There is a lot happening after separating from your partner. It can often be a time of high emotion and high conflict.  

While you might be doing your best to protect your child from the impact of separation, children will often pick up on many of these emotions and experiences and might need to talk about the situation. Children can feel caught in the middle between their parents.  

With all that is happening during and after separation, some parents may be focusing on the routine of day-to-day parenting without really listening to what their children are telling them.  

Down-to-earth parenting advice you can trust. We’re on hand to support parents, when you need us. Browse our articles on the most common parenting questions from our experts. Or talk one-to-one with a qualified parenting coach about anything that’s worrying you. It’s all free, and no topic is too big, small, or embarrassing.

Free support for military parents.

Are you parenting with someone who you argue with a lot?
Is there conflict in your relationship?
Have you separated and you are struggling to co-parent without tension?

The Youth Homeless Prevention team is a team based in Early Help that works with 16 – 17 year olds and their parents/carers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

As a parent or carer are you struggling to maintain your young person staying at home or are you considering/have asked your young person to leave. If so, we can offer advice and support to you and young people including linking you up with other support services (with your consent).

We are very much focused on prevention and support with you and your child central to our thinking. We understand it can be a stressful time, so we take the time to truly understand what is going on for you and your child and why they are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This then helps us to know what support, advice or signposting is needed. We can also, where necessary, support young people who are homeless to access accommodation in Torbay.

Email: yhp@torbay.gov.uk
Phone: 01803208723

Watch this video to find out more about the online understanding your pregnancy course

New online course – Understanding your preterm or sick baby

Watch this video to find out more about the online understanding your baby course

Here’s a taster about the understanding your child’s feelings course

New online course – understanding the impact of the pandemic on your child

The Solihull Approach Parenting Group emphasises the need for emotional containment and the presence of a reciprocal relationship. This enables parents to think, within the group and at home, about sensitive and effective approaches to behaviour management. It also empowers parents, to build on their existing skills and develop a way of thinking to solve difficulties in the future.

This is an 11 week course and can be accessed via a referral from a professionals such as your health visitor or you can self refer.

Call us on 01803 210200 or email familyhub@torbay.gov.uk 

To self referral click here

A one to one support service that responds to the individual needs of the family; the child is at the centre of all activities/interventions.

Some of the activities we can help with are:

• Daily routines and family organisation.
• Budgeting and healthy eating.
• Support in accessing appropriate services or universal activities.
• Support parents to complete forms and applications.
• Positive behaviour management strategies.
• Establishing positive and secure relationships.
• Understanding children’s social, emotional and developmental needs.
• Developing supportive family and social networks.
• To raise aspirations and contributions into the community.

Attendance at child in need, child protection and core group meetings supporting the needs of the child.
This is a targeted service and we only take referrals from the Early Help Panel.

Home-Start offers a range of parent support services, including relationship support programmes and perinatal mental health groups, but their primary service is peer mentoring, befriending volunteers. A volunteer with parenting experience offers support to parents either in the home or via text, phone or video chat. The volunteer offers tailor-made, one-to-one regular support – usually on a weekly basis.
Telephone: 07307 873163
Website: https://www.home-start.org.uk/home-start-south-west-devon
Facebook: @HomeStartSouthandWestDevon
Email: homestart.shpt@gmail.com

What’s Your Problem are a non-profit organisation that offers friendly, confidential help and support to ensure that all people have equal and fair access to justice and support. Their team is available Monday-Friday, from 9.00am-3.00pm, and can offer support to access justice and legal advice for family matters such as divorce and child arrangements, and welfare rights advice for housing support and benefit entitlement.
Telephone: 01803 524044
Website: https://www.whatsyourproblem.org.uk/
Facebook: @whatsyourproblemtorbay
Email: info@whatsyourproblem.org.uk

Family Support for those with a child under five years
A one to one support service that responds to the individual needs of the family; the child is at the centre of all activities/interventions.

