National Support Groups
| Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland "To help all older people present a strong and effective voice and to reduce the challenges for those facing serious and multiple disadvantages as they grow older" Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland, Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PR Tel: 0845 833 0200 Fax: 0845 833 0759 Scottish Helpline for Older People: 0845 125 9732 (local call rate) (1000 to 1600, Mon to Fri) Textphone: 0845 226 5851 email: enquiries@ageconcernandhelptheagedscotland.org.uk Website: http://www.ageconcernandhelptheagedscotland.org.uk/ or contact the Age Concern Information Line (UK) Freephone 0800 009 966 (0800 to 1900 daily) |
Alcohol Focus Scotland Alcohol Focus Scotland is the national voluntary organisation for alcohol issues. Alcohol Focus Scotland is committed to improving the quality of people’s lives by changing Scotland’s drinking culture – promoting responsible drinking behaviour and discouraging drinking to excess. Tel: 0141 572 6700 or Fax: 0141 333 1606. 24 hour helpline: 0808 808 3000 email: enquiries@alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk Website: www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk |
Alzheimer Scotland - Action on Dementia Scotland's major charity helping people with all kinds of dementia, their families and carers, and campaigning to improve public policies. It provides services including day care, home support, counselling, carer education, support groups, publications and a confidential 24-hour helpline. The website provides over 400 pages of information about dementia, treatment and research, caring, communication, legal and financial issues and guidance on finding practical support services. Tel: 0131 243 1453 or Fax: 0131 243 1450 24 hour Dementia helpline: 0808 808 3000 email: alzheimer@alzscot.org Website: www.alzscot.org.uk |
Arthritis Care works with people with arthritis to promote their health, well-being and independence through services, support, information and influence. It works with and for all people with arthritis from every section of the community, with a mission to empower people to take control of their arthritis, their lives and organisation. Arthritis Care in Scotland hotline: 0845 600 3756 Fax: 0141 954 6171 Freephone Information Line: 080 8800 4050 (12 - 4pm weekdays) email: helplines@arthritiscare.org.uk Website: www.arthritiscare.org.uk |
Bullying UK Campaigning against bullying. Offering information and advice to victims as well as their families, when they need it most. email: help@bullying.co.uk Website: www.bullying.co.uk |
Connecting for Care is a website dedicated to connecting all carers (both professional and unpaid) through a forum for sharing experiences, exchanging information and knowledge, building new relationships and expanding support systems. email: admin@connectingforcare.com Website: www.connectingforcare.co.uk |
Contact a Family helping families who care for children with any disability or with special needs. Offer support, advice and a directory of specific conditions and rare disorders. They are based at: Contact a Family Scotland, Craigmillar Social Enterprise & Arts Centre, 11/9 Harewood Road, Edinburgh EH16 4NT. Tel: 0131 659 2930 email: scotland.office@cafamily.org.uk Freephone helpline: 0808 808 3555 (1000 to 1600, Mon to Fri & 1730 to 1930, Mon) Textphone: 0808 808 3556 email: info@cafamily.org.uk Website: www.cafamily.org.uk |
Capability Scotland 'Turning Disability into Ability' Advice, support and information for disabled people and those who care for them. ASCS (Advice Service Capability Scotland) 11 Ellersley Road, Edinburgh EH12 6HY Tel: 0131 313 5510; Fax: 0131 346 1681; Textphone: 0131 346 2529 email: ascs@capability-scotland.org.uk Website: www.capability-scotland.org.uk |
Carers Scotland The Carers National Association is committed to representing all carers, whatever their situation. Carers Scotland provide a wealth of information for carers (including information about benefits and rights), and for their employers and offer a support network of other organisations and professionals. They also campaign at all levels of society and government to raise awareness of the needs of carers and publish a bi-monthly magazine for members. Carers Scotland The Cottage, 21 Pearce Street, Glasgow G51 3UT Tel: 0141 445 3070 Helpline: 0808 808 7777 (Wed/Thu - 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm) email: info@carerscotland.org Website: Carers Scotland : Home |
Care Information Scotland is a helpline and website service providing information on care and support services and housing for older people in Scotland and their carers. Trained information advisors are available to help you find the answer to your questions about support and caring and to put you in touch with local organisations that can help. If you want to find out about options to support independent living, carer support or planning for the future, call the helpline number or visit the website. Helpline: 08456 001 001 (local rate) (Mon to Fri - 10am to 8pm; Sat - 10am to 4pm) Website: www.careinfoscotland.co.uk/ |
ChildLine ChildLine is the UK's free helpline for children and young people in trouble or danger. It provides a confidential telephone counselling service for any child with any problem, twenty four hours a day, every day. It comforts, advises and protects. Where a child is in danger, ChildLine works with other helping agencies to ensure the child's protection. ChildLine also brings to public attention issues affecting children's welfare and rights. Freephone: 0800 1111 Textphone: 0800 400 222 (Mon - Fri 9.30am to 9.30pm; Sat - Sun 9.30am to 8.00pm). Address: Freepost NATN1111, London E1 6BR. ChildLine Scotland North and North East, 2 Poynernook Road, Aberdeen AB11 5RW. Tel: 0870 336 2900 (1130 to 1530, Mon to Fri). Childline Scotland Bullying helpline: 0800 44 1111 Childline Scotland Tel: 0141 552 1123 or Fax: 0141 552 3089 Website: www.childline.org.uk The Line is ChildLine's special telephone helpline for children living away from home. Freephone: 0800 884444 (Mon - Fri 3.30pm to 9.30pm; Sat - Sun 2.00pm to 8.00pm). |
