Parent Network Scotland

Links

Anti-Bullying Network - www.antibullying.net
Information for young people, parents and teachers on tackling bullying within schools.

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ChildcareLink - www.childcarelink.gov.uk
The ChildcareLink national website provides childcare and early years information collected from over 170 English and Scottish local authorities, with sign-posting information from the Welsh National Assembly. The website helps you find useful information about the different types of childcare and early education in your local area and helps you to make the right choice for the whole family. The site also contains details of your local Children's Information Service, who can provide additional help and advice with all aspects of childcare and early years.

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Childline - www.childline.org.uk
ChildLine is the free 24-hour helpline for children and young people in the UK. Children and young people can call our helpline on 0800 1111 about any problem, at any time - day or night. ChildLine's counsellors are there to help you find ways to sort things out.

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Children in Scotland - www.childreninscotland.org.uk
Children in Scotland is the national agency for voluntary, statutory and professional organisations and individuals working with children and their families in Scotland.

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FSU Scotland - www.fsu.org.uk
FSU is a well established voluntary organisation with 60 years' experience of working with some of the most vulnerable children and families in Britain . They have been active in Scotland for more than 30 years. They believe that, by investing in families, those that are most disadvantaged will have an improved quality of life.

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Family Mediation Scotland - www.familymediationscotland.org.uk
Family mediation is for parents whose relationship is over. You may be separating or already living apart but you remain parents for life. Grandparents also can use our service. Mediation helps you sort out the future in the best way possible for you and your children. Mediation is not about helping parents get back together again; it is a service for those who have decided their relationship is over. People seeking reconciliation will be given information on more appropriate agencies.

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Fathers Direct - www.fathersdirect.com
The national information centre on fatherhood. We're here to help you harness the full potential of fatherhood with news, training information, policy updates, research summaries and guides for supporting fathers and their families.

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Gingerbread - www.gingerbread.org.uk
Gingerbread is an organisation for Lone Parent Families. It is the leading and largest charity providing help for 3.5 million lone parents and their children nationally.

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Health Education Board Scotland: Alcohol - www.healthscotland.com/alcohol/index.cfm
Alcohol information

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Health Education Board Scotland: Drugs - www.healthscotland.com/drugs/
Facts about drugs and their use, useful site for parents wanting to understand the issues.

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Healthy Living - www.healthyliving.gov.uk
This website is a joint collaboration between NHS Health Scotland and the Scottish Executive to promote Scotland' healthyliving programme. It is designed to help you attain a healthier diet and a more active lifestyle by providing resources, advice and support on healthy eating and physical activity.

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Know the Score - www.knowthescore.info
All parents worry about their children. Drugs seem to be an unfortunate fact of life and you want to keep your children from harm. Maybe you feel that you don't know much about drugs, that you're not sure what to say about them to your kids and that they might not want to listen.

You might be doing better than you realise. Your kids probably do care what you think even if they don't show it. But what matters even more is them being able to tell you what they think and feel too. For more info, visit the website.

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Maternity Alliance - www.maternityalliance.org.uk
The Maternity Alliance is a national charity working to end inequality and promote the well being of all pregnant women, new parents and their babies.
The Maternity Alliance has launched an interactive online guide to help teenage mothers and mothers-to-be find out about their rights and entitlements. The animated guides are divided into sections that are relevant for those aged 16 or under, or are aged 16 or 17. There are also separate guides for expectant mothers and for those who are already parents. www.maternityalliance.org.uk/teen_guide.htm

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NHS Direct - www.nhs24.org.uk
Confidential telephone health advice and information service for people in Scotland.

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National Childbirth Trust - www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com
Every year the NCT is in contact with 300,000 parents and parents-to-be, through the range of antenatal classes, helplines and social and educational events we offer. The Trust aims to help all parents enjoy an experience of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood which enriches their lives and gives them confidence in being a parent.

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OK to Ask - www.parentingacrossscotland.org/en/ok-to-ask.php
Resources and a helpline aimed at parents and families in Scotland deal with any issues surrounding family life. Visit their website or call the free helpline 0808 800 2222.

One Parent Families Scotland - www.opfs.org.uk
One Parent Families Scotland has been working on behalf of lone parents and their families since 1944 and are a national voluntary organisation, registered as a charity. Members include individual lone parents, various organisations working with lone parents and others who just simply want to support the cause of lone parents.

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One Plus - www.oneplus.org
One Plus has identified eight factors which create barriers for lone parents: unmet childcare needs; the benefits trap; limited training and education opportunities; low paid, temporary and inflexible employment; poor housing; isolation; low self confidence and ill health. In response, One Plus has created opportunities which link confidence building and pre-vocational training, within a group setting, to vocational training with customised support including specialist advice, childcare and access to sustainable employment.

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Parenting Across Scotland - www.parentingacrossscotland.org
A partnership of voluntary organisations who use their experience of working with thousands of parents to find ways of supporting parents and families better. They believe that parents should be valued more, and that family relationships in all kinds of 'families' are crucial to everyone's health, wellbeing and achievement.

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ParentLine Scotland - www.children1st.org.uk/parentline/
ParentLine Scotland is the free, confidential, telephone helpline for parents and anyone caring for a child in Scotland. Call 0808 800 2222.

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Parentzone - www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk
Parentzone helps parents to get involved in their children's education. You can find information on education in Scotland and advice on supporting your own child's learning.

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Samaritans - www.samaritans.org.uk
Samaritans provides confidential emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. You don't have to be suicidal to call us. We are here for you if you're worried about something, feel upset or confused, or you just want to talk to someone. If you would like to talk to someone on the phone, call: 08457 90 90 90 in the UK and Northern Ireland (1850 60 90 90 in the Republic of Ireland)

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Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People (SCCYP) - www.cypcommissioner.org
Kathleen Marshall is the first Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland. Her job is to make sure that people listen when children and young people have important things to say about their lives. This might include people in schools, parliament and law courts.

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Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) - www.childminding.org
The Scottish Childminding Association is the only dedicated support organisation in Scotland for registered childminding. The Association is committed to the development needs of registered childminders and actively promotes childminding as a quality childcare choice. Their vision is for childminding to be recognised as a unique, family-based childcare service and for childminders to receive the support and advice that they need to continue to meet the National Childcare Standards.

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Scottish Executive - www.scotland.gov.uk
The Scottish Executive is the devolved government for Scotland. It is responsible for most of the issues of day-to-day concern to the people of Scotland, including health, education, justice, rural affairs, and transport.

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Scottish Network for Parental Involvement in Children's Learning - www.snpicl.org.uk
The Scottish Network for Parental Involvement in Children's Learning aims to promote, support and develop professional practice in the involvement of parents and carers in their children's learning.

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Scottish Pre-school Play Association (SPPA) - www.sppa.org.uk
Scottish Pre-school Play Association supports children and families in Scotland through the development of quality, early education and childcare services.

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UNICEF Baby friendly Initiative - www.babyfriendly.org.uk/parents/home.asp
Information about feeding and caring for your baby.

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Emergency Support

If you are in a crisis and in need of immediate support you can contact:
Parentline Scotland: 0808 800 2222
The Samaritans: 08457 90 90 90

See our links page for useful contacts.

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