Childcare

Listed below are some organisations / support groups that provide information and advice about Childcare.
Although the information was originally collected for use within the Linlithgow community we hope the list could be useful to others.

For further information on any of the organisations - just follow the website link/s or where there are no website links available email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Action For Sick Children

UK children's health care charity, specially formed to ensure that children receive the highest standard of care possible. Campaigns on all aspects of healthcare, whether in hospital in the community or at home and from national policies to individual family cases. 

ADDISSThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service.

Adoption UK

Charity providing support, community and advocacy for all those parenting or supporting children who cannot live with their birth parents. Connect adoptive families, provide information and signposting on a range of adoption-related issues.

Anti-bullying networkThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Find out how to tackle bullying, where to go for advice.

Blue Cross This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pet charity providing practical support and information for owners. Pet bereavement support including children with pets.

‘CAPVA’ Child or Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse

Capa First Response is an online platform for families & Professionals – supporting those impacted by a child using harmful and/or aggressive behaviours towards a parent or caregiver. 

Care for the Family  

Care for the Family is a national charity which aims to promote strong family life and to help those who face family difficulties.

Care Inspectorate 

The Care Inspectorate regulates and inspects care services in Scotland to make sure that they meet the right standards.

Child Accident Prevention Trust 

Give free child safety advice to parents and carers. Email via website.

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre

Making the internet a safer place. Useful information.

Child Maintenance Service 

Government website on how to manage your child maintenance service case. Includes: how to pay, if a parent does not pay, reportable changes, disagreements about parentage, complaints and appeals. 

Childline

Counselling centre for children and young people suffering problems e.g. bullying, sexual and physical abuse, feelings, body image, relationships, families, home, school, college and work. Has a Helpline 0800 1111 and supplies links to other agencies. 

Children 1st   

Supports Scottish families under stress, protect children from harm and neglect, help them recover from abuse and promote children's rights and interests.

Children in Scotland This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

National organisation for voluntary, statutory and professional organisations and individuals working with families and children.

Children's Hospice Association Scotland (C.H.A.S.)This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Provides holiday breaks for children with life threatening conditions, respite care, crisis care, terminal care and home support.

Coram Family and Childcare

Work to make the UK a better place for families, focusing on childcare and the early years to make a difference to families’ lives now and in the long term.

Council for Disabled Children This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Produces information, advice or support and guidance on issues affecting the lives of disabled children and children with special educational needs.

CrossReach

Social care and support service by the Church of Scotland. Available to all people in Scotland.

Donaldson's School

The School provides a Skills Based Education for Differently-Abled Children & Young People aged 5 to 18 whose main barriers to learning are communication difficulties arising from various additional support needs such as Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, deafness, hard of hearing and language disorders.

Early Years Scotland 

Provides support and guidance to providers of early learning and childcare for local authorities in Scotland. Also work directly with young children and families in a range of  local settings including community venues, nurseries and prisons. 

Enquire

The Scottish Advice Service, provides advice and information about additional support for learning legislation and guidance for families and professionals.

Family Fund

Independent grant-giving organisation helping low-income families caring for a severely disabled child.

Father's Network Scotland 

Provides help and support, advice or information for dads/fathers. Website includes directory of dad friendly groups and organisations in Scotland. A range of services offered including workshops, training, consultancy, events, research and media work. The charity works with a wide range of organisations across Scotland to engage, support and empower men to be the fathers they want to be. 

Fatherhood InstituteThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The UK's fatherhood think tank. Wide range of information about / for fathers on issues such as maternity, employment, education, and government policy etc.

Grandparents Plus  

Advising and supporting grandparents and wider family members offering them professional advice, information and casework support; and help each other, especially when they are caring for children who are not living with their parents.

Home-Start 

Voluntary befrienders offer support, friendship, and practical help to families at home with children under five. Email address available for different parts of the UK. 

I CAN

Children's communication charity which offers help and advice to parents and practitioners  who are concerned about their child's speech, language and communication. Runs outreach programmes and develops intervention programmes. 

Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA) 

Offers free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. Operates in England.

kindred

For parents of children with complex needs, provides practical information, advocacy, emotional support and guidance.

