Coventry & Warwickshire
Below is a list of organisations which can provide support and advice following parental separation in locations proximate to the Family Court at Coventry County Court.
Family and Parenting support
Warwickshire County Council provides free online resources such as courses and workshops and advice for Warwickshire parents covering a wide range of topics. General information and links can be found here www.warwickshire.gov.uk/family-relationships-1/family-parenting-matters
Coventry City Council has a similar website full of resources and advice. General information and links can be found here www.coventry.gov.uk/children-families
Warwickshire County Council Family Information Service helps families access a wide range of information and services to support them, including early help.www.warwickshire.gov.uk/children-families or email fis@warwickshire.gov.uk or Phone 0800 408 1558 or 01926 742 274
Family Support helpline (Warwickshire) provides access to Family Support Workers who are available across Warwickshire to listen, support and offer advice and guidance to families and professionals over the phone or face to face at Children’s centres across the county. Call 01926 412412 Monday- Friday between 9am and 4pm.
Early Help (Coventry) provides support to children and families as early as possible to try to prevent problems from getting worse. www.coventry.gov.uk/earlyhelp or email earlyhelp@coventry.gov.uk
Family Hubs (Coventry) provide a drop in service for advice and support for any family or child, details can be found here www.coventry.gov.uk/familyhubs
Five to Thrive in Coventry provides parenting resources to nurture healthy brains and emotional development in children www.coventry.gov.uk/fivetothrive
The Solihull Approach Parenting courses free for both Coventry and Warwickshire residents. Access either www.coventry.gov.uk/parenting or www.warwickshire.gov.uk/parentguides
Positive Family Foundations (Coventry) free face to face and online parenting courses. No referral needed. www.coventry.gov.uk/parenting Phone 02476978730
Separation and Co-parenting support
General information and links to national resources can be found at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/family-relationships-1/separation-co-parenting
Supervised and Supported Contact
Swan Family Centres (Coventry) Independent provider to facilitate supervised contact and handovers. Phone 02477719888 Email coventry@swanfamily.org.uk or visit www.naccc.org.uk/centres/swan-family-centre-coventry/
Alternative Dispute Resolution/Mediation
Mediation is required before applying to court. It can also be a very helpful, less expensive and less stressful way of resolving differences as an alternative to going to court. Mediation is where an impartial person, trained in dealing with difficult discussions between two opposing sides, acts like a referee between them. Whatever your situation, they can help you sort out arrangements after splitting up.
Family Mediation Voucher Scheme is a scheme aimed at supporting and encouraging parties to resolve any family disputes outside of court using mediation. To find out more information about this scheme, including whether you may be eligible, please visit: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/mediation-vouchers/
The following organisations can provide a mediation service:
Relate Coventry and Warwickshire offers an initial 45 minute meeting over the online platform Zoom. The session can be held with both parents or separately and aims to help you decide if mediation is right for you. www.relatecoventry.org/services/family-mediation/ 024 7622 5863 or info@relatecoventry.org
Family Mediation and Counselling Services offer free no-obligation consultations to determine whether mediation is right for you. Trained Family Mediators will be able to answer any questions and can explain the mediation process and ways to resolve your dispute, including applying to the court. They have locations in Coventry and across Warwickshire. See website www.fmacs.org.uk
SJ Mediation offers online appointments across the UK but can offer face-to-face appointments from their office in Leamington Spa. Contact www.sjmediation.co.uk 01926 800601 sharon@sjmediation.co.uk
UK Family Mediation Service offer online and face to face mediation in locations across Coventry and Warwickshire but can also facilitate mediation with parents living in different locations. Website: www.ukfamilymediationservice.co.uk
Legal advice and support with the family court process
General links and information can be found at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/family-relationships-1/best-children-–-legal-matters
The Warwick Law Clinic offers a drop in service for free legal advice provided by law students from University of Warwick and trainee solicitors. The service is currently on hold.
