Help and support is available from many national and local organisations:
Abuse
SafeLives
If you are experiencing domestic abuse or are supporting someone who is in that situation, immediate help is available.
National Domestic Violence Helpline
Are you experiencing domestic abuse? You are not alone. The Helpline can help you find a refuge vacancy for you and your children; call us them more information. They can also support you to find other specialist services in your community, which can provide support whether or not you have left your partner.
Survivors UK – Male Rape and Sexual Abuse Support
Survivors UK help sexually abused men, as well as their friends and family, no matter when the abuse happened, and challenge the silence and attitudes.
Rape Crisis
National organisation offering support and counselling for those affected by rape and sexual abuse.
Refuge
Every single day Refuge works tirelessly to support thousands of women and children experiencing domestic violence and other forms of gender based violence.
Victim Support
As an independent charity, we work towards a world where people affected by crime or traumatic events get the support they need and the respect they deserve. We help people feel safer and find the strength to move beyond crime. Support is free, confidential and tailored to your needs.
Addiction
We are With You
We Are With You provides free, confidential support to people who have issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health. We work with people on their own goals, whether that’s staying safe and healthy, making small changes or stopping an unwanted habit altogether.
Drug FAM
A lifeline of safe, caring and professional support to families, friends and partners who are struggling to cope with the nightmare of a loved one’s addiction to drugs or alcohol and to those who have been bereaved by addiction or related causes.
Be Gamble Aware
Free, confidential help for anyone who is worried about their or someone else’s gambling. If you need help right away, call or live chat with an Adviser now through the National Gambling Treatment Service – available 24/7 for advice and help finding the right support.
Talk to Frank
If you have a problem with drugs Talk to Frank for friendly, confidential drugs advice.
Drinkline
Free, confidential helpline for anyone who is concerned about their drinking, or someone else’s.
Turning Point
Every 30 minutes someone leaves Turning Point’s services drink or drugs free. Turning Point offer you or a loved one a range of services depending on what you need, from detox and residential rehab to supported living and aftercare support.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
One You Drink Free Days
Make a pledge to take a few days off and you’re more likely to follow it through and reach your goals. Drink Free Days is for people who like a drink but want some support in tracking and cutting down on the booze. Understand more about your current drinking and risk levels as it common for people to underestimate how much they drink.
Drinkaware Online Tools & Apps
Drinkaware’s range of online tools can help you understand your drinking, track your drinks and change your habits.
Apps and Online Tools
BabyCentre
BabyCentre® reaches more than 45 million mums globally each month in nine different languages, including eight in 10 new and expecting mums online in the UK.
Baby Buddy App
Baby Buddy is an award winning mobile phone app for new parents and parents-to-be, created by mums, doctors and midwives.
One You Drink Free Days
Make a pledge to take a few days off and you’re more likely to follow it through and reach your goals. Drink Free Days is for people who like a drink but want some support in tracking and cutting down on the booze. Understand more about your current drinking and risk levels as it common for people to underestimate how much they drink.
Drinkaware Online Tools & Apps
Drinkaware range of online tools can help you understand your drinking, track your drinks and change your habits.
Autism and ADHD
Moving with Special Needs Kids – A Guide for Parents
Moving is at once stressful and exciting. When you are moving with children, you face a number of considerations that others don\’t have to face. When you add a special needs child to the mix, you have a lengthy list of addition things you have to do to make the transition as smooth as possible. Here are some tips to help you with the moving process, ensuring that your child\’s needs are met throughout it.
How to Create a Safe, Sensory-Friendly Backyard Landscape for Your Child With Special Needs
Playing outside is one of the greatest joys of childhood. Stepping out the back door into sunlight, fresh air, and freedom can provide a feeling of liberation unlike any other. There are extra considerations when your child has special needs, but time outside still can offer tremendous therapeutic benefits, especially for children with autism or similar conditions that may keep them confined indoors in highly structured, climate-controlled environments for most of the day.
How to Calm a Child with Autism
Children with autism can have a tough time managing their behavior. Even high functioning children can \\\”meltdown\\\” in situations that would be only mildly challenging to a typical peer. Children with more severe symptoms can get very upset on a daily basis. Meltdowns and anxiety can make it very hard to participate in typical activities or, in some extreme cases, to even leave the house.
