Do you need to speak to someone about your emotional wellbeing?
There are many services and organisations available in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan that support children and young people with their emotional wellbeing.
Click here to find out about the specialist services offered by C&V UHB.
Different services can support the different needs you may have or the challenges you are facing – none are better than the other.
It’s all about ensuring that children and young people are able to access the support they need – whether that be at their school, through their GP or a community organisation.
This page remains under development. Contact us if you have any other organsiations or topics that you think should be added to this resource.
Advocacy means getting support from another person to help you express your views and wishes, and help you stand up for your rights.
Someone acting as your advocate will not tell you want to think, say or do – they can help you to do things like speak up about things that matter to you, write letters and attend meetings (or do so on your behalf).
Advocacy Support Cymru (ASC) provide professional, confidential and independent advocacy for those eligible in secondary care and community mental health settings. They offer support for under 18s. To contact them:
The Helpline provides a free single point of access to all NYAS services, including advocacy.
Our advisers are here to support children, young people, and vulnerable adults, across England and Wales, to ensure their rights are up held.
For more information:
SNAP Cymru provide information, advice and support for parents, children and young people who have, or may have, special educational needs or disabilities.
One of the free service they offer is independant specialist advocacy.
To contact them:
Losing someone who is important to you is one of the life’s biggest challenges, no matter your age. This is known as ‘a bereavement’.
Have a look at our page for more info about how you may feel during these tough times.
Website for young people offering offering advice for when someone dies, helpful resources and personal stories from other young people who have experienced loss.
Cruse Bereavement Care, who run the website, also have a support information line for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, open Wednesdays 10 am – 12 pm.
To contact them:
Cruse also have a national helpline open every day – typically 9:30 am – 5 pm on weekdays and 10 am – 2 pm on weekends.
Contact them by calling 0808 808 1677
Marie Curie offer care, guidance and support for people living with any terminal illness and their families.
They also offer a helpline offering practical and clinical info and emotional support – open 8 am – 6 pm on weekdays and 11 am – 5pm on Saturdays.
To contact them:
Winston’s Wish provides emotional and practical bereavement support to children and young people up to the age of 25, their families and those who care for them.
They have a free Helpline where you can get immediate advice, guidance and support from trained bereavement professionals (open 9 am – 5pm on weekdays).
Ongoing specialist support is also available for those who need it.
To contact them:
Being a victim or witness to domestic abuse can have a big impact on how you’re feeling today and how you may cope with things in the future.
Check out the resources below for more information
Atal Y Fro can support children and young people aged between 0-25 years old who have experienced or have been affected by domestic abuse.
They can offer:
To contact:
BAWSO is an all Wales voluntary organisation. They provide specialist services to victims and people affected or at risk of by domestic abuse and all forms of violence – specifcally focusing on those from a minority ethnic background.
If you need help, you can reach them 24/7:
Live Fear Free is for those who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual violence and/or violence against women, or for those are worried about a friend or relative who is experiencing any form of violence or abuse.
It is free, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To contact them:
RISE offer support for women, children and young people who experience the effects of any form of violence.
To contact:
It can be hard to get an answer about using drugs and alcohol without feeling judged – but it’s important that you are armed with the facts.
DAN 24/7 is a free and confidential drugs helpline. It is available in both English and Welsh.
To contact them:
Nacoa provide information and ongoing support via free helpline or email for people of all ages.
To contact them:
Early Help services in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan provide children, young people, families and professionals with information and support on a range of topics that could affect you and your family.
Cardiff Family Advice and Support can talk to you about all aspects of your life and offer information, advice and support on topics such as family life, behaviour, school attendance and parental support.
You can self-refer to Cardiff Family Advice and Support from Monday to Friday in the following ways:
Call: 03000 133 133
Email: ContactFAS@Cardiff.gov.uk
Website: https://www.cardifffamilies.co.uk/
You can speak to an advisor there and then on the phone or another time that suits you. They will be able to give you information about useful services, provide advice for what is going on with you and even work together with you and your family if this will help.
The Families First Advice Line can talk to you about all aspects of your life and offer information, advice and support on topics such as family life, behaviour, school attendance and parental support.
