A guide to leaving care

Useful contacts and resources

Key contacts

Unaccompanied Minors and Independence Support Team (UMIST)

  • duty number: 020 7854 5888
  • Emergency Duty Team for out of hours emergencies: 020 7373 2227

FCS IST Duty Team (UMIST)

Social Services line

  • telephone: 020 7361 3013

LAC Nurse

RBKC Virtual School Team

  • email: [email protected]
  • Emergency Duty Team for out of hours emergencies: telephone: 020 7373 2227

RBKC Advocacy and Participation Team for children in care

Based at Kensington Town Hall, however, we are happy to come and meet with you wherever you feel comfortable:

Care Leavers Alumni Network (CLAN)

Find more information about CLAN:

Other useful contacts

Health and wellbeing

Health and wellbeing

Emotional wellbeing and mental health

Brook

Provides information and advice on sexual health or relationships, including sex, contraception, STI’s, pregnancy or abuse.

Stonewall

Supports and empowers LGBTQIA+ people to live free from discrimination and fulfil their potential.

Gendered Intelligence

A London-based service for transgender young people and can offer youth group sessions, one-on-one mentoring, special projects and workshops, training sessions and other resources for trans-gender youth and their families.

Medical advice

NHS 111 (England and Wales, all-ages)

  • telephone: 111

Talk to Frank

Information on drug and alcohol support.

Shout

 

Switchboard

LGBTQ+, all-ages

Calm

Samaritans

Money and finance

Citizens Advice Kensington and Chelsea

  • Chelsea Old Town Hall, Kings Road, SW3 5EB
  • www.citizensadvicekc.org.uk
  • Advice line Freephone: 0808 278 7982 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
  • Reception: 020 8962 3485

Step Change

Free debt advice and solutions.

Turn2us

Helps people access the money available to them through welfare benefits, grants and other help.

Money Saving Expert

Offers advice on how to save money, including help with banking, savings, utilities, bills, travel, motoring, and insurance.

Rees Crisis Fund

Offers financial support for care leavers in emergency situations involving food, gas/electricity, transport.

Asylum seekers

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC)

  • Refugee Council (Children’s Service): 020 7346 1134
  • www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
  • General enquiries: 020 7346 6700
  • Refuge Council Infoline Freephone: 0808 196 7272 England-wide signposting service

Asylum Aid

Assists refugees on their applications for asylum in the UK and offers advice on related areas such as appeal refusal, welfare rights and housing.

Asylum Support Advice Network

Provides free legal advice and representation to asylum seekers at the Asylum Support Tribunal, run an advice line for advice agencies, and engage in policy work to improve asylum support law.

Housing and Accommodation

National Homeless Advice Service

Offers advice about homelessness, including the provisions of emergency housing for care leavers.

Shelter

Offers advice and guidance on housing matter, including advice specific to care leavers.

The Albert Kennedy Trust

Helps young people up to the age of 25 years old who are LGBTQIA+ and are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Additional contacts

Become Charity

Advice, coaching and support for those in care.

Law Stuff

Provides free legal information to children and young people. LawStuff is run by Coram Children’s Legal Centre, which provides more detailed information both over the phone and online.

National Care Advisory Service (NCAS)

The latest news and information on all issues relating to transitions from care and care leavers are available on the NCAS website.

Benefits information

The latest news and information on benefits are available on the Gov.uk website. You can search for individual benefits and use the ‘benefits calculator’ interactive tool that can help you find out what benefits you may be entitled to.

Last updated: 28 July 2025