National Autistic Society
Founded in 1962, they are the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families. Their goal is to help transform lives, change attitudes and create a society that works for autistic people.
ASD Friendly
ASD Friendly is a close-knit community of parents and carers of people with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.
Dimensions
They support people with learning disabilities and autism to have a louder voice, choice and control in their lives.
Autism Independent UK
Autism Independent UK helps to increase awareness of autism to the notice of all, together with well established and newly developed approaches in the diagnosis, assessment, education and treatment.
ASD Helping Hands
ASD Helping Hands will support all service users affected by an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) regardless of age or what stage of life they are at. We aim to offer guidance, practical advice and support whether you are personally affected or you are an associated family member, carer, friend or professional. We will actively champion the rights of all people affected by an ASD and aim to make a positive difference to their lives while delivering a service that is accessible, reliable and trust
Health A-Z
Guide to conditions, symptoms & treatments
Live Well
Advice, tips and tools for health & wellbeing
Bereavement
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK help children and young people (up to age 25), parents, and families, to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. They also provide training to professionals, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.
Sands Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Charity
Sands is the leading stillbirth and neonatal death charity in the UK. Sands exists to reduce the number of babies dying and to ensure that anyone affected by the death of a baby receives the best possible care and support for as long as they need it.
Compassionate Friends
TCF offers many different kinds of support for bereaved families. Whatever the cause of your loss, wherever you are in the UK, and whatever your circumstances – they are here to help.
Brake
Brake’s helpline is a quality accredited, Freephone, confidential support service, providing information and advocacy, emotional support and a listening ear for survivors of road crashes.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers
Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to supporting children and young people who have lost a parent serving in the British Armed Forces.
Child Death Helpline
The Child Death Helpline aims to provide a quality freephone service to anyone affected by the death of a child of any age. Callers to the helpline might be parents, grandparents, siblings, other family members, friends or involved professionals.
Hope Again
Hope Again is the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Care. It is a safe place where you can learn from other young people, how to cope with grief, and feel less alone.
Cruse Bereavement Care
Support, advice and information for children, young people and adults when someone dies. The charity also works to enhance society’s care of bereaved people.
Cancer
Maggies
Maggie’s offers the best possible support free to anyone with cancer and their families who walk through our doors. You\’ll find our centres alongside NHS hospitals and we can also support you online.
Leukaemia Care
Leukaemia Care is a national blood cancer support charity. We are dedicated to ensuring that anyone affected by blood cancer receives the right information, advice and support.
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is the UK’s leading cervical cancer charity. We are here for everyone who needs us, for as long as they need us but we won’t stop until the day that cervical cancer is no more. Cervical cancer can be devastating but we’re here to reduce the impact. We provide trustworthy information, campaign for change and provide support at every step.
CLIC SARGENT
CLIC Sargent fights tirelessly to stop cancer destroying young lives. We know everyone is different, so we work hard to help when each child and young person needs it most.
Breast Cancer Now
We’re Breast Cancer Now, the charity that’s steered by world-class research and powered by life-changing care. We’re here for anyone affected by breast cancer, the whole way through, providing support for today and hope for the future.
The Brain Tumour Charity
The Brain Tumour Charity is the world\’s leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally.
Blood Cancer UK
Because we\’ve been beating blood cancer since 1960 We’re a community determined to beat blood cancer. We do this by funding research that takes us closer to a cure.
Bowel Cancer UK
We’re the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. Our vision is a future where nobody dies of the disease.
Together for short Lives
Making a lifetime of difference for children expected to have short lives.
#hellomynameis
Dr Kate Granger, was a great supporter of NCPC and Dying Matters and she spoke at a number of events. Dr Granger launched the #hellomynameis campaign. It’s not always easy to talk about death or dying but when we don’t talk about what matters it can increase feelings of isolation, loneliness and distress.
Orchid – Fighting Male Cancer
Orchid exists to save men’s lives from testicular, prostate and penile cancers through pioneering research and promoting awareness.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Physical, financial and emotional support to help you live life as fully as you can.
