We’ve put together a list of useful links to websites and sources of information and support that might be useful for you. We’ve grouped them together to make them easier to search through, and created a specific category for organisations local to this area. Just click on the link below or scroll down to find something useful for you.
Child Protection
- Child Abduction Unit Find help to get your child back from abroad or arrange contact - NB This page is being rebuilt at present
- Reunite International Information about international child abduction
Contact Centres
- National Association of Child Contact Centres National Organisation. Find local contact centres. 0115 948 4557
Counselling or Support
- Alcoholics Anonymous AA is concerned solely with the personal recovery and continued sobriety of individual alcoholics who turn to the Fellowship for help. 0800 917 7650
- Counselling Directory Find a counsellor near you
- Freedom Programme Course for survivors of domestic abuse
- MID Mediation and Counselling Runs counselling for adults and children (4-18) who have been involved in a family breakdown. 020 8891 6860
- Mind: National Mental Health Charity For support please go to www.mind.org.uk or call 0300 1233393
- Relate Counselling, support and information for all relationships
- Samaritans Someone to talk to about any issue that troubles you. Call 116 123, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- Survive Domestic Violence Charity "Working towards freedom from domestic abuse"
Domestic Abuse
- Freedom Programme Course for survivors of domestic abuse
- Rights of Women Helping women through the law - advice and information and some legal guides
- Rights of Women – helping women through the law
- Survive Domestic Violence Charity "Working towards freedom from domestic abuse"
Family Court Procedure
- CAFCASS CAFCASS stands for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. CAFCASS is independent of the court & social services, and its role is to assist the court by making recommendations about the welfare of children involved in court proceedings
- Coram Children's Legal Centre Free advice helpline, free factsheets, legal questions and answers section.
- Court Form & Leaflet Finder See in particular CB2 (Urgent & Without Notice Hearings), CB7 (Guide for Separated Parents: Children & the Family Courts), EX710 (Can I talk about my case outside court?), & EX711 (Can the media attend my case?)
- Family Procedure Rules The rules that apply to cases in the Family Court are published on the Justice website.
- Full Fact – Guide to Family Court
- Justice The Ministry of Justice website, includes Legal Aid & Court Information and Family Court Rules
- Litigants in Person Guidance Guidance about the role of lawyers when working with litigants in person (for lawyers, litigants in person and represented parties). Produced by the Law Society, Bar Council & Institute of Chartered Legal Executives
- The Transparency Project – charity which explains family law (does not provide legal advice)
Family Law
- Advice Now Advice Now have lots of resources and links about family law and courts. Check out the 'Family & Personal' and 'Government, Law & Rights' categories.
- BAILII British and Irish Legal Information Institute - publishes judgments of Family Court for free.
- Coram Children's Legal Centre Free advice helpline, free factsheets, legal questions and answers section.
- Family Law Week A website aimed at family lawyers but which has lots of useful information, including summaries of recent judgments and law.
- Family Procedure Rules The rules that apply to cases in the Family Court are published on the Justice website.
- Jordans Publishing – Family Law site website of family law publishers, contains news and articles about recent cases and legal developments, and online bookshop
- Legislation.gov Freely available copies of statutes and statutory instruments - be sure to check carefully if the law you are looking at is the up to date version.
- Pink Tape A blog written by a family barrister from Bristol, Lucy Reed.
- Rights of Women Helping women through the law - advice and information and some legal guides
- Rights of Women – helping women through the law
- RightsInfo Human Rights info to share
- Suesspicious Minds A blog about family law written by a child protection solicitor.
- The Transparency Project – charity which explains family law (does not provide legal advice)
General Info
- CAB Advice Guide Information from the Citizens' Advice Bureau
- CAFCASS CAFCASS stands for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. CAFCASS is independent of the court & social services, and its role is to assist the court by making recommendations about the welfare of children involved in court proceedings
- Child Abduction Unit Find help to get your child back from abroad or arrange contact - NB This page is being rebuilt at present
- Child Protection Resource A website which explains the child protection system
- Coram Children's Legal Centre Free advice helpline, free factsheets, legal questions and answers section.
