.org.uk
CLAPA - Cleft Lip And Palate Association
T: 020 7833 4883
E: info@clapa.com
NI Contact - Deborah Killen
T: 028 9065 1152
Downs Syndrome Association
Helping people with Down's syndrome to live full and rewarding lives.
T: 028 9070 4606
E: enquiresni@downs-syndrome.org.uk
W: www.downs-syndrome.org.uk
Foyle Downs Syndrome Trust
T: 028 7134 3991
Meningitis Trust Northern Ireland Office
The Meningitis Trust works throughout Northern Ireland supporting those whose lives have been affected by meningitis and educating people about the disease.
T/F: 0845 1200 663 (lo-call)
E: ni@meningitis-trust.org
24-hour nurse-led Helpline: 0800 028 18 28
DEATH AND GRIEF
Child Bereavement Trust
Working to help bereaved families.
T: 01494 446648
E: enquiries@childberevaement.org.uk
W: www.childbereavement.org.uk
Cruse
Promotes the well-being of bereaved people and enables anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss.
T: 028 9079 2419
E: northern.ireland@cruse.org.uk
W: www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID)
Provides information on how to reduce the risk of cot death and offers support to bereaved families.
T: 028 3833 2985
W: www.sids.org.uk
Miscarriage Association
Provides support and information for those suffering pregnancy loss.
T: 01924 200799
E: info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk
W: www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
Remember Our Child
A project within Cruse Bereavement Care - a network of organisations providing support for bereaved parents following the death of a child.
T: 0289079 7975
E: rememberourchild@cruse.org.uk
Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS)
Sands works to support bereaved parents and families, and to press for improvements in care during pregnancy and when a baby has died.
T: 020 7436 7940
NI dedicated mobile no. 077 4099 3450
E: support@uk-sands.org
W: www.uk-sands.org
OTHER USEFUL AGENCIES
Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland
Working to make health a top priority for everyone in Northern Ireland.
T: 028 9031 1611
E: info@hpani.org.uk
W: www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk
The Human Milk Bank
A place where human milk is collected, processed and stored. This milk is made available to sick babies in hospitals and other specialist baby units throughout Ireland.
Ann McCrea
Lactation Consultant
T: 028 6862 8333
Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM)
T: 028 9023 8645 / 028 9031 9666
Email: info@nicem.org.uk
Asylum Advice & Support Service 24hr Emergency only telephone number: 028 9024 2025
W: www.nicem.org.uk
The Men's Project
The Men's Project seeks to increase awareness of the issues facing men and boys in the north of Ireland and to promote their social inclusion.
T: 028 9031 0891
E: colin@mensproject.org
Women’s Aid
Women's Aid is the lead voluntary organisation challenging domestic violence in Northern Ireland.
T: 028 9024 9041
24 Hour Domestic Violence Helpline: 0800 917 1414
General email: info@womensaidni.org
