Urgent alert:

If you or a young person is at immediate risk and needs urgent help with their mental health, please call NHS 111 and select the mental health option to access the 24/7 urgent mental health crisis line.

This section covers resources and information on a variety of difficulties children and young people can experience. 

Childline

Support and advice for you from Childline.

Visit the Childline website.

Get Self Help

Get Self Help provides free cognitive behaviour therapy, self help and therapy resources.

Visit the Get Self Help website.

BBC

It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to your mental wellbeing, but there are lots of tools that can help. 

Visit the BBC website.

MindEd

MindEd is a free educational resource on children, young people, adults and older people's mental health. 

Visit the MindEd website.

The Mix

The Mix provides content, community, counselling and crisis support.

Visit the Mix website.

Sane

Sane is an independent mental health charity aiming to raise awareness, improve services, provide emotional support and host research. 

Visit the Sane website.

Stem4

Stem4 are a charity that supports positive mental health in teenagers, raising awareness and enhancing detection and education. Offers resources, information, and downloadable apps around anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders and addiction.

Visit the Stem4 website.

Barnardo’s

Barnardo’s have put together a collection of information and resources on different topics that are affecting young people. It includes emotional wellbeing, back to school, family support and advice surrounding children and young people’s internet use. 

Visit the Barnardo’s website.

Family Lives

Advice and resources on a variety of mental health topics. 

Visit the Family Lives website.

Gingerbread

Gingerbread are fighting to create a world where all single parents and their children thrive. 

Visit the Gingerbread website.

Kooth

Get free, safe and anonymous support on Kooth.

Visit the Kooth website.

The National Youth Advocacy Service

The National Youth Advocacy Service offers child and family advocacy services, alongside a range of additional support. They offer targeted support services for care-experienced children, young people, adults in vulnerable situations, families and sector professionals across England and Wales. 

Visit the National Youth Advocacy Service website.

Shout

Shout is a free text messaging service which provides 24/7 support for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. Connecting people to trained volunteers, enabling them to move from a moment of crisis to a calm state and form a plan for next steps to find longer-term support. Text SHOUT to 85258. A number of resources are also available on the website.  

Visit the Shout website.

Action for Children

Action for Children protect and support children and families by providing practical and emotional care and support as well as providing fostering and adoption services.  They have launched an online parenting hub ‘Parent Talk’, to provide extra parenting support and advice, includes articles on common parenting questions as well as a live chat service which will connect you to a qualified parenting coach.

Visit the Action for Children website.

Kinship

Kinship care is when a child lives full-time or most of the time with a relative or friend who isn’t their parent, usually because their parents aren’t able to care for them. They provide information and advice on benefits and other sources of financial help. They also provide information and advice in enquiry areas such as legal orders, housing, employment, community care, education and childcare. The advice line is open Monday to Friday 9.30am until 2pm on 0300 123 7015

Visit the Kinship website.

NSPCC

NSPCC specialises in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. If you’re worried about a child, contact for help, advice and support. Telephone them on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk.

Visit the NSPCC website.

Paul Lavelle Foundation 

The charity aims to raise awareness of male domestic abuse, support male victims and survivors and provide healthy relationship education as a preventative measure.

Visit the Paul Lavelle Foundation website.

Youth Fed

Youth Fed support is targeted towards supporting young people who have autism or other learning difficulties, for example, dyslexia, ADHD, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, auditory processing disorder, language processing disorder. 

Visit the Youth Fed website.

Kids Health

Kids Health offer doctor-reviewed advice on hundreds of physical, emotional, and behavioural topics. 

Visit the Kids Health website.

Mind

Mind offer advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.  

Visit the Mind website.

HappyMaps

HappyMaps is a one-stop hub of information on young people's mental health for parents, professionals and young people. 

Visit the HappyMaps website.

CAMHS Ready

CAMHS Ready is a tool for young people and their families that makes sure you get the most out of your first visit to CAMHS. If you’re struggling with your thoughts, feelings, or actions, we can help. 

Visit the CAMHS Ready website.

Young Minds

Self-esteem is how you think and feel about yourself. It’s not just about how you look, but also how confident you feel. Young Minds' tips can help you believe in who you are. 

Visit the Young Minds website.

Central Cheshire Talking Therapies

Central Cheshire Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT) service provides a range of services for individuals aged 16 and over, who have common mental health problems, who are registered with GP surgeries within the Central Cheshire area. Talking Therapies service is for adults aged 16 + with mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety or depression and provides brief psychological therapy. Locations are at Delamere Resource Centre and Vale house Resource centre.

Visit the Central Cheshire Talking Therapies website

Cheshire East Youth Support Service (YSS)

Cheshire East Youth Support Service (YSS) provide youth clubs and projects for young people aged 13 – 19. Health and Wellbeing Project, Utopia LGBTQ+ group and a drop-in youth group.

Visit the Cheshire East Youth Support Service (YSS) website

Macclesfield Community Artspace

Macclesfield Community Artspace are a charity that operate an ‘open-door policy’ where people of all ages can go to find a quiet space to do their art, or they can join certain groups and workshops and get involved in community projects (e.g. Barnaby arts festival – making the costumes, building floats, puppets and banners). 

Visit the Macclesfield Community Artspace website

Cheshire Play therapy

Cheshire Play therapy provide a wide range of therapeutic interventions to children, young people, their families and the professionals who work with them. Based in Congleton they work in collaboration with the Congleton Education Community Partnership and other local agencies. Their services include but are not limited to Play Therapy, Parent Child Attachment Play, Life Story work, Filial Coaching, Sensory Integration and counselling for young people. (3-16yrs)

Visit the Cheshire Play therapy website