Some of the activities we can help with are:

• Daily routines and family organisation.
• Budgeting and healthy eating.
• Support in accessing appropriate services or universal activities.
• Support parents to complete forms and applications.
• Positive behaviour management strategies.
• Establishing positive and secure relationships.
• Understanding children’s social, emotional and developmental needs.
• Developing supportive family and social networks.
• To raise aspirations and contributions into the community.
• Attendance at child in need, child protection and core group meetings supporting the needs of the child.

This is a targeted service and we only take referrals from the Early Help Panel.

Solihull online course – Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing
If you are either interested or worried about your child’s mental health and wellbeing, then this course is for you.

This course ‘Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing’ is unusual as it introduces you to mental health and wellbeing in Part 1…, then you leave this course and complete ‘Understanding your child’ …and then come back to Part 2 of this course.

If you have already completed ‘Understanding your child’ then you don’t need to do it again (unless you want a refresh or to look at it from a different angle).

Enter the code TAMAR to access it for free.

Solihull online course – Understanding your child with additional needs
This online course is for parents with a child with additional needs. It is for parents, relatives and friends of children who may have a physical or learning disability or who may have autistic traits. In the UK, you may be within the SEND (Special educational needs and disability) system. Some parents describe their child as differently abled, or neuroatypical.

This course is in 2 sections. Level 1 lays the foundation for understanding your child. Level 2 looks at some particular aspects of parenting: sleeping and anger management, together with more about how we interact with each other. Understanding this can make it easier to work with your child’s behaviour as well as supporting their development. Once you finish Level 1 you can progress to Level 2 if you’d like to.

To access this course for free, just enter the code TAMAR.

Solihull online course – Understanding your baby
This course gives parents information about their baby’s brain development and their baby’s physical and emotional development. It shows how important their relationship with their baby is for the baby’s development.

It integrates the traditional information given on a postnatal course with this new approach to developing your relationship with the baby. It looks at the baby’s sleeping, feeding, crying, playing and childcare options.

The course was developed by Health Visitors working with health professionals in the Solihull Approach team. Enter the code TAMAR, fill in a few details to create an account. You can then sign in to your course.

What is a Family Group Conference (FGC)?

An FGC is an opportunity that is open to all children, young people and their families across Torbay who are experiencing any kind of difficulties. It is completely voluntary, and you can access the service without the need for a referral.

The FGC service helps families to hold their own meetings which are completely family led and recognises the children, young people and their families as the key decision makers in the planning. You will be supported by an independent coordinator who can make all the arrangements with you to enable your meeting to happen and they would ensure all relevant people attend. Your meeting would include people who are important to you and your children. This can be family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, community members and professionals that support you. You are fully involved in the planning of the meeting and identifying who should attend.

We would always encourage children and young people to take part in their FGC whether that is in person or via a person called an advocate who will share their wishes and feelings on their behalf. An advocate is independent and is there to support the child or to be their voice when they cannot attend. All children aged five and above can access the advocates.

Why do we offer this service?
We believe that families can make good, safe and supportive decisions about the care of their children and with the help of the extended network around you, you can get the help and support you need to improve your situation for you and your children.

It is important that you and your family have a voice and can tell professionals what support you do have and what else you need to ensure your children are kept safe and well and are supported to grow and develop into healthy adults.

Why is this different to other meetings?
An FGC is completely family-led and offers families the opportunity to take the lead in the planning. You as a family write your own plan and everyone, including the children have a say in what that looks like.

An FGC is an informal meeting which is held in a neutral venue agreed between you and the coordinator. We want your meeting to be as relaxed and comfortable as possible and will provide you with refreshments during your meeting.

The FGC service is an independent service which sits within Torbay Early Help Service. We are not involved with any decisions being made about your children. We are there to help to arrange and facilitate your meeting for you.

