Barnardo's — the UK's largest children's charity
Barnardo's is one of the UK's largest children's charities, running more than 650 specialist services across the UK. For families in or near family court proceedings, it offers local family support, parenting programmes, fostering and adoption services, family contact services and advocacy for children in care.
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-01
What Barnardo's is
Barnardo's was founded by Thomas Barnardo in 1866 and today works with children, young people and families across the UK. Its stated aim is that children feel safer, happier, healthier and more hopeful. It runs services commissioned by local authorities alongside charitable projects, and campaigns on child poverty, mental health and the care system.
Its service finder lists well over a hundred family support services nationally, plus services for mental health, young carers, children in care and leaving care, disability, domestic abuse and family contact.
What help it offers
- Local family support services — practical, home- and community-based help for families under pressure, often by referral from a school, health visitor or local authority, some self-referral.
- Family contact services — some Barnardo's projects host supervised or supported contact between children and a parent, usually where social services are involved.
- Fostering and adoption support — Barnardo's is an adoption and fostering agency and offers post-adoption support.
- Advocacy for children in care — independent advocacy so children's views are heard in decisions about them.
- Parenting advice and the Family Space — free online guidance for parents and carers, and a benefits calculator for families worried about money.
- Support for young people — mental wellbeing advice, online safety and help for young carers.
Contact details
- Website: https://www.barnardos.org.uk
- Get support (parents/carers, young people, fostering/adoption): https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support
- Service finder: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/services
- Support for parents and carers: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/support-for-parents-and-carers
How a self-representing parent can use Barnardo's
1. Find a local service early. If social services or a family court are involved, a Barnardo's family support service in your area may be able to work with you — demonstrating that you are engaging with support is often viewed positively by courts and Cafcass. 2. Use Family Space for parenting questions. Free, practical guidance on everyday parenting, money worries and where to get help. 3. Understand family contact options. If contact is supervised or at a centre, Barnardo's runs contact services in some areas — check the service finder. 4. Advocacy for your child. If your child is in care, Barnardo's advocates help children make their views known — useful to know when decisions are being made about them.
Barnardo's is not a law firm: it does not give legal advice on your case and cannot represent you in court. For case-specific legal help see Coram Children's Legal Centre, Rights of Women, or a solicitor in this directory.
Useful links
- Barnardo's homepage: https://www.barnardos.org.uk
- Get support: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support
- Find a service: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/services
- Who we are: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/who-we-are
This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws, procedures and contact details change — verify anything important against the official sources linked above before relying on it. Your Family Case is an independent directory listing; we take no referral fees and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or receiving payment from any organisation listed.
Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.