National organisations and forums

All About School Leavers
Help school leavers get jobs and understand the career paths available to them. Visit website.

Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
The 'On My Mind' project aims to empower young people to make informed choices about the mental health support they want, the treatments they receive and the outcomes they desire. Visit website. 

Apprenticeships London
Apprenticeships London offers all the latest apprenticeship jobs available from leading employers and apprenticeship training providers in London. Visit website. 

Autism Education Trust 
Since 2007, the Autism Education Trust (AET) has been helping you to develop good autism practice. We champion a world where being different is something to be celebrated and where all autistic learners experience a positive education that supports their well-being. Our training modules and materials have been designed to explore and build on these differences to support all autistic children to reach their full potential. Visit website.

Ambitious about Autism
We stand with autistic children, young people and their families to champion rights, campaign for change and create opportunities. We started as one school and have become a movement for change. Our services include providing information and practical support and delivering specialist education and employment programmes. Visit website.

Autism Plus
Life Changing Support for People with Autism, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Mental Health Conditions and Complex Needs. Visit website. 

ADDISS                                                                                                                                              Provides information, training and support for parents, sufferers and professionals in the fields of ADHD and related learning and behavioural difficulties. Whatever you're looking for in ADHD, we'll do our best to help. Visit website.

ADHD Foundation                                                                                                                              The Foundation provides resources and training for families and professionals which include webinars and courses. The UK’s leading neurodiversity charity, offering a strength-based, lifespan service for the 1 in 5 of us who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, DCD, Dyscalculia, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome and more. Visit website.

Asthma + Lung UK
It provides information and support to everyone affected by asthma and other lung conditions, They offer specific advice for children, young people and their families. Visit website.

Afasic
It provides information, support and training for parents of children and young people with speech and language impairments. Members meet in local groups in many areas of the UK. Visit website.

Beat
Founded in 1989 as the Eating Disorders Association, our mission is to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders. Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that ruin and, too often, take lives.  Visit website.

Become
The charity for children in care and young care leavers. Visit website.

Blind in Business 
They help blind and partially sighted people into work through our training and employment services. We encourage blind and partially sighted people to identify and achieve their ambitions. Visit website.

Brake
Schools and families can make a huge difference to road safety. We can help you to shout out for road safety where you live and understand the amazing solutions that are available to make roads safe for everyone. Visit website.

Brain in Hand
Personal, digital self-management support system for people who are autistic, who have learning disabilities, or who are managing mental health difficulties. Visit website.

British Dyslexia Association                                                                                                            It provides information and support to dyslexic people and their carers and professionals. The Association encourages schools to work towards becoming dyslexia-friendly. Visit website.

British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD)
A charity that exists to improve the quality of life of all people with a learning disability. Visit website.

Care in Finance
This organisation provides full financial management of all aspects of the direct payments you receive from Social Services. Visit website. 

CentrePoint 
They provide services to young people with varying needs and experiences of homelessness. Services range from night shelters for emergencies and short-stay hostels to supported flats and foyers with facilities for learning on site. Visit website.

Childline
A free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything. We’re here for anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they're going through. Call 0800 1111 or visit website.

The Children’s Trust
A national charity working with children who have multiple disabilities and complex health needs. Visit website.

Choice Forum
This forum is a safe and welcoming place to ask questions and share information about assisting people with disabilities. Visit website.

Choice Support
A national charity, formed in 1984, supporting people with autism, learning disabilities and mental health needs. Visit website. 

Civil Legal Advice (CLA)
You might be able to get free and confidential advice from CLA as part of legal aid if you’re in England. Issues that can be consulted on include: a child being taken into care, special education needs and discrimination. Visit website.

Clinical Partners 
The UK's largest private mental health partnership, helping thousands of families access the expert care they need.  With experienced Psychiatrists, Psychologists and Psychotherapists based across the UK, we help thousands of families every year. Visit website.

Contact a Family
A UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to parents of disabled children. Visit website.

Please see this video for more information about Contact's role and the support they can offer. Watch video.

Contact online forum
Chat to other families online about anything and everything that affects you and your child. Visit their website.

Cruse Bereavement Care 
They offer free, confidential support and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. Visit website.

Cybersmile Foundation
A multi-award-winning non-profit organisation committed to digital wellbeing and tackling all forms of bullying and abuse online. We work to promote kindness, diversity and inclusion by building a safer, more positive digital community. Visit website.

