Young People
Help and Support

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Disclaimer: We are not responsible for the content of the listed helplines, nor are we affiliated.

Support from National Organisations

Childline

A confidential line for children if they need help or advice.
0800 1111 – 24 hours a day

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The Mix

Age 11– 25
1-2-1 chat service for support
email chat service, support groups
Counselling
Crisis support – text ‘THE MIX’ to 85258

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YoungMinds

Support for children and teens, plus a helpline for parents and guardians.
Lots of information and guidance

Kooth

A free, confidential online service for ages 11 to 18 (up to your 19th birthday)  

Free, safe and anonymous support. Has a range of services such as unlimited free counselling sessions with trained professionals, moderated forums, self-help materials and a mood journal where you can record their thoughts and feelings. Podcast and social media.

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Papyrus

If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be you can contact Papyrus HOPELINE247 free confidential support and practical advice open 24/7 everry day of the year.

Call: 0800 068 4141
Text: 07860039967
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

Our Suicide Prevention Advisers are ready to support you.

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Ambitious about Autism

Trusted information and signposting.
Autistic and OK - a toolkit to help autistic pupils understand and look after their own mental health and wellbeing
Online Youth Network.

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Fixers

“Young People Using Their Past to Fix the Future”
Lots of resources including short films and documentaries, animations, books, websites, music videos, apps.

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Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families

Information and therapeutic help for under 25s Training for carers and teachers.

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Brook Advisory Service

Free and confidential sexual health and well-being experts.
“Healthy Lives for Young People”

Charlie Waller

Lots of information, support and training for parents, educators and clinicians helping young people too.

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Students Against Depression

A website by students for students. Provides you with the calm environment and the resources to help find a way forward. Advice , information and guidance.

The Children's Society

Information and advice pages for young people.

My Time Young Carers

5 - 25 years. Lots of support and information.
Activity days and breaks away, online youth group, help for your school or college to better support you, employability programme.

Hidden Needs Trust

Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs, young people under the age of 25 with learning difficulties, their families, carers, and the specialist educational providers that support them in Dorset and Somerset.

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National Association for Children of Alcoholics

Providing information advice and support for everyone affected by a parent's drinking.
Free Helpline 0800 358 3456
Also
Al-Anon family groups and Ala-Teen
https://al-anonuk.org.uk/

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Anxiety UK

Helpline 03444 775 774
Text support 07537 416 905
(open M - F 10.30 - 4.30
Website includes Student Guide.

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Beat Eating Disorders

Helpline (England) 0808 801 0677
Open 3 pm - 8 pm 365 (366 in a leap year) days a year.
one-to-one webchat or email help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Lots of information and support on the website and on social media.

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Kidscape

Parent advice line
07496 682 785
Top 10 tips to deal with bullying for young people.

local support

DORSET

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Connection 24/7 Helpline for Children and Adults

Free
Telephone: 0800 652 0190
or via NHS 111

Chat Health

Find Out More

If you are aged 11 – 19 

Confidential text messaging service, with the School Nursing Team.

07480 635511 M-F 8.30 am - 4.30 pm
relationships, weight, anxiety, depression, alcohol, stress, smoking, drugs, relationships, self harm, sexual health.

Also PARENTLINE
Need confidential advice to support a young person? Parents and carers of 5–19-year-olds in Dorset can access support via ParentLine, a confidential text messaging service. Run by Dorset HealthCare’s School Nursing team, the service supports parents and carers needing advice or guidance about mental health, as well as a range of other issues like sleep, behaviour, healthy eating, bullying and exam stress. Just text 07312 263131 and a member of the team will respond. The service runs from 9am - 4pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays and school holidays).

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Dorset Anti-Bullying Service

Find Out More

Telephone: 07754 296658

email: info@dabsonline.org.
Also on Facebook

dorset mind

Young People's Services

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Dorset Mind YPS aims to help 11 - 25 year olds by providing them with the resources, tools, information, advice and the services, to support learning to live well with good mental health and resilience.

1- 2-1 sessions (probably online in this area but face to face is available in Dorset).

Treads Youth Advice and Information

Helping Young People Stand on their own two feet.

