Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will provide a list of the helplines his Department funds for (a) special education needs and disabilities, (b) looked after children, (c) adopted children and (d) children in kinship care; and helplines her Department funds for use by (i) carers, (ii) parents and (iii) children.

The Department for Education currently funds the following helplines:

• National Adoption Gateway (First4Adoption), a national information service for people interested in adopting a child in England.
• Foster Line, which offers free confidential help and support to new and prospective foster carers.
• Family Rights Group, who offer free, comprehensive, specialist support, including legal advice, to all parents whose children are at risk of being taken into care and to family and friends carers (kinship carers).
• ChildLine, a safe number for children to call confidentially for help and advice about a wide range of issues.
• Coram Children’s Legal Centre Child Law Advice Service, who provide free legal advice and representation to children.
• Gingerbread, who provide expert advice and practical support for single mums and dads in England and Wales.
• Coram Voice - Always Heard, an advocacy advice service used as a safety net for children who, for whatever reason, are denied access to advocacy locally.
• Family Lives, who offer a confidential and free helpline service for information, advice, guidance and support on any aspect of parenting and family life, including bullying.
• Family Matters Institute, who provide advice on matters concerning marriage, family life and relationships, working through Digital Services, Training and Research.
• Contact, who provide a Freephone helpline for parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
• Family Fund Trust, who provide a telephone service with essential information for families with disabled and seriously ill children who are looking to apply for a grant.
• KIDS, who provide a telephone voicemail line for professionals from local authorities to inform the team if they would like support to develop SEND participation in their area, as well as to share good practice examples.

The department also provides a grant to the NSPCC Helpline, which is a number adults can call to get advice or share their concerns about a child, anonymously if they wish.