Getting advice and information
Actions
This section offers advice and links to help children and young people who might have mild or short-term challenges, are taking care of their own health, or are on their way to feeling better.
Single Point of Access
The Single Point of Access is a Mental Health Crisis Line which offers emotional support and advice to people of all ages who require urgent mental health attention, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The team consists of qualified clinicians who are knowledgeable about different services and options. This helps callers to be directed to the most appropriate service to meet their needs.
Who they see:
- Children and adults of all ages who are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon or Milton Keynes.
- Carers and family members who might be concerned about someone.
- Referrals from GPs and statutory services such as the Police or the London Ambulance services.
- Advice and signposting for non-statutory services such as housing associations, plus other professionals concerned about someone.
Contact them:
0800 0234 650 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Kooth
Kooth is an online mental health and wellbeing platform available on any internet browser, providing free text-based professional counselling, peer-to-peer support, and self-help with articles, goal setting, and journal.
Works closely with existing mental health services to complement the service offer, signposting to children’s services such as GPs and CAMHS when needed.
Who they see:
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Kooth provides support to all children and young people aged 11-25 who need advice and signposting, support, ongoing help, or immediate risk support.
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Children and young people can self-refer, with no thresholds to access the service, and no waiting lists.
Contact them:
- Join at: https://www.kooth.com
- Parents and Carers: [email protected]
- Safeguarding contact: [email protected]
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (RBKC SENDIASS)
Free, impartial, confidential information, advice and support about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for children and young people up to age 25, and their parents and carers.
There are separate services for Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster, providing borough-specific information and support.
Who they see:
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For children and young people aged 0-25 years with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) and their parent/carers who are normally resident in Kensington & Chelsea or Westminster, or are registered with a Kensington & Chelsea or Westminster GP practice for health-related issues.
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The service also supports families whose children and young people are excluded from school, or at threat of exclusion.
Contact them:
Kensington & Chelsea IASS
https://www.fulloflifekc.com/sendiass/
020 8960 9064
We Got U, U Got This
An online directory of resources offering emotional wellbeing and mental health support for young people in Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea.
Who they see:
Available to all children and young people who need advice and signposting.
Contact them:
Centre for ADHD & Autism Support – CAAS
A Harrow-based registered charity that supports, educates and empowers individuals diagnosed with ADHD or autism, their families, and the community.
While their Youth and Family Services are currently restricted to residents of Hillingdon, Harrow and Brent, they offer a monthly online ‘Thinking About Adulthood’ forum for young autistic people from across North West London including Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster. These sessions provide a safe place to explore, ask important questions, and work through any worries about ‘growing up’ and what ‘being an adult’ means.
Who they see:
The ‘Thinking About Adulthood’ online forum is open to young autistic people aged 14 to 19 without a co-occurring learning disability, who are resident in North West London.
Attendees need to complete a registration form with the CAAS Adults team, contactable via the email address below.
Contact them:
269 Field End Road, Eastcote, HA4 9XA
020 8429 1552
General enquires: [email protected]
Adults team: [email protected]
St Quintin Centre for Disabled Children and Young People
A state-of-the-art centre offering activities and support for disabled children, young people and their families. Open seven days a week and offering term-time support from birth to five years old, and after-school, Saturday and holiday club support for 5 -18-year-olds. The centre also offers a keyworker service for parents who need help in accessing services for their children aged 0-9 years of age, plus signposting for higher support packages or further support.
Who they see:
To be eligible for core offer services, a child with a disability needs to be:
- Between the age of 0 and 18
- Substantially affected in their everyday living by their disability
- Parents/carer must provide supporting evidence of identity and disability
Accepts self-referrals and professional referrals
Contact them:
2a Wallingford Avenue,
London, W10 6QB
0208 968 2570
Youth Action Alliance – Staying Connected
Staying Connected provides one-to-one support for young people aged 11-19 years and families, facing multiple challenges such as loneliness, isolation and food poverty.
This engagement is via face to face, online via Zoom and emails, or on mobile phones using messages and telephone calls, to maintain contact
with them, talk about how they are feeling and to provide advice, mentoring and signposting to additional support services.
They provide, where necessary, access to vital basic necessities including food packages, online vouchers, cleaning products, toiletries and clothes.
Who they see:
- Children and young people aged 11-19
- Resident in Kensington & Chelsea
- Facing multiple challenges in their everyday lives
- Referred by a professional
Contact them:
https://www.youthactionalliance.org/staying-connected
Make a referral: https://www.youthactionalliance.org/referrals
Project Lead: [email protected]