Find Out More

Based at the Scouts Hut, Eagle House Gardens,, central Blandford, DT11 7BS but a very useful website

Tel. 07762 185753
email: youthsupport@treads.org.uk

Provides free, unbiased and non-judgmental advice and support to individuals from the age of 7 to 25. The charity provides support for neurodiverse young people and conducts anti-bullying workshops and female empowerment programmes Information, advice and support on almost anything, including: bullying, health and well-being, relationships, sexual health advice and services, family conflict, alcohol and drugs, education and learning, employment and training, counselling, victim support, legal, debt and finance, homelessness, housing and benefits

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You

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First Point Dorset Integrated Prevention Partnership

For Over 16 years of age. First Point is a Housing, Health & Wellbeing service. We work with people living within the Dorset Council area and Christchurch. We can work with you for up to 6 months providing you are over 16 years of age and offer a no wrong door approach to support.

Tel. 0330 1232550.

Weekly sessions at The Hope Project, Shaftesbury - Mondays 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm.

nhs dorset

CAMHS - Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Find Out More

Telephone: 01305 762513

CAMHS GATEWAY FOR 16 - 18 YEAR OLDS IS NOW ACCESSIBLE WITHOUT A REFERRAL - SEE WEBSITE
CAMHS Gateway

REFERRAL from a professional such as a GP, school nurse or other professional needed for more help.

The website also lists local services and resources such as local counselling services.

https://camhsdorset.org/

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Relate Children and Young Person's Counselling

Find Out More

Counselling for Young people

Email: enquiries@relatedorset.org.uk

Telephone: 01302 380900

or Salisbury 01722 569 028

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The Discovery Project

13 – 25 years

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A partnership between Dorset HealthCare and Dorset Mental Health Forum combining the expertise of NHS Professionals, the lived experience of Peer Specialists and the voice of Young People to create spaces to explore and share what mental health, recovery, and wellbeing means by looking at what matters to you.  Not a clinical intervention, the Project covers the whole of Dorset with schools, charities, and other organisations.

Discovery Profiles - A chance to discuss what path your discovery journey might take. A Large Programme of Topics - Learning, Exploring and Understanding Mental Health. From Worksheets to Workshops, and everything in between. Discovery Podcasts

YP Community -  Have your say, share your thoughts. This is where young people say what matters most to them.

Rerun

Find Out More

Rerun Dorset Runaways Service,
Office 3,
The Exchange,
Old Market Hill,
Sturminster Newton DT10 1FH.

Outreach and 24 hour emergency phone line for 19 years and under who have run away from home, or who are being forced to leave, or who are at risk if they stay there.

Telephone 01258 475487

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Dorset Lavender Farm Project

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Young people work programmes, volunteering opportunities, supported vocational experience and education and training for basic skills qualifications.

email: jo@dorsetlavenderfarmproject.co.uk

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Rendevous

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The Rendezvous are based in Sherborne but are increasingly extending their services across to our area including Gillingham where taster workshops on circus skills, shadow films, TV studio and Boxing fitness were run in January and February 2024. As well as coffee bar social an karaoke activities.

The Rendezvous works to improve young people's (13-25) mental health and wellbeing with support, education, advice and more.


Also see Gillingham Youth Collective -website https://www.gycollective.com/

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Mosaic

Find Out More

Help and support in bereavement for children and young people

Pre bereavement support for families affected by terminal illness.

01258 837071

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Carer Support Dorset

Find Out More

Help for Young Carers

Lots of help and advice.
Activities and breaks

Young people living in Dorset Council area aged under 18 years who are caring for an adult should also contact Dorset Direct on 01305 221000 or email customerservices@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

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Future Roots, Rylands Farm, Near Sherborne

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Farm based help and support for young people.

"Future Roots has provided stability and direction to thousands of young people and families for over 13 years. Our dedicated, qualified and experienced mentors offer a unique combination of animal assisted therapy, character building programmes, academic qualifications and a wide range of learning opportunities. This resilience model leads to positive outcomes at times when young people are most in need."

Homestart Blackmore Vale

Find Out More

Support for parents of children under 5 who are struggling for whatever reason, including those who are young parents.

Tel. 01258 473038

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Wired Therapy

Find Out More

Personal creative therapy for those who are 11-25 years old who live in Dorset Council area. Based in Poole but online access is available.

Dorset Youth Association


Find support and activities. Searchable directory
0 - 25 years knowledge hub. Find a youth club, mental health support, SEND information, and more.

https://dorsetyouth.com/

Includes
Dorset Youths' Mental Health Hub
https://dorsetyouth.com/mental-health

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Hipp Bones

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Hipp!!Bones in Gillingham provides a targeted youth club for young people with learning difficulties, disabilities, Autism and/or additional needs living in North Dorset and neighbouring counties.

We predominantly cater for young people aged 11-19 years of age, although we can continue to cater for our members up to the age of 25 years of age.