Carers
Sunderland Carers Centre
At Sunderland Carers Centre we provide support for people who look after others. That doesn’t mean professional carers. We support people who care for their husband, wife, mam, dad, son, daughter, sibling, friend or other relative. We offer information, advice and guidance to carers in and around Sunderland – and it’s all confidential, non-judgemental and impartial.
Carers UK
Caring will affect us all at some point in our lives. We’ll be here for you when that happens. With your help, we can be there for the 6,000 people who start looking after someone each day.
Child Health
NSPCC Helpline
If you’re worried about a child, even if you’re unsure, contact NSPCC professional counsellors for help, advice and support.
Childline
Offers free, confidential advice and support for any child 18 years or under, whatever the worry.
Contact for families with Disabled children
Contact support families with the best possible guidance and information. For every shape and size of family, whatever they need and whatever their child’s disability.
NHS Vaccination planner
NHS vaccinations and when to have them. The NHS vaccination schedule highlights the dates your child needs to have their vaccinations by.
NHS Childhood illness visual guide
Use this visual guide to help you identify common conditions and illnesses that may affect your child. Includes conditions such as measles, slapped cheek syndrome, chicken pox and warts.
Dyspraxia Foundation
The helpline is available to help you with problems and issues you may encounter; offering help and advice to people with dyspraxia, parents, carers, and families about or on the subject of dyspraxia.
Cleft Lip and Palate Association
The Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA) is a small charity working to improve the lives of people born with a cleft and their families in the UK.
Healthy Henry
A healthy start for a brighter future. The early years have lifelong effects on health and wellbeing. HENRY supports families to provide the best possible start in life for babies and children.
Change4Life
Change4Life aims to help your family be healthier and happier. Find out more about what’s really in the food your family eats.
Community Groups
Diabetes
Better Living
Find practical help with managing Type 2 diabetes through this informative toolkit.
Diabetes UK
Whether you’re looking for diabetes information, or just someone to talk to – we are here to help you. Our incredible supporters help us to provide our helpline, local support groups, Type 1 events, online Learning Zone, and even insurance – to name just a few. From knowing your diabetes risk, to learning to live well with diabetes, we have a wide variety of support available to you.
Disabilities
Guide Dogs
Guide Dogs wants a world in which all blind and partially-sighted people enjoy the same rights, opportunities and responsibilities as everyone else. Their mission is to provide guide dogs and other mobility services that increase the independence and dignity of blind and partially-sighted people.
Deafblind UK
Deafblind UK supports people with combined sight and hearing loss to live the lives they want. Losing your sight and hearing can be frightening. The charity’s team of experts is here every step of the way to show you life beyond sight and hearing loss.
Limbless Association
A support group for amputees or those about to become amputees and their families, carers and friends to seek answers to common problems.
Disability Rights UK
Disability Rights UK ant a society where everyone can participate equally.
Contact for families with Disabled children
Contact support families with the best possible guidance and information. For every shape and size of family, whatever they need and whatever their child’s disability.
National Autistic Society
Founded in 1962, they are the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families. Their goal is to help transform lives, change attitudes and create a society that works for autistic people.
Action on Hearing Loss
As the largest charity for people with hearing loss in the UK, Action on Hearing Loss understands how hearing loss can affect everything in your life from your relationships, to your education and your job prospects. They are there to support and help you, so you can take back control and live the life you choose.
Elderly Care
Older Drivers
Experienced drivers are, in general, safer than those with less experience. But as we get older, our health and fitness, often including our eyesight, physical condition and reaction times, begins to decline. Age related conditions can also begin to affect our driving. Recognise whether and how your driving is changing and decide what you can do to cope with these changes and find help, such as medical advice, driving assessments and training and vehicle adaptations.
Dementia UK
Dementia UK offers specialist one-to-one support and expert advice for people living with dementia.
Age UK
Age UK is the country’s largest charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. Age UK believe in a world where everyone can love later life and we work every day to achieve this.
The Silver Line
The Silver Line is the only free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Cinnamon Trust
Cinnamon Trust is the only specialist national charity which seeks to relieve the anxieties, problems, and sometimes injustices, faced by elderly and terminally ill people and their pets, thereby saving a great deal of human sadness and animal suffering.
