Our parent peer support team is here to help you find the right support at the right time.
We’ve put together a comprehensive list of local organisations that you may find useful.
AMAZE
Amaze is a charity that gives information, advice and support to families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Brighton & Hove and Sussex. They also support young people with SEND up to 25.
Website https://amazesussex.org.uk/
Tel: 01273 772289
Email: info@amazesussex.org.uk
Allsorts
Aim-to listen to, connect and support lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and exploring (LGBT+) children, young people and their families through youth work, and challenge exclusion, prejudice and discrimination in all areas of their lives.
Website https://www.allsortsyouth.org.uk/
Tel: 01273 721100
Citizen’s Advice Bureau
Free confidential and impartial advice on housing, benefits, cost of living, finances, and more.
Website https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us
Tel (England): 0800 144 8848
CAMHS
Child and Adolescents Mental Health Services operate across the UK to provide support to children, young people, families and carers when someone is experiencing difficulties with their emotional wellbeing or mental health.
Website https://sussexcamhs.nhs.uk/
East Sussex CAHMS – Please contact SPoA by telephone 01323 464222 (Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm, Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm)
Calm Journey Therapy
Calm Journey Therapy is a therapy hub providing Psychotherapy, Counselling and Child Counselling in Eastbourne and surrounding areas.
Website: https://calmjourney.co.uk/
Tel: 01323 364365
Email: contact@calmjourney.co.uk
Care for Carers
Supporting unpaid carers in East Sussex
Website https://www.cftc.org.uk/
Tel: Call 01323 738390
Tel: Text 07860 077300
Email: info@cftc.org.uk
Community Connectors
A Social Prescribing service, working in partnership with GP Practices across Hastings & Rother Eastbourne, Seaford & Hailsham providing support to improve your health and wellbeing. They help to develop personalised and practical solutions to everyday issues.
Website: https://www.escis.org.uk/advice-and-support/community-connectors/
Tel: 01323 340151
Email: social.prescribing@nhs.net
Define Fine
A parent/carer-led organisation set up in response to the growing number of children and young people who experience school attendance difficulties. This is sometimes referred to as ‘school refusal’, or emotionally based school avoidance however these phrases may not explain the full picture of the barriers to attendance which may be due to any number of complex reasons such unmet Special Educational Needs & Disabilities including physical or mental illness, either suspected or diagnosed, bullying or issues relating to academic pressure, or even the school environment.
Website: https://www.definefine.org.uk/
Email: louise@definefine.org.uk
Domestic abuse service
Support for victims of domestic abuse across East Sussex.
Website: https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/children-families/family-support/domestic-violence
Eastbourne office number: 01323 417 598
Hastings office number: 01424 716 629
If unable to get through on the local phone numbers, please contact Clarion on 07517 549 499.
Email: ESDomesticAbuse.Info@cgl.org.uk
Eastbourne Advice Centre (Brighton Housing trust)
Specialist housing advice, welfare benefits advice (older people), court duty scheme, offering emergency advice at court for people facing eviction, Macmillion welfare benefits advice service, for people affected by cancer and their families.
Website: https://www.bht.org.uk/services/eastbourne-advice-centre/
Email: eastbourneadvice@bht.org.uk
Tel: 01323 642615 Housing homeless
East Sussex mediation
Hastings and Rother – Family/Neighbourhood mediation/children/parent/carers
Website: www.mediationeastsussex.co.uk
Tel: 01424 446808
Email: office@hrmediation.co.uk
East Sussex Parent/ Carer forum
Reaching out to parent carers to hear their views, representing parents’ experience and expertise to decision-makers, making recommendations for service improvement.
Website: https://www.espcf.org.uk/
Tel: 0300 770 1367
Email: info@espcf.org.uk
Creating consistent mental health signposting advice for adults in East Sussex
Mental health services in Sussex are delivered by multiple organisations, which can make it difficult for people to find and access help.
Document: Creating consistent mental health signposting partner toolkit July 2024
Eggtooth (Hastings)
The Egg focuses on mental and physical wellbeing. One to one therapy, one to one creative mentoring, parenting groups, therapeutic groups in a variety of settings including art and music, catering and sport spaces and the beautiful woodland space in Fairlight.
Website: www.eggtooth.org.uk
Email: info@eggtooth.org.uk
I Rock
14-25 age group East Sussex and need to talk? Low level CBT in Hastings, Eastbourne, Newhaven.
Website: https://www.irocksussex.com/
Email: irockeastsussex@spft.nhs.uk
Family Mediation Services South East – Eastbourne
Family Mediation South East give family mediation advice to families and couples in Eastbourne. Helping to resolve disputes and offer constructive advice for people going through a family break-up.