What does an FGC look like?
An FGC is split into three parts:
1. The information giving stage – this is where any professionals will be invited to attend your meeting to share any information and tell you about any support you could access and use in your plan.
2. Private family time – during this stage, all professionals will leave the room to allow you and your identified network (your family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, or community members) to have open and honest discussions about the current situation in private. You will also put together your plan during this stage of the meeting.
3. Agreeing the plan – Once you have finished putting together your plan, the professionals will be asked to come back in so that we can look at your plan together and make sure that we have all the relevant information and timescales for when things will be done, for e.g. if a professional has offered to refer you to a service, we would ask them to provide a date of when they will do it by. The coordinator will help you to make contingency plans in case any part of your plan is disrupted by unforeseen circumstances, for example if someone is unwell and cannot do what they said they would do.

Once your family plan is agreed, the coordinator will ensure that your plan is written up and sent out to everyone that attends your meeting so that everyone knows what was agreed.

The coordinator will also make arrangements with you for a review of your plan within 12 weeks to see how things are going. You will be able to continue with your current plan if it is working well or make amendments to it if needed.

If you would like to know more about FGC, please click the link below which will take you to a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB4ON_6m95Q&t=321s

Alternatively, you can attend one of our drop-in sessions to find out more or contact us on 07824 537242 or email FGC.referrals@torbay.gov.uk

Find information, advice, videos and more here. 

Most of us have disagreements about things in our relationships – whether it’s coming home late, spending too much time on the phone, or what to watch on TV, having a difference of opinion is normal.

Not all conflict is damaging, but if your disagreements are frequent, intense and poorly resolved it can have a negative impact on your children’s health and emotional wellbeing.

Children who often witness adults arguing, slamming doors or ignoring each other sometimes feel that they are to blame, it can negatively impact on their self-esteem, mental and physical health, behaviour, how well they do in school, and their relationships with others both now and in their adult life.

Conflict in relationships can occur in all types of families: between biological parents, step-parents, foster and adoptive parents, parents and grandparents and separated and divorced parents to name just a few.

If you recognise this is happening in your relationship, please come along to one of the Drop-in Sessions at the Family Hubs for parents/carers.

For more information, please contact:
sally.perryman@torbay.gov.uk
mobile: 07747 565 453

Here’s links to other organisations that could provide information and support.

• Race Equality Foundation comprehensive information about what is conflict and how to address it.
• Parental conflict toolkit (raceequalityfoundation.org.uk)
• Home – For Baby’s Sake (forbabyssake.org.uk) for new parents.
• Parental conflict: the impact on children and how local authorities can help on Vimeo
• Listening to your child’s voice after separation – Cafcass – Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
• Parenting Plan – Cafcass – Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
• What is Decisional Balance? – The Heart’s Way (theheartswayforcreativeclinicians.com)
• DAD.info | Free expert advice and support for Fathers and free separated parents co-parenting programme for mums and dads.
• Parenting after separation courses
• Dr Gottman what makes marriage work Making Marriage Work | Dr. John Gottman – YouTube
• Dr Gottman video, four destructive behaviours that can destroy relationships Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse | The Gottman Institute: Relationship Behaviours that Lead to Failure – YouTube
• and how to avoid them
• The Easiest Way to Improve Your Relationship | The Gottman Institute – YouTube
• Co-Parenting Apps to help separated parents communicate effectively about their children
• Co-Parenting Apps Which One To Choose | Divorce Cheshire (separ8.co.uk)
• Resources for parents and carers – Cafcass – Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
• Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, on-line information for parents and carers
• Family Lives.org Information and advice Relationship problems | Family Lives

Some video’s you might find helpful

When we argue with our partner or ex-partner, we can get caught up in the heat of the moment. At times like these, it’s difficult to find a way forward. See it differently want to help you see things differently, and do things differently. Click on this link to watch their video.

Making marriage work: here’s the science behind happy relationships! Dr. Gottman outlines the findings, tools and techniques that have helped thousands of couples from around the world build a “Sound Relationship House.”

