A guide to leaving care

Useful contacts and resources

Key contacts

Unaccompanied Minors and Independence Support Team (UMIST)
  • Duty number: 020 7854 5888
  • Emergency Duty Team for out of hours emergencies: 020 7373 2227
FCS IST Duty Team (UMIST)

Email: [email protected]

Social Services line

Phone: 020 7361 3013

LAC Nurse

Email: [email protected]

RBKC Virtual School Team

Email: [email protected]

Emergency Duty Team for out of hours emergencies

Phone: 020 7373 2227

RBKC Advocacy and Participation Team for children in care

We are based at Kensington Town Hall, however, we are happy to come and meet with you wherever you feel comfortable.

Email: [email protected]

Care Leavers Alumni Network (CLAN)

Find more information about CLAN.
Email: [email protected]
 

Other useful contacts

Health and wellbeing

Health and wellbeing

Emotional wellbeing and mental health

Kensington and Chelsea Mind
Phone: 020 8964 1333 Email: [email protected] Website: www.kcmind.org.uk

 

Brook

Provides information and advice on sexual health or relationships, including sex, contraception, STI’s, pregnancy or abuse.

Website: www.brook.org.uk

Young Stonewall

Supports and empowers young LGBTQIA+ people to live free from discrimination and fulfil their potential.

Website: www.stonewall.org.uk/young-stonewall

Gendered Intelligence

A London based service for transgender young people and can offer youth group sessions, one-on-one mentoring, special projects and workshops, training sessions and other resources for trans-gender youth and their families.

Website: www.genderedintelligence.co.uk

Medical advice

NHS 111 by dialling 111 (England and Wales, all-age)

Talk to Frank

Information on drug and alcohol support.

Phone: 0300 123 6600 Text: 82111 Website: www.talktofrank.com
The Mix
Freephone: 0808 808 4994 / email / online chat (under 25s) Website: www.themix.org.uk
Shout
Text: 85258 (all-age) Website: www.giveusashout.org/get-help
Switchboard
Phone: 0300 330 0630 Email: [email protected] (LGBTQ+, all-age) Website: www.switchboard.lgbt
Calm
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 Email: www.thecalmzone.net
Samaritans
Phone: 116 123 Email: [email protected] Web site:www.samaritans.org
Money and finance
Citizens Advice Kensington and Chelsea
  • Address: Chelsea Old Town Hall, Kings Road, SW3 5EB
  • Website: www.citizensadvicekc.org.uk
  • Advice line Freephone: 0808 278 7982 (9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday)
  • Reception :020 8962 3485
Step Change

Free debt advice and solutions.

Website: www.stepchange.org

Turn2us

Helps people access the money available to them through welfare benefits, grants and other help.

Money Saving Expert

Offers advice on how to save money, including help with banking, savings, utilities, bills, travel, motoring, and insurance.

Website: www.moneysavingexpert.com

Rees Crisis Fund

Offers financial support for care leavers in emergency situations involving food, gas/electricity, transport.

Website: www.reesfoundation.org/crisis-payments.html

Asylum seekers
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC)
  • Refugee Council (Children’s Service): 020 7346 1134
  • Website: www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
  • General enquiries: 020 7346 6700
  • Refuge Council Infoline Freephone: 0808 196 7272 England-wide signposting service
Asylum Aid

Assists refugees on their applications for asylum in the UK and offers advice on related areas such as appeal refusal, welfare rights and housing.

Asylum Support Advice Network

Provides free legal advice and representation to asylum seekers at the Asylum Support Tribunal, run an advice line for advice agencies, and engage in policy work to improve asylum support law.

Housing and Accommodation
National Homeless Advice Service

Offers advice about homelessness, including the provisions of emergency housing for care leavers.

Website: www.nhas.org.uk

Shelter

Offers advice and guidance on housing matter, including advice specific to care leavers.

The Albert Kennedy Trust

Helps young people up to the age of 25 years old who are LGBTQIA+ and are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Additional contacts
Become Charity

Advice, coaching and support for those in care.

Website: www.becomecharity.org.uk/care-advice-line

Law Stuff

It provides free legal information to children and young people. LawStuff is run by Coram Children’s Legal Centre, which provides more detailed information both over the phone and online.

Website: www.lawstuff.org.uk

National Care Advisory Service (NCAS)

The latest news and information on all issues relating to transitions from care and care leavers are available on the NCAS website.

Website: www.leavingcare.org

Benefits information

The latest news and information on benefits are available on the Gov.uk website. You can search for individual benefits and use the ‘benefits calculator’ interactive tool that can help you find out what benefits you may be entitled to.

Last updated: 21 May 2024