Dimensions
Dimensions provides community-based, person-centred support packages for people with learning disabilities, complex needs and autism. Visit website.

Disability Rights UK
Campaign on behalf of all disabled people in areas including: increasing opportunities in education and employment, changing attitudes to disability and independent living. Visit website.

Disabled Children's Partnership
A growing coalition of more than 50 charities and organisations which have joined forces with families to launch the Secret Life of Us campaign. Visit website.

Down’s Syndrome Association   

It provides information and support to people with Down Syndrome and their families, carers and professionals across the UK. Visit website.

Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group UK  

The Group is a network of healthcare professionals with a specialist interest in Down’s syndrome, established in 1996. Its website provides information for health professionals on best practice medical care. It also highlights information which is particularly parent/carer friendly. Visit website.

Positive about Down Syndrome   

Provide information and support to new and expectant parents of a little one with Down syndrome. They have a range of online support for families and early development groups for pre-schoolers, baby Makaton signing courses for new parents and Makaton training for members’ nurseries/childminders. Visit website.

The Dyslexia-SpLD-Trust

A collaboration of voluntary and community organisations with funding from the Department for Education to provide reliable information to parents, teachers, schools and the wider sector. It acts as the important communication channel between government, leading dyslexia organisations, parents, schools, colleges, teachers and the sector. Visit website.

Disability Law Service
Disability Law Service offers a National Advice Line that provides specialist legal advice and information for disabled people, their families and carers. Visit website.

Early Education
A national charity supporting early years practitioners with training, resources and professional networks, and campaigning for quality education for the youngest children, aged 0-8. Visit website. 

Elfrida Society
Homelink helps people with learning difficulties keep their independence. Our outreach workers provide support with shopping, budgeting, cooking, accessing classes and many other activities. Visit website.

ENA Care Group Ltd
Provides live-in care to people across the UK since 1994. We are one of the only care companies with a team of qualified nurses managing our carers. Visit website.

Epilepsy Action
It offers information and support to anyone affected by epilepsy. The Organisation has a network of groups across the UK. Visit website.

Epilepsy Society
It provides information and support to anyone in the UK who is affected by epilepsy. Visit website.

Young Epilepsy
It provides information and support for young people aged 5-25 with epilepsy, autism and other neurological conditions, and their parents. The Organisation offers specialist services including a school, college and residential services. Visit website.

Family Fund
The UK's largest charity providing grants for families on low incomes raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people. Visit website.

Finance Care Service 
Provides daily money management for vulnerable adults. Visit website.

Find Apprenticeships
Support for budding apprentices find their ideal apprenticeship opportunity. Visit website.

Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
We believe that people with learning disabilities should have the same rights and the same choices as everyone else in society. Visit website.

Family Action
Supports any family in need and anyone without family support. Across the UK, we protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities. Visit website.

Genetic Alliance UK 
The aim is to improve the lives of people affected by genetic conditions by ensuring that high quality services and information are available to all who need them. Browse their list of member organisations to see if there is a support group for your condition. Visit website.

Get Safe Online
A source of unbiased, factual and easy-to-understand information on online safety. Visit website. 

Get Yourself Active (Disability Rights UK)
Get Yourself Active work with the health, social care and sports sectors to develop better opportunities for disabled people to get active. Visit website.

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower                                                                                                      The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is here every day of the year to support people living with non-visible disabilities in their communities by raising awareness, training businesses and sharing stories to help create a more inclusive, understanding society. Visit website.

HFT - Family Carer Support Service
The HFT Family Carer Support Service offers a variety information and support to family carers. Visit website.

Internet Watch Foundation 
The UK Hotline for reporting criminal online content. Visit website.

IVA.org
A non-fee charging, not-for-profit organisation that specialises in providing confidential and impartial advice about individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) to anyone experiencing problems with their unsecured debts. Visit website.

Karma Nirvana
A UK-registered charity dedicated to supporting victims and survivors of forced marriage and honour-based abuse. Visit website.

Kidpower International
Kidpower is the global non-profit leader in personal safety education for all ages, teaching skills for strong relationships and the prevention of harm. Visit website.

Kidscape
Help with bullying for parents, carers and children. Visit website.

Kooth
Children and young people living in the City of London aged 11 to 19 years old can access free and anonymous online counselling and emotional support. Visit website.

