Resources for: Teachers and Parenting and Families
Information on local supports and services for parents and families to help with mental health and wellbeing.
Action for Children
Action for Children's Family Support Volunteer Service helps children and young people and their families by providing practical and emotional care and support.
Web: www.actionforchildren.org.uk/
Al -Anon Family Groups
Al-Anon Family Groups offers free and inclusive local meetings for anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else's drinking.
Helpline number: 0800 0086 811
Web: www.al-anonuk.org.uk
Anna Freud Centre
The Anna Freud Centre transforms mental health by working with infants, children, young people and their families, their communities and professionals to deliver timely evidence-based support for all.
Web: www.annafreud.org/
Awestruck Academy Creative Arts and Media Centre
Awestruck Academy provides access to Creative Arts, Music, Media, Drama, Gaming and Digital Technology in Clydebank.
Web: www.awestruck-academy.org.uk/
Baby Box (Parent Club website)
The Baby Box helps families prepare for the arrival of their baby. With a free box packed full of clothes, bedding and lots of other useful things to help give your baby the best possible start in life. The Box also provides a safe and comfy place for your wee one to sleep. It comes complete with a mattress and bedding that fits perfectly.
Web: www.parentclub.scot/baby-box
Bellsmyre Development Trust
Bellsmyre Development Trust is a community organisation delivering a range of activities and opportunities for the Bellsmyre community from the Cutty Sark Centre, including youth groups, holiday programmes and volunteering opportunities.
Phone: 01389 730111
Web: www.bellsmyretrust.org.uk
Benefits and Grants
Information from the Scottish Government on benefits, funds and grants including Child Benefit and tax credits.
Web: www.mygov.scot/browse/benefits
Families Outside
Families Outside provides help, information and support for families affected by imprisonment via a Helpline and Regional Family Support Coordinators. They also provide training and information to professionals who come into contact with families affected by imprisonment, such as teachers, social workers, health professionals, the police, and prison staff.
Helpline number: 0800 254 0088
Web: www.familiesoutside.org.uk/
Kinship Care Advice Service
The Kinship Care Advice Service for Scotland (KCASS) provides FREE, confidential, impartial advice to Kinship Families and Professionals working with them.
Helpline number: 0808 800 0006
Web: www.kinship.scot/
MindEd
MindEd is a free educational resource on children, young people, adults and older people's mental health. Find information for Professionals and Volunteers, for Education and Healthcare staff working in Education Settings, and for Parents and Carers.
Web: www.minded.org.uk/
My World of Work
My World of Work is Scotland’s career information and advice website. The site is designed to support everyone develop their career management skills, no matter what stage you’re at in your career.
Web: www.myworldofwork.co.uk/
NACOA (National Association of Children of Alcoholics)
Providing information, advice and support for everyone affected by a parent’s drinking via a website, webchat and a free helpline.
Helpline number: 0800 358 3456
Web: http://nacoa.org.uk/
not OK
notOK App® is a free digital panic button to get you immediate support via text, phone call, or GPS location when you’re struggling to reach out. Connect to trusted contacts when you need them most. Just open the app and press the large, red notOK® button.
Web: www.notokapp.com/
One Parent Families Scotland
One Parent Families Scotland aims to enable single parent families to achieve their potential, to reach a decent standard of living and contribute to Scottish society.
The Lone Parent Helpline provides free, confidential advice and support to single parents. Call us about anything from dealing with a break-up, sorting out child maintenance, understanding benefits, money when having a baby, studying or moving into work.
Helpline number: 0808 801 0323
Web: www.opfs.org.uk/
Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood Resource
The national resource for relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) education for children and young people. The resource can be used in early learning settings, schools, colleges and community-based learning. It is organised to sit within Curriculum for Excellence.
Web: www.rshp.scot/
Runaway Helpline
Runaway Helpline can help if you are thinking about running away, if you have already run away, or if you have been away and come back. You can also contact if you are worried that someone else is going to run away or if they are being treated badly or abused.
Helpline number: call or text 116 000
Web: www.runawayhelpline.org.uk
Salvesen Mindroom Centre
Salvesen Mindroom Centre is a charity that champions all forms of neurodiversity and supports all kinds of minds. Their multi-disciplinary team can offer advice, information and one-to-one support. You do not need a diagnosis to get their help.