- Court Form & Leaflet Finder See in particular CB2 (Urgent & Without Notice Hearings), CB7 (Guide for Separated Parents: Children & the Family Courts), EX710 (Can I talk about my case outside court?), & EX711 (Can the media attend my case?)
- Families Need Fathers Info advice and support to both parents to help them maintain their relationship with their children
- Family Law Bar Association
- Family Rights Group Advises families whose children are involved with or needs children's services because of welfare needs or concerns. They promote children staying safely within their families
- Full Fact – Guide to Family Court
- Only Dads A national on-line support & signposting service for parents going through separation/divorce. 07786 877718 (also Only Mums)
- Only Mums A national on-line support & signposting service for parents going through separation/divorce. 07786 877718 (also Only Dads)
- Pink Tape A blog written by a family barrister from Bristol, Lucy Reed.
- Resolution An association of family lawyers (mainly solicitors). Search for a Resolution member or find information.
- Reunite International Information about international child abduction
- Rights of Women Helping women through the law - advice and information and some legal guides
- RightsInfo Human Rights info to share
- Suesspicious Minds A blog about family law written by a child protection solicitor.
Lawyers
- Bar Council Public Access Directory Find a Barrister to instruct directly, without a solicitor
- Bar Pro Bono Unit Barristers providing free advice and representation - you must get an organisation to refer you.
- Chambers & Partners Bar A Guide to barristers in the UK, can be broken down by region and specialty
- Chambers & Partners Solicitors A Guide to solicitors in the UK, can be broken down by region and specialty
- Find a legal aid lawyer or family mediator
- Law Society – Find a Solicitor
- Legal Hub – Bar Directory Find a barrister or barristers' chambers
- Litigants in Person Guidance Guidance about the role of lawyers when working with litigants in person (for lawyers, litigants in person and represented parties). Produced by the Law Society, Bar Council & Institute of Chartered Legal Executives
- Resolution An association of family lawyers (mainly solicitors). Search for a Resolution member or find information.
Legal Aid
- Check if you can get Legal Aid Justice website - legal aid eligibility checker
- Find a legal aid lawyer or family mediator
- Law Society – Find a Solicitor
- Legal aid for private family matters Justice website - sets out eligibility criteria and evidence requirements where there is domestic or child abuse
- Rights of Women – helping women through the law
LiP Support
- Bar Council Public Access Directory Find a Barrister to instruct directly, without a solicitor
- Bar Pro Bono Unit Barristers providing free advice and representation - you must get an organisation to refer you.
- Families Need Fathers Info advice and support to both parents to help them maintain their relationship with their children
- Litigants in Person Guidance Guidance about the role of lawyers when working with litigants in person (for lawyers, litigants in person and represented parties). Produced by the Law Society, Bar Council & Institute of Chartered Legal Executives
Local Resources
Barnet
Ealing
Harrow
- Early Intervention Support – Parenting Programmes | Harrow Local Offer
- Services in Harrow
Hillingdon
Hounslow
Kingston and Richmond
Mediation and ADR
- Barrister Mediators Bar Council List of Barrister Mediators
- Family Mediation Council The regulator of accredited mediators
- Find a legal aid lawyer or family mediator
- Institute of Family Law Arbitrators Find an Arbitrator
- MID Mediation and Counselling Runs Family Mediation with fully accredited mediators and has a legal aid contract: 020 8891 6860
- National Family Mediation Umbrella organisation – find your nearest provider of mediation services. 0300 4000 636
- Resolution – Collaborative Law General information about collaborative law and link to all ‘PODS’ providing collaborative law services.
- Resolution Accredited Mediators
Support for parents
- Netmums Large online resource for parenting advice.