Advice Links
GENERAL
Age Concern: federation of 400 independent charities providing advice on the needs and aspirations of older people and ageing related issues.
Childline: freephone website specially for both adults and children upset by bereavement, bullying, abuse, AIDS, stepfamilies, exam stress, eating problems.
Salvation Army: a private and confidential e-mail service offered by the Salvation Army that attempts to answer questions concerned with living in the 21st century from a Christian perspective.
Samaritans: main website, providing background information on this confidential support service to any individual in crisis. Its history section includes an article by Chad Varah, explaining how he came to set up this organisation in 1953
Befrienders: An international organization that listens to people who are "...lonely, despairing or considering suicide." This latter includes, for example, problems associated with homosexuality, bullying, and self-harm.
Mind, Body, Soul: This site, whose development is overseen by the NHS Health Development Agency, Aimed at 14-16 year olds and covering many aspects of emotional and physical well being. Site maintained by the NHS Health Development Agency.
SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Epilepsy Action: Epilepsy itself, types of seizures, information for teenagers in general and for girls and women on pregnancy and contraception, a parents' guide to epilepsy, medical management, leisure, education, and many other themes
Positively Women: Organization run by women with HIV for women with HIV. Fact sheets on HIV/AIDS, support services (e.g. children and family service), and links to other websites concerned with HIV/AIDS
ADDICTIONS
Alcoholics Anonymous: website for British branch of this specialist network which works with anyone who thinks they have a problem with alcohol. For families and friends - Al-Anon, and for young people - Alateen: http://www.hexnet.co.uk/alanon/
Gamblers Anonymous: website for British branches of fellowship of men and women who have joined together to do something about their own gambling problem and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same
TACADE: the Teacher’s Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drug Education, providing support for professionals, professional groups, parents and carers working with young people by providing a range of effective publications, training and consultancy products and services
Addaction: Charity dedicated to dealing with alcohol and drug abuse. Its clients are of all ages, and it operates over fifty projects within communities and prisons throughout the UK
Release: A range of services dedicated to meeting the health, welfare and legal needs of drugs users and those who live and work with them
PREGNANCY
British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS)): The options for a woman with an unplanned pregnancy. It encourages no particular course of action, but instead tries to furnish ideas that will allow the pregnant woman to choose the option that seems right for her
Care Centres Network: Christian Counselling and Pregnancy Advice: Free services available through the 150 CARE Centres Network; care for any woman and her partner faced with an unplanned pregnancy or pregnancy loss, including abortion
America's Pregnancy Helpline: Although based in the United States, much of the material on this site is useful for anyone concerned about pregnancy. For the pregnant teenage girl the site broaches the issue of how to inform parents as well as the boyfriend. The Helpline is a non-profit service
VOLUNTARY SERVICE
Christians Abroad: a service to people of all faiths or none which provides information and advice about opportunities for voluntary or paid work in aid, development and mission overseas
VSO: Voluntary Service Overseas welcomes skilled professionals for world-wide placements
YWAM: Youth with a Mission short term and gap-year placements for young people with strong sense of christian discipleship and service
Travellers Worldwide: Volunteer Work Placements Overseas: Opportunity for people from all over the world to be able to experience what it is like to live and work in foreign countries and cultures." Volunteers are provided with the opportunity to teach English (or another language) or other subjects ranging from the academic to the technical (e.g. computers and IT) and even football
Link Overseas Exchange: A non-profit Scottish charity, providing overseas placements for 17-25 year olds during their 'gap-year'. Placements, usually lasting for six months, are currently available in Sri Lanka, Nepal, China, and India
Inter-Cultural Youth Exchange, UK: A recognized charity aiming "...to promote peace, cultural understanding and youth empowerment through opportunities of international exchange and voluntary work overseas." Volunteers must be aged between 18-30 years and will spend six months or a year abroad. This will cost £2,850 and £3,250 respectively. Continents to visit include Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America
Care and Relief for the Young (CRY): A registered charity that cares for destitute children, mainly in Eastern Europe but also in South Africa. Voluntary opportunities are sometimes available for committed Christians, ideally with child care qualifications and certain other relevant experience. Volunteers must fund themselves and be quick to learn a new language
Related links:
General Christian chatline
http://www.christianchat.co.uk/
Comprehensive list of Christian Counsellors:
http://www.dovechristiancounseling.com/