Relationship Matters

When two people share responsibility for a child, no matter whether they are still together or separated, the relationship between them has a direct impact on the mental health of their children.

Do you recognise any of these things?

• Are you arguing, having rows, shouting all the time with each other about things like, money, how you parent or housework?
• Are you worried about splitting up?
• Is there sulking, silent treatment, slamming doors or walking away from each other?
• Are you anxious or worried and is this getting in the way of managing everyday life?
• Are you not able to say sorry after an argument and move on?
• Are you using hurtful texts, emails or social media against each other?

Watch the video to find out more information

Advice and guidance for parents and carers in conflict or separating from the Anna Freud Centre

Emma Morris, member of the Family Ties Team at the Anna Freud Centre, talks about the impact that parental conflict can have on children.

Culture Reframed understands how daunting it can be to raise kids in a culture where they are bombarded with sexual images, including porn. That’s why they have created a Parents Program — a complete, best-practice toolkit — that will give you the skills and knowledge you need to raise porn-resilient kids.

What is Early Help and how are we delivering it in Torbay?
Early Help is not a specific service or team it’s an approach to working that brings together professionals from a range of different services who will work with your whole family to help improve things for everyone.

We believe that children and families need to be heard when they first ask for help to minimise the risk of problems getting worse and help them address them at the earliest opportunity. Offering a family Early Help is also a voluntary process and consent from children, young people, and their families to work with them will always be sought. It is the family’s or young persons choice if they want to work with Early Help.

Early Help can be provided through a single agency or a number of agencies as appropriate to the needs of the child and family and the support they require.

When you work with Early Help, we promise we will:

• Always work WITH the child, young person, and family, and not “do to” them;
• Work in a relational way that focuses on the family’s strengths;
• Consider the whole family to understand solutions to challenges the family is experiencing;
• Identify and address the problem at the earliest opportunity;

At Torbay, we believe that Early Help is “everyone’s business”, so you can approach a trusted professional from any agency or voluntary community service to access support. If they can’t get you the right support immediately they may ask you to consent to an Early Help assessment. This is nothing to worry about as the assessment is very brief and will help us understand exactly what support you will need and how we will work with you to provide that support.

If the Early Help support you need involves more than one agency we may devise a support plan with you called a Team Around The Family Plan or TAF Plan for short. For mor information about the Team Around the Family click here.

Please click here to request further information about Early Help or talk to a trusted professional or a member of the staff at your local Family Hub.

Feedback Report 14 – 17 March 2023

The Supporting Families Programme is a Government funded initiative that has been running since 2015.

When families experience a lot of challenges all at once these can be the most difficult times for them. The Supporting Families programme is aimed at working with families at these times by providing targeted interventions for families with complex problems. These problems might include the following:-

• Unemployment and financial instability,
• Poor school attendance,
• Mental and physical health problems,
• Involvement in crime and antisocial behaviour,
• Domestic abuse and poor family relationships,
• Children who are at risk of abuse and exploitation,
• Substance misuse and insecure housing.

The four key principles of Supporting Families is helping you at the earliest possible time you experience a problem, working with your whole family, working with other agencies in partnership who can provide different types of support to you, and ensuring we make a real difference to you and your children.

The Supporting Families programme in Torbay is delivered via the Early Help Partnership. For more information click on the link, speak to a Family Hub worker or contact us by clicking here.

The Supporting Families Programme is based on the principle of a whole family approach, providing support to all members of the family, including children, parents and grandparents. The programme’s holistic approach helps families to address and overcome multiple challenges they might be facing relating to unemployment, housing, education and health.  

The Supporting Families Network meetings are held quarterly in the Paignton area of Torbay. Our meetings are completely cost free and follow a simple format. Our meetings are well attended by our multi agency partners and the community voluntary sector.

The Nomination form is intended to be used by all Partners when offering Universal support to families at Level 2, and where it is felt that the family may reach the criteria for inclusion within the Supporting (Troubled) Families programme. Not all families are ‘open’ or known to Children’s Services however, many families in Torbay are in receipt of support from a service or services and could still be eligible.

