Start by tapping what applies to you: a category below, or scroll to your borough. Community organisations and specialist services across South East London where families, young people and workers can find support.
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For families and parents
Black Thrive Lambeth, Children, Young People and Families
Social and emotional wellbeing of Black children and families in Lambeth
FamiliesVisit
Education Equals, Black Families Education Support Group
Free advice, and someone to speak up for you, on school exclusion, race equality and SEND
FamiliesVisit
My Child and Me, ParentSkills2Go
Ten to twelve week parenting programme for Black and minoritised families, Southwark
FamiliesVisit
Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities
Race Equality Foundation parenting programme, backed by evidence for Black and minoritised families
FamiliesVisit
Welcare
One-to-one family support and CapeAbility groups for children's resilience, South London
FamiliesVisit
HomeStart Southwark
E-friending service for families with children under five
FamiliesVisit
YoungMinds Parents Helpline
Free helpline for parents worried about a child or young person up to 25, 0808 802 5544, weekdays
HelplinesVisit
Coram Family Lives
Free parenting helpline, 0808 800 2222. Weekdays 9am to 9pm, weekends 10am to 3pm
HelplinesVisit
Southwark
Amari Rae Foundation
Community organisation for young people, a Healthy Dialogues delivery partner in Southwark
CommunityVisit
South East London Mind
Black River Counselling service
Mental healthVisit
Black Heroes Foundation
CommunityVisit
Bede House
CommunityVisit
Southwark VCSE Mental Health Forum
NetworkVisit
Lambeth and Southwark Mind
Mental healthVisit
Community Southwark
Council for Voluntary Service
NetworkVisit
Southwark SENDIASS
Free and independent SEND advice and support, at arm's length from the council
SEND adviceVisit
Elective home education team, Southwark Council
The council contact for home educating families in Southwark
Home educationVisit
Bexley
Active Horizons
Youth participation and empowerment charity, a Healthy Dialogues delivery partner in Bexley
CommunityVisit
Bexley Voice
Bexley's parent carer forum: parents of children with additional needs, supporting each other
FamiliesVisit
Bexley SENDIASS
Free and independent SEND advice and support, at arm's length from the council
SEND adviceVisit
Elective home education team, Bexley Council
The council contact for home educating families in Bexley
Home educationVisit
Bromley
AllKidsCan
Community organisation for children and young people, engaged with the Healthy Dialogues project
CommunityVisit
Bromley Parent Voice
Bromley's parent carer forum: parents of children with additional needs, supporting each other
FamiliesVisit
Bromley SENDIASS
Free and independent SEND advice and support, at arm's length from the council
SEND adviceVisit
Elective home education team, Bromley Council
The council contact for home educating families in Bromley
Home educationVisit
Greenwich
Spark2Life
Youth mentoring and transformation work, a Healthy Dialogues delivery partner in Greenwich
MentoringVisit
Greenwich Parent Carer Participation Forum
Greenwich's forum for parents of children with additional needs
FamiliesVisit
Greenwich SENDIASS
Free and independent SEND advice and support, at arm's length from the council
SEND adviceVisit
Elective home education team, Greenwich Council
The council contact for home educating families in Greenwich
Home educationVisit
Lambeth
Class 13
Community organisation for young people, a Healthy Dialogues delivery partner in Lambeth
CommunityVisit
Lambeth Parent Forum
Lambeth's forum for parents of children with additional needs
FamiliesVisit
Lambeth SENDIASS
Free and independent SEND advice and support, at arm's length from the council
SEND adviceVisit
Elective home education team, Lambeth Council
The council contact for home educating families in Lambeth
Home educationVisit
Lewisham
Social Inclusion Recovery Group
Community mental health and inclusion organisation, a Healthy Dialogues delivery partner in Lewisham
Mental healthVisit
Lewisham Parent and Carer's Forum
Lewisham's forum for parents of children with additional needs
FamiliesVisit
Lewisham SENDIASS
Free and independent SEND advice and support, at arm's length from the council
SEND adviceVisit
Elective home education team, Lewisham Council
The council contact for home educating families in Lewisham
Home educationVisit
Across South East London and national
London Youth
The membership network of several hundred London youth organisations, running cross-club events and mentoring programmes
MentoringVisit
Childline
Free 24-hour line for anyone under 19, phone 0800 1111, plus online 1-2-1 chat
HelplinesVisit
Shout
Free 24-hour crisis text line for any age, text SHOUT to 85258
HelplinesVisit
The Mix
Free support for under-25s by phone, webchat and message boards
HelplinesVisit
IPSEA
Free, legally based SEND advice, template letters and appeal support
SEND adviceVisit
SOS!SEN
Charity helpline, and someone to speak up for you, for SEND processes, including EHCP appeals
SEND adviceVisit
Contact
For families with disabled children: freephone 0808 808 3555 and plain-language guides
SEND adviceVisit
Black SEN Mamas
Peer community for Black mothers and carers of children with SEND
FamiliesVisit
National Black Parents Association UK
National network supporting Black parents in education and beyond
FamiliesVisit
Supplementary and Saturday schools near you
Children taught their background by people of their culture. The National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education lists registered schools
Saturday schoolsVisit
Pets As Therapy
Volunteer-and-animal teams visiting schools and community settings, including the Read2Dogs programme
AnimalsVisit
Education Otherwise
National charity supporting home educating families, with guidance and local group links
Home educationVisit
The HE Exams community
The family-maintained guide to sitting exams as a private candidate, including finding exam centres
Home educationVisit
Elective home education guidance, gov.uk
The government's own guidance for parents on home educating in England
Home educationVisit
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Materials or reports you can draw on
Toolkit
Roots to Wings Toolkit, Parts 1, 2 and 3
A community toolkit for young people, parents and carers, teachers and senior leadership. Practical tools developed with Black communities.
Three parts, downloadableOpen resource
Research
The Black Child SEND Report 2024
Research into the experience of Black children finding their way through SEND processes, and what families need from the system.
2024, full reportOpen resource
Research
SEL reports, Bexley, Greenwich and Southwark
Three borough-level reports on mental health and wellbeing for Black and mixed-heritage children and young people.
Three boroughsOpen resource
Guidance
MHST in Education, the manual
National guidance for Mental Health Support Teams working in schools and education settings.
National guidanceOpen resource
Research
Southwark CYP Wellbeing Health Survey 2024
Borough-level survey data on the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people in Southwark.
2024, survey dataOpen resource
Research
On the Margin, BME young people in Bexley
Research report on the needs and experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic young people in the borough of Bexley.
BexleyOpen resource
Guidance
Neurodivergent children in temporary accommodation
Impact on Urban Health guidance for councils and families dealing with SEND and housing together.
Guidance for councilsOpen resource
Research
3000 Voices, Growing up in South East London
A large scale survey of young people's experiences growing up across South East London boroughs.
Survey, South East LondonOpen resource
Know an organisation we have missed?
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