If you need urgent support
Please note that Home-Start Aberdeen does not provide emergency support.
We provide longer term assistance to build family resilience, confidence and ability. We work alongside families to provide compassionate and confidential support through our range of services. While we work with families in challenging situations and have thorough and robust training and safeguarding processes, we cannot replace emergency or statutory services and do not have the resources to ensure immediate responses.
While we hope that you will find our support valuable and impactful, we recognise there will be times that families might need to talk to someone urgently.
There are a number of charities and services who can offer immediate help in different ways:
Family and Parenting Helplines
Children First
Helpline: 08000 28 22 33 (free to call). Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm and weekends, 9am – noon.
Online: Webchat
Cry-sis
Cry-sis offer support with crying babies and sleepless nights.
Helpline: 0800 448 0737 (free to call). Open 9am – 10pm every day.
NSPCC
If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child, even if you are unsure, you can speak to the NSPCC about your concerns. If your concern is urgent, call the Police on 999.
Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (free to call).
Mental Health Services
Samaritans
If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself, another parent or child, or if you are having suicidal thoughts, call the Samaritans.
Helpline: 116 123 (free to call and will not appear on your phone bill). Open 24/7, 365 days of the year.
Online: Webchat
Shout: mental health text support
Shout is a 24/7 crisis text service. It is free on all major networks.
Text: 85258 (free to text). Available 24/7, 365 days of the year.
Mind: mental health support
Infoline: 116 123 (free to call). Open 9am – 6pm.
Online: List of support services available here.
PANDAS
The Pandas foundation supports parents experiencing a mental health illness.
Helpline: 0808 1961 776 (free to call). Open 9am – 8pm, 365 days of the year.
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably. They offer practical suggestions for life’s problems.
Helpline: 0800 58 58 58 (free to call). Open 5pm – midnight every day.
Online: Webchat available 5pm – midnight every day.
Breathing Space
Breathing Space provide free, confidential phone and web-based support for people experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.
Helpline: 0800 83 85 87 (free to call).
Domestic Violence Supports
National Domestic Violence Helpline
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. You can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free.
Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (free to call and will not appear on your phone bill). Open 24/7, 365 days of the year.
Grampian Women’s Aid
Helpline: 0800 027 1234 (free to call). Available 24/7, 365 days of the year.
Text/WhatsApp: 07401 288 595
AMIS: Abused Men in Scotland
Helpline: 03300 949 395 (free to call). Open 9am – 4pm, Monday to Friday
6pm – 8pm, Wednesday
Rape Crisis Scotland
Helpline: 08088 01 03 02 (free to call). Open 5pm – midnight, 365 days of the year.
Statutory Services
Police Scotland
101 is the number to contact the police when it’s less urgent than 999. The 101 non-emergency number will make it quicker and easier for you to contact the police when you don’t need an emergency response.
Children’s and Family’s Social Work
A wide range of Social Work services are covered, delivering crisis assessment by a home visit or phone call.
Helpline: 0800 731 5520 8.45am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
An out of hours service operates for urgent situations outwith office hours and weekends.
Aberdeen City Council
ACC provide a wide range of services, including:
- Benefits and money advice
- Council Tax
- Housing including housing repairs and tenancy enquiries
- Payments
Helpline: 03000 200 292 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.
Online: Webchat
Local Support
Aberdeen Cyrenians
A local charity providing support with homelessness, poverty, mental health and substance use.
Helpline: 0300 303 0903 Monday to Thursday 9am – 5pm, Friday 9am – 4pm.
CFINE
A local charity providing support with food insecurity, income maximisation and employability.
Helpline: 01224 596156 Monday to Friday 9am – 4pm.
Shelter Scotland
Local support with housing, housing rights and homelessness.
Helpline: 0808 800 4444 (free to call). Open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.
Aberdeen Foyer
A local charity supporting with employability, housing and youth homelessness.
Helpline: 01224 212924
