Family Matters - Links
This page has links to organisations that support children and families in Scotland. You can also find information about:
Below you will find information on organisations that may be able to help you. Click on a link below to find the organisation you are looking for. You can click on an organisation's name to go to their website.
Organisations for children and young people
Barnardo's
Barnardo's are the UK's largest childcare charity, providing services to over 100,000 children, young people and families.
ChildLine
ChildLine is the free helpline for children and young people in the UK. Children and young people can call ChildLine on 0800 1111 to talk about any problem.
Children 1st
Children 1st, the working name of the RSPCC, has been working for over 120 years to give every child in Scotland a safe and secure childhood. Today Children 1st supports families under stress, protects children from harm and neglect, helps them recover from abuse, and promotes children's rights and interests.
Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People
Kathleen Marshall is Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People.
Her role is to ensure that adults keep the promises made in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which says that all children and young people up to the age of 18 have a right to:
- Be protected from harm
- Be given what they need to have a good life
- Have a say when decisions are being made that will affect them
Scottish Child Law Centre
The Scottish Child Law Centre provides free legal advice and information on Scottish child law and children's rights. They also provide a range of information leaflets and training. Call 0131 667 6333 for advice, or freephone 0800 328 8970 if you are under 18.
Young Scot
Young Scot is the national youth information portal for Scotland, supporting young people aged 12-26.
Organisations for families
CALM Scotland
CALM (Comprehensive Accredited Lawyer Mediators) are solicitors who have combined many years of family law experience with intensive training in mediation skill. This combination of practical experience and legal knowledge together with a sympathetic approach makes lawyer mediators ideally equipped to deal with all issues which might arise.
Children in Scotland
Children in Scotland exists to identify and promote the best interests of children, young people and their families, and to enable them to contribute to the development of policies and services which are of the highest possible quality and are able to meet the needs of a diverse society. It does this with, through and for its members.
Couple Counselling Scotland
Couple Counselling Scotland is established for the public benefit to:
- promote, develop and co-ordinate a confidential counselling service throughout Scotland for people in marriage and other intimate personal relationships
- ensure the maintenance of high standards of practice and quality assurance of the couple counselling service as delivered by member organisations
- provide and publish information and conduct research on aspects of marriage and family life
- develop working relationships with persons and organisations concerned with marriage and family life
Equality Network
The Equality Network campaigns for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Scotland. It creates ways for people to contribute to making Scotland a place in which everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, can live free from hatred, prejudice and discrimination.
Families Need Fathers
Families Need Fathers is a self-help support group, and is involved in research into shared parenting and political lobbying.
Family Mediation Scotland
Family mediation is a voluntary process which gives parents who are separating or living apart the opportunity to make their own arrangements for their children's future. Family Mediation Scotland (FMS) provides a network of family mediation services across mainland and island Scotland.
Grandparents Apart Self Help (GASH)
GASH support grandparents who have been denied contact with their grandchildren. They offer a friendly ear and advice from their own experiences.
One Parent Families Scotland
One Parent Families Scotland works on behalf of lone parents and their families. They provide a telephone helpline, and produce a wide range of factsheets.
One Plus
One Plus is a dynamic independent organisation for one parent families. They work throughout west and central Scotland.
ParentLine
ParentLine Scotland is a free confidential helpline for parents and carers across Scotland - 0808 800 2222. It is part of the work of Children 1st to help children by helping their parents.
Parenting Across Scotland
Parenting Across Scotland (PAS) is a multi-agency partnership funded by the Scottish Executive to provide a focus for issues and concerns affecting parents in Scotland. PAS focuses on researching the issues and concerns of parents; sharing good practice and information on supportive services and encouraging collaborative working; providing information to families and representing the views of parents to policy makers.
Scottish Marriage Care
Scottish Marriage Care has 40 years of experience in the specialist field of relationships. They offer relationship counselling and early intervention to people of all ages and stages in their relationships. Their services are for everyone without exception.
Scottish Women's Aid
Scottish Women's Aid (SWA) provide advice, information and support to victims of domestic abuse and their children.
Stepfamily Scotland
Stepfamily Scotland provide support and information to all members of stepfamilies in Scotland. They operate a confidential telephone helpline and supply leaflets and other information useful to stepfamilies.
Legal advice
CALM Scotland
CALM (Comprehensive Accredited Lawyer Mediators) are solicitors who have combined many years of family law experience with intensive training in mediation skill. This combination of practical experience and legal knowledge together with a sympathetic approach makes lawyer mediators ideally equipped to deal with all issues which might arise.
Citizens Advice
You can get information about your rights on Citizens Advice Scotland's public information website http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland.htm. Local Citizens Advice Bureaux can offer you advice on matters such as relationship breakdown, caring for children and options for resolving disputes. You can find details of your local office in the phone book or on Citizens Advice Scotand's website www.cas.org.uk.
Family Law Association
The Family Law Association website gives you access to solicitors throughout Scotland who are either accredited family law specialists, experienced in family law, or have an extensive interest in that field. The Association's website has a number of FAQs (frequently asked questions) that you may find helpful.
Law Society of Scotland
The Law Society of Scotland is the governing body for Scottish solicitors. A solicitor can provide you with independent legal advice. The Society can give you details of solicitors that specialise in certain areas of Scots law, for instance, family law.
Scottish Child Law Centre
The Scottish Child Law Centre provides free legal advice and information on Scottish child law and children's rights. They also provide a range of information leaflets and training. Call 0131 667 6333 for advice, or freephone 0800 328 8970 if you are under 18.
Registration of births, marriages and civil partnerships
General Register Office for Scotland
The General Register Office for Scotland is responsible for the registration of births, marriages, civil partnerships, deaths, divorces and adoptions. It runs the Census and uses Census and other data to publish information about population and households.