Phone: 0131 370 6730
Web: www.mindroom.org/
Scottish Child Law Centre
Free expert legal advice on children’s rights and child law across Scotland. Our free confidential legal advice service is provided via telephone and email, on all aspects of Scots law relating to children and young people. All calls and emails are answered by fully qualified solicitors.
Phone: 0131 667 6333 on a Tuesday from 0930-1600
Web: www.sclc.org.uk/
SFAD Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs
Young person's support group for 12–26-year-olds affected by someone else’s alcohol or drug use.
Helpline number: 08080 10 10 11
Web: www.sfad.org.uk/
Scottish Kinship Care Alliance
Kinship carers are individuals, often family members who look after relatives children to help prevent them entering, or to remove them from the care system. Scottish Kinship Care Alliance has been set up to address the inequality that besets children in Kinship Care.
Phone: 0141 237 5960
Web: www.scottishkinshipalliance.co.uk/
Scottish Refugee Council
Practical support, advice and a listening ear delivered through a direct services to help people rebuild their lives in a sustainable and meaningful way. The Scottish Refugee Council also works with communities and community groups. They speak out against an unjust asylum system and campaign for policy changes that make a positive difference to people’s lives.
Helpline number: 0808 196 7274
Web: www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/
Teen Sleep Hub
The one stop shop for all you need to know about sleep. If you’re looking for advice on how to sleep better, would like tips on tweaking your routine or help to understand the science behind your sleep patterns, you’ll find it all here.
Phone: 03303 530 541
Web: www.teensleephub.org.uk/
The Phoenix Centre
The Phoenix is a community hub for the people of Dumbarton West, based in Castlehill. Some activities have a cost.
Web: https://www.rockcommunitychurch.org.uk/phoenix
Think You Know
The National Crime Agency's CEOP Education team aim to help protect children and young people from online child sexual abuse through an education programme, providing training, resources and information to professionals working with children, young people and their families. Age specific videos and webpages are also available on this site.
Web: www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
WD Strategic Skills & Support Pipeline
The Strategic Skills Pipeline is a key element in West Dunbartonshire's employability and employment strategy. The Pipeline provides a route map identifying national and local service provision that is available to support residents into employment through a staged process, at the core of which, is the identification of individual need.
Web: https://westdun.wixsite.com/sspipeline/skillspipeline
WD Libraries for Babies and Children
West Dunbartonshire libraries have a range of activities and resources for babies, children and parents, including baby massage and lego club.
Web: www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/libraries/libraries-for-children-and-babies/
WD Schools and Learning
Local schools' contact details, information on term dates, extra-curricular activities, how to apply for childcare and more.
Web: www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/
Young Carers Package (Young Scot)
Information on how to apply for the Young Carers Package, Carer’s Allowance and the Young Carer Grant.
Web: www.young.scot/get-informed/what-you-re-entitled-to-as-a-young-carer-in-scotland
Wee Seeds
Mindfulness for mini-minds. Nurture calm children and future-proof their mental health by teaching your children focus, calm, sleep, gratitude, kindness, resilience and positive mental health. Wee Seeds is a programme of resources to teach children wellbeing skills, through scientifically proven techniques like mindfulness, meditation and movement.
Web: www.weeseeds.co.uk/
Fathers' Network Scotland
Fathers' Network Scotland is improving children's lives through the positive involvement of dads, father-figures & whole families.
Web: www.fathersnetwork.org.uk/
Kinship Care West Dunbartonshire
Our aim is to support families in Kinship Care, whether you are an "informal" or formal kinship carer.
Web: www.facebook.com/kinshipcarewestdunbartonshire
NSPCC
Everything we do protects children today and prevents abuse tomorrow, to transform society for every childhood. Support and tips to help you keep children safe. From advice on children's mental health to staying safe online as well as support for parents.
Web: https://www.nspcc.org.uk
Internet Matters
A site that empowers parents and carers to keep children safe in a digital world. Includes guides on a range of topics including Inappropriate Content, Online Grooming, and Sexting.
It also includes an Index of Online Harms, which highlights the indicators and behaviours that may be of concern and offers suggested interventions and escalations. In particular, the resource aims to support professionals working with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs, children and young people with a neurodiversity, those who are LGBTQ+ as well as care-experienced children and young people.
Web: https://www.internetmatters.org/
FASD Hub Scotland
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Hub Scotland provide a support service for parents/ carers (adoptive and biological parents, foster carers, kinship carers and step parents) across Scotland who live with children, young people and young adults who have a history of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), with or without an FASD diagnosis.