You can self-refer the Families First Advice Line from Monday to Friday 9 am – 4:30 pm in the following ways:
Call: 0800 0327 322
Email: familiesfirstadviceline@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
You can speak to an advisor there and then on the phone or another time that suits you. They will be able to give you information about useful services, provide advice for what is going on with you and even work together with you and your family if this will help.
Being LGBT+ is of course not a mental health problem – but you may face some additional challenges that could affect how you feel.
Check out the LGBT+ specific resources below and our page on feeling different for more information.
Constellation offer a free counselling service and practical support to LGBTQ young people aged 12 – 25 years.
They also offer workshops for trans young people aged 12 – 16 and 17 – 25 years in central Cardiff.
For more information, contact Caryl Stock:
Glitter Cymru was set up in June 2016 as a monthly meet-up group for people who identify under the following two acronyms:
Weekly youth group for LGBTQ+ young people aged 11 – 16 years. Regular activities include cooking, workshops, arts and crafts, table tennis, excursions.
£1/session.
The LGBT+ Cymru Helpline provides information, advice and confidential support in many area or life and various issues that LGBT+ people, their family and friends may experience.
To contact them, call 0800 917 9996 on Mondays between 7 pm – 9 pm (if you leave a voicemail outside of these times, they aim to respond to you within 48 hours)
Mind Out offer mental health information, advice and support (including peer support) – run by and for LGBT+ people.
It can be hard to cope with painful or overwhelming feelings, memories and situations.
Sometimes these strong feelings make people want to hurt themselves on purpose because they don’t know how else to cope.
There are lots of resources available if you or someone you know self harms – go to our page for more information.
Alumina, run by Self Harm UK, offer online groups covering topics such as control, addiction, emotions and the importance of talking.
The online groups have 6-7 sessions and are 1 hour long – usually groups of 6-8 young people.
You can sign up via their website.
The Amber Project supports young people aged 14 – 25 years in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan who have experience of self-harm.
They offer activity based workshops, theatre workshops, counselling and one to one practical support.
To contact them, complete the Contact form here.
Please note that this is not a crisis service and is open Monday – Friday between 9:30 am – 5:30 pm.
CALM are united against suicide. They have a helpline and webchat that you can contact to talk about anything that is bothering you.
They have some good resources on:
CALM are open between 5 pm and midnight every day of the year.
To contact them:
If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be you can contact HOPELINEUK for confidential support and practical advice.
HOPELINKUK is open 9 am to midnight every day of the year.
To contact them:
Contact a Samaritan if you need someone to talk to.
Free 24/7 support via text for young people in a mental health crisis.
Text YM to 85258
Young carers are children and young people who look over someone else, such as a parent, sibling or other family member.
If you are a young person who looks after other people, it is important that you have the support and advice you need to look after both yourself and your family. Go to our page on young carers to find out more.
Cardiff residents – Independent Living Services: 029 2023 4234
Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 5pm
Friday: 8.30am to 4.30pm
Email: ContactILS@cardiff.gov.uk
Unpaid carers remain a key priority in Cardiff and Vale. You can find more information about what partners across the region have committed to doing to support unpaid carers by visiting our website.
Vale of Glamorgan residents – Contact Centre, C1V: 01446 700111
Monday to Friday 8.00am – 5.00pm
Text: C1V then your message to 60066
Email: C1V@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Unpaid carers remain a key priority in Cardiff and Vale. You can find more information about what partners across the region have committed to doing to support unpaid carers by visiting our website.
Join the Dots is a young people’s mental health involvement group that has been set up to provide support and resources in Cardiff Vale to:
Young Carers in Cardiff can contact the dedicated Young Carers co-ordinator directly
To contact the Young Carers co-ordinator:
Or call the Cardiff Family Gateway on 03000 133 133
The young carers project in the Vale of Glamorgan is run by YMCA Cardiff and is currently supporting almost 100 young carers across the County. This project is funded by Vale of Glamorgan Council.
The Young Carers Youth Club at the YMCA Hub, Court Road, Barry, CF63 4EE, is open is open every Thursday & Friday evening during term time.
This club is only for young people who have been accepted onto the Project.
Please contact the Families First Advice Line to make a referral: