Coram Family Lives (Family Lives)

Coram Family Lives is the national parenting and family support charity (formerly known simply as Family Lives, now part of the Coram group of children's charities). Its free, confidential helpline offers emotional support, information and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life — including the strains that separation, court proceedings and child arrangements disputes put on parents and children.

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-31

What Coram Family Lives is

Family Lives was founded in 1979 and merged into the Coram group of children's charities in 2025, operating as Coram Family Lives. It is a registered charity providing free support to parents, carers and families across England and Wales.

Its core services are a national helpline and online support, a large library of parenting advice, free online parenting courses, and direct local support services in parts of England and Wales. It does not provide legal advice — its role is emotional and practical support around family life and parenting.

What help it offers

A free helpline: 0808 800 2222 for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. The helpline's standard opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm and weekends 10am to 3pm (closed bank holidays) — check the website for current availability, as the service is sometimes temporarily closed at busy times.
WhatsApp support: 07441 444125 — message and the team replies when online.
Email support at askus@coramfamilylives.org.uk.
Online chat during published opening hours.
Free online parenting courses covering areas such as separation, teenager behaviour and parenting after conflict.
Extensive online advice articles on topics including divorce and separation, contact disputes, parent-child conflict and family breakdown.

Important limits: Coram Family Lives cannot provide legal advice, does not represent parents in court, and is not a substitute for a solicitor or legal advice service.

Contact details

Website: https://www.coramfamilylives.org.uk
Helpline: 0808 800 2222 (free from UK landlines and mobiles)
WhatsApp: 07441 444125
Email: askus@coramfamilylives.org.uk

How a self-representing parent can use Coram Family Lives

Family court cases are stressful for parents and children alike. Coram Family Lives is useful alongside — not instead of — legal help:

1. Emotional support during proceedings. Helpline staff are trained to listen and help you manage the pressure of separation, contact disputes and hearings. Call before a difficult meeting or hearing if you are overwhelmed. 2. Supporting your child through separation. The advice pages and courses cover how separation and conflict affect children, and how to keep parenting arrangements child-focused — often the same principles the court applies under the Children Act 1989 welfare checklist. 3. De-escalating conflict. Practical guidance on communicating with an ex-partner, which can support out-of-court resolution through mediation (see also Family Mediation Council). 4. Parenting after separation. Free online courses can help rebuild routines and relationships after a child arrangements order is made. 5. Know its limits. For anything legal — deadlines, forms, orders, evidence — use a legal advice service such as Coram Children's Legal Centre's Child Law Advice, and verify helpline availability on the Coram Family Lives website before calling.

Useful links

Coram Family Lives homepage: https://www.coramfamilylives.org.uk
Online parenting courses and advice: https://www.coramfamilylives.org.uk

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.