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Organisations that support children and families through separation, and courses that teach parents how to parent apart. None of them is us, and we are not connected to any of them – they are here because they are genuinely useful, and because a mediator who only ever points at themselves is not much use to anybody.
Every telephone number below was checked on 10 August 2026; the courses were added and checked on 17 September 2026.
If you are not safe
Mediation is not the right process where somebody is at risk. If any of this is your situation, start here rather than with us.
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National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 Free
Run by Refuge. Confidential support from trained advisers, whatever stage you are at. 24 hours, every day
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Live Fear Free 0808 80 10 800 Free
The Welsh Government service for anyone affected by domestic abuse or sexual violence in Wales.
Support for women experiencing domestic abuse
Longer-term support, specialist legal advice and local services.
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Refuge Website
Emergency accommodation and long-term support for women and children escaping abuse. Runs the National Domestic Abuse Helpline above.
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Women’s Aid Website
A national federation supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse. Information, survivor support and a directory of local services.
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Rights of Women Website
Free specialist legal advice for women in England and Wales, covering domestic abuse, divorce, finances, property and arrangements for children.
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Southall Black Sisters 020 8571 0800
Specialist advice, advocacy and support for women experiencing domestic abuse, particularly Black, Asian and minoritised women, including those affected by immigration issues.
If you are a man experiencing abuse
The same applies here as above: where somebody is at risk, that comes before mediation.
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Men’s Advice Line 0808 801 0327 Free
A national confidential helpline giving advice, practical information and support to men experiencing domestic abuse.
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ManKind Initiative 0808 800 1170 Free
A specialist UK charity supporting male victims of domestic abuse, with information, advice and referral to local services.
Domestic abuse and the family courts
Where abuse and the court process meet, and the process itself is part of the difficulty.
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Fair Hearing Website
A UK charity working to make the family justice system safer, fairer and more accountable for victims and for children affected by domestic abuse.
For children and young people
Places a child or a teenager can go themselves, without a parent arranging it.
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Confidential help for anyone under 19, about anything at all. Online chat as well as the phone. 24 hours, every day
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The national network for young people’s advice and counselling services. Find one locally.
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Action for Children 0300 123 2112
Advice and support for parents, children and young people, including parenting programmes and contact centres.
For parents
Practical help with arrangements, contact and the day-to-day of parenting apart.
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The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. Independent of the court, and there to represent children’s interests in family proceedings.
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Gingerbread 0808 802 0925 Free
The national charity for single parent families. Expert advice on benefits, work, maintenance and separation.
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Families Need Fathers Website
Support for parents whose relationship with their children is under threat after separation, whatever their gender.
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Family Rights Group 0808 801 0366 Free
Advice for families whose children are involved with, or need, social care services.
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National Association of Child Contact Centres Website
Neutral, safe places where children can spend time with a parent they do not live with. Find your nearest centre.
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Child Maintenance Service Website
How child maintenance works, and a calculator that will tell you roughly what it comes to.
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OurFamilyWizard Website
A shared calendar, expense log and message board for separated parents. Paid for, and useful where communication is difficult.
Courses for parenting apart
Programmes that teach separated parents how to keep the conflict away from the children. Some are only reachable through the court; the others anyone can start today, and nobody needs to know.
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Planning Together for Children Website
The course the family court in England sends parents on, run by Cafcass for the Ministry of Justice: two hours of online learning, a small-group workshop and an online parenting plan. Free, but only by court order or Cafcass referral – you cannot sign up yourself. In Wales the equivalent is Working Together for Children, through Cafcass Cymru.
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Getting it right for children Website
A free online course from the relationship charity OnePlusOne, built with Cafcass and the Ministry of Justice, on keeping the children out of the middle and talking to the other parent without it turning into a row. Self-paced, and open to anyone.
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Triple P – Family Transitions Website
The Positive Parenting Programme, used by councils across the UK. Family Transitions is its five-session course for separated parents: coping with the stress and anger of a split, protecting the children from the conflict, and talking to them about what is happening. Many councils run it free as part of their family support; there is also an online version to do alone, at your own pace.
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Co-parenting After Divorce or Separation 0808 800 2222 Free
A free two-hour online course from the charity Coram Family Lives: how separation lands on children, communicating with the other parent, and looking after yourself. A certificate at the end, and a helpline if you would rather talk to someone.
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Parenting Apart Programme Website
A four-week programme of individual and joint sessions that ends in a written parent working agreement. Recognised by the family court as a form of dispute resolution and used by solicitors and Cafcass to refer parents. Paid for, with prices on request.
Someone to talk to
Separation is not only a legal problem, and mediation is not counselling. These are the people who do that part.
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Samaritans 116 123 Free
Whatever you are going through, at any hour. The number does not appear on your phone bill. 24 hours, every day
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The largest provider of relationship counselling in the UK, including counselling for couples who are separating.
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The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Search their register for an accredited counsellor near you.
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UK Council for Psychotherapy 020 7014 9955
The UKCP register of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors.
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Institute of Family Therapy 020 7391 9150
Family and couple therapy, and training for the people who deliver it.
Money, housing and legal
The mediator is impartial and cannot advise either of you. These are the places to get advice that is on your side.
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Shelter 0808 800 4444 Free
Urgent housing advice if you are homeless, have nowhere to stay tonight, or are at risk of losing your home. Mon to Fri 8am–8pm, weekends 8am–5pm
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Citizens Advice Website
Free, confidential advice on benefits, debt, housing and family matters, online, by phone and in person.
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MoneyHelper Website
The Government’s money guidance service. Its divorce and separation section covers the financial side plainly.
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Check if you can get Legal Aid Website
The official checker. Legal Aid for family mediation is separate from the voucher scheme.
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Resolution Website
Family lawyers and other professionals committed to resolving matters constructively rather than through conflict.
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Divorce Aid Website
Independent information on divorce from a group of UK professionals.
Muslim organisations
For an Islamic divorce, or where a religious as well as a civil resolution is needed. Listed because clients ask; we are not connected to any of them.
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Islamic Sharia Council Website
Based in Leyton, London. Formed to deal with the matrimonial questions of Muslims living in the UK.
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Muslim Law (Shariah) Council 07340 606 223
Based in Ealing, London, serving the Muslim community across Great Britain.
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Islamic Council of Europe 020 8610 9870
Based in East London. Support for people working through relationship difficulties in line with their faith.
Faith and community support
These do different things – some deal with religious divorce, others offer counselling, guidance or a listening ear. Listed because clients ask, and we are not connected to any of them.
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Hindu Council UK Website
A national Hindu umbrella organisation, providing community information, representation and faith-related guidance.
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Marriage Care Website
A long-established relationship counselling charity with Catholic roots, offering relationship support and counselling to adults across the UK, whatever their faith.
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Sikh Helpline UK Website
Confidential support for members of the Sikh community dealing with domestic abuse, relationship difficulties, mental health concerns and other personal or family problems.
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London Beth Din Website
The Court of the Chief Rabbi. Deals with Jewish religious matters including Jewish divorce, known as a Get, and other questions of Jewish personal status.
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Church of England Website
Information and pastoral guidance on marriage, relationship difficulties, divorce and remarriage, through local churches and clergy.
Free means free from UK landlines and mobiles. Everything else is charged at your ordinary rate.