Useful contacts for young people leaving care
This page contains useful numbers, email addresses and details of teams and organisations that support young people leaving care.
Leaving Care Team (main Local Offer contact)
The South Glos Council team responsible for working with our care leavers.
Telephone: 01454 864522 (Mon – Fri 08:30 – 17:00)
Out of Hours (Fri from 16:30 to Mon at 08:30). If you need to speak with
someone urgently contact the Emergency Duty Team: 01454 615165
Weekly drop-in for care leavers @ The Kingswood Centre, New Cheltenham Road, Kingswood, BS15 4FS, Wednesdays between 16:30 and 18:30pm.
Participation Team
The Participation Team work with the CiCC (Children in Care Council) and EPIC (Care Leavers Group).
Telephone: 01454 862349 / 07824 081087
Email: youthparticipation@southglos.gov.uk
Preparing for Adulthood
The team helps facilitate and support young people/young adults with disability to find solutions that enable them to continue to live at home or independently within their community.
Telephone: 01454 866259
Email: 0-25businesssupport@southglos.gov.uk
Subject Access Requests (your records) and Compliments and complaints
Requests will go to South Gloucestershire Council Compliments, Complaints and FOI Team who can be contacted:
Telephone: 01454 865924
Email: CAHDataProtection@southglos.gov.uk
Advocacy
Reconstruct support South Glos care leavers and will connect you with an independent advocate to support you.
Telephone: 0800 389 1571 (Freephone)
Email: yourvoice@reconstruct.co.uk
Identity, participation, and your voice and feedback
LGBTQ+: Off The Record
A service for young people aged 14 to 25 called ‘Freedom.’
Email: lgbtq@otrbristol.org.uk
Telephone: 07814 250751
Refugee council
Helping people seeking asylum. Several projects including Youth Development, Age Dispute; Refugee Cricket, Children’s Advice and Mental health services for unaccompanied children.
https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/
British Red Cross
Advice and support for family tracing and reunion.
Migrant Help
Free asylum helpline tel: 0808 8000 630.
https://www.migranthelpuk.org/
Asylum guide translated into 15 languages.
Young People's Services - The Diversity Trust
Provides mentoring support for LGBTQ+ young people.
Young People's Services - The Diversity Trust
Black Families Education support group mentoring programme
Support for BAME children and young people in relation to ethnicity and
racism.
Black Families - Home (educationequals.org.uk)
Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI)
Mentoring support for young people who have been targeted by hate crime or hate incidents.
SARI - Stand Against Racism & Inequality (saricharity.org.uk)
FFLAG Bristol - FFLAG
Support organisation for families or friends of LGBTQ+ young people.
Education,employment and training
South Gloucestershire Council Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships - Careers | South Gloucestershire Council (southglos.gov.uk)
Works4Youth
A South Glos project which provides tools and training for entering the world of work.
Works4Youth - South Gloucestershire
UCAS
The admissions service for higher education applications.
UCAS | At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Propel
A website for care leavers to find out about year-round accommodation, bursaries/grants, and key contacts.
Health and wellbeing (physical and emotional)
Find a GP - NHS
You can find your nearest GP by typing in your postcode.
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Provides inpatient and community-based mental health care.
Home :: Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (awp.nhs.uk)
Next Link
If you are experiencing physical or emotional abuse from a partner contact Next Link: Telephone: 0117 925 0680
Additional support for care leavers who have special educational needs and disabilities through the SEND Local Offer
Website: www.southglos.gov.uk/SENDlocaloffer
Off The Record
Offer free and fun workshops to teach young people how to take care of themselves properly
Telephone (freephone): 0808 808 9120.
https://www.otrbristol.org.uk/
Drug and Alcohol Services
Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service helpline
Telephone: 01454 866000 (weekdays 9.00-17.00)
Email: ypservice@southglos.gov.uk
Sexual Health
You can access free support and advice from Unity Sexual Health (free STI testing and treatment, contraception and pregnancy advice)
Telephone: 0117 342 6900
Unity Sexual Health, Bristol | Terrence Higgins Trust (tht.org.uk)
Teens in Crisis
A South Gloucestershire charity which supports young people with issues such as depression, anxiety, bereavement, bullying and anger. They provide counselling, 1-2-1 support and advice.
Tel: 01594 372777
Kooth
An online counselling and emotional wellbeing platform for children and young people between 11 and 18. It is free to use and can be accessed by mobile phone, tablet or a desktop PC.
Independent living skills
Employability Skills, Young People Job Skills, Life Skills
Are you ready to think about the areas you might like to develop in? Spin the
‘wheel of strengths’ and reflect on not only your skills, but your interests
and personality traits, and how to develop them further to support your
future.
Below you’ll find just a few of the interactive tools, films and activities
available for you to use from age 14+, right now, on your own, with
family, or other support.
LifeLab
An online hub for young people in or leaving care, to connect, share and learn together. Created in collaboration with care experienced young people, the site features a range of informative and helpful videos, that put advice and support at your fingertips.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration or practical help, LifeLab has you covered! Everything about LifeLab has been shaped by care experienced young people, so the content is relevant and useful.
Accommodation and housing
Homechoice South Gloucestershire
Provides advice about
- Homelessness
- Help if you are a care leaver and homeless
- Help and housing for care leavers
Telephone: 01454868005
Email: homechoiceteam@southglos.gov.uk
1625 Independent People
For housing advice and support: call 0117 969 5763 or email: s.glos@1625ip.co.uk
BECOME
Become supports and campaigns for children in care and care leavers. Useful tools on the Become website include:
- ‘The Care Dictionary’
- Propel provides information on support available at specific universities and colleges for care leavers
- Advice line: 0800 023 2033 (Freephone)
- Email: advice@becomecharity.org.uk
CoramVoice
CoramVoice provides advocacy and support for children in care and care leavers. Useful tools on the CoramVoice website include:
- My Rights
- ‘Always Heard Helpline’: 0808 800 5792
- Easy quiz to find out if you are a care leaver and what support you should get.