Kinship Care Advice Service for Scotland

Provides advice and information to Kinship Carers including: practical and emotional support, financial issues. The circumstances for Kinship Care can be different: arrangement can be short term, giving the birth parents an occasional short break. Or it might be a temporary arrangement while the birth parents get back on their feet. Sometimes it is long term or even permanent. Every situation is different. The arrangement might be informal, it might involve the social work department, or it may be that a court or a children’s hearing has played a role. 

Linlithgow Link 

Provide support through social and community activity to those who are isolated by illness, age, or infirmity. E.g. volunteers supply car service to hospitals, befriend housebound people and young mothers, provide social activities for the frail elderly and assisting in running the local monthly Caring Café for those affected by Dementia.

Mellow Parenting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Offers a range of programmes for parents (mums and dads) to be the best parents they can be to their child / children.

National Childbirth Trust (NCT)

Offers information and support in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood. Ante natal classes, breast feeding, counselling, support network. Email available through website.

Netmums This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Netmums is a family of local sites that cover the UK, each site offering information to mothers on everything from where to find playgroups and how to eat healthily to where to meet other mothers.

NHS (National Health Service)

Provides information about health and well being, health services, support and social services provided by the National Health Service for the general public in England. 

Notre Dame Centre

Provides services and support to vulnerable children, young people and families

NSPCC 

Provides services to help children who have been abused, protect children at risk and find the best ways to prevent child abuse from ever happening. Works directly with children and families and with schools. 

Help for adults concerned about a child 0808 800 5000 ChildLine 0800 1111

 

Guide features what children do online, the threat of online strangers and how to ensure a healthy balance between Internet use, your children’s online privacy, digital security, and more on online safety.

Potential Plus UK  

Independent charity which works with the whole family to support children with high learning potential - formerly National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). Email via website. 

Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA)This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Provides information, advice, resources and training in the promotion of safety in all areas of life.

Safe Families for Children 

Aims to makes a crucial difference for some families in preventing the need for children to go into care. They accept referrals from partnering local authorities, matching struggling families with caring volunteers in their area who can provide tailored help and ‘wraparound’ care. This includes: Host Families; A Family Friend: A Resource Friend; A Family Coach; A Safe Families Church.

Scottish Autism

Helps those diagnosed with autism to lead full and enriched lives and become valuable members of the community they live in. Former name Scottish Society for Autism. Email available through website.

Scottish Childminding Association

Promoting childminding as a quality child care service. Provides guidance and training for it's members.

Scottish Out of School Care NetworkThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Provides: support, information resources, advice to all involved in out of school care, and a forum to exchange ideas and experiences; to encourage high quality care; to share good practice and to organise events and training.

Sense Scotland

Help for people who are deaf-blind or who have sensory impairment in communicating. Free advisory service and support including: early years: children and families: adults: living in your own home.

Serene (including the Cry-sis Helpline) 

Emotional support and practical advice to parents dealing with excessive crying, demanding behaviour and sleep problems.

Signpost 

Advice, information and support to young people with additional support needs and their families in West Lothian. 

Sure Start Children's Centres

The centres are open to all parents, carers and children and many of the services are free. You can get help and advice on child and family health, parenting, money, training and employment. Available in England only

Sure Start in West Lothian  

Supporting Parents and Carers to make a positive start in young childrens’ lives from birth to age 3. Services include: individual support, group sessions, parenting programmes.

Thinkuknow

Information / advice for staying safe when you're on a phone, tablet or computer. Covers different age ranges: 4-7, 8-10, 11-13 and 14+.  Plus Parent / Carer and Children workforce categories. 

thirtyone: eight 

An independent Christian charity which helps individuals, organisations, charities, faith and community groups to protect vulnerable people from abuse. Provides a 24 hour helpline.

United Christian Broadcasting (UCB) Prayerline 

Telephone team that will pray with you and for you. or you can submit your prayer request by filling in an online form. 

Winston's Wish This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

UK wide child bereavement service offering support, information and guidance to children and young people after the death of a parent or a sibling. 

Young Minds This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Promotes mental health of children and young people. Helpline for young people and parents.