Advice Now offers free online comprehensive information, know-how tips and in-depth guides on various aspects of divorce and separation, including advice on how to sort out your legal problem before or instead of going to court and things to consider if you do go to court. Website www.advicenow.org.uk
Resolution Family Law you can use the website to find a local specialist lawyer but the website also has lots of information and advice, to help you work things out constructively without the need to go to the court or find your options if you do go to court. Website: www.resolution.org.uk
Family Advice Midlands (FAM) Advice clinics take place throughout the year on Wednesdays run by the University of Law in Birmingham. The clinic offers free initial advice on a range of family law issues. Email fam@law.ac.uk
Birmingham City School of Law offers a family law clinic for free initial advice on Wednesdays. To make an enquiry call 0121 202 4605 or email BCULawClinic@bcu.ac.uk
Support Through Court Volunteers provide a free service across England and Wales to offer support and guidance before, during and after court. www.supporthroughcourt.org.uk
McKenzie Friends offer persons local to the area that can accompany you to court to support you if you if you do not have legal representation, with the court’s permission. They will not act legally on your behalf. www.mckenzie-friend.org.uk/regionfive.html
Support for victims of domestic abuse
General information and links can be found here,
Warwickshire: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/domesticabuse or
Coventry: www.safetotalk.org.uk
Warwickshire Domestic Violence Service (Refuge) is a countywide service that offers help and support to women, men and children experiencing domestic violence in Warwickshire. If you live in Warwickshire you can call the helpline 0800 408 1552 to speak to a support worker and alls from most landlines are free and not itemised on bills. If you are not able to call, please email DVSW@refuge.org.uk. Always call 999 in an emergency.
Coventry Haven Women’s Aid works in partnership with various local agencies to provide support and information for victims and provides drop in sessions for support, including family support. www.coventryhaven.co.uk Phone 02476 444 077 or urgent out of hours 0247683 2222 or email info@coventryahven.co.uk
Talk2Someone Warwickshire aim to tackle domestic abuse by increasing the information and support available to victims, their friends and family, young people and abusers. For further information and advice visit www.talk2someone.org.uk
Safe to Talk (Women’s Aid Coventry) freephone 0800 111 4998 provides advice, information, emotional and practical support and can signpost for emergency help. Will accept self-referrals.
Police and Crime Partnership is a collection of community safety agencies working with Warwickshire County Council to achieve a safer and more secure Warwickshire. Tackling domestic violence and abuse is a priority for the police and partner agencies and this partnership helps to ensure that the right services are in place to help victims and their families. Visit www.warwickshire-pcc.gov.uk/helpingyou/domestic-abuse-services/
West Midlands Police provide domestic abuse officers, an online platform to report abuse and information and links for support. www.west-midlands.police.uk/your-options/domestic-abuse
Panahghar (Coventry) free BAME mulit-lingual support advice and advocacy and acces to safe refuge for victims and their families of domestic abuse, sexual abuse or gendered abuse in Coventry. www.safehouse.org.uk 08000 556519
Wish (Coventry and Warwickshire Relate) supporting children and young people that have witnessed/experienced domestic abuse. 02476225863 info@relatecoventry.org or www.relatecoventry.org
Rape and Sexual Abuse Support
RoSA is an independent charity working throughout Warwickshire , offering free confidential support for anyone who has experienced rape, sexual abuse, or sexual violence. Phone: 01788 551151 or visit www.rosasupport.org
Safeline is a specialist charity providing a range of services across Warwickshire to support all survivors of rape and sexual abuse. Phone 01926 402498, Text: 07860 027573 or visit www.safeline.org.uk
The Blue Sky Centre (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) – The Blue Sky Centre is a SARC where any victim of rape or sexual assault will receive medical care, police intervention (if they wish to report the crime), and various other support services. Phone: 01926 507805 or www.blueskycentre.org.uk
Child Exploitation – Children and young people have a right to be safe and should be protected from all forms of abuse. It’s everyone’s responsibility to spot the signs of child exploitation and protect children and young people in Warwickshire. Visit the Something’s Not Right website www.somethingsnotright.co.uk for information and details of support available.
