Being a parent isn’t always easy, and at times you may need a bit of extra support. Whether you are looking for advice, someone to talk to, or practical help for your family, there are a range of services available to support you in Hampshire.
This section brings together information about different types of support, including social care services, local and national charities, listening ear services, and the Hampshire Family Support Service. Whatever your circumstances, you are not alone—there are people and organisations who want to listen, understand, and help you find the right support for you and your family.
You can explore the options below to find the kind of help that feels right for you, whether that’s emotional support, guidance through a difficult situation, or longer-term support for your family.
Our libraries exist to support communities across Hampshire. Your local library is a hub of support for new parents and babies during their first twelve months and beyond.
Based in libraries, New Parents Meet and Connect are free drop-in sessions in local libraries, perfect for parents and carers with newborn babies to meet up
Find out how we can help your new family feel at home by visiting your local library.
Our libraries exist to support communities across Hampshire. Your local library is a hub of support for new parents and babies during their first twelve months and beyond.
Based in libraries, New Parents Meet and Connect are free drop-in sessions in local libraries, perfect for parents and carers with newborn babies to meet up
Find out how we can help your new family feel at home by visiting your local library.
If your family is finding things hard, it’s okay to ask for help. Sometimes families get referred to the local authority (LA) social services to see what support is available to them through an assessment being carried out by a social worker. You can also ask to be referred if you feel their support is needed or call Children's Services on 0300 555 1384 to refer yourself.
What the Family Support Service and Hampshire Children's Services Offer
If your family is finding things hard, it’s okay to ask for help. Sometimes families get referred to the local authority (LA) social services to see what support is available to them through an assessment being carried out by a social worker. You can also ask to be referred if you feel their support is needed or call Children's Services on 0300 555 1384 to refer yourself.
What the Family Support Service and Hampshire Children's Services Offer
The Hampshire Family Help Service is designed to support families who may be struggling with challenges that are affecting their children or family life. Its main aim is to make sure families get the right help, at the right time, from the right professionals.
The Hampshire Family Help Service is designed to support families who may be struggling with challenges that are affecting their children or family life. Its main aim is to make sure families get the right help, at the right time, from the right professionals.
Family Lives - Support for parents
Family Lives has a helpline called Parentline, provide e-mail support and provides free to access and here to support you with parenting and family challenges. Get one-to-one support through their free helpline on 0808 800 2222, live chat or message them via WhatsApp on 07441 444125 to connect with experienced professional family support workers and highly-trained volunteers.
The service provides practical guidance, emotional support, and information, and can help you find the right services or next steps for your child. If needed, they can also signpost you to other organisations for further support.
It is available across the UK and is designed to support parents with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, behaviour changes, school issues, and more.
You can speak to trained advisers by phone, text, email or webchat, who will listen without judgement and offer emotional support, practical guidance, and helpful information. They can also signpost you to other services or support, or help connect you with further help such as counselling or befriending services if needed.
The service is open to adults across the UK and is designed to support families with both everyday challenges and more complex situations, helping you feel heard and supported.
The service provides a safe, non-judgemental space where you can share concerns about your child, your family, or your own wellbeing. Parenting coaches will listen, offer practical advice, and help you explore possible solutions, as well as suggest other services if you need more support.
As well as the chat service, Parent Talk also offers easy-to-understand advice articles on a wide range of topics, including behaviour, school life, mental health, relationships, and supporting children with additional needs.
ChatHealth is a free and confidential text messaging service for parents and carers in Hampshire. It allows you to send a message directly to a qualified health professional, such as a health visitor or school nurse, to ask questions or share concerns about your child’s health and wellbeing.
The service can support you with a wide range of topics, including feeding, sleep, behaviour, emotional wellbeing, and general health questions. The team will offer advice, reassurance, and signpost you to other services if more support is needed.
It’s designed to be quick, easy and accessible, so you can get trusted advice without needing an appointment. Messages are usually responded to within one working day, and you can text at any time.
Family Lives - Support for parents
Family Lives has a helpline called Parentline, provide e-mail support and provides free to access and here to support you with parenting and family challenges. Get one-to-one support through their free helpline on 0808 800 2222, live chat or message them via WhatsApp on 07441 444125 to connect with experienced professional family support workers and highly-trained volunteers.
The service provides practical guidance, emotional support, and information, and can help you find the right services or next steps for your child. If needed, they can also signpost you to other organisations for further support.
It is available across the UK and is designed to support parents with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, behaviour changes, school issues, and more.
You can speak to trained advisers by phone, text, email or webchat, who will listen without judgement and offer emotional support, practical guidance, and helpful information. They can also signpost you to other services or support, or help connect you with further help such as counselling or befriending services if needed.
The service is open to adults across the UK and is designed to support families with both everyday challenges and more complex situations, helping you feel heard and supported.
The service provides a safe, non-judgemental space where you can share concerns about your child, your family, or your own wellbeing. Parenting coaches will listen, offer practical advice, and help you explore possible solutions, as well as suggest other services if you need more support.
As well as the chat service, Parent Talk also offers easy-to-understand advice articles on a wide range of topics, including behaviour, school life, mental health, relationships, and supporting children with additional needs.
ChatHealth is a free and confidential text messaging service for parents and carers in Hampshire. It allows you to send a message directly to a qualified health professional, such as a health visitor or school nurse, to ask questions or share concerns about your child’s health and wellbeing.