Family Support
Family Lives
Family Lives is a national charity providing support in all aspects of family life.
Housing
Shelter
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help.
Keep Fit
Local Health & Support
Sunderland action for Health
Health services in Sunderland made easy
Healthwatch Sunderland
Local Healthwatch work across England to create a strong, independent consumer champions whose aim is to: Strengthen the collective voice of citizens and communities in influencing local health and social care services to better meet their needs. Support people to find the right health and social care services for them by providing appropriate information, advice and signposting.
Sunderland GP Alliance
Formed in 2015, Sunderland GP Alliance is an organisation owned by the GP Practices of Sunderland, and it exists to help GPs work collaboratively for the benefit of patients and staff. Thirty six of the city’s forty GP practices are members of the organisation, and together they cover over 95% of Sunderland’s patients. The Alliance works on a not-for-profit basis, ensuring any surplus is reinvested back into better services for patients.
Maternity & Parenting
Find NHS Services near you
Find NHS services near you
ICON
Baby crying is normal, you can cope. Please follow the ICON guidance for coping with crying.
The Lullaby Trust
The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families.
The National Childbirth Trust
Their mission is to support parents through the first 1,000 days, to have the best possible experience of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
TAMBA (Twins and Multiple Births Association)
Tamba is a UK based charity helping people around the world. They were set up by parents of multiples and interested professionals in 1978.
BabyCentre
BabyCentre® reaches more than 45 million mums globally each month in nine different languages, including eight in 10 new and expecting mums online in the UK.
Baby Buddy App
Baby Buddy is an award winning mobile phone app for new parents and parents-to-be, created by mums, doctors and midwives.
Mental Health
Healthtalk
By sharing people’s real-life experiences, healthtalk.org provides free, reliable information about health issues. You can watch people share their stories about cancer, autism, motor-neurone disease, pregnancy, drugs, depression and much more.
Doc Ready
It can be very difficult to talk to people when you’re having problems with your mental health. Doc Ready helps you prepare for the first time you visit a Doctor to discuss your mental health.
Find NHS Services near you
Find NHS services near you
Mind
Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Rethink Mental Illness
Rethink Mental Illness improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness through a network of local groups and services, expert information and successful campaigning. The goal is to make sure everyone affected by severe mental illness has a good quality of life.
Samaritans
Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way – about whatever’s getting to you. You don’t have to be suicidal. Call Samaritans free, 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
Sane
SANE is a leading UK mental health charity. They work to improve the quality of life for anyone affected by mental illness.
Combat Stress
Combat Stress is the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health. For a century, they’ve helped former servicemen and women with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK.
Dementia UK
Dementia UK offers specialist one-to-one support and expert advice for people living with dementia.
Young Minds
Young Minds is leading the fight for a future where all young minds are supported and empowered, whatever their challenges.
Palliative Care
What end of life care involves
End of life care is support for people who are in the last months or years of their life. End of life care should help you to live as well as possible until you die and to die with dignity. The people providing your care should ask you about your wishes and preferences, and take these into account as they work with you to plan your care. They should also support your family, carers or other people who are important to you.
Together for short Lives
Making a lifetime of difference for children expected to have short lives.
End of Life Care
You may not need to move away from home to receive care, as end of life and hospice care can be provided at home. To find out what’s available locally, ask your GP.
#hellomynameis
Dr Kate Granger, was a great supporter of NCPC and Dying Matters and she spoke at a number of events. Dr Granger launched the #hellomynameis campaign. It’s not always easy to talk about death or dying but when we don’t talk about what matters it can increase feelings of isolation, loneliness and distress.
Safeguarding During Coronavirus
ICON
Baby crying is normal, you can cope. Please follow the ICON guidance for coping with crying.
NSPCC Helpline
If you’re worried about a child, even if you’re unsure, contact NSPCC professional counsellors for help, advice and support.
SafeLives
If you are experiencing domestic abuse or are supporting someone who is in that situation, immediate help is available.
Childline
Offers free, confidential advice and support for any child 18 years or under, whatever the worry.