Kids Charity                                                                                                                                          On the side of over two million children and young people with disabilities and special educational needs and their families. From early years into adulthood. Learning and development. Play schemes, adventure playgrounds and youth groups. Parent support and mediation. Social connections and emotional wellbeing. Visit website.

Livability
A charity that’s committed to enabling people with disabilities to live the life they want to lead. We work to change what is unliveable, helping people to tackle the barriers they face and create a liveable life. Visit website.

The Live in Care Company
Specialist providers of live in care. Visit website.

Local Government Ombudsman
This body investigates complaints about local authorities and certain other bodies including all types of adult social care providers. Our service is independent, impartial and free. Visit website.

London Capital Credit Union
A not-for-profit co-operative dedicated to promoting saving and dealing with debt. Anyone who saves with us becomes a member of the co-operative and can use one of our savings/budgeting accounts. Visit website.

London TravelWatch
The official watchdog organisation representing the interests of transport users in and around Greater London. Visit website.

London Autism Group Charity
'We are a unique charity serving the Autistic community of London and surrounding counties in the UK. We are led by Autistic people and kind, compassionate allies. We leverage the insight of lived-experience to support Autistic people at every stage of their lives. We offer both Mental Health and Material Support to Autistic people and Carers.' Visit website.

Learning Disability Network London
Supports adults and children with learning disabilities and their families across London. We provide different levels of support, from a few hours a week up to round the clock care. Visit website.

Made For Mums
An online resource where mums and mums-to-be can find useful information, entertainment and friends. Visit website.

Men's Advice Line
A free national helpline for adult men experiencing domestic abuse/violence from a partner. Visit website.

Mencap
The UK's largest organisation for people with learning disabilities and their families/carers, provides advice and support on important issues such as benefits, housing, community care, job training, leisure and daily living. Visit website.

The Mix
If you’re under 25, the Mix is here for you - for absolutely anything you’re going through. 0808 808 4994 (freephone helpline). Visit website.

Mumsnet
This forum has an active special needs website that is run by parents for parents. Any legal details should need to be double-checked with appropriate organisations. Visit website.

National Autistic Society
The society seeks to transform lives, change attitudes and create a society that works for autistic people. They provide support, information and practical advice for the 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK, as well as their three million family members and carers. Visit website.

National Careers Service (NCS)
Provides information, advice and guidance to help young people make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. We offer confidential and impartial advice, supported by qualified careers advisers. Visit website. 

National Childbirth Trust
Provides accurate, impartial information to pregnant women and families so that they can decide what’s best for their family, and introduce them to a network of local parents to gain practical and emotional support. Visit website.

National Citizen Service (NCS)
If you're 15 to 17 years-old, this is your chance to embark on exhilarating challenges, make your mark and build skills for work and life. Visit website.

Netmums
By parents for parents. A family of local websites offering information to mothers on everything from where to find playgroups and how to eat healthily to where to meet other mothers. Visit website.

Not Going to Uni
A one-stop website for young people considering not going to university after secondary school. Visit website. 

Nystagmus Network
A registered charity in England and Wales supporting people living with nystagmus. Nystagmus is a complex eye condition, characterised by involuntary movements of the eye. Visit website.

National Portage Association                                                                                                        The National Portage Association (NPA) is national charity, supporting Portage services, families and professionals involved in Portage. Portage is a home-visiting educational service for pre-school children with SEND and their families. The NPA operates at national and regional level throughout England and Wales, supporting individual members, registered services and settings who have been awarded the NPA Stamp of Approval award. Visit website.

National Institute for Conductive Education (NICE)                                                                     It provides direct services to children and adults with motor disabilities; cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, children with dyspraxia and those who have been affected by strokes and head injuries. They also undertake research and offer a comprehensive range of professionally oriented, skills-based training courses at all levels. Visit website.

PANS PANDAS UK
PANS and PANDAS are a set of conditions which result in an inflammation of the brain causing a variety of neuro-psychiatric conditions such as OCD, tics and eating restrictions. PANS PANDAS UK is a charity which was established by a dedicated group of parents with children who are affected by these conditions. Visit website.

POhWER
This organisation helps people who, because of disability, illness, social exclusion and other challenges, find it difficult to express their views or get the support they need. Visit website.

Prince's Trust
The Trust supports 13 to 30 year olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion. They are also committed to the employment of disabled people.  Visit website.