The service can support you with a wide range of topics, including feeding, sleep, behaviour, emotional wellbeing, and general health questions. The team will offer advice, reassurance, and signpost you to other services if more support is needed.
It’s designed to be quick, easy and accessible, so you can get trusted advice without needing an appointment. Messages are usually responded to within one working day, and you can text at any time.
Care for the Family offers a wide range of support, advice and resources to help parents through the ups and downs of family life. Their aim is to help families feel stronger and more confident, whatever their situation.
Parents can access practical guidance and encouragement through blogs, podcasts, short videos and top tips, covering everyday parenting challenges and family relationships. There is also specialist support for different family situations, including single parents, stepfamilies, and parents of children with additional needs.
The organisation also provides parenting courses, events and workshops to build skills and confidence, as well as a confidential Care Line service where parents can talk to someone for support and be signposted to further help if needed.
The NCT provides trusted, evidence-based information and guidance for parents and parents‑to‑be, covering pregnancy, birth and the early years of parenting. Their information section helps answer common questions and supports parents to feel more confident in making decisions.
Parents can find practical advice on topics such as pregnancy, labour and birth, feeding, sleep, and early parenthood, as well as support for emotional wellbeing during this time.
Alongside their online information, NCT also offers helplines, local groups, and courses, helping parents access further support, connect with others, and feel less alone.
Parentkind offers a series of free online webinars for parents and carers, led by experienced professionals and parenting experts. These sessions are designed to help parents feel more confident and supported in their role.
The webinars cover a wide range of everyday topics, including supporting children’s learning, behaviour, emotional wellbeing, and school life, as well as strengthening relationships between parents and their children.
They are interactive sessions, giving parents the chance to ask questions, learn practical tips, and connect with others who may be experiencing similar challenges.
The aim is to equip parents with knowledge, reassurance, and practical strategies they can use at home to support their child’s development and wellbeing.
NABS provides a range of advice, guidance and support for working parents, particularly focused on helping you balance work and family life. Their aim is to support your wellbeing and help you manage the pressures of juggling parenting and work.
Rather than offering direct services themselves, NABS brings together a wide range of trusted information and signposts to other organisations that can help. This includes guidance on parental rights at work, flexible working options, and family‑friendly policies.
They also highlight support for different needs and situations, including resources for mothers, fathers, and parents of children with additional needs, as well as links to charities and organisations that offer specialist help.
In addition, NABS offers emotional support and a listening ear, helping parents feel supported while managing the challenges of work and family life.
Parents can access independent advice, information and guidance, including help to understand processes such as child protection, court proceedings, and support from social workers.
FRG also promotes approaches that help families stay connected, such as bringing together wider family networks to plan and support children safely, and provides resources to help families make informed decisions.
Their support is especially helpful if you are finding the system confusing or stressful and want clear, reliable guidance about your options and rights.
Care for the Family offers a wide range of support, advice and resources to help parents through the ups and downs of family life. Their aim is to help families feel stronger and more confident, whatever their situation.
Parents can access practical guidance and encouragement through blogs, podcasts, short videos and top tips, covering everyday parenting challenges and family relationships. There is also specialist support for different family situations, including single parents, stepfamilies, and parents of children with additional needs.
The organisation also provides parenting courses, events and workshops to build skills and confidence, as well as a confidential Care Line service where parents can talk to someone for support and be signposted to further help if needed.
The NCT provides trusted, evidence-based information and guidance for parents and parents‑to‑be, covering pregnancy, birth and the early years of parenting. Their information section helps answer common questions and supports parents to feel more confident in making decisions.
Parents can find practical advice on topics such as pregnancy, labour and birth, feeding, sleep, and early parenthood, as well as support for emotional wellbeing during this time.
Alongside their online information, NCT also offers helplines, local groups, and courses, helping parents access further support, connect with others, and feel less alone.
Parentkind offers a series of free online webinars for parents and carers, led by experienced professionals and parenting experts. These sessions are designed to help parents feel more confident and supported in their role.
The webinars cover a wide range of everyday topics, including supporting children’s learning, behaviour, emotional wellbeing, and school life, as well as strengthening relationships between parents and their children.
They are interactive sessions, giving parents the chance to ask questions, learn practical tips, and connect with others who may be experiencing similar challenges.
The aim is to equip parents with knowledge, reassurance, and practical strategies they can use at home to support their child’s development and wellbeing.
NABS provides a range of advice, guidance and support for working parents, particularly focused on helping you balance work and family life. Their aim is to support your wellbeing and help you manage the pressures of juggling parenting and work.
Rather than offering direct services themselves, NABS brings together a wide range of trusted information and signposts to other organisations that can help. This includes guidance on parental rights at work, flexible working options, and family‑friendly policies.
They also highlight support for different needs and situations, including resources for mothers, fathers, and parents of children with additional needs, as well as links to charities and organisations that offer specialist help.
In addition, NABS offers emotional support and a listening ear, helping parents feel supported while managing the challenges of work and family life.
Parents can access independent advice, information and guidance, including help to understand processes such as child protection, court proceedings, and support from social workers.
FRG also promotes approaches that help families stay connected, such as bringing together wider family networks to plan and support children safely, and provides resources to help families make informed decisions.
Their support is especially helpful if you are finding the system confusing or stressful and want clear, reliable guidance about your options and rights.