Domestic Abuse Counselling Service (DACS) (Warwickshire) – The Domestic Abuse Counselling Service (DACS) offers counselling to both female and male victims of abuse in Nuneaton, North Warwickshire and Stratford upon Avon. They offer a perpetrators programme in Nuneaton. www.dacservice.org.uk
Family Intervention Counselling Service (South Warwickshire) – The Family Intervention Counselling Service run a number of courses for perpetrators of domestic violence, their partners and children in South Warwickshire. www.interventionservice.co.uk
Cohort 4 (North Warwickshire)– Cohort 4 is a peer support organisation for women based in North Warwickshire. It is a non-profit social enterprise made up of women who all have experience of abuse, criminal justice and mental health issues. Women decide what they need and when they need it, to enhance and reinforce their confidence and well being in the community of North Warwickshire, which covers Tamworth, Atherstone, North Warwickshire villages, Nuneaton and Bedworth. www.cohort4.org.uk
Panahghar (Coventry) free BAME mulit-lingual support advice and advocacy and acces to safe refuge for victims and their families of domestic abuse, sexual abuse or gendered abuse in Coventry. www.safehouse.org.uk 08000 556519
CRASAC Children’s and Young Peoples Counselling service (Coventry) counselling available for young people aged 5-18 in Coventry who have experienced sexual violence. Requires a referral. www.crasac.org.uk Phone 02476277777
Mental Health and Wellbeing
General information and links can be found www.warwickshire.gov.uk/mentalhealth
Wellbeing for Warwickshire is an online platform with information, advice and support services in Warwickshire and Coventry regarding your mental health and wellbeing. It offers a 24/7 helpline call 0800 616171 and has details of drop in clinics/ wellbeing hubs available for support. Visit www.wellbeingforwarwickshire.org.uk
Safe Haven (Coventry and Warwickshire) provides non-clinical, community-based support in the evening when other options are closed, providing crisis intervention, de-escalation and support for those in mental health distress. Phone 02476017200 email support@cwsafehaven.org.uk website www.cwsafehaven.org.uk
Abacus Counselling Services Limited based in Coventry provides individual and personal confidential support with counselling. It charges £50 per session for individuals and £60 per session for couples but will not charge individuals suffering genuine hardship. www.abacus-cs.co.uk Phone
02476226623 or email info@abacus-cs.co.uk or mary@ababus-cs.co.uk
The Light House Trust provides counselling and supervision services around Convetry and Warwickshire. It is affiliated to the Association of Christian Counsellors but offers counselling for anyone regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender or sexuality www.lighthousechristiancare.co.uk
For Young People:
Mind (Coventry and Warwickshire) offers a peer mentor and 1:1 support service to young people www.cwmind.org.uk/peer-mentoring/ email: pmss@cwmind.org.uk
RISE is Coventry and Warwickshire’s CAMHS service for children and young people. Visit the website for further information, advice and support www.cwrise.com
Kooth (Coventry and Warwickshire) Is a free and confidential way for young people to access emotional wellbeing and early intervention mental health support www.kooth.com
Coventry and Warwickshire Relate provide counselling for children and young people experiencing poor mental health and family change. 02476225863 info@relatecoventry.org or www.relatecoventry.org
Substance Misuse
General information and links can be found here www.warwickshire.gov.uk/keeping-child-safe/substance-misuse/1
Warwickshire Pathways Drug and Alcohol Services brings together a range of service providers working together to support people with drug and alcohol problems and their families and can be found here www.warwickshire.gov.uk/drugsandalcohol
Services include,
Compass for children and young people www.compass-uk.org/services/warwickshire-cypdas/
Change Grow Live (Warwickshire) is a free and confidential drug and alcohol service for adults and all age recovery www.changegrowlive.org/drug-alcohol-service-warwickshire
Safe in Warwickshire provide a reporting form for harm reduction purposes to collect drug information and intelligence that can be shared and further information about substance misuse. Includes information for those with complex needs for assessment for inpatient or residential detox or rehab placement. www.safeinwarwickshire.com/substance-misuse
Positive Choices (Coventry) provide advice and support for young people aged 5 to 24 years old www.changegrowlive.org/positive-choices-coventry or phone 02476553130 / 07780259439 email coventryyp.info@cgl.org.uk
Ayriss Recovery Coventry C.I.C drug and alcohol outreach/support service in Coventry. thearccic@gmail.com 07843972073
CATCH Recovery (Coventry) outpatient addiction counselling service including alcoholism and substance misuse. Transport to London centre is provided if necessary and online consultations are available too. 0203 468 6602 info@catchrecovery.com or www.catchrecovery.com