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Support with childcare costsSupport for your childSupport for familiesSupport for parents & carersSupport for Modern Parenting
Support with childcare costs
Support with Childcare Costs
You may be entitled for support with your childcare costs.
You can get help with childcare costs for children under 18. You might be able to apply for:
You could also get free hours childcare when your child is aged 2 to 4. You might be able to apply for:
- Free education and childcare for 2 year olds
- 15 hours free childcare for 3 to 4 year olds
- 30 hours free childcare for 3 to 4 year olds
You can only get childcare vouchers if you have already joined a scheme.
For further information please visit:
Support for your child
NHS Website for Children’s Health
– Variety of information on a number of different health needs including priority areas of children and young people.
– They also have a resources section under each section with further useful information including leaflets, guides and information sheets.
– There are links to further information as well under each subheading as well as what the NHS are doing to support children and young people.
– NHS England – Children and Young People
CAMHS
– CAMHS is the name for the NHS services that assess and treat young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties. You might also see CYPMHS used which stands for Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services.
– They have information on a variety of different topics such as how to get help, what happens and information for parents and carers.
– There is also an A-Z guide for parents and carers which gives you advice on how to help your child with their feelings and behaviour, as well as mental health conditions and life events and also shows you where you can get help.
NSPCC
– They are the UK’s leading children’s charity and they have been looking out for children for over 130 years and they work to prevent abuse, help rebuild children’s lives and support families.
– They have a variety of different services such as helplines, local services, regional and national hubs and they also work very closely with schools.
– In their ‘support for parents’ section they have parenting tips for all stages of your child’s life, as well as advice on how to deal with difficult situations.
– NSPCC
Support for families
Home Start
– Home-Start provides direct support through their local Home-Start network – families (usually with at least one child under five) are introduced and matched to an available volunteer.
– They work alongside parents, in their own homes, to help them cope with the stresses and strains of life and make sure they have the skills, confidence and strength they need to nurture their children.
– Many Home-Starts also run groups which provide further support, and social connection, for parents. There are more than 180 Home-Starts working in the local communities.
Trussell Trust
– They support a nationwide network of food banks and together they provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.
– There are over 1,200 food bank centres in their network. The services provided by food banks may vary from area to area as they react to the needs of their community to provide help and support to local people in crisis.
– There is also a section in which you can search for your local food bank and a ‘get help’ page in which you can find more information on how you can get food vouchers and a helpline number that you can also contact.
Trussell Trust – Find a Food Bank
Family Action
– Family Action works to tackle some of the most complex and difficult issues facing families today – including financial hardship, mental health problems, social isolation, learning disabilities, domestic abuse, or substance misuse and alcohol problems.
– They work directly with vulnerable children and families through our services and they also support professionals and organisations through our training and consultancy provision.
– They also have a ‘family line’ to provide a listening ear, answer particular parenting questions or help with guidance around more complex issues. All support takes place via telephone, text message or email and is free.
Support for parents & carers
General Support
Citizens Advice
– They are a national charity and network of local charities who offer confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free.
– They aim to ‘give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are, and whatever their problem’.
– They can provide advice around a number of topics such as debt, housing, work, benefits, health, immigration, family and law and courts.
– Learn more about Citizens Advice – Citizens Advice
Gov.uk
– This is the best place to find information on government services and support such as housing, employment, benefits and pensions.
– They have a number of different topics which are organised into various headings and support areas with easily accessible information.
– You can check eligibility for various areas with their online calculators such as benefits, tax, childcare costs and support.
– Welcome to GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Employment
Job Centre Plus
– They provide services to support people in finding employment including support searching for jobs, CV writing, tips for interviews and IT training where needed.
– They will provide advice around benefits and applications including Universal Credit and Job Seekers Allowance.
– You can find lots of information online including where your nearest Job Centre Plus Office is and how to contact them.
