Local Support Groups

Please find below information of local support groups around the country.

  1. EAST MIDLANDS
  2. WEST MIDLANDS
  3. EAST OF ENGLAND
  4. LONDON
  5. NATIONAL
  6. NORTH WEST
  7. NORTH EAST
  8. YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE
  9. SOUTH EAST
  10. SOUTH WEST
  11. WALES

 

NORTH WEST

  • Blackpool - support group for all kinship carers, please contact Dee McGregor on 01253 651190 or email dee.mcgregor@blackpool.gov.uk for more information.
  • GAP (Grandparents as Parents) – support and campaigning group based in Blackpool. Visit www.grandparentsasparents.org.uk for more information.
  • Grandparents Carers East Lancashire – support group for all grandparents raising grandchildren. Email Marian at  mariano1@talktalk.net for more information.
  • Grandparents Group, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria - support group for all grandparents raising grandchildren which meets twice monthly at Newbarns Children’s Centre. Contact Tracy Stoker on 07889 603843 or email Tracy.Stoker@actionforchildren.org.uk for details.
  • Harbour Project – a voluntary support group for parents, families and friends who are affected by someone’s drug and alcohol misuse in Bolton. Contact 01204 62274 or email harbourproject@btinternet.com for more information.
  • PADA (Parents Against Drug Abuse) – provides support to grandparents and family carers who are bringing up grandchildren due to their parents’ drug or alcohol use. Call 0151 270 2108 from 10.00-6.00 Monday to Friday.
  • PSS Liverpool Impact – a project that supports children and young people aged up to 18, their parents, grandparents and other carers who are affected by parental drug and/or  alcohol misuse. Call 0151 702 5577 for more information.
  • Sanctuary Family Support, Merseyside - support group for anyone affected by substance misuse which meets every week. Contact Maddie Vaz on 0151 735 0747 or email sanctuaryfspprt@yahoo.co.uk for details.
  • Second Time Around Group, Carlisle – group for grandmothers, grandfathers, great aunts and uncles raising grandchildren or looking after them regularly. Meets on alternate Wednesdays at Carlisle West Children’s Centre. Contact Sheila on 01228 223419 or email sheila.graham@barnardos.org.uk for more details.
  • SPROG (Support in Pennine Raising Our Grandchildren) – support group based in Lancashire. Visit www.sprog.talktalk.net for details.

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NORTH EAST

  • Bridges Stockton – provides group and individual support, counselling and respite breaks for grandparent and family carers affected by drug or alchol misuse. For more information email bridges@ntlbusiness.com or call 01642 605222.
  • ESCAPE Family Support, Blyth – provides support to all kinship carers with 1:1 counselling, court support and advocacy, helpline, respite breaks, benefits and debt advice etc. Group meets monthly -  contact Lyndsey at lyndsey.hedley@escapefamilysupport.co.uk or call 01670 352700 for more information.
  • Newcastle Props – provides support to partners, carers and families affected by someone else’s drug use. Visit www.newcastleprops.org.uk or call 0191 226 3440.
  • Sunderland – More than Grandparents is an independent support and campaigning network led by and for grandparent kinship carers, particularly those who are caring for their grandchildren as a result of their parents’ substance misuse. For more information contact Kate on 0191 5493768 or Sue on 07813 109215 (email sue@suerobson.co.uk).

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YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE

  • Bridge Project – based in Bradford, the Bridge project runs two groups for family and friends carers raising children due to their parents drug use. Groups meet monthly on a Friday at the Bridge, 35 Salem Street, Bradford BD1 4QH. For more information call Mary on 01274 723863 or 01274 758095.
  • Carers Leeds – monthly support groups for family members and carers affected by an adult’s drug or alcohol misuse.  The groups meet at Carers Leeds office at 6/8 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 6PT on the last Tuesday in the month (from 12 noon to 1.30pm) and the last Wednesday in the month (from 5.30pm to 7pm).  For more information call 0113 246 8338.
  • GASPED – information and support to parents, families and carers affected by drug or alcohol misuse in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Visit www.gasped.org.uk or call 01924 787501 from 9am-4pm Monday to Friday. GASPED also run a 24 hour helpline on 0845 1460002.
  • Grandparents and Carers Peer Support Group, Sheffield – meets monthly at the Sheffield City Centre Town Hall. For more information contact Liz Hill on 0114 2331189 or email liz.hill@sheffield.gov.uk.
  • York Carers Centre gives help to unpaid carers living or caring for someone in York. Information and advice can be given over the phone, at the office, or they can arrange to see carers at home. All carers registered with the Centre receive a regular newsletter and discounts at local businesses. They can also use the Carers Emergency Card scheme and attend occasional social events and activities. For more information visit www.yorkcarerscentre.co.uk or call 01904 715490.