The purpose of the site is ultimately to provide the UK with a huge counselling support network, enabling those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs. This is a free, confidential service that will hopefully encourage those in distress to seek help. The website also contains a number of sections on emotional disorders (types of distress section) and provides some useful statistics. Every counsellor on the site who has submitted their profile has either sent a copy of their qualifications and insurance cover to us, or is registered with a professional body online with recognised codes of ethics and practice, this way we can be assured of their professionalism. Website: www.counselling-directory.org.uk and link to page with counsellors listed in Shetland: www.counselling-directory.org.uk/region_153.html |
Deafblind Scotland A national charity which provides a range of support services to deafblind people and their carers, and campaigns on behalf of deafblind people. 21 Alexandra Avenue, Lenzie, Glasgow G66 5BG Tel: 0141 777 6111 or Fax: 0141 775 3311 email: info@deafblindscotland.org.uk Website: www.deafblindscotland.org.uk/ |
Diabetes UK is the new name of the British Diabetic Association - the leading charity working for people with diabetes, funding research, campaigning and helping people live with the condition. Our mission is to improve the lives of people with diabetes and to work towards a future without diabetes. Savoy House, 140 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3DH Tel: 0141 332 2700 or Fax: 0141 332 4880 email: scotland@diabetes.org.uk or Website: www.diabetes.org.uk |
Domestic Violence Helpline Offering advice and support to people who are abused by their partners. 24-hour Freephone number - 0808 2000 247 |
Scotland Domestic Abuse Helpline Anyone suffering domestic abuse will be able to call and speak to a trained advisor at any hour of the day or night. Website: www.domesticabuse.co.uk Domestic Abuse Helpline Tel: 0800 027 1234 Scottish Women's Aid, 2nd Floor, 132 Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 3JD Tel: 0131 226 6606 or Fax: 0131 226 2996 Textphone: 0131 226 5912 Shetland Women's Aid, St Olaf Street, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0ES Tel/Fax: 01595 692070 |
ENABLE Scotland Works with and for people with a learning disability to fight discrimination. Campaigning to ensure that their rights are recognised and that they are respected as individuals. 6th Floor, 7 Buchanan Street, Glasgow G1 3HL Tel: 0141 226 4541 (Mon-Fri 1pm to 4pm) or Fax: 0141 204 4398 email: enable@enable.org.uk or Website: www.enable.org.uk |
| Multiple Sclerosis Society Offers support and advice to those living with and affected by MS. Provides access to the latest information. For details of the local group visit our local support group page. MS Helpline: 0808 800 8000 or website: www.mssociety.org.uk |
| Parentline Plus A UK registered charity which offers support to anyone parenting a child. They run a free telephone help line, courses for parents, develop innovative projects and provide a range of information for parents. Tel: 0808 800 2222 (24-hour) Textphone: 0800 783 6783 (mon-Fri 9-5pm) email: parentsupport@parentlineplus.org.uk Website: www.parentlineplus.org.uk |
| ParentLine Scotland Operate a free, confidential, phone help line for anyone caring for a child in Scotland. "because being a parent isn't easy.." For anyone worried, anxious or concerned about a child Children 1st 83 Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh EH9 1AT Tel: 0808 800 2222 (Mon, Wed & Fri 9am-5pm; Tue & Thur 9am -9pm); Fax: 0131 446 2339 Website: CHILDREN 1ST >> ParentLine Scotland Anyone affected by postnatal depression can get support from Bluebell at ParentLine Scotland. The helpline is a joint initiative between CHILDREN 1ST and CrossReach, the social care arm of the Church of Scotland. |
| Rape & Abuse Line Confidential support for anyone affected by rape or abuse. Line answered by women every evening 7-10pm - Freephone 0808 8000 123 Line answered by men Mon & Wed evening 7-10pm - Freephone 0808 8000 122 |
| R.N.I.D (Royal National Institute for Deaf People) Information, support and advice on a range of subjects, relating to people who are deaf and hard of hearing. Freephone: 0808 808 0123 or Textphone: 0808 808 9000 or Fax: 020 7296 8199 email: informationline@rnid.org.uk or Website: www.rnid.org.uk RNID Scotland Empire House 131 West Nile Street, Glasgow G1 2RX Tel: 0141 341 5330; Textphone: 0141 341 5347; Fax: 0141 341 5352 email: rnidscotland@rnid.org.uk |
RNIB Scotland is the leading charity working with blind and partially sighted people in Scotland. They support children and adults with sight loss to live full and independent lives. 12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh EH7 5EA Tel: 0131 652 3140; Fax: 0131 652 3199 email: rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk or Website: www.rnib.org.uk |
Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental support, 24 hours a day, for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. For support phone 08457 90 90 90 Mail: Chris, PO Box 90 90, Stirling FK8 2SA; email: jo@samaritans.org Samaritans relies on volunteers and donations to exist. Find out more at: www.samaritans.org |
Scottish Parliament The official website for the Scottish Parliament. Website: www.scottish.parliament.uk |
DirectGov Is a partnership between government, individuals, the voluntary sector, trade unions and community groups. It offers general information about UK online, as well as descriptions and links to services available to individuals and businesses. Website: www.directgov.gov.uk |
Who Cares? Scotland 'Speaking Out for Young People in Care' Who Cares? Scotland is a voluntary organisation working with and for children & young people in care. They provide a range of services to children & young people with experience of being looked after in Scotland including: advocacy, advice, information and support. 5 Oswald Street, Glasgow G1 4QR Tel: 0141 226 4441 or Fax: 0141 226 4445 email: enquiries@whocaresscotland.org Website: www.whocaresscotland.org/ |
Arthritis
Care
Bluebell at ParentLine Scotland (0800 3 457 457)
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) 
Samaritans