National Domestic Violence Helpline
Are you experiencing domestic abuse? You are not alone. The Helpline can help you find a refuge vacancy for you and your children; call us them more information. They can also support you to find other specialist services in your community, which can provide support whether or not you have left your partner.
Mind
Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Young Minds
Young Minds is leading the fight for a future where all young minds are supported and empowered, whatever their challenges.
Health A-Z
Guide to conditions, symptoms & treatments
Live Well
Advice, tips and tools for health & wellbeing
Sexual Health
Sexual Health Services and Contraceptive Services
Information, help, support, and advice on all matters relating to Sexual Health.
Find NHS Services near you
Find NHS services near you
Sexual Health Helpline
The National Sexual Health Helpline provided by Public Health England is open Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm.
Brook
Brook provides free and confidential sexual health and wellbeing services.
Sexwise
Honest advice about contraception, pregnancy, STIs and pleasure.
Terrence Higgins Trust
Advisers can provide emotional support if you are worried about your sexual health or have concerns about living with HIV. Help to access services local to you across the UK, whether provided by THT or by someone else.
Stop Smoking
NHS Smoking Helpline – Go Smoke Free
Quit smoking with your free Personal Quit Plan. You’re more likely to quit with the right support. Find the combination that’s right for you in just 3 easy steps.
Quit with Help
Are you ready to quit smoking? Get information and help.
Weight Management
WW – Weight Watchers
WW is Weight Watchers® reimagined, a scientifically proven program for weight loss and wellness. WW offers digital, studio and personal coaching solutions to help meet your goals. For more than 55 years, WW has helped millions lose weight with the latest nutritional and behaviour change science.
Slimming World
You’ll find delicious recipe and menu ideas at your local group, along with all the help you need to get started and reach your target weight.
NHS: Am I a Healthy Weight?
Use this calculator to check your body mass index (BMI) and find out if you’re a healthy weight. Or you can use it to check your child’s BMI.
Benefit from Activity
Exploring the benefits activity can have on medical conditions. Physical inactivity is the fourth biggest killer in the world. As little as 15 minutes of regular daily exercise is enough to make you live longer and have a better quality of life. Find out how, and what kinds of exercise are best for different conditions.
Walking for Health
Walking for Health offers over 1,800 free, short walks every week. Find your nearest health walk scheme.
Dacorum Sports Network
Dacorum Sports Network was formed in 2007 and accredited as a Community Sports Network (CSN) with funding from Sport England in 2008. As a CSN we bring together community clubs, volunteer groups and public organisations involved in delivering sport in the community and ensuring a healthy and active community – including public sporting facilities providers, local councils, and schools.
Change4Life
Change4Life aims to help your family be healthier and happier. Find out more about what’s really in the food your family eats.
Wellbeing
Healthtalk
By sharing people’s real-life experiences, healthtalk.org provides free, reliable information about health issues. You can watch people share their stories about cancer, autism, motor-neurone disease, pregnancy, drugs, depression and much more.
Humankind
Humankind create services and support to meet people’s complex health and social needs, helping them to build healthier lives that have meaning and value for themselves and their families. They support local people to create stronger, better-connected communities.
Young People
Sexual Health Services and Contraceptive Services
Information, help, support, and advice on all matters relating to Sexual Health.
Doc Ready
It can be very difficult to talk to people when you’re having problems with your mental health. Doc Ready helps you prepare for the first time you visit a Doctor to discuss your mental health.
Young Minds
Young Minds is leading the fight for a future where all young minds are supported and empowered, whatever their challenges.
The Mix
The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people. There to help young people take on any challenge they are facing – from mental health to money problems, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to them online or by using their free, confidential helpline.
Kooth
Want someone to understand or advice to help a friend? Kooth offers free, safe and anonymous online support for young people.
Consent to treatment for young people
Like adults, young people (aged 16 or 17) are presumed to have sufficient capacity to decide on their own medical treatment, unless there’s significant evidence to suggest otherwise.
Bitesize
Whether you’re moving to secondary school, jumping into the world of work, starting a new relationship or just feeling a bit stressed, we’ve asked those who’ve been through it to share their wisdom.