The following is a handy PARENTS KNOW HOW SERVICE DIRECTORY which is free to access, so if you feel the need to contact them please do so:

Single Parents

Whether part of the family or separated from their children, fathers have a key role to play in their children’s upbringing and education. DadTalk (www.dadtalk.co.uk) is an online community encouraging all fathers, especially those with teenagers, to do just that. Dads-Space (www.dads-space.com) specifically targets separated fathers, and provides an online space where they can stay in closer touch with their kids.

Mums

The Netmums organisation (www.netmums.com) puts mothers in touch with other mums in their locality, and also with health visitors, who can help with post-natal problems and issues linked to childcare.

Children’s Mental Health

Young Minds (0800 018 2138; www.youngminds.org.uk) offers a free service to anyone concerned about the mental health of a young person, whether caused by bereavement, depression, eating disorders, self harming, or a diagnosed mental health problem.

Teenage Issues

Parents of adolescents often welcome support from people in the same position, and a new site (www.gotateenager.org.uk) from Parentline Plus) aims to recreate the ‘school gate’ community that parents lose when their children move on from primary school.

Parents’ Relationship

Stress between parents can easily impact on progress at school. Relate (www.relateforparents.org.uk) has launched two new initiatives – one online and the other using text messaging – to allow parents to get help quickly. The One Plus One organisation offers parents online relationship support at www.thecoupleconnection.net.

School-related Problems

The Advisory Centre for Education (www.ace-ed.org.uk) will offer independent advice to parents on all aspects of the education system, such as admissions, bullying and discrimination. Call 0808 800 5793 or text ASKACE to 68808.

Disabilities

Contact a Family (0808 8083 555; www.cafamily.org.uk) has lots of information for the parents of disabled children, and links them up with other mums and dads who are in the same position.

 Dads

Around two million families in the UK are headed by a lone parent, and many find it hard juggling work and bringing up a child, but two organisations aim to help. One Parent Families/Gingerbread (www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk) offers advice and support, and there is also a phone helpline (0800 018 5026). SPAN (Single Parent Action Network) aims to put single parents in touch with each other via the social networking area on its website (www.singleparents.org.uk) and offers its parenting service at www.onespace.org.uk.