A family’s needs could be anything from an educational issue for one child, a health difficulty, financial issues and perhaps housing, which require more than one professional’s expertise. Through working with a TAF, support needs and difficulties can be addressed together to avoid things escalating.

The Family Intervention Team offer focused family support to families with complex needs through targeted support. We work flexibly and creatively with parents and their children in their homes and in groups, to increase the skills, confidence and abilities of all family members to live their daily lives in a positive and safe way.Key areas of work:
• To offer emotional and practical support to parents and their families, in their own homes and in the community.
• To offer a whole family / family centred restorative approach to families with emerging and complex needs within a preventative approach.
• We attend meetings, groups and deliver training as requested.
• Develop and build a trusting relationship with the children, young people and parents to help alleviate or break their social isolation and increase capacity and resilience.
• Provide advice and support to families and professionals linking with community resources.
• Communicate and foster positive relationship with our agency partners to ensure best interests of the child and family.

FIT link worker
One FIT worker is linked to each Family Hub. They are available to have conversations and signpost over current worries and support needs your family might be having at the time.

Parenting Support
Various offers of parenting support through face-to-face groups are being offered in the Hubs- please look at our timetable for up to date information on these.

Email: yhp@torbay.gov.uk
Phone: 01803208723

The Youth Homeless Prevention team is a team based in Early Help that works with 16 – 17 year olds and their parents/carers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

As a parent or carer are you struggling to maintain your young person staying at home or are you considering/have asked your young person to leave. If so, we can offer advice and support to you and young people including linking you up with other support services (with your consent).

We are very much focused on prevention and support with you and your child central to our thinking. We understand it can be a stressful time, so we take the time to truly understand what is going on for you and your child and why they are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This then helps us to know what support, advice or signposting is needed. We can also, where necessary, support young people who are homeless to access accommodation in Torbay.

Email: yhp@torbay.gov.uk
Phone: 01803208723

Illegal money lenders or loan sharks as they are more commonly known are criminals and they will lend money to almost anyone at extortionately high interest rates (100% a week is the norm) and will use a variety of tactics such as intimidation, harassment, threats and violence to ensure that the borrower continues to pay with no end date to the loan.

In the period 2016 – 2021, Devon was the nations “hotspot” for loan shark activity and Torbay in particular had numerous arrests made and several prosecutions.

Anyone who owes a loan shark money needs specialist help and support which only the Stop Loan Shark Team can provide and they can be contacted (anonymously if needs be) either by calling their 24/7/365 Helpline on 0300 555 2222 or via their Live Chat facility on their website www.stoploansharks.co.uk
And most importantly, anyone who has taken a loan from a loan shark has NOT committed any offence at all.

Working in partnership with local agencies to help with the practical needs of families and babies within Torbay. We provide baby clothes, food, toiletries, toys and some pieces of equipment through a referral process for babies and children up to three years old!

Teaching your children about money from a young age helps them develop the skills they’ll need as adults. We can show you how to talk to 3- to 11-year-olds about money. This doesn’t need to be complicated – children can learn about money from being involved in everyday activities.

The Torbay Community Helpline is a one-stop-shop for access to advice, information and referral to a whole range of support in the community and beyond.

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

Torbay Food Alliance is a partnership of local community organisations, working together to support people who are struggling to afford food. Find out where you can get support.

A social supermarket (sometimes known as an Affordable Food Club) is a kind of shop which provides people with food and essentials at a large discount.

Advising Torbay is a collaboration between organisations working together to support Benefits advice in Torbay. Each partner already delivers some form of Information, Advice and Guidance in their areas. We came together to support sustainability across all our organisations and to develop some new features to Advising Torbay to support our local communities.

Information, advice and guidance on benefits, form filling, appointments and drop ins as well as training to organisations across Torbay.

