Northamptonshire
Help with Separation and Family Court Proceedings For Northamptonshire 2023
MEDIATION AND OTHER DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Family Mediation Council – www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk
What is Mediation – an explanation for parents and details of the voucher scheme to assist towards the cost of mediation.
CAFCASS
CAFCASS – www.cafcass.gov.uk
Tel: 0300 456 4000 – The Cafcass website provides lots of information for separated parented including an on-line parenting plan and information for parents and carers and details of the planning together for children programme.
Parents and carers – Cafcass – Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
Parenting Plan – Cafcass – Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
Planning Together for Children – Cafcass – Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURT PROCESS
https://youtu.be/F8UxcHMc3d8 – DJ Paula Bailey explains the court process.
FAMILY COURT INFORMATION – https://www.familycourtinformation.org.uk/useful-videos/
This site has useful videos about all aspects of Family Law – how to complete forms, what happens at court, videos about Cafcass, how to represent yourself in court etc.,
GOV.UK – https://www.gov.uk/represent-yourself-in-court
Information about representing yourself in court and
ADVICE NOW – https://www.advicenow.org.uk/family-court
Advice and downloadable resources on a number of topics including child arrangements, divorce and finance.
CHILD CONTACT CENTRES – WWW.naccc.org.uk
This website contains information about child contact centres local to your area and will details what facilities are available. There is also other information useful to separated parents.
DOMESTIC ABUSE SUPPORT
Northampton Partnership Homes – www.nph.org.uk
Tel: 0300 330 7003 – Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service – www.ndas.co
Tel: 0300 0120 154 – Monday- Friday 9am to 5pm.
Keep House, 124 High Street, Woollaston, Northants. NN29 7RJ
Northants Police Domestic Abuse Reduction Team
Tel: 101 and ask for PC Alice Meacham or PC Richard Markham
National Centre for Domestic Violence
Tel: 0844 8044999 or text NCDV to 60777 and they will call you back.
Eve – www.eveda.org.uk
Tel: 01604 230311 – or e-mail admin@eveda.org.uk
Local charity that provide family refuge.
Muslim Women’s Network – www.mwnhelpline.co.uk
Tel: 0800 999 5786
Karma Nirvana – https://karmanirvana.org.uk – National Honour Based Abuse Helpline
Tel: 0800 5999 247 – Mon-Fri – 9am to 5pm
Forced Marriage Unit – www.gov.uk/forced-marriage
Tel: 0207 7008 0151
Refuge for Women – https://refuge.org.uk
Tel: 0808 2000 247 – 24/7 helpline
Respect – https://mensadviceline.org.uk/male-victims
Tel: 0808 8010327 – help and support for make victims of domestic abuse.
Mankind – www.mankind.org.uk
Tel: 01823 334244. For male victims of domestic abuse, including those in same sex relationships.
Galop – www.galop.org.uk
Tel: 0800 999 5425/ LGBT+ anti-abuse charity provide advice, assistance and support for LGBT+ people experiencing abuse or violence, such as hate crime, domestic abuse, sexual violence, conversion therapy and any other kind of abuse.
Flows – Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors – www.flows.org.uk
This is a legal support service designed to protect women against domestic abuse.
LEGAL ADVICE & ASSISTANCE
Citizen’s Advice – Family – https://citizensadvice.org.uk/family/
Tel: 0800 144 8848
Legal Aid – https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid
Contains an eligibility checker to see if you would qualify for legal aid.
Disability Law Service – https://dls.org.uk
Tel: 0207 791 9800 – provide free legal advice on issues such as housing and welfare benefits to disabled people and those who care for them. They aim to improve access to the law for people with disabilities and provide information resources.
Resolution – www.resolution.org.uk
The website has many fact sheets and information that can be accessed free of charge. Included are videos to help people acting without legal representation to navigate the court and free booklets that can be downloaded such as “Separation and Divorce – Helping Parents to help children”.
Wikivorce – https://divorce.wikivorce.com
Tel: 01202 805020. A volunteer run service which provides free advice and support for those going through divorce proceedings. The free phone service operates Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.
Advice Now – https://www.advicenow.org.uk
A free online service that offers advice and information about separation and divorce. The site has many guides including: how to apply for child arrangement orders without a lawyer, how to navigate through a separation and how to get a divorce.
RCJ Advice – https://www.rcjadvice.org.uk/
Free legal advice to those with a court case or who are about to start court proceedings. You can apply for an appointment by completing their assessment form and emailing it to familytriage@rcjadvice.org.uk
The Family Law Panel – https://thefamilylawpanel.org
This service offers a free consultation over the telephone. This ranges from answering one-off specific questions through to an initial “diagnostic” conversation. They can be accessed through its website:
Only Mums and Only Dads is a not-for-profit organisation which provides support for separating families and works within the Family Law Panel. www.onlydads.org/ www.onlymums.org/
MENTAL HEALTH & OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES
NHS – www.nhft.nhs.uk
Tel: 0800 448 0828 – helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Mind for Northamptonshire – www.northamptonshiremind.org.uk
Offers a range of support and services.