Web: https://www.adoptionuk.org/fasd-hub
Scotland's Children's Reporter Administration
The Children's Reporter Administration provide administration to Children’s Hearings. The Children’s Hearings System is the legal system for children and young people in Scotland who are either at risk or who have been caught offending.
Families become involved in the Children’s Hearings System if the child or young person is getting into trouble with the police, there are concerns that they are being abused, they are taking drugs or alcohol, or they are not attending school.
If you have never been involved with the system before, you will have lots of questions. This website should help you.
Phone: 0131 244 8540
Web: https://www.scra.gov.uk/
The Anxious Child
The Anxious Child is a booklet guide for parents about supporting a child experiencing anxiety.
Credit; The Mental Health Foundation
Web: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/anxious-child
Coping with Self-Harm - a guide for parents and carers
A downloadable guide for parents and carers to help support young people who use self-harm as a coping strategy. This guide was developed from talking to parents and carers of young people and is aimed at helping parents, carers, other family members and friends cope when a young person is self-harming. It includes
information on the nature and causes of self-harm, how to support a young person when facing this problem and what help is available.
Web: https://www.psych.ox.ac.uk/files/news/copy_of_coping-with-self-harm-brochure_final_copyright.pdf
Get Self Help
This website provides resources for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
CBT has been proven to help mental health problems. This website provides CBT self help and therapy resources, including worksheets and information sheets, plus videos and self help mp3s.
Web: https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/
ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity
The ADHD Foundation is the UK’s leading neurodiversity charity, offering a strength-based, lifespan service for the 1 in 5 of us who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, DCD, Dyscalculia, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome and more. The website has a huge range or resources for children and young people, families, and professionals to download or listen to.
Web: https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/
ADHD and You
ADHD and You is a website with information on ADHD for people with ADHD, their families and professionals who work with them. ADHD isn't just a childhood condition – it affects young people and adults as well, and can affect all aspects of life, including home, school or workplace and relationships.
Web: https://www.adhdandyou.co.uk/
Tourette Scotland
Tourette Scotland is a charity providing support, advice and awareness for anyone living with Tourette's in Scotland and their families.
Web: https://www.tourettescotland.org/
Enquire
Enquire is the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning. Providing easy to understand advice and information about additional support for learning legislation and guidance for families and professionals.
Helpline number: 0345 123 2303
Web: https://enquire.org.uk/
Scottish Autism and Right click
Scottish Autism is an organisation dedicated to enabling autistic people to lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives, providing a wide range of support services across Scotland for autistic individuals, their families and professionals.
Includes 'Right click' - an online support programmes which enable parents and carers to further understand autism and develop effective skills and strategies to support their family.
Helpline number: 01259 222022
Phone: 01259 720044
Web: https://www.scottishautism.org/
Childnet
Helping make the internet a great and safe place for children and young people, Childnet works directly with children and young people from the ages of 3-18, as well as parents, carers, teachers and professionals, finding out about their real experiences online and the positive things they are doing.
Web: https://www.childnet.com/
Own It
A place to help you boss your life online. Whatever you need – help and advice, skills or inspiration – we have it covered.
Includes a Parents section - a toolkit to help your kids navigate life online, including handy tips on setting up your child’s first devices and videos addressing your common concerns about online gaming.
There is content for teachers to share in class and build into lessons on online safety and digital wellbeing.
Web: https://www.bbc.com/ownit
Forces Children's Education
This website includes clear and accurate information for education professionals and Armed Forces families in Scotland, with information and resources being added regularly.
Web: https://forceschildrenseducation.org.uk/
Pregnancy and parenthood while you are in school or education
Every pregnant young woman, young parent-to-be, and young parent should be supported to stay in education. This information page includes a leaflet from the Scottish Government providing basic information to young people about how their school or college will support them to make decisions about their education during pregnancy or parenthood.
Web: https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/advice-and-guidance/2023/03/pregnancy-parenthood-school-education-leaflet/documents/pregnancy-parenthood-school-education/pregnancy-parenthood-school-education/govscot%3Adocument/pregnancy-parenthood-school-education.pdf
Connecting Scotland - Digital Skills
A collection of resources covering digital literacy, how to stay safe online, and how to report harmful content.
