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Support groups and organisations

There are a number of groups and organisations, both local and national, that provide advice and support to different sections of the community. This page contains links to many of these.

Association of Charity Officers (ACO)

  • Association of Charity Officers, is an umbrella group and exists to put charities in touch with people in need and people in need in touch with charities.

Support for elderly people:

  • Age Concern - The UK's leading charities concerned with the needs and aspirations of older people.
  • Age Positive -  Age positive is a government initiative which tackles age discrimination and promotes age diversity in the workplace
  • Alzheimer's Society - The Alzheimer's Society provides advice and support to people with dementia and their carers.
  • Association of Retired and Persons over 50 - A social organisation for people aged 50 and up.
  • Carers - For carers, voluntary organisations and others, related to the national strategy for Caring about Carers, and providing useful links.
  • Contact the Elderly - Seeks to reduce the isolation for older people who live alone, by providing social occasions such as monthly tea parties.
  • Dementia Research Group - One of the UK's leading centres for clinical research into dementia.
  • Help the Aged - A leading national charity for older people.
  • Independent Age - A philanthropic organisation providing financial support and friendship for older people.

Support for those with disbilities:

  • AbilityNet - are a charity that offers advice to people with disabilities on all aspects of computer usage for employment, communication, education, or just for fun.
  • British Council for Disabled People (BCODP) - was set up by disabled people in 1981 to promote full equality and participation within society. They are an umbrella organisation that represents some 130 organisations run and controlled by disabled people.
  • Disabled Information Advice Line (DIAL) UK - DIAL provides a link to information for people with disabilities, and to advice providers.
  • Disability Sport England - creates opportunities for participation in sport for people with all disabilities.
  • Scope- helps people with cerebral palsy to achieve equality in society.
  • Headway- Promotes understanding of all aspects of brain injury; and provides information, support and services to people with a brain injury, their family and carers.
  • MENCAP - Working with people with a learning disability, and their families and carers.
  • Keep Able - Provides mobility and lifestyle ideas.

Support for deaf and blind persons:

  • Action for Blind People - is a national charity which aims to enable blind and partially sighted people to enjoy equal opportunities in every aspect of their lives through work, leisure, housing and support.
  • Royal Association in Aid of Deaf people (RAD) - strives to meet the individual needs of deaf children and adults and deafblind people through the provision of services and the use of RAD Centres for Deaf People.
  • The National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) - is an organisation of parents, families and carers which exists to support parents in enabling their child to maximise their skills and abilities.
  • Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) - If you need to register as blind, contact the RNIB.
  • SeeAbility (Royal School for the Blind) - works with adults who are blind or partially sighted, and have a range of additional disabilities. The charity works to encourage people's independence and to enhance their quality of life. They are also involved in research projects and training courses for professionals who work with people who are blind or partially sighted.

Support for carers:

  • Carers UK -  is here to improve carers' lives by fighting for equality and recognition for carers. Carers UK campaigns for changes that make a real difference for carers and provides information and advice on carers' rights and how to get support.
  • MENCAP- Working with people with a learning disability, and their families and carers.
  • Winged Fellowship- provides respite for carers, and holidays for people with severe physical disabilities.

Support for those with mental illness:

  • Rethink - Helping everyone affected by severe mental illness, including schizophrenia, to recover a better quality of life.

Support for those who live with epilepsy:

  • National Society for Epilepsy (NSE)- is the largest UK medical charity for epilepsy. The website offers information about epilepsy and about the NSE, frequently asked questions, personal accounts of living with epilepsy, a message board and more.
  • Epilepsy Action (British Epilepsy Association) - The Epilepsy Action helpline provides advice and information on all aspects of living with epilepsy. They aim to reply to helpline queries by email within 48 hours.

Support for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) people:

  •   Broken Rainbow - Offers advice, support and referral services to LGBT people experiencing homophobic, transphobic and same sex domestic violence.