For general enquires, comments or complaints: enquiries@northamptonshiremind.org.uk
For fundraising and publicity: comms@northamptonshiremind.org.uk
Address: 18 Argyll St, Corby NN17 1RU
Phone: 01536 267280
Address: Brook Street, Old Gas Works Car Park, Daventry NN11 4GG
Phone: 01327 879416
Address: 6, 7 Regent Sq, Northampton NN1 2NQ
Phone: 01604 634310
Address: Phoenix House, Skinner’s Hill, Rushden NN10 9YE
Phone: 01933 312800
Wellingborough
Address: 14 Havelock St, Wellingborough NN8 4QA
Phone: 01933 223591
Address: The Barn, Bransons Lane, Towcester NN12 6AX
Phone: 01604 634310 (N’ton office)
Mental Health Northants – www.mhnc.uk
This is a partnership of 11 voluntary sector organisations offering mental health and other support.
The Lowdown – https://thelowdown.info
Support and Advice services for 11-25 year olds.
Tel: 01604 634385 – general helpline
Tel: 07585 737482 – LGBTQ helpline
Serenity Sexual Assault Centre
Tel: 01604 601713 – free medical and emotional support to both male and female victims of rape and sexual assault. Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week
Working Families – www.workingfamilies.org.uk –
Tel: 0300 012 0312 – UK National Charity for working parents and carers – offers advice on numerous subjects.
The Parent Connection – www.advice.co.uk/the-parent-guide-for-couples-and-parents-who-separate-or-divorce/
has a wide range of information, support and help for all separated parents. There is also a forum where parents can share experiences with other separated or separating parents.
Family Lives – www.familylives.org.uk/
Tel: 0808 800 2222. Offers a confidential advice line on 0808 800 2222, information and an online community and a live chat is also available.
Gingerbread – www.gingerbread.org.uk
Tel: 0808 802 0925. A free online service which offers a helpline for single parents who may be seeking advice or support. They offer information pages, an online forum, a webchat function and a phone-in helpline.
SAFFA – www.ssafa.org.uk
Saafa is the armed forces charity who can assist with a number of issues, in particular they assist with adoptions and provide safe housing for victims of domestic abuse. General Enquiries – 0800 260 6780. Address – SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity, 4 St Dunstan’s Hill, London, EC3R 8AD.
NSPCC – https://nspcc.org.uk
Tel: 0808 800 5000. UK’s leading children’s charity
SAMARITANS – www.samaritans.org.uk
Tel:116 123
Citizens Advice Witness Support Service – https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/about-us1/citizens-advice-witness-service
Tel: 0800 144 8848
Voice – www.voicenorthants.org
Tel: 0300 303 1965. Support service provided by the Police & Crime Commissioner to help victims of crime to cope, recover and thrive.
Sunflower Centre – sunflower@northants.pnn.police.uk
Tel: 01604 888211
Northamptonshire Rape Crisis – www.northamptonshirerapecrisis.co.uk
Tel: 0300 222 5930
Victim Support – www.victimsupport.org.uk
Tel: 0808 1689 111
DRUG & ALCOHOL SUPPORT SERVICES
Dear Albert – www.dearalbert.co.uk
Tel: 0800 880 3153 or text 07712 707999. Helps individuals to stop taking alcohol and drugs
Bridge Substance Abuse – www.bridge-northants.ork.uk
Tel: 01604 621259 – 63c Gold Street, Northants. NN1 1RA
Hope.uk – www.hope.uk.org
Tel: 0207 928 0848
50 Gold Street, Kettering. NN16 8JB
PARENTING APPLICATIONS
Family Action – Family-Action-Polaris-co-parenting-apps-2020.pdf
An information sheet containing details of apps that parents can use to assist with childcare arrangements.
PUBLICATIONS
The Survivor’s Handbook – www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/the-survivors-handbook/
A publication that is available on-line. It is available as an audio-book and other formats. Also available in many other languages.
Family Court Without a Lawyer – 4th Edition – Lucy Reed
The Family Court without a Lawyer is a useful book if you have to go to court to sort out issues over separation, money or children and do not have a lawyer to represent you.
Costs approximately £20.00
ISBN-10 : 1838439064
ISBN 13 : 978-1838439064
OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS
NATIONAL DOMESTIC ABUSE HELPLINE
0808 200 0247
GALOP FOR LGBT+
0800 999 5428
NATIONAL LGBT AND DOMESTIC ABUSE HELPLINE
0800 333 5428
THE MIX
0808 808 4994
(Free information and advice for under 25’s)
Northampton Combined Crown and County Courts
85-87 Lady’s Lane, Northampton, NN1 3HQ