CAP can help if you are struggling with debt or unemployment, need some help breaking free from habits or learning new life skills.

You are entitled to a ‘Sure Start Maternity Grant’ of £500 from the Department of Work and Pensions if you are on benefits to buy essentials for when your first baby is born. You can talk to your Personal Advisor and midwife about these grants and other support that might be available to you.

You will be able to get free NHS dental care in the UK while you’re pregnant and for a year after the baby is born.

In England, you’re entitled to free prescriptions while you’re pregnant and for a year after the baby is born.

This scheme aims to support households in the most need, particularly families with children and pensioners who would otherwise struggle with energy bills and food.

To apply for Household Support, you must:

• be over 16 years of age
• live in Torbay
• be on a welfare benefit/tax credit or have a disposable income of less than £50 per week

Awards will normally only be given to people liable for fuel costs. Exceptions do apply to people who are homeless.

If your partner or someone in your family is hurting your mind or your body that’s not OK. Support is available.

Practical, non-judgemental support, advice and protection for all victims of domestic abuse.

SomeOne Cares offers a free counselling service for survivors and supporters of abuse, specialising in childhood sexual abuse, rape and sexual assault.
Telephone: 0191 257 8094
Website: https://someonecares.org.uk/
Facebook: @someonecares.org
Email: enquiries@someonecares.org.uk

Refuge work to support women and children experiencing domestic abuse. They offer a freephone 24-hour domestic abuse helpline.
Telephone: 0808 2000 247
Websites: https://www.refuge.org.uk/ and https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
Facebook: @RefugeCharity
Email: helpline@refuge.org.uk

Postnatal depression affects more than 1 in every 10 women within a year of giving birth. It can also affect fathers and partners.

Is the way that you are feeling affecting your daily life? Are you struggling to cope, feeling low, anxious or overwhelmed by your thoughts and feelings? Are you living with a health condition that is making you feel tired, frustrated and worried? You are not alone and we can help.

Sands works to support anyone affected by the death of a baby; improve the care bereaved parents receive; and create a world where fewer babies die.

The BTA is a charity that supports women who suffer birth trauma – a shorthand term for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after birth. Their website also includes an information and support page dedicated to dads and partner, both as supporters of mums and as having experienced birth trauma in their own right.
Telephone: 01264 860380 (Mon-Fri, 10.00am-5.30pm)
Website: https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/ and https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/for-parents/fathers-partners-page
Facebook: @TheBTA
Email: support@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk or enquiries@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk

“The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database, providing individuals with the ability to search for mental health support that is local to them. This includes: local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services.
Website: https://hubofhope.co.uk/

Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Their website contains useful information on a range of mental health problems, including postnatal and antenatal depression, perinatal mental health problems, postpartum psychosis, and postnatal depression and perinatal mental health problems experienced by dads and partners, as well as drugs, treatments and tips for everyday living. Mind also offer a range of online support services, as well as local groups.
Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich Mind have also published a downloadable leaflet, setting out advice on “Better mental health for new dads, partners and non-birthing parents”.
Telephone: 0300 123 3393 (Mind Infoline – Mon-Fri, 9.00am-6.00pm, not including Bank Holidays)
Website: https://www.mind.org.uk/
Facebook: @mindforbettermentalhealth
Email: contact@mind.org.uk

For more information on the services offered at Devon Mind, please visit their website or Facebook page.
Telephone: 01752 512280
Website: https://www.devonmind.com/
Facebook: @MindDevon
Email: hello@devonmind.com

The PANDAS Foundation (Pre And Post Natal Depression Advice and Support) offers support and advice to any parent who is experiencing a perinatal mental health illness. It also provides support for their families. There is a specific Facebook page for dads, including a link to a closed Facebook support group. To find your local PANDAS group, click on this link: https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/how-we-can-support-you/support-groups/.
Telephone: Helpline: 0808 1961 776 (11.00am-10.00pm daily)
Website: www.pandasfoundation.org.uk
Facebook: @PANDASFoundation and @pandasdads
Email: info@pandasfoundation.org.uk