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Space Youth Project

Find Out More

Email: info@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Dorset wide project for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and questioning young people under 25

Online Group only in this area or in-person groups further afield.
Tel. 01202 205279

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Westcountry Practice

Website: https://westcountrypractice.com/

Shaftesbury based.

Tel. 01747 359054

email: info@westcountrypractice.com

Westcountry Practice provides Children and Young People (up to 25s) Counselling, Tuition & Therapy.

Also clubs, classes and groups and play therapy.

Mind Brain Body CIC (MBB)

Website: https://www.mindbrainbodycic.org/

Our purpose is to raise awareness of mental health difficulties amongst young people and to support young people to maintain their mental health and overall well-being using interactively holistic activities including Lego-based therapy, creative arts, sports and mindfulness.
Events such as Youth Wellbeing Drop-in Session in Gillingham in April 2024 and a webinar on self-esteem in June 2024.

Holistically Rural Outreach Youth Project collaborating with Rural Mental Health Matters (RMHM) and supported by Dorset Council.

Somerset/Wiltshire

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Mindline Somerset 24/7 support line for Children and Adults

Telephone: 0800 138 1692 or

01823 276892 Also Live web chat 8 pm - 11 pm

and Mindline Trans+

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Somerset CAMHS

Find Out More

Somerset Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

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Rendevous

Find Out More

The Rendezvous are based in Sherborne but are increasingly making more of their services available outside the town and reaching over the border into Somerset including tutoring once a week in Yeovil In addition everyone is welcome in Sherborne if you can travel there.

The Rendezvous works to improve young people's (13-25) mental health and wellbeing with support, education, advice and more.

Young Somerset

Find Out More

Wellbeing Support for Young People

Telephone:  01278 722100

Email: wellbeing@youngsomerset.org.uk

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Somerset Big Tent

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The Somerset Big Tent website provides an online space for children and young people and their parents and guardians to know what wellbeing support is available for them in their area. They can navigate the support based on their feelings, type of support, location, age and level of Quality Assurance to ensure that they can discover support options which are suitable for them.

The Somerset Big Tent website also offers a professional area with details of upcoming training events, Wellbeing campaigns and more to support professionals about how best to support children and young people.

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Yeovil 4 Family

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Link workers and volunteer mentors for South Somerset.

Phone 01935 530050

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The Balsam Centre

Find Out More

In Wincanton, community hub for the Blackmore Vale Area Community hub for health, social, educational and cultural activities. Activities and information for children, young people and families.

Tel. 01963 31842

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Somerset Parent Carer Forum

Find Out More

Advises and supports parents, grandparents and foster carers of children and young people up to 25 years of age who have additional needs or disabilities..

Tel. 01458 259384

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CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)

Find Out More

CAMHS Mental Health Helpline for children, young people and parents/carers is 0800 023 2133

Supporting children and young people with emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties.

If you are not already a service user of CAMHS call

Single Point of Access: 01865 903330 (9 am – 5 pm)

Email: wiltsCAMHSSPAinfo@ oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

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WILTSHIRE MIND

Find Out More

Free counselling for 11 to 18 year olds. Online or in Trowbridge.

email: counselling@wiltshiremind.co.uk

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Wiltshire:  Alabare Riverside Sanctuary

Find Out More

Confidential service for anyone struggling to manage their mental wellbeing (16+)

Call 08082 803528

9 am - 11 pm seven days a week

Email: riversidesanctuary@albare.co.uk

Drop in at Riverside Sanctuary in Salisbury.

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Carer Support Wiltshire Young Carers

Find Out More

Information, Magazine, Support
Activities and Events

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Young Healthwatch Wiltshire

Find Out More

Great directory to download produced by young volunteers.

Wiltshire Children and Young People Wellbeing Service

Find Out More

Early mental health service.
Support, advice and information for young people aged 5-18 including counselling, group work and activities.

Use the contact form on the website or call the single point of access (SPA) number 0300 247 0090 or email: vcl.wiltshirespa@nhs.net.

Family Counselling Trust

Find Out More

Counselling services for children, young people and their families.

Fees based on income.

Complete contact form online.

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Help Counselling

Find Out More

Free and low-cost counselling for adults and young people over 16 years old in west Wiltshire.

Call: 01225 767459

Email: enquiries@helpcounselling.co.uk

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Revival Wiltshire

https://www.revival-wiltshirerasac.org.uk/services/

Free confidential counselling and support to male and female (16+) survivors of rape, sexual abuse, or sexual exploitation.

Call: 01225 751568

Email: appointments@revival-wiltshirerasac.org.uk

See urgent, national and resources pages for more help

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