Our services – how we support families
As well as our core family support services offered through our helpline, live chat and email support we also work in many different areas and offering tailored support around issues such as bullying, mental health and support for specific communities.
Family Lives was formed over forty years ago by volunteers, with the aim of ensuring that all parents had somewhere to turn before they reached crisis point. We know that the right support at the right time makes all the difference.
Family Lives provides targeted early intervention and crisis support to families who are struggling.
The issues we support families with include:
- family breakdown,
- challenging relationships and behaviour,
- debt, and
- emotional and mental wellbeing.
- Find advice on all aspects of family life from bonding with your new baby, dealing with tantrums, positive discipline, bullying, communicating with teens and divorce and separation.
- (We cannot offer legal or medical advice)
We know the difference being able to access appropriate, timely support can make to families in crisis, knowing there is someone at the end of the phone who will listen to them. And we know the long term impact of early intervention with families, such as through the ParentChild+programme, which supports the home-learning environment, and our family befriending programmes.
The expertise of our staff and volunteers is at the heart of everything we do, and we work together with them to support families through our range of services. We have always been a volunteer-led organisation and we simply could not do it without our 300+ volunteers, who work alongside our dedicated staff team. Many of our volunteers began their relationship with us as service users but have stayed to support others on their journey – a testament to the support they themselves received.
Family Lives offers a confidential and free* helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously known as Parentline). Please call us on 0808 800 2222 for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life.
Helpline hours:
Monday to Friday 9 am to 9 pm
Weekends 10 am to 3 pm
You can contact us about any family issue, big or small.
We listen, support and never judge.
Our forums are a safe space for parents to share dilemmas, experiences and issues with others who understand the ups and downs of family life
What happens if you tell us that you or someone else has been hurt or is at risk?
If we are worried about your own safety, or being hurt, either by your own actions or by someone else, we want to help you find the best way to keep yourself safe. We do this by listening and talking with you about what you want to do. Most of the time whatever you tell us will stay between you and Family Lives.
However, if we feel that you are unable to make decisions for yourself, sometimes we might need to tell someone else what you’ve told us to be able to help you. This will apply to all young people under 13 and under some circumstances to older children and adults.
It is important to know that you can decide what information you choose to share with us. Sharing information will not automatically mean we will tell someone else but on some occasions it may mean us contacting the Police, Ambulance Service or Social Services.
We do not record any personal details, although phone numbers may appear in our system. We do not attribute them to any individual person. Phone numbers would only be used in cases of safeguarding.
Online parenting courses
Our free online parenting courses are a great way to get advice and learn new skills in the comfort of your own home and at times to suit you. All of our courses are filled with helpful techniques and ideas developed by our experienced parenting professionals to help you become a confident and happy parent. Crucially, you can do our course whenever and wherever suits you and work through it at our own pace.
Visit: Free online parenting classes | Family Lives for more information.