Tommy’s is the largest charity funding research into the causes of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. They also provide information for parents-to-be to help them to have a healthy pregnancy and baby, as well as advice on mental wellbeing. As part of their ‘Pregnancy Hub’, they have specific pages of information and advice for dads and partners.
Telephone: 0800 0147 800
Website: https://www.tommys.org/ and https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/dads-and-partners
Facebook: @Tommys
Email: mailbox@tommys.org

The Sapper Support Helpline is staffed by veterans 24/7 to help those suffering from PTSD, anxiety, depression, bi-polar or PTS.
Telephone: 0800 040 7873 / 0800 040 7783 – or text 07860 018733

The Moorings offer mental health support in a welcoming, safe, comfortable, non-judgmental, and non-clinical environment.
07483 991 848  
https://www.mhm.org.uk/the-moorings-devon
https://twitter.com/MHM_Info devontorquay.mhm@nhs.net

Independent alcohol advice, information and tools to help people make better choices about their drinking.

AA provide support groups and online forums for individuals struggling with alcoholism.
Telephone: 0800 9177 650
Website: https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
Email: help@aamail.org

EDP Drug and Alcohol Services is the registered charity that delivers the Together Drug and Alcohol Service across the whole of Devon. They offer all sorts of programmes and activities to support recovery both for the individual and for their family, together with prescribing options and a needle exchange. To find details of your nearest service, please visit their website.
Telephone: 08002 335444
Website: http://www.edp.org.uk/together/
Facebook: @EDPDrugandAlcoholServices
Email: info@together-devon.org.uk

Second hand smoke is dangerous, especially for children. Find out how to protect against second hand smoke.

Torbay Recovery Initiatives – part of the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust – provides help, support, advice and treatment for those with problematic drug and/or alcohol use and anyone affected by drugs and alcohol misuse. For more information on the services provided, including how to refer, please visit their website.
Address: Walnut Lodge, Walnut Road, Chelston, Torquay TQ2 6HP
Telephone: 01803 604330
Website: https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/drug-and-alcohol-service/
Facebook: @TorbayDrugAlcoholService

Advice and information on a range of employment and training issues for people of working age

We enable people to identify and overcome their barriers to live a more fulfilled life.

Whether you’re a teenager or an adult, it’s never too late to learn. We provide safe and fun learning environments, tailored around you!
01803 551 551
https://eatthatfrog.ac.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/eatthatfrogcic
info@eatthatfrog.ac.uk

A 1:1 mentoring service offering support with life skills that involve numeracy, such as budgeting, hobbies, work income etc.

This service is available for free to anyone in Torbay who has not yet achieved a level 2 in Maths or numeracy and is over the age of 19.
01803 201332
https://icandothat.co/#what-we-offer

DaddiLife – A parenting website for dads which includes advice, tips and help on family, health, lifestyle and much more.

Dads Matter UK provides support for dads worried about or suffering from depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Website: www.dadsmatteruk.org

Facebook: @dadsmatteruk

Andy’s Man Club is a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the UK and online. The Club want to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and to support men through the power of conversation.
Website: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/
Facebook: @andysmanclub
Email: info@andysmanclub.co.uk

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement for men against mental health issues and male suicide. Their helpline is for men in the UK who are down or who have hit a wall, for any reason, and who need to talk or find information and support.
Telephone: 0800 585858 (Mon-Fri from 1.00 pm-11.00 pm)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net (with webchat from 5.00 pm-12.00 am)
Facebook: @theCALMzone

HeadsUp is an online campaign to help men get happy and stay happy. It has been set up to help men identify and deal with issues that tend to crop up in life from time to time. The website also offers help to friends and family of a man they might be able to support.
Website: www.thisisheads-up.uk

