Skip to content ↓

Help Page

We are gathering links to information for children and families, including information on staying safe and wellbeing. Have a look below if you need any help – if you cannot find what you need, please contact us via admin@kop.rbksch.org

Well Being

Samaritans  Kingston – Phone: 116 123 – free from any phone or email jo@samaritans.org 24 hours Samaritans offer emotional support for anyone struggling to cope.

Young Minds Online and helpline support for anyone worried about the emotional wellbeing or mental health of a young person aged 0-25.

Young Minds support for parents and carers.

NHS Crisis Lines

Please contact the South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust 24 hour Mental Health Support Line. Anyone can use this out of hours line, even if you are not seen by CAMHS. 

The 24/7 Crisis Line is supported by trained mental health advisors. 

0800 028 8000
If you are currently being seen by CAMHS, use this helpline in the first instance. The local teams' numbers are:

Kingston Tier 3 (Woodroffe FACT) - 020 3513 5183

Kingston Emotional Health Service (Tier 2 CAMHS) - 020 8547 6269

The School Health Service provides confidential advice and support to young people attending a school or being home-schooled in Kingston, to help promote physical and mental wellbeing. 0208 549 6323

The Good Thinking NHS-approved website developed by the Healthy London Partnership provides a range of useful guidance and online apps to support mental health and wellbeing. This resource is funded and endorsed by the NHS and is focused on supporting cognition, anxiety and low mood.

Parent Support for children with emotionally related school avoidance (ERSA)

Young Carers

Young Carers' Project Kingston

We are the only organisation in the borough with a team dedicated to supporting the needs of young carers (aged 5-18) and as such have a wealth of experience and expertise in issues which affect their lives. 

 We provide:

  • information and advice, including 1-to-1 support
  • opportunities to meet other young carers
  • fun activities, outings and breaks away from home
  • regular drop ins
  • awareness raising of the needs of young carers, particularly in schools
  • advocacy and whole family support
  • quarterly newsletter

If you believe that your child is a young carer, please contact the school for further support and referral to the Young Carers’ project. 

Housing Support

If you are experiencing issues with your current Housing, you can contact below services for extra support and advice.

South West Law centre -Our housing team can provide expert advice if your home may be at risk, you’re homeless, or your rented home is in poor condition and affecting your or your family’s health.

https://swllc.org/get-advice/housing/

Citizen's Advice Kingston 

These links will provide you with information on finding somewhere to live, buying or renting a home, your rights, problems with your landlord, dealing with eviction and more. We often help people to get their tenancy deposit repaid and to get repairs done in their rented accommodation

https://www.citizensadvicekingston.org.uk/

Kingston Churches action on Homelessness 

At KCAH we support single people facing housing crisis in the Kingston Borough and help to rebuild their lives. We offer much more than just advice, shelter and food - KCAH provides lasting solutions that restore the self-esteem and confidence of vulnerable people, helping them out of the vicious circle of homelessness.

We also support people in housing crisis by:

  • Making referrals to relevant housing providers and hostels
  • Providing temporary accommodation
  • Providing food vouchers, emergency clothing, equipment and food items
  • Finding solutions to help people out of homelessness, permanently

https://kcah.org.uk/ 

Connected Kingston 

Housing Support
Support and guidance for people who are homeless, who cannot stay at their home, or at risk of homelessness

https://www.connectedkingston.uk/results?category=17ebb30d-3cd2-4e10-8137-7498d63604b1

Kingston Housing Options Service

Please contact Housing Options for any questions. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Out of Hours: 020 8770 5000

Telephone: 020 8547 5003

Email: housing.options@kingston.gov.uk

Shelter

https://www.shelter.org.uk/

Our emergency helpline

Opening times: Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm | Weekends and bank holidays, 9am - 5pm.

Call the helpline if you:

  • are homeless
  • have nowhere to stay tonight
  • are worried about losing your home in the next two months
  • are at risk of harm or abuse

We use an interpreter service. When you call, tell your adviser if you want to use an interpreter.

0808 800 4444

Lawstop

Lawstop is a specialist firm of solicitors based in London and Brighton. We specialise in all types of housing, education, community care and public law matters. Provide legal aid services.

info@lawstop.co.uk

0208 150 2588

Cost of Living


Please see below some information & advice regarding managing the cost of living and other services that may be relevant to your circumstances. Please let us know if you need any assistance with accessing these services. 
Benefits: 
This benefits checklist explains a comprehensive range of benefits that are currently available. You can use a benefits calculator to see if you qualify for these benefits. 


Budgeting: 
Budget planner tool 
Cost of living: 
Worrying about Money leaflet 
Government Cost of Living Support 
Citizen Advice Kingston: Cost of living toolkit 
Money Saving Expert: Cost of living survival kit 

Help for children and families: 
Growbaby are a local organisation based in Surbiton who can help with some baby/toddler clothes, food, equipment. 
Healthy Start Vouchers If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to receive help to buy healthy food and milk.

Family Fund can provide financial support to families who have a child with a long term illness/disability. 


Energy & broadband bills: 
Energy efficiency calculator 
Have you spoken to your energy provider? - this Ofgem link gives some advice on the options available to you when speaking to your provider. Thinking Works - Warm Home Better Health - a one stop shop established to support you with your energy bills 
British Gas Energy Trust - can support with energy debt from any provider 
Energy Debt Grants - apply for a grant if you have a debt between £250 and £1500 
Support available to help pay your water bill 
Broadband deals for those on a low income 

Debt management: 
It is always best to reach out and get help with debt as soon as possible. 
How to get free debt advice 
Breathing space (debt respite scheme) - you can get up to 60 days of temporary protection from your creditors while you get debt advice and make a plan. Transfer credit card debts over to a 0% balance transfer card 
Employment support: 
Thrive Kingston career coaching: If you are between 24-65 years old and are currently earning below £25,000 a year and/or receiving benefits, you can receive 6 hours of free expert coaching support. 
CIPD Steps Ahead Mentoring: Suitable for Parents & Carers. Residents can self-register to receive tailored support and guidance. 

Turn2Us helps people access welfare benefits, grants and other financial help by using a benefits calculator to check what support is available.

Local Food Support

Please follow this link for a comprehensive guide of available support with food provision in the borough.

Bereavement

Bereavement and Pupils with SEND - London Grid for Learning 

The death of a loved one is difficult for every pupil. Whether the deceased was somebody close to the pupil in question, or only an acquaintance its occurrence can often be the first encounter with death. For children and young people at the start of their lives, bereavement can bring up questions they've never had to deal with. This can have a profound effect on their educational and personal lives. This can be particularly hard for pupils with SEND, and their particular requirements will often need a different approach. To find out more about how to approach this issue, the London Grid for Learning (LGfL) has published a package of resources. If interested, please follow the link below: 

https://sendbereavement.lgfl.org.uk/default.html

 

Cookie Policy