Links
Below are some links you might find useful including the organisations behind leavingcare.org
UK/Regional Links
Government/Inspection
Voluntary Organisations
Housing, homelessness and accommodation
Education and Employment
Health, including emotional well-being, medical, alcohol and drugs information
Research
Refugee& Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children
Media
Youth Justice
Advocacy and Children's Rights
Young Peoples Websites
Disability
Info4Local Links page
UK/Regional Links
The National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum
The NLCBF is the only national network of local authorities on leaving care. Its aim is to benchmark services to young people leaving care with a view to promoting the development of good practice in member authorities.
Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum
Website and Discussion Forum for all Professionals supporting Care Leavers in Scotland
North West Aftercare Forum
Website and Discussion Forum for all Professionals involved in supporting Looked After Children & Care Leavers
Action on Aftercare Consortium - internal link
Currently acting as a National Forum for: Local Authorities, Professionals, Voluntary Organisations and Individuals who are working to improve outcomes for Care Leavers in the UK
Government/Inspection
Department for Children's, schools and families
Search official information on education and skills.
Every Child Matters
Every Child Matters: Change for Children is a new approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19.The Government's aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to:- Be healthy
- Stay safe
- Enjoy and achieve
- Make a positive contribution
- Achieve economic well-being
Ofsted
The official body for inspecting schools. Provides links to school reports and official publications as well as a FAQ and contact detailsCommission for Social Care Inspection
The body that inspects and reports on care services and councils to improve social care and stamp out bad practice.
The Social Exclusion Task Force
The role of the Task Force is to coordinate the Government's drive against social exclusion, ensuring that the cross-departmental approach delivers for those most in need. The Task Force champions the needs of the most disadvantaged members of society within Government, ensuring that as with the rest of the public service reform agenda, we put people firstLearning and Skills Council (LSC)
The Learning and Skills Council exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. They have a single goal: to improve the skills of England’s young people and adults to ensure England have a workforce of world-class standard.
Voluntary Organisations
Catch22
Catch22 works with young people who are: in or leaving care or custody, involved in or on the fringes of crime, out of work, struggling at school, homeless or facing young parenthood without the safety net of a supportive family. It offers practical support services, delivered in a highly personal way which is flexible to individual needs and often intensive. This enables them to reach their full potential and achieves lasting change.Care Leavers’ association
The Care Leavers’ Association is an independent charity run by care leavers, for care leavers. We provide advice, information and signposting, as well as campaigning for improved services for care leavers and young people currently in and leaving care. The CLA is also a membership organization open to people, of any age, who lived in care as children We have members as young as 18 and as old as 88. Find out more about the CLA from our two websites: www.careleavers.org and www.careleaversreunited.orgThe Princes Trust
The UK charity that helps young people overcome barriers and get their lives working, through practical support including training, mentoring and financial assistance.
Barnardo's
UK children's charity offering a wide range of support services for children, young people and their families.
NSPCC
Want to see a society where all children are loved valued and able to fulfil their potential by changing the law, public attitudes supporting children and families
The National Care Advisory Service (NCAS) - Internal Link
NCAS at Catch22 exists to improve the life chances of young people leaving care
The National Children's Bureau (NCB)
A charitable organisation that acts as an umbrella body for organisations working with children and young people in England and Northern Ireland.
The Fostering Network
The Fostering Network is the UK's leading charity for everyone with a personal or professional involvement in fostering.
The Frank Buttle Trust
The Frank Buttle Trust is the largest UK charity providing grant aid to individual children and young people in desperate need.
Action for Children. Formally National Childrens Homes (NCH)
Action for Children is committed to helping the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK break through injustice, deprivation and inequality, so they can achieve their full potential. They also provide services for disabled children and for young people leaving care.
International Child & Youth Care
An online discussion forum for anyone who is involved in Child & Youth Care Work
Kibble
The Kibble Centre is the largest multi-service centre in the United Kingdom specialising in work with young people at risk. It provides community outreach, residential care, secondary education, intensive fostering, secure care and employment training for care leavers delivered through a portfolio of social enterprises.
Social Enterprise Podcasts
Social Enterprise Podcasts is hosted by the Kibble Centre, Paisley, one of Scotland's largest Social Enterprises. These Podcasts will have a mainly Social Enterprise focus, but you will also find podcasts relating to Child and Youth Care, Fostering and interviews from International conferences
The Childrens Society
The Children's Society is a leading children's charity committed to making childhood better for all children in the UK.