Web: https://connecting.scot/digital-champions/digital-skills/families-children-and-young-people
Be Internet Legends
A free programme that empowers young children to use the internet safely and wisely. Includes a Be Internet Legends Curriculum for teachers to download lesson plans to deliver in class, including classroom activities.
Web: https://beinternetlegends.withgoogle.com/en_ie/
UK Safer Internet Centre
Helping children and young people stay safe online. Including guides and resources for a range of audiences
from parents, education, social work, healthcare, and more.
Helpline number: Professionals Online Safety Helpline 0344 381 4772
Web: https://saferinternet.org.uk/
Social Security Scotland
Social Security Scotland is responsible for managing the benefits that are devolved to Scotland, to make sure the people who need them get them correctly and fairly.
You will find information on the benefits they are delivering and how to find out more about eligibility.
Phone: 0800 182 2222
Web: https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/
Clydebank Can
Clydebank Can is a community-based project that aims to bring to life the canal and bandstand area of Three Queen’s Square in Clydebank. It will bring more arts and leisure activities into the area for local people to enjoy, giving everyone in the community more opportunity to take part in events and activities which improve health and wellbeing, and increase social and economic activity in the area.
The website also contains a 'What's On' section with a wealth of information on local events, clubs, activities and more.
Web: https://www.clydebankcan.com/
Parenting Mental Health
PMH is one of the few charities in the UK that specifically helps parents who are supporting a child with mental health challenges and whose needs and impact for positive change are all too often overlooked. Current support includes the Partnering not Parenting programme, a safe Facebook community with a variety of sub-groups to reduce isolation, Listening Circles, online support groups, as well as respite care. The work they do equips parents to deal with and cope more effectively with their situation, provides access to free resources, enables more appropriate support, better help for their child and improved mental health within the family.
Web: https://www.parentingmentalhealth.org/?
Child Exploitation and Online Protection
Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online? The CEOP are here to help and this website has advice for you. You can make a report directly to them if something has happened online which has made you feel unsafe, scared or worried. They take all reports seriously and will will do everything they can to keep you safe.
Web: https://www.ceopeducation.co.uk/11_18/
Play Scotland
Play Scotland promotes and supports play for all children and young people in Scotland. Find practical ideas, resources, information and events to help create more opportunities for play. Through play, children create and establish friendships. The extent to which they feel part of a group is linked to their opportunities to play with other children. Playing freely with others helps children learn how to see things from differing points of view through cooperating, sharing, helping and solving problems.
Web: https://www.playscotland.org/
Edinburgh Psychoeducation Intervention for Children and Young People (EPIC)
EPIC is a research programme that takes an individualised ‘tool-kit’ approach to child development. It aims to facilitate optimal learning, behaviour, and wellbeing in children and young people.
The principles of EPIC apply to all children but are particularly relevant to children with ADHD, ASD, DCD/dyspraxia and those born prematurely.
Our resources can be used outwith taking part in an actual intervention. The booklets in the resources section can be used by parents and teachers to identify a child’s strengths and difficulties and help with understanding of them (‘Understanding’ booklets). The Strategy booklet can be used to practice strategies to optimise thinking skills, learning and well-being.
Web: https://www.ed.ac.uk/clinical-brain-sciences/research/epic-edinburgh-psychoeducation-intervention?
Get Safe Online
A website providing practical advice on how to protect yourself, your computers and mobile devices against fraud, identity theft, viruses and many other problems encountered online. It includes advice on safeguarding children when they are online on many topics including gaming, cyberbullying and social media.
Web: https://www.getsafeonline.org/
Parentzone
Parent Zone helps families to flourish by offering support that makes digital family life easier. Their vision is one of a positive digital future full of opportunity for young people and free from harm. They want parents to feel confident and assured with the technology their families use.
From education programmes that reach millions of families to targeted resources for children with specific needs, the expert team responds to what families need with creativity and empathy.
Web: https://parentzone.org.uk/
In Our Place
Online courses dedicated to improving emotional health and wellbeing in parents, children, teenagers, adults and grandparents.
WD Family Group Decision Making Guide for Referrers
Family Group Decision Making is a structured process that leads to a family group meeting for care-experienced families. The family meeting can influence the direction and content of planning and decision-making for children, with the planning being led by families as much as possible. Professionals or teams in a case-holding role can make referrals, and family members and other professionals can also prompt referrals.
Download the leaflet for more information.