Website: https://familymediationsoutheast.co.uk/
Tel: 01273 694 661
FSN Dragonflies
Bereavement wellbeing, peer support 5-15, free therapeutic service 15-19, adult learning FSN aims to provide effective and professional caring action without discrimination and favour for children and young people suffering the effects of poverty, disadvantage, neglect and abuse.
FSN also delivers a range of services across a wide area including Hastings, St Leonards, Rother and Wealden, responding to the changing needs of the community and the children, young people and families that live there.
Website: https://www.fsncharity.co.uk/
Tel: 01424 423683
Health in Mind
Health in Mind is a free NHS service for anyone in East Sussex experiencing all kinds of emotional or psychological difficulties.
Website: https://www.healthinmind.org.uk/
Tel: 0300 00 30 130
IPSEA
National charity that provides support for SEND law, providing free and independent legal advice to families and children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Website: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/
Tel: See website to book a call
Mind Out
18 + Online, peer, telephone, counselling. Mind Out aim to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all LGBTQ communities and to make mental health a community concern.
Website: https://mindout.org.uk/
Tel: 01273 234839
One You East Sussex
Work with you to get back to a healthier you and support you to make simple changes towards a longer and happier life. Will provide tools, motivational support and encouragement every step of the way, to help improve your health right away. (Healthy eating)
Website: https://oneyoueastsussex.org.uk
Tel: 01323 404600
Email: hello@oneyoueastsussex.org.uk
Parenting Matters
Online parent coaching, parenting blog and useful tips.
Website: https://parentingmatters.co.uk/
Tel: 01494 677575
People Matter – job support
If you would like help with your job search, applications, CV, career advice or interview practice. Experienced and qualified advisers offer a range of free advice and support services to all jobseekers focused in Eastbourne, Wealden and surrounding areas. Working for You the Team works with local employers to match skills, experience and attributes of jobseekers with the person specification and job descriptions of vacant posts.
Website: https://people-matter.org.uk/
Tel: 07843 190738 or 01323 431289
Email: reception@people-matter.org.uk
The Seahorse Project
Offering short-term bereavement-focused counselling support to any bereaved child in our catchment area (Seaford, Hailsham, Uckfield, Heathfield, Pevensey and Eastbourne).
Website: https://1space.eastsussex.gov.uk/Services/4377/The-Seahorse-Project
Tel: 01323 434 200
Email: hospice@stwhospice.org
Southdown
Specialist Housing care and support in East Sussex / mental health /employment support learning disability support / money matters.
Website: https://www.southdown.org/
Tel: 01273 405800
Email: info@southdown.org
STAR Eastbourne
Drugs and Alcohol Service – East Sussex offering accessible advice, support and treatment options to people affected by alcohol and drugs. Lift House, 6 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3UH.
Website: https://1space.eastsussex.gov.uk/Services/2152
Tel: 0300 303 8160
Email: EastSussex.Firststep@cgl.org.uk
St Mary’s House
Mental Health services-assessment and treatment/Rehabilitation services
Website: https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/location-st-marys-house
Tel: 01323 747224
Special Needs Jungle
Special Needs Jungle can provide resources for parents and carers of children with special needs, disabilities and health conditions to help them to navigate the special needs system.
Website: https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/
Email: team@specialneedsjungle.com
Survivors network for East Sussex
Rape crisis centre
Website: https://survivorsnetwork.org.uk/
Tel: General enquiries 01273 203380
Tel: Support line 01273 720 110
Email: info@survivorsnetwork.org.uk
Sussex mental health line
24/7 mental health telephone support and information service. The Sussex Mental Healthline offers listening support, advice, information and signposting to anyone experiencing difficulties, or who may be in crisis and in urgent need of help, with their mental health.
The service is free and is available to anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend. This includes carers and healthcare professionals.
Tel: 0800 0309 500
The Old Bank Wellbeing Trust
Counselling and psychotherapy services
Website: https://theoldbankwellbeing.org.uk/
Tel: 01323 502827
Email: info@theoldbankwellbeing.org.uk
The Portal
Domestic or sexual abuse or violence. Helps to find advice and support in Brighton and Hove or East Sussex.
Tel: 0300 323 9985
Email: info@theportal.org.uk
The Scott Unit
Child development unit based in Eastbourne. Referral through GP, school nurse, health visitor or SENCO at school ( Special educational needs co-ordinator).
Website: https://www.esht.nhs.uk/service/childrens-services/in-the-community/child-development-clinic/
Email: esht.communitypaeds@nhs.net
Looking for more resources? Contact us or pop in to the hub on the high street in Eastbourne.
We have a library with helpful books for parents and children, and are available to chat and share any information to help you.