PANDAS now also host online Zoom support groups for dads. If you are a dad and are feeling the strain of parenting, or simply want to connect with other dads, then this is the group for you. The calls take place between 8.00pm-10.00pm every other Monday. The calls are drop-in, so feel free to join and leave the call when it suits you within that timeframe. The group will be hosted by PANDAS’ amazing, fully-trained, dad-volunteers, and you will be able to chat to other dads who may be experiencing a similar journey to you. You will also be able to offer support to other dads. PANDAS hope that this group will be a chance to reduce isolation and get more support. For further details on dates and to sign up, please visit the EventBrite link.
Website: https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/how-we-can-support-you/online-support-groups/

Essential suicide prevention for everyday life, the Stay Alive app is an award-winning suicide prevention resource and is free to download onto an Android phone or iPhone.
Website: www.prevent-suicide.org.uk

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. Their website also includes a specific page setting out safer sleep advice for dads.
Telephone: 0808 802 6869 (information line) or 0808 802 6868 (bereavement support)
Website: https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/ and https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/dads-zone/
Facebook: @LullabyTrust
Email: info@lullabytrust.org.uk or support@lullabytrust.org.uk

Dad.Info was established in 2008 as a new generation men’s lifestyle channel and the leading voice for dads, and is now Europe’s largest advice and support website for fathers. The team at Dad.Info want to celebrate the changing role of dads with engaging, helpful, practical, entertaining resources and content for every stage of the journey. It is home to the largest connected community of active, involved dads through its interactive forum, providing great peer-to-peer support and advice for what can be one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, life experiences.
Website: https://www.dad.info/
Facebook: @dadinfopage

The Dadnatal website provides guidance, support and connection for dads from pregnancy through to having school-aged children.
Website: https://www.dadnatal.com/

Dads in Mind is a dad-specific support service run by Bluebell Care. The team have been supporting dads for over a decade through all aspects of perinatal mental ill health, including depression or anxiety, birth-related trauma, supporting their partner’s ill-health, or struggling to adapt to life with a baby. Their service includes one-to-one support over the phone, via text or online, as well as opportunities to meet face-to-face for those living close to their Bristol base.
Telephone: 0117 922 0746
Website: https://bluebellcare.org/our-services/dads-in-mind
Facebook: @Bluebellsupportingfamilies
Email: hello@bluebellcare.org

Dadsnet offers advice, support and knowledge on practical parenting and fatherhood through a community of dads. Their website includes a useful ‘New Dad Survival Guide’.
Website: https://www.thedadsnet.com/
Facebook: @TheDadsnet

FNF is a leading UK charity that supports dads, mums and grandparents to have personal contact and meaningful relationships with their children, following parental separation.
Telephone: 0300 030 0363
Website: https://fnf.org.uk/
Facebook: @familiesneedfathersuk
Email: admin@fnf.org.uk

FNF Exeter
Telephone: 01392 682699
Website: https://fnf.org.uk/exeter and http://www.exeter.fnf.org.uk/
Email: exeter.meetings@fnf.org.uk

Dads House aims to support dads to ensure that children remain the priority after divorce, separation or bereavement.
Telephone: 07765 183504
Website: https://www.dadshouse.org.uk/
Facebook: @dadshouseuk
Email: info@dadshouse.org.uk

Gingerbread supports single parents to live secure, happy and fulfilling lives. The organisation:
• provides information to help single parents support themselves and their family
• runs programmes to equip single parents with the skills and opportunities to gain employment
• campaigns and influences policy to reduce stigma against single parents and to make services more accessible to all families, whatever their shape or size.
Their website contains lots of information regarding finance and co-parenting, and they also have a helpline.
Telephone: 0808 802 0925 (helpline)
Website: https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/
Facebook: @gingerbread
Email: groups@gingerbread.org.uk

This organisation offers affordable camping holidays for single parents and their children.
Website: https://singlewithkids.co.uk/single-parents/camping-uk/
Email: events@singlewithkids.co.uk