RareConnect
Provides moderated forums and discussion groups in seven European languages for many rare diseases. Visit their website.

Rate My Apprenticeship
A resource for students, schools and parents. We aim to educate young people about their career options, and inspire them to take an exciting next step after they leave school or college. Visit website.

reconstruct
A website with a large portfolio of courses aimed at improving skills and knowledge for child care professionals. Visit website. 

Refugee Council’s employment service
The aim is to provide information, advice, guidance and support to refugees looking to access training, volunteering and employment opportunities to those based in Greater London. Visit website.

Remark Living
Provides specialist care and support to deaf people to enable them to live as independently as possible. Visit website.

Remploy
This organisation works to improve the lives of disabled people and those with complex needs through the power of work. Visit website.

Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC)
A user-led research charity, run by – and for – people with a personal experience of disability. Visit website.

Respect
The phoneline is a free national helpline for adults being abusive/violent to a partner and looking for help to change their behaviour. Call 0808 802 4040 or visit website.

Routes Home
The service to supports non-UK nationals that sleep rough in London. They work with those that are vulnerable, and not eligible to access services in the UK to assist in getting them off the streets. Visit website.

Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD)
Provides a wide range of services which Deaf people want and need. All of our services are delivered in British Sign Language (BSL). Visit website.

Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC)The Royal Society for Blind Children supports blind and partially sighted children and young people, and their families. Visit website.

RNID
Provides information, care and support for people with hearing loss and tinnitus. Visit website. 

The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC)
A co-educational specialist residential college for young people aged 16-25 who are blind or partially sighted. Visit website.

Safer Schools App
The City of London Corporation's Safer Schools App provides support on topics including sexting, bullying, mental health, media literacy, gaming and sexual exploitation online.

• If your child attends primary school scan this: Code 
• If you child attends secondary school scan this: Code

Sands
The stillbirth and neonatal death charity. Sands supports anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby before, during or shortly after birth. Visit website.

Say Something
A free, 24/7, anonymous helpline for young people to discuss and report child sexual exploitation (CSE). Call 116000 or visit website. 

Stack Recruitment
An agency for neurodiverse job-seekers who connect those with autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia to job opportunities with inclusive employers, to help them find meaningful work. Visit website. 

Step by Step
Step by Step is a specialist organisation offering group-based play andVolunteer Team London leisure activities for disabled children and young people which meet the cultural requirements of the Orthodox Jewish community. Visit website.

Sunshine Support
This organisation provides independent information, advice and support to parents/carers and professionals of children and young people with special educational needs. Visit website.

SWAN UK (syndromes without a name) 
The only dedicated support network in the UK for families of children and young adults with undiagnosed genetic conditions. We are run by the charity Genetic Alliance UK. Visit website.

Speech and Language UK                                                                                                  Supporting children from 0-19 through their Talk programmes and two specialist schools. They provide resources and information for parents, families and people who work with children and young people through their Enquiry Service. Speech and Language UK work in nurseries and schools across the UK with evidence-based programmes and run two special schools for children with the most severe and complex needs. Visit website.

Team London
The Mayor’s volunteering programme for London. Team London makes it quick and easy for Londoners to give their time, find volunteering opportunities and do great things for their city. Visit website.

Thinkuknow
An education programme from the National Crime Agency's CEOP Command. They provide education about sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. Visit website.

Tired Out
Family Fund's sleep support hub for families raising disabled and seriously ill children to find help and information about sleep issues. Visit website.

The Movement Centre

It provides evidence based therapy, called Targeted Training, to children who have cerebral palsy, designed to help children gain essential functioning skills and increase independence. Visit website.

UCAS
An independent charity providing information, advice, and admissions services to inspire and facilitate educational progression. Visit website.

UK Safer Internet Centre
Do you have a cyberbullying or digital safety concern? Visit website.

V

Whizz-Kidz
Working hard to transform the lives of wheelchair users across the UK, supporting them to become confident and independent young adults. They also provide work placements and work skill days to disabled young people in two ways  Visit website.

Working Families
Help working parents and carers and their employers find a better balance between responsibilities at home and work. Visit website.

YoungMinds
The organisation's purpose is to stop young people's mental health reaching crisis point. Visit website.

You're Able
A forum by Disabled Living Foundation aimed primarily at disabled people of working age. It contains a section on children's disability equipment. Visit website.