– Contact Jobcentre Plus: How to contact Jobcentre Plus – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
National Careers Service
– They can provide support around three key areas – Making Career Choices, Getting a Job and Progressing Your Career.
– There is also support and guidance for education and jobs for people with special educational needs, health needs and/or disabilities.
– There is a whole host information and support online from CV writing and help completing application forms to interview preparation and online training.
Careers advice | National Careers Service
Housing
Shelter
– Free advice and support to do with housing and homeless is available online, over the phone and locally. They also have solicitors who can provide free advice and attend court.
– Their phone lines are open 365 a year for anyone struggling with a housing issue or homelessness and you can also speak to an adviser online via their webchat.
– At a local level they can provide one-to-one support and advice that is personalised based on individual circumstances.
– Shelter – The housing and homelessness charity
Mind
– They can provide support around any housing problems and homelessness including the impact mental health and housing can have on each other.
– They cover four main areas – Help for housing emergencies and homelessness, general housing support, support for money relationships and practical issues and support for housing during hospital stays.
– They have a ‘housing useful contacts page’ which lists a number of organisations that can provide support, advice and guidance.
Support for Modern Parenting
At The Gap Club, we understand that modern parenting requires navigating an ever-changing landscape of difficult topics. From managing online safety and understanding bodily autonomy to addressing current global affairs and discrimination, the questions children ask today are complex.
We have developed this resource hub to act as a supportive starting point for your family. Here, you will find links to reputable UK organisations providing age-appropriate advice, practical tools, and conversation starters to help you guide your children through today’s big issues.
Online Safety
Internet Matters
– Internet Matters provides age-specific advice and step-by-step guides to help parents navigate the digital world and keep children safe online.
– They offer practical, easy-to-follow resources on setting up parental controls on various smartphones, gaming consoles, and home broadband networks.
– There is comprehensive advice on tackling complex digital issues such as cyberbullying, managing screen time, and protecting children from inappropriate content.
CEOP Education (Thinkuknow)
– Thinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organization which protects children both online and offline.
– They provide tailored advice for parents and carers on how to talk to children about online safety, from the early years through to the teenage years.
– The site includes home activity packs, informative videos, and guidance on what to do if you are worried about your child’s online activity.
Current News & Affairs
BBC Newsround
– BBC Newsround is a dedicated news service for children that presents current affairs, global news, and complex events in a factual, age-appropriate, and non-sensationalized manner.
– Alongside their daily bulletins, they offer a specific “Advice” section designed to help children process frightening or overwhelming news stories.
– Parents can use Newsround as a safe starting point to discuss current events with their children, ensuring the information they consume is accurate and safely delivered.
Consent and Bodily Autonomy
NSPCC – The PANTS Rule
– The NSPCC provides the ‘Talk PANTS’ rule, which is a simple, child-friendly way to help parents teach young children about bodily autonomy and keeping themselves safe.
– They provide free, downloadable resources, including activity packs, guides for parents, and videos featuring ‘Pantosaurus’ to make the conversation engaging and less daunting.
– The guidance helps parents explain that their child’s body belongs to them, that they have the right to say no, and who they can turn to if they are upset.
Respecting Other Cultures
Show Racism the Red Card – Show Racism the Red Card is the UK’s leading anti-racism educational charity, working closely with schools, businesses, and communities.
– They provide a wealth of educational resources, videos, and articles that parents can use to educate themselves and their children about the impacts of racism and discrimination.
– The platform offers practical advice on how to recognize bias, challenge prejudiced language, and foster inclusivity and respect within the family environment.
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity
Just Like Us – Just Like Us is an LGBT+ young people’s charity that works alongside schools and communities to ensure LGBT+ children and young adults can thrive.
– They provide resources and guidance that can help parents understand LGBTQ+ terminology, answer children’s questions about different family structures, and promote a culture of respect.
– Their platform also offers support networks and stories from young ambassadors, helping parents support their own children or their children’s peers.