Resources for: Care Experienced and Age 12-17

Children and young people with care experience can benefit from any of the information across the site.  But here you will find specific information and supports for young people who are care experienced. 

1. Aberlour

Aberlour Children's Urgent Assistance Fund

Aberlour supports children, young people, and families across Scotland with practical and emotional help. Services include:

  • Support for families affected by addiction

  • Residential care and fostering

  • Early years and disability support

  • Early intervention

  • Urgent Assistance Fund – providing emergency cash grants for families struggling with food, heating, clothing, and other essentials. Families must have a child under 21 and be facing extreme hardship. Applications are made by a professional (e.g. social worker or health visitor) through the Aberlour website.

Phone: 0800 0856 150

Web: www.aberlour.org.uk

Website Professional referral National Free
19. Beyond Limits EYF

Beyond Your Limits (EY Foundation)

Beyond Your Limits is a free two-year programme by the EY Foundation supporting care-experienced young people (16–19) with paid work experience, training, mentoring, and personal development. It helps boost skills and employment chances. 

Phone: 0207 951 3133

Web: eyfoundation.com/uk/en/apply/i-m-a-young-person/beyond-your-limits.html

Website Online Professional referral School Referral Self referral Telephone National Free
Screenshot 2025 08 11 103414

Children 1st and Parentline

Children First works to keep children safe, loved and well and together with their families. They offer practical, emotional and financial support to prevent and protect children and their families from harm and to support them to recover from trauma and abuse. If your family are feeling stressed or anxious Children First Support Line can help.

Helpline number: 08000 28 22 33

Web: https://www.childrenfirst.org.uk/

Website Online Telephone National Free
74. Intandem

Intandem Mentoring

Scotland’s national mentoring programme for young people aged 7–18 who are in, or at risk of, care. It helps children, young people, and their families build and maintain positive, trusting relationships while supporting confidence and opportunities to thrive. In West Dunbartonshire, the intandem service is delivered by Y Sort It.

Phone: 0131 442 8760

Web: www.intandem.scot/

Services & somewhere to go Online Self referral Local Free
171. WD Champions Board

WD Champions' Board

The Champions Board is a platform for care experienced young people to get to know, and build strong positive relationships with those who make decisions about the care system and other professionals. The ultimate aim of the Champions Board is for those care experienced young people to help to change and develop policies and procedures in relation to their care, and to the care of future young people.

Web: http://www.wdhscp.org.uk/children/west-dunbartonshires-champions-board/

Services & somewhere to go Online Self referral Telephone Local Free
189. Who Cares Scotland

Who Cares? Scotland

Who Cares? Scotland supports care experienced people to have their voice heard and we make that happen in a number of ways. Website includes a page for children under 11 years.

Web: www.whocaresscotland.org/

Website Online Self referral National Free
201. 205. Young People In Mind And Youth Mentor

Young People in Mind Service

Young People in Mind (YPIM) supports young people aged 0–21 in care or accommodation in West Dunbartonshire, and those aged 16–25 at risk of homelessness. The service provides therapeutic support to help with emotional and mental health, promoting wellbeing through one-to-one sessions and collaboration with other professionals.

Phone: 01389 754121

Web: http://www.wdhscp.org.uk/how-do-i-access-wdhscp-services/?#coll-3676

Services & somewhere to go Telephone Local Free
Celcis

Celsis: Your right to Continuing Care

Your Right to Continuing Care (CELCIS) empowers care-experienced young people in Scotland to stay in foster, kinship, or residential care until age 21 if that’s right for them. It explains legal rights, what support should be provided, and encourages young people to take time exploring their options before leaving care. Aimed at ages 16–21, it helps ensure more confident, supported transitions into adulthood .

Web: www.celcis.org/ccrights

Website Online National Free
Childrens Health Scot

Children's Health Scotland

The only charity in Scotland dedicated to the health and wellbeing of children and young people with health conditions. They provide information, support, and self-management programmes for young people and families, including help with anxiety, hospital stays, and healthcare rights. The charity also works with professionals to promote child-friendly, rights-based healthcare across Scotland.

Phone: 0131 553 6553

Web: www.childrenshealthscotland.org/

Website Download Online National Free
149. Kinship Carer WD Facebook Group

Kinship Care West Dunbartonshire

Provides support for kinship carers in West Dunbartonshire. They offer a network of resources, advice and community connections to help those raising children who cannot live with their parents.

 

 

Web: www.facebook.com/kinshipcarewestdunbartonshire

Services & somewhere to go Self referral Local Free
Scot Throughcare

Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Team

 

Scotland’s national membership organisation supporting everyone involved in the lives of young people leaving care. They work to improve outcomes by sharing good practice, influencing policy, and amplifying the voices of care‑experienced young people. Staf provides resources, training, networks and national programmes focused on relationships, transitions and aftercare, helping ensure young people are supported to thrive as they move into adulthood.

 

 

Phone: 0141 465 7511

Web: www.staf.scot/

Website Online Telephone National Free
The Promise

The Promise

The Promise Scotland supports Scotland to keep its promise to care experienced children and families. The promise is that Scotland's children and young people will grow up loved, safe and respected. To keep it, Scotland must bring about the change demanded by the Independent Care Review, built on what children and young people had to say.

Web: www.thepromise.scot/

Website Online National Free
203 Young Scot

Young Scot - Care Experience Support

Benefits, support and places to go for help if you've been in care or are a care leaver in Scotland.

Web: www.young.scot/get-informed/support-for-care-experienced/

Website Online National Free
Internet Matters Logo

Internet Matters

dedicated to helping children and young people aged 3-18 stay safe online. They provide free, expert-backed resources tailored to different ages, online activities, and specific needs, including support for neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, and care-experienced children. Their tools include age-specific guides, conversation starters, and digital safety checklists, all designed to empower parents, carers, and professionals to navigate the digital world confidently 

Web: https://www.internetmatters.org/

Website Online National Free
SIDEKICK 960X960

Sidekick (Action for Children)

 

A free, confidential text and email helpline for young people. It offers support with anything that feels difficult, including mental health, school problems, friendships, family worries or neurodiversity‑related challenges. Young people aged 13–18 (or up to 25 with Special Educational Needs) can get in touch during opening hours by texting 07888 868059. 

 

Helpline number: 07888 868059

Web: https://sidekick.actionforchildren.org.uk/

Helpline Website Online Self referral National Free