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EAST MIDLANDS

  • George Hardwick Foundation Carers Centre, Grimsby. Support for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren because of substance misuse issues.  A support group meets at the centre fortnightly on a Tuesday, at 154-160 Victoria Street, Grimsby. Contact Jacqui for more information on 0845 3025525 or email Jacqui@georgehardwickfoundation.org.
  • Hetty’s – based in Nottinghamshire, Hetty’s supports families and friends who are concerned about someone else’s drug or alcohol use. Visit www.hettys.org.uk or call 08000 850 941 for confidential support and advice.
  • Northants Grandparent and Kinship support group – for all family and friends carers, including grandparents. Meets monthly at Headlands Children’s Centre, alternating between daytime and evening.  Contact Roisin O’Hare on 01604 367599 or Rose French on 01604 362693, alternatively email rfrench@northamptonshire.gov.uk for details.
  • SPODA – based in Chesterfield and covering the whole of Derbyshire, SPODA offers support, advice and group meetings to parents, partners, kinship carers, families and friends affected by someone else’s drug use. Email admin@spoda.co.uk, visit www.spoda.org.uk or call 0800 068 5718.
  • The Oasis Project – a charity based in Lincolnshire that provides confidential support to parents, kinship carers, families and friends of drug and alcohol users. The staff offers caring and friendly support based on personal experiences and services include 24 hour confidential telephone support, self-help and group meetings, presentations on drug awareness, bereavement support and resilience work.  Contact the helpline on 07900 013041 or email oasislincs@hotmail.com for more information.

WEST MIDLANDS

  • Worcestershire Kinship Carers Group – meet on the first Tuesday of every month from 9.30-11.30am. Contact Chris for details on 01733 751 531.

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EAST OF ENGLAND

  • Cambridge Kinship Carers - group meets monthly at Bewick Bridge Primary School, pre-school children welcome. Contact Annabel for details – email familykcc@gmail.com or call 01223 508772.
  • Cambridge – Kinship United. Meet at Nutfield Children’s Centre on the second Thursday of each month. Contact Seigi on 01223 700717 or email siegi.deakin1@ntlworld.com for details.
  • Grandparents’ Group, Beccles, Suffolk. Dedicated session for all grandparents and their grandchildren held at Beccles Library in partnership with Butterflies Children’s Centre. The group meets every Wednesday morning between 9.45am and 11.15am and is run on a drop in basis. Contact Beccles Library on 01502 714073 for more details.
  • Second Generation – support for all family and friends carers including grandparents who are raising their grandchildren on a full time basis in Peterborough. The group meets from 10.30-12.30 on Wednesdays, term time only. Contact Chris Leaves for more information on 01733 751 531.
  • Waltham Abbey - support group for all family and friends carers held at Hazelwood’s Children’s Centre, every Thursday during term time, from 9.30-11.30am. Contact Chris for more information on 01733 751 531.
  • Wisbech Kinship Carers Group – meet on the second Tuesday each month from 9.30-11.30am. Contact Chris for details on 01733 751 531.

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LONDON

  • Family Action Islington – support group for grandparent carers, meeting every other Wednesday during term time from 10-11.30am at Family Action, 608 Holloway Road. Contact Carol on 020 7272 6933 or email carol.orr@family-action.org.uk for more information.

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SOUTH EAST

  • Eastbourne Grandparents Group held at Shinewater Children’s Centre every month, from 3.15 until 5pm, offering peer support for grandparents and play for children. Contact Clare on 01323 464170 or email claire.harrison@eastsussex.gov.uk for details.
  • Milton Keynes Grandparents Group - for all grandparents who are the main carers of their grandchildren or who are experiencing court proceedings for residence orders. Contact Karon on 01525 753422 or email grandparent.sg@ntlworld.com for more information.
  • Kent Kinship Carers – four support groups for kinship carers across Kent. For more information email kinship.carers.support.group@googlemail.com or call Cassie on 07825 233557.
  • Kinship Care Group – Hampshire. Group for kinship carers, meets on the second Tuesday in every month from 12 – 2pm at the Acorn Centre, 3 The Kestrels, Eagle Avenue, Waterlooville PO8 9UB. Contact Lorraine – lorraine.riggs@hants.gov.uk – for more information.
  • Parenting Support for Grandparents – Battle, East Sussex. Meet on the second Wednesday of each month at Battle Baptist Church. Contact Mel at the Family Plus Team on 01323 463010 or email mel.sorrenti@eastsussex.gov.uk for details.
  • West Sussex – support service for informal family carers. Includes information and advice, signposting, groups and monthly drop-in sessions. Contact Lisa on 01243 642650 or email informalfamilycare@westsussex.gov.uk for more information.

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SOUTH WEST

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WALES

  • Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Network, Cardiff – for any grandparents caring full time for their grandchildren regardless of the reason why, or the age of the child or children. The group meets once a month on a weekday morning at Cardiff City Hall. For more information contact Rachel Kelly at rachel.kelly@actionforchildren.org.uk or call 029 2036 0556.

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NATIONAL

  • The Family Rights Group has a list of groups that they have been informed about on their website. FRG do not run groups but they offer free consultancy support to assist carers or organisations wishing to set up a support group for family and friends carers. Please see their website at www.frg.org.uk for more information.
  • The Grandparents’ Association runs groups for grandparents, including those raising grandchildren,across the country. Please see their website at www.grandparents-association.org.uk for more information.
  • Siblings Together – ‘Siblings Together’ is an initiative dedicated towards promoting positive contact between siblings separated by care. It aims to provide opportunities for planned, enjoyable, high quality contact. This is achieved initially through holiday camps, with the additional aims of building foundations for continued contact and educating a generation of social workers about the importance of sibling family contact. For more information visit www.siblingstogether.org.uk or call Delma on 020 7231 6925.
  • Family Holiday Association – the only charity in the UK that specialises in helping provide holidays for families and children in need. For more information visit www.fhaonline.org.uk or call 020 7436 3304 (general enquiries line).

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