Housing, homelessness and accommodation
Shelter
The national charity campaigning for housing and homeless. Shelter provide advice, information and advocacy to people in housing need and campaign for lasting political change to end the housing crisis for good.CentrePoint
Centrepoint is the national charity working to improve the lives of socially excluded, homeless young people. It provides a range of accommodation based services, including emergency nightshelters and short stay hostels, specialist projects for care leavers, ex-offenders, young single parents, foyers and supported flats and floating support servicesCrisis
Provides advice and assistance to homeless peopleThe Foyer Federation
Provides accommodation, education and training opportunities for people between 16-25 with housing needs.Homeless Link
An online search resource for homeless persons in England with links to, hostels, housing associations & homeless charities.Runaways
Freefone confidential service for anyone who has run away from home or care, or been forced to leave home.Missing People (formerly National Missing Person helpline)
A charity that works with young runaways, missing and unidentified people, their families and others who care for them.Education and Employment
Aim Higher
Website providing information on higher education. This programme focuses on young people from disadvantaged social and economic backgrounds, some minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities.UCAS
All the information you need about the application process and more for higher education.Educational Grants Advisory service (EGAS)
An organisation providing advice and funding options available to post 16 students in full time education.The Bryn Melyn Foundation
Make modest but vital grants to care leavers aged 18-29 who are in crisis, or who want to take control of their lives and develop new skills..The Advisory Centre for Education
Offers information about state education in England and Wales for parents of school age children. They offer a free telephone advice on subjects like exclusion from school, bullying, special educational needs and school admission appeals and others
Skill
National Bureau for students with disabilities. Promoting opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of impairment in post 16 ETEThe National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC)
Provides information and expert opinion on vocational, academic and professional skills and qualifications, provide information on international qualifications through quick and easy to access to the advice you needASDAN
Approved awarding body offering programmes and qualifications to develop key skills and life skills for young peopleNew Deal
A programme that gives people on benefits the help and support they need to look for work, including training and preparing for work.Shaw Trust
A national charity that provides training and work opportunities for people who are disadvantaged in the labour market due to disability, ill health or other social circumstances. We are the largest voluntary sector provider of employment services for disabled people in the UK.
Health, including emotional well-being, medical, alcohol and drugs information
Alcohol Concern
Provides information and encourage debate on the wide range of public policy issues affected by alcohol. Alcohol & FamiliesIs a website dedicated to supporting professionals working with children and their parents in the health, education and social sector in understanding and working with issues involved in parental alcohol misuse.www.alcoholandfamilies.org.uk
Frank
Free information on drugs A – Z list of substances and use, effects, chances of getting hooked, health risks and UK lawUK National drug helpline 0800 776600 Free and confidential telephone service that offers advice and information for those who are concerned, or have questions abut drugs.
CCYP (Counselling Children & Young People)
Will be the central organisation for enabling children and young people to have access to counselling as their rightful entitlement.
Relate
Help those who are aged 10-25 and your parents, step parents or whoever your adult carers are, are separating or argue a lot.They offer counselling for young people whose parents are separating or in conflict, courses in schools and peer listening skills
Youth Access
A national membership organisation for young people’s information, advice, counselling and support services.They are unable to provide advice and support directly to young people.
Youth 2 Youth
A unique helpline service as it is run by young people for young people. The helpline is for any young person under the age of 19 years who feel they need emotional support. Young people who are worried, confused or just need to talk.
Young Minds
Provides a helpline service to parents with a concern about their child’s mental health.
Brook Advisory Centres
Providers of free and confidential sexual health advice and services specifically for young people under 25. On contraception, counselling to young people about sexual health as wee as outreach, education and satellite services.
FPA (formerly Family Planning Association)
Aim to enable people in the UK to make informed choices about sex and to enjoy sexual health. They have a helpline for information on:ContraceptionSexually transmitted infectionsPlanning a pregnancyPregnancy choicesSexual wellbeing.
Sexwise
A helpline for young people under 19 offering free advice on sex relationships and contraception
Research
The Thomas Coram Research Unit
Part of the Coram Family charity that aims to develop and promote best practice in the care of vulnerable children and their families.
The University of York, Social Work Research and Development Unit (SWRDU)
The SWRDU includes research, dissemination, consultancy and service development in the areas of social work and associated services for children and young people.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The social policy, research and development charity seeking to better understand the causes of social difficulties and explore ways of overcoming them.
Research in Practice
research in practice is the largest children and families research implementation project in England and Wales. Established in 1996 it is a department of The Dartington Hall Trust run in collaboration with the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, The University of Sheffield and our network of over 100 participating agencies in the UK. The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is the largest independent social research institute in Britain. We design, carry out and analyse research studies in the fields of social and public policy – including extensive research among members of the publicLocal Government Association Research
Local Government Analysis and Research was established in April 2006 by the LGA to deliver a high quality research service. We provide research, analysis and intelligence services to
- LGA
- Our partner organisations
- Local authorities
- Central government
- Other key stakeholder groups.
Refugee& Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children
Refugee Council
The largest refugee agency in the UK, providing advice to asylum seekers and refugees.They provide services for London, the East of England, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside.Refugee Action
Refugee Action is an independent national charity that works with refugees to build new lives in the UK.With more than 25 years of experience in reception, resettlement, development and integration, we provide advice and support to asylum seekers and refugees in 11 regions across England.
