Children’s Social Care and other council services cannot provide advice or support for private family law matters. This includes things like child contact arrangements, disagreements after separation, or parental responsibility.
If you need legal advice, information, or emotional support, the organisations below may be able to help. Many offer free online guidance, helplines, and local services.
Supervised contact enquiries
Supervised family time from the council is only available for children who are open to Children’s Social Care.
If your family is not currently working with Children’s Social Care, the council cannot arrange or support supervised or supported contact sessions. Instead, you can use the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC) to find accredited services in your area.
NACCC lists centres and agencies that offer:
- supervised contact
- supported contact
- handover services
Find a local contact centre Child Contact Centres - NACCC
Legal advice and information
Advice Now
Provides clear, practical guides on separation and divorce.
Website: https://www.advicenow.org.uk
Anglia Ruskin University Law Clinic
Offers a free 30‑minute advice session with supervised law students.
Website: https://aru.ac.uk/business-and-law/economics-finance-and-law/law-clinic
CAFCASS
Offers guidance for parents about separation, co‑parenting, and working together after divorce.
Website: https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/grown-ups/parents-and-carers/divorce-and-separation/
Citizens Advice Bureau (Cambridge)
Offers information on legal issues and can signpost you to solicitors and local support.
Website: https://www.cambridgecab.org
Address: 66 Devonshire Road, Cambridge CB1 2BL
Coram Child Law Advice (Cambridgeshire)
Provides free legal advice on child contact arrangements, education issues, and other family law topics.
Telephone: 0300 330 5480
Website: https://childlawadvice.org.uk
GOV.UK – Child arrangements
Government information on making child arrangements, mediation, child maintenance and parenting plans.
Website: https://www.gov.uk/looking-after-children-divorce
Resolution
A national organisation of family law professionals who take a constructive, non‑confrontational approach.
Telephone: 01689 820272
Website: https://www.resolution.org.uk
The Law Society
Find qualified solicitors who specialise in family law.
Telephone: 020 7320 5650
Website: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk
Support for parents and families
Citizens Advice (National)
Guidance on legal issues, housing, finances, and arrangements for children after separation.
Website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Dads Unlimited
Practical and emotional support for fathers, including help with separation and wellbeing.
Helpline: 01223 680150
Email: support@dadsunltd.org.uk
Website: https://dadsunltd.org.uk
Families Need Fathers
Support and information on contact, parental responsibility and shared parenting.
Helpline: 0300 0300 363
Website: https://fnf.org.uk
Gingerbread
Information and support for single parents, including child contact, money, housing and legal issues.
Website: https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/information/contact-arrangements/
National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC)
Supports children to stay in touch with family members, offering supervised and supported contact.
Website: https://naccc.org.uk
Relate
Provides counselling, mediation and relationship support.
Website: https://www.relate.org.uk/about-relate
Safeguarding concerns
If you are worried about a child’s safety or wellbeing, this should always be reported. While Children’s Social Care cannot help with private family law issues, the Council must respond to safeguarding concerns.
For information on how to report a concern visit Safeguarding children and child protection – Cambridgeshire County Council
