Support Groups and Organisations

Elderley People:

• Age Concern (External link) - The UK's leading charities concerned with the needs and aspirations of older people.
• Alzheimer's Society (External link) - The Alzheimer's Society provides advice and support to people with dementia and their carers.
• Carers (External link) - For carers, voluntary organisations and others, related to the national strategy for Caring about Carers, and providing useful links.
• Contact the Elderly (External link) - Seeks to reduce the isolation for older people who live alone, by providing social occasions such as monthly tea parties.
• Dementia Research Group (External link) - One of the UK's leading centres for clinical research into dementia.
• Help the Aged (External link) - A leading national charity for older people.
• RUKBA (External link) - A philanthropic organisation providing financial support and friendship for older people.

Young People:

• Childline  (external link) - 0800 400 222 Free 24 hour helpline for children and young people. (external link) You can also write to ChildLine, Freepost NATN 1111, London E1 6BR.
• NSPCC (external link) - If you're concerned about the safety of a child the NSPCC Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000 is a free, confidential, 24 hour helpline available every day of the year.
• Get Connected (external link) - Get Connected is a free email and telephone helpline that finds young people the best help whatever the problem.  It offers help and advice to young people, whatever their problem – particularly if you’re thinking of running away or leaving home
• Runaway Helpline (external link) - The Runaway Helpline helps people under 18 who’ve run away or been forced to leave home.  It's open 24 hours every day and they will not trace where you're calling from.
• Youth Access (external link) -  is the national membership organisation for young people's information, advice, counselling and support services
• Brook Young Peoples Information Service - If you think you might be pregnant, and need to talk to someone about what to do next, contact Brook Young Peoples Information Service. They also offer free confidential information about sexual health and contraception.
•  Young Minds (external link) - Young Minds offers support to young people and their parents on a range of mental health issues. They have some helpful booklets especially for young people on subjects such as self-injury, depression, sexual abuse, bullying and eating disorders.
• Sibs Encounter  - (external link) is an online support group for brothers and sisters of people with disabilities. The website offers the opportunity for you to communicate and share your feelings with others in a similar position.)

Disabled People

• Action for Blind People (External link) - is a national charity which aims to enable blind and partially sighted people to enjoy equal opportunities in every aspect of their lives through work, leisure, housing and support.
• British Council for Disabled People (BCODP) (External link) - was set up by disabled people in 1981 to promote full equality and participation within society. They are an umbrella organisation that represents some 130 organisations run and controlled by disabled people.
• Disabled Information Advice Line (DIAL) UK (External link) - DIAL provides a link to information for people with disabilities, and to advice providers.
• Disability Sport England (External link) - creates opportunities for participation in sport for people with all disabilities.
• Epilepsy Action (British Epilepsy Association) (External link) - The Epilepsy Action helpline provides advice and information on all aspects of living with epilepsy. They aim to reply to helpline queries by email within 48 hours.
• The National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) (External link) -i s an organisation of parents, families and carers which exists to support parents in enabling their child to maximise their skills and abilities.
• Headway (External link) - Promotes understanding of all aspects of brain injury; and provides information, support and services to people with a brain injury, their family and carers.
• Keep Able (External link) - Provides mobility and lifestyle ideas.
• MENCAP (External link) - Working with people with a learning disability, and their families and carers.
• Rethink (External link) - Helping everyone affected by severe mental illness, including schizophrenia, to recover a better quality of life.
• National Society for Epilepsy (NSE) (External link) - is the largest UK medical charity for epilepsy. The website offers information about epilepsy and about the NSE , frequently asked questions, personal accounts of living with epilepsy, a message board and more.
• Royal Association in Aid of Deaf people (RAD) (External link) -strives to meet the individual needs of deaf children and adults and deafblind people through the provision of services and the use of RAD Centres for Deaf People.
• Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) (External link) -If you need to register as blind, contact the RNIB .
• Scope (External link) -helps people with cerebral palsy to achieve equality in society.
• SeeAbility (Royal School for the Blind) (External link) -works with adults who are blind or partially sighted, and have a range of additional disabilities. The charity works to encourage people's independence and to enhance their quality of life. They are also involved in research projects and training courses for professionals who work with people who are blind or partially sighted.