Guides and resources
3 guides about families and carers
Show all guidesSocial care, assessments and short breaks
How needs assessments work for disabled children and adults, what short breaks are, how direct payments and self-directed support work, and how to prepare for an assessment.
All UK nations — 3 min read
Support for parents of young children
Noticing differences in your child, talking to your health visitor or GP, early years support, Portage, and parent groups. You do not need a diagnosis to ask for help.
All UK nations — 2 min read
Your rights as a carer
Who counts as a carer, how to ask for an assessment in your nation, and how Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment work, including for young carers and parent carers.
All UK nations — 3 min read
Helplines and national organisations
Organisations offering information, advice and support across the UK. Vianova is not connected to them. For local services, search the directory.
Helplines
Samaritans (opens in a new tab)
Free emotional support from trained volunteers, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
All UK nations116 123
Free, 24/7 text-based crisis support for anyone in distress. Text 85258 to get started.
All UK nations
Disability charity offering online advice, a disability helpline and a community forum for disabled people and their families.
All UK nations0808 800 3333
Equality Advisory and Support Service (opens in a new tab)
Advice on equality and discrimination issues in England, Scotland and Wales, including disability discrimination in work, education and services.
England, Scotland, Wales0808 800 0082
Official information
Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
Public body offering advice on disability discrimination in Northern Ireland, including guidance for individuals, employers and service providers.
Northern Ireland only028 9050 0600
Access to Work (opens in a new tab)
GOV.UK grants for practical support at work, such as specialist equipment, support workers, travel costs and mental health support.
England, Scotland, Wales
GOV.UK: Personal Independence Payment (opens in a new tab)
Official information on Personal Independence Payment, who can claim, how to apply and the support available with the claim.
England, Wales
GOV.UK: Disability Living Allowance for children (opens in a new tab)
Official information on Disability Living Allowance for children in England and Wales, including eligibility and what happens at 16.
England, Wales
GOV.UK: Carer's Allowance (opens in a new tab)
Official information on Carer's Allowance for carers in England and Wales, including eligibility rules and how to claim.
England, Wales
nidirect: Disability Living Allowance for children (opens in a new tab)
Official Northern Ireland information on Disability Living Allowance for children, including eligibility, how to claim and the move to PIP at 16.
Northern Ireland only
nidirect: Personal Independence Payment (opens in a new tab)
Official Northern Ireland information on Personal Independence Payment, including age rules, how to apply and how to challenge a decision.
Northern Ireland only
nidirect: Carers assessments (opens in a new tab)
Official Northern Ireland information on carer's assessments from Health and Social Care Trusts, including who is entitled and how to ask.
Northern Ireland only
mygov.scot: Child Disability Payment (opens in a new tab)
Official Scottish Government information on Child Disability Payment, including eligibility, the rules on diagnosis and how to apply.
Scotland only
mygov.scot: Carer Support Payment (opens in a new tab)
Official Scottish Government information on Carer Support Payment, the Scottish benefit for carers of people who receive a qualifying benefit.
Scotland only
Social Security Scotland (opens in a new tab)
Executive agency of the Scottish Government that runs devolved benefits including Child Disability Payment, Adult Disability Payment and Carer Support Payment.
Scotland only
NHS: Autism (opens in a new tab)
NHS information about autism, including signs in children and adults, autism assessments and where to find support in England.
England only
Charities and organisations
National Autistic Society (opens in a new tab)
UK charity offering autism advice, diagnosis and assessment services, family support, education services and an Autism Services Directory.
All UK nations
National Autistic Society Cymru (opens in a new tab)
The National Autistic Society's Wales service, providing support, advice and information for autistic people and their families in Wales.
Wales only
Scottish Autism (opens in a new tab)
Scotland's autism charity offering family support, peer support, advice services, training and community services across Scotland.
Scotland only01259 222022
Autism NI (opens in a new tab)
Northern Ireland's autism charity offering a helpline, support for autistic adults, young people, parents and carers, and autism training.
Northern Ireland only028 9040 1729
Ambitious about Autism (opens in a new tab)
Charity supporting autistic young people aged 13 to 25 to make friends and find opportunities, with advice for families and specialist education.
England only
Autistica (opens in a new tab)
UK autism research charity that runs research projects, campaigns and free resources, including tips and wellbeing tools for autistic people.
All UK nations
Free helpline and support for parents and carers of disabled children and young people aged birth to 25, including benefits advice and SEND updates.
All UK nations0808 808 3555
Charity giving free, independent legal information and template letters on special educational needs and disability law in England.
England only
Carers UK (opens in a new tab)
Charity for unpaid carers offering advice on financial support, practical support, work, health and wellbeing, plus an online community.
All UK nations
Citizens Advice (opens in a new tab)
Independent advice on benefits in England and Wales, including Personal Independence Payment, Child Benefit and Universal Credit.
England, Wales
YoungMinds (opens in a new tab)
Mental health charity offering information and advice for young people, parents and carers, and professionals, with a Parents Helpline.
England, Scotland, Wales
Charity for people with a learning disability and their families and carers, offering a free helpline, an advice hub and employment support.
England, Wales
Advice NI (opens in a new tab)
Independent advice network in Northern Ireland offering advice on benefits, money and debt, and family entitlements.
Northern Ireland only0800 915 4604
If you need help now
If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent medical help, contact NHS 111 in England, Scotland or Wales, or your GP out-of-hours service in Northern Ireland. Samaritans are available any time, free, on 116 123.
Guides are general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. They are checked against official sources and reviewed regularly. Spotted something wrong? Let us know.