Websites

One of the best places to find information and support on family/parenting issues is on the Web. Just go to any Search Engine (e.g. Google, Yahoo, Alta Vista) and type in a few words on what you want to know about.

Here are a few links to other websites to get you started. These are listed in alphabetical order - not by importance. Please note that the value-base and content of these sites is not, necessarily, endorsed by Parents Advice Centre (PAC) ...

Adoption UK - supporting adoptive families before, during and after adoption.

Armagh Child Contact Centre - provides a meeting place where children from separated families can enjoy contact with one or both parents (and sometimes other family members) in a comfortable and safe environment.

Autism NI (PAPA) - seeks to ensure that people within the autistic spectrum and their carers have access to appropriate services, enabling people with autism to be valued members of their community.

BBC Parenting Pages - provides information for parents with children of all ages, from babies to teenagers.

Childline - a free helpline for children and young people to talk about any problem.

Children Are Unbeatable! Alliance - campaigns for the UK to satisfy human rights obligations by modernising the law on assault to afford children the same protection as adults.

Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI) - is the regional umbrella organisation for the children's sector in Northern Ireland. They provide training, information and support services to member organisations.

Children's Law Centre - increases public awareness and understanding of children's and young people's rights. They offer information, advice, training and research in this field.

Contact a Family - provides advice, information and support to the parents of disabled children - no matter what their disability or health condition.

Contact Youth - provides telephone and face-to-face counselling to young people aged 11-25 years.

Counselling Directory - provides a free, confidential counselling network throughout the UK, enabling those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate to their needs.

Cruse - is a UK-based voluntary organisation which provides a range of services to help people cope more constructively with the changes that bereavement may create in their lives. Their services include free information, face-to-face bereavement support for adults and children, groupwork, helplines and web sites (www.cruse.org.uk and www.rd4u.org.uk).

Dictionary for Dads - offers parenting advice and information for fathers.

Eastern Drugs and Alcohol Coordination Team - is a group of people from throughout Northern Ireland with a commitment to tackling drug and alcohol misuse.

Eating Disorders Network - provides help, support, information and advice. The website is suitable for both those who are suffering from an eating disorder, and those who are worried about someone who might have an eating disorder.

Employers for Childcare - helps working parents to find childcare solutions by providing: practical help with choosing childcare; advice on juggling work and family life; savings on registered childcare costs using childcare vouchers.

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland - provides information and advice on issues of discrimination and equal opportunities.

Families First - is a parenting project supporting parents and carers of young children in Belfast and surrounding districts.

Fatherhood Institute - provides news, training, information, policy updates, research summaries and guidelines for supporting fathers and their families.

Fostering Network Northern Ireland - provides training courses for foster carers and fostering services; peer mentoring and advice for sons and daughters of foster carers; information and counselling services for anyone involved in fostering.

GamCare - provides support, advice and counselling to people affected by gambling problems.

Gingerbread NI - offers advice and support for lone parents in Northern Ireland.

Great Dad - provides pregnancy tips and advice for expectant dads. The website also provides parenting information for new dads, single dads, and stay-at-home dads.

Heads Away Just Say - offers mental health support to young people.

Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland - gateway site to Health and Social Care Services in Northern Ireland.

Home-Start - provides practical, home-based support to parents who have at least one child under five years of age.

Kids' Allergies - tips and advice on treating children's allergies.

Kids' Development - information on kids' progress, behaviour, learning and thinking.

Learning Space - toy store in Belfast city centre which specialises in a range of educational resources for use in either school settings or at home.

Life Coach Directory - provides a support network of UK life coaches, with information on their training and experience, areas of life coaching, fees and contact details.

Littlesteps - an interactive website for families to promote healthy eating.

Mencap - offers information, support and a range of services for children, young people and adults with a learning disability, and their families and carers.

National Deaf Children's Society - provides support, information and advice for deaf children and young people, their families, and the professionals who work with them.

netmums.com - a UK-wide network for mothers which offers information and advice on what's happening in local areas.

ni4kids.com - an online resource for families in Northern Ireland. Offers ideas for fun things to do, as well as a directory of sources of help with family issues.

Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children - provides practical support to children and young people who have been diagnosed with cancer, and their families.

Northern Ireland Childminding Association - works to develop registered home-based childcare, and provides a range of services to support childminders, parents and children.

NICCY - website for the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, promoting and safeguarding the rights and interests of children and young people.

NI Direct - an government website for Northern Ireland citizens. Information includes money, tax and benefits; health and well-being; and a useful section for parents on issues such as maternity pay and internet safety.

Parentline Plus - is a national charity that works for, and with, parents.

P.E.A.T - Parents' Education as Autism Therapists is a parent-led charity, based in Northern Ireland, which promotes Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) for helping children with Autism. P.E.A.T provides training and support in ABA to parents and carers of children with Autism.

Safefood - promoting food safety and healthy eating.

Samaritans - provides confidential, non-judgemental support, 24 hours a day, for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.

Sands NI - a charity which provides support to parents and families bereaved by stillbirth and neonatal death.

Stepfamily Scotland - provides advice and support to stepfamiles.

Tiny Life (formerly NIMBA) - provides a range of support services for families who have experienced the birth of a baby that requires intensive or special care.

Turn2us - is a charity set up to help people in financial need access the money available to them through welfare benefits and charitable grants. The site is free to use and open to anyone looking for help – it contains a benefits calculator and grants search database containing details of grant-giving charities, many of whom can be contacted directly through the site.

Women's Aid - advice, support and practical help for women and children facing domestic violence.

Your Family - positive ideas and advice for parents of young children.

Your Teenager - information and advice for parents on understanding their teenagers.