UK Border Agency
Home Office website (formerly known as Border and Immigration Agency).giving information for asylum seekers and those working with asylum seekers. Website has a very useful links page and links to relevant and up to date legislation. Considers applications for permission to stay, citizenship and asylum. The Public Enquiry Offices offer a premium same day service for the consideration of straightforward applications for leave to remain and settlement from non-EEA nationals.
Youth Justice
HM Prison Service
Information about the work carried out in prisons throughout England and Wales.
RESET
RESET was a Catch22 project with over 50 partners that aimed to improve the resettlement process for young offenders.
Youth Justice Board
The Youth Board For England and Wales (YJB) is an executive non-department public. Our 12 board members are appointed by the Secretary of State Justice. The YJB oversees the youth justice system in England and Wales. We work to prevent offending and reoffending by children and young people under the age 18, and to ensure that custody for them is safe, secure, and addresses the causes of their offending behaviour.
Media
Community Care
Web version of the magazine for social work news, health and social care articles, search for jobs in community care or social work.
Children and young peopleNow
Children & Young People Now and its associated websites, CYPNow.co.uk and CYPNowJobs.co.uk, provide a unique service to managers and senior practitioners working with children, young people, and their families. They bring together children's and youth professionals across health, social care, education, childcare, youth work, youth justice and advice & guidance for young people.Youth Work Now
YouthWorkNow.co.uk and its associated monthly print magazine Youth Work Now bring together professionals who work with young people across the fields of youth work, youth justice, advice & guidance, social care, health and education.Web version of the newspaper's news, comment and analysis for and about the public sector.
Advocacy and Childrens Rights
Voice
Is a national charity committed to empowering children and young people in public care and campaigning for change to improve thier lives. Voice offers advocacy support to care leavers and children in care. Freephone: 0800 800 5792Children’s Legal Centre
For under 18s, they are committed to promoting children’s rights in the UK and worldwide. It provides a free independent legal advice to children, parents, yp, carers and professionals. The level of advice will vary from telephone assistance to full legal representationChildren’s Legal Practice Ltd
A specialist team of solicitors and support staff in dealing with legal issues relating to children.In these areas:- Special educational needs – appeals and school admissions
- School exclusions
- The responsibilities of the health authority and social services in relation to children and education needs
- Child protection issues within education
Children’s Rights Officers and Advocates (CROA)
A national organisation that co-ordinates local children’s rights officers and advocates.Community Legal Adviceline
Free and confidential advice service paid for by legal aid for those on low incomes or benefits.- Benefits & tax credits
- Employment
- Education
- Housing
- Debt
Contacting your MP
Direct GovTo find out how to contact your local MP quickly and easily.Family Rights
Provides independent advice, information and advocacy to families involved with local authority social children’s social care services about the care and protection of their children in England and Wales.Government Ombudsman
Carry out independent investigations into complaints about UK government departments and their agencies, and the NHS in England Investigate complaints about most council matters including housing, planning, education and social services.It is an independent impartial and free service.How to complain procedure can be downloaded in different languagesNational Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)
Providing children’s rights and socio-legal services by offering information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children and young people up to the age of 25.Young Peoples Websites
Who Cares? Xtra
A national charity working to improve public care for children and young people who are separated from their families and living in residential or foster care.Young Voice
is an organisation run by and for care experienced young people. Staff are also care experienced.Our main aim is to create positive changes to the Care System in England and provide a national platform to hear the voices of approx 60,000 children and young people who are Looked After.
A National Voice (ANV)
A national organisation run by and for young people from Care.
Office of the Chidren's Rights Director
Rights 4 Me is the official website for the Office for the Children's Rights Director for England (OCRD). We spend lots of time listening to what children and young people who live away from home have to say about how they are looked after. If you live away from home then this is the place to find out about your RIGHTS and a way for you to BE HEARD!
National Youth Advisory Service
The National Youth Agency supports those involved in young people's personal and social development and works to enable all young people to fulfil their potential within a just society.Young People Links page - internal link
What Makes the Difference Development Partnership -internal link
Disability
Council for Disabled Children
Works to influence national policy that impacts upon disabled children and children with special educational needs (SEN) and their families. They aim to promote the active participation of disabled children and young peopleDisability Law services
Provides information and advice to disabled and deaf people. They have a contract with the Legal Services commission to provide legal advice and help to those on a low income.Mencap
Campaigns for equal rights for children and adults with a learning disability and offers a variety of services to them, their families and carers.
Office for disability
The Office for Disability Issues works across government to ensure equality becomes a reality for disabled people
Dial UK
National organisation for a network of 140 local disability information and advice services run by and for disabled people
Info4Local Links page
This page gives an alphabetical list of links to government and other websites relevant to local authorities. You can view the whole list or choose an individual subject.