Service User Support & Charitable Organisations

The following are a list of organisations, many of whom are registered charities, who provide support and advice to people suffering from a range of issues. For ease of reference the links below have been separated into the following categories - Addiction Support, Autism & Learning Difficulties Support and Mental Health Support.

Addictions Support

  • Action on Addiction

    Action on Addiction is a registered charity, which was formed in May 2007 through the merger of three organisations: Action on Addiction, Clouds and the Chemical Dependency Centre.

  • Addaction

    Addaction is the UK's biggest drug and alcohol treatment charity.

  • Al-Anon UK

    Al-Anon Family Groups provide understanding, strength and hope to anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else's drinking.

  • Alcoholics Anonymous

    Alcoholics Anonymous is as an informal society of more than 2,000,000 recovered alcoholics worldwide.

  • Alcohol Concern

    Alcohol Concern is the national agency on alcohol misuse. They work to reduce the incidence and costs of alcohol-related harm and to increase the range and quality of services available to people with alcohol-related problems.

  • Drink Aware

    Drinkaware is an independent charity that aims to change the UK's drinking habits for the better. They promote responsible drinking and try to find innovative ways to challenge the national drinking culture and tackle alcohol misuse.

  • Drug Addicts Anonymous

    Drug Addicts Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who once suffered from an addiction to mood altering substances. They currently hold meetings in London, Blackpool and Plymouth.

  • DrugScope

    DrugScope is the UK's leading independent centre of information and expertise on drugs. Their aim is to inform policy development and reduce drug-related harms - to individuals, families and communities.

  • Gamblers Anonymous

    Gamblers Anonymous is a 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.

  • Narcotics Anonymous

    Narcotics Anonymous is an international, community-based association of recovering drug addicts with more than 43,900 weekly meetings in over 127 countries worldwide.

  • Talk to Frank

    Talk to Frank, formerly known as the National Drugs Helpline, is a web-site and telephone helpline offering advice, information and support to anyone concerned about drugs and solvent/volatile substance misuse, including drug misusers, their families, friends and carers.

Autism & Learning Difficulties Support

  • Asperger's Syndrome Foundation

    The Asperger's Syndrome Foundation is committed to promoting awareness and understanding of Asperger's Syndrome. The Foundation aims to promote high quality support and services, and to enable people with Asperger's syndrome to develop into members of the community who are respected for their contribution and recognised for their unique differences.

  • ASSGO

    Asperger's Syndrome Support Group Online (ASSGO) is a website, founded in 2004, that is devoted to providing online information and support for people with Asperger's Syndrome and related conditions.

  • AuKids Magazine

    AuKids is a quarterly positive parenting magazine for children under 10 with autism spectrum disorders. Produced by a parent and speech and language therapist, it contains positive ideas and inspiration and is available free in Manchester and Cheshire or through paying a small subscription if you live elsewhere in the UK. Write to AuKids at aukidsmag@googlemail.co.uk.

  • Autism Awareness

    The Autism Awareness website was launched as part of Autism Awareness Year 2002 (AAY). Its aim is to be somewhere people can go to share ideas and information, and to plan action.

  • Autism Research Centre

    The mission of the ARC is to understand the biomedical causes of autism spectrum conditions, and develop new and validated methods for assessment and intervention.

  • Cheshire Aspergers Parents Support (ChAPS)

    ChAPS is a registered charity which aims to support parents and carers of dependants with Aspergers Syndrome or Autistic Spectrum Disorder whether diagnosed or not, living in Cheshire.

  • Disablities Trust

    The Disabilities Trust was founded in 1979 to provide an imaginative new concept of personal care and specialist housing for people with special needs.

  • Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities

    The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities works to promote the rights, quality of life and opportunities of people with learning disabilities and their families.

  • National Autistic Society

    The National Autistic Society champions the rights and interests of all people with autism and aim to provide individuals with autism and their families with help, support and information on services.

  • South Lakeland Autism and Asperger's Support Group

    The South Lakeland Autism and Asperger's Support Group provides support to families and individuals who are in need of assistance and guidance in dealing with family members and individuals who may otherwise feel there is no help available to them.

Mental Health Support

  • Beat

    Beat is the leading UK charity for people with eating disorders and their families. Beat is the working name of the Eating Disorders Association.

  • BPDWORLD

    In October 2005 BPDWORLD became the first registered charity for people with borderline personality disorder in the UK.

  • Depression Alliance

    Depression Alliance is the leading UK charity for people with depression. Their aim is to relieve and to prevent this treatable condition by providing information and support services to those who are affected by it via our publications, supporter services and network of self-help groups for people affected by depression.

  • First Steps to Freedom

    First Steps to Freedom is a U.K. registered charity which aims to help those who suffer from phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, general anxiety, panic attacks and those who wish to come off tranquillisers, together with help for their carers.

  • Manic Depression Fellowship

    Established in 1983 MDF The BiPolar Organisation is a national user-led organisation and registered charity for people whose lives are affected by manic depression.

  • Mental Health Care

    This web site is aimed at anyone providing support to someone experiencing mental illness. It contains information about mental health and mental illness and personal stories written by carers.

  • Mental Health Foundation

    Founded in 1949, the Mental Health Foundation is a leading UK charity that provides information, carries out research, campaigns and works to improve services for anyone affected by mental health problems, whatever their age and wherever they live.

  • Mind

    Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. They work to create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress.

  • Nacro Mental Health

    Nacro is the leading criminal justice charity in England and Wales. The Mental Health Unit aims to improve responses to defendants and offenders with mental health issues. The site contains up to date information on mental health and offending including discussion forums.

  • No Panic

    No Panic is a registered charity that offers support for sufferers of Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder and Tranquilliser Withdrawal.

  • OCD Action

    OCD Action, the national charity for people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, provides support and information to anybody affected by OCD, works to raise awarenes of the disorder amongst the public and frontline healthcare profesionals and strives to ensure that appropriate services are available.

  • Personality Disorder

    This website provides information, resources and learning opportunities on Personality Disorder (PD) as well as supporting the development of the National Personality Disorder Programme.

  • Release

    Release is the national centre of expertise on drugs and drugs law - providing free and confidential specialist advice to the public and professionals.

  • Rethink

    Founded over 30 years ago to give a voice to people affected by severe mental illness and today, with over 8,300 members, remain determined that this voice will continue to be heard.

  • Samaritans

    Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.

  • SANE

    SANE was established in 1986 to improve the quality of life for people affected by mental illness.

  • Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SADA)

    The SAD Association is a voluntary organisation and registered charity which informs the public and health professions about SAD and supports and advises sufferers of the condition.

  • Time to Change

    Time to Change is England's biggest ever attempt to end the stigma and discrimination that faces people with mental health problems.

  • Triumph Over Phobia (Top UK)

    Triumph Over Phobia (TOP UK) is a UK registered charity which aims to help sufferers of phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder and other related anxiety to overcome their fears and become ex-sufferers.