The Mix — support for under-25s

The Mix is the UK's digital support service for young people aged roughly 13 to 25. Where family proceedings involve teenagers — their views being sought by Cafcass, contact schedules colliding with their lives, or their mental health buckling under the conflict — The Mix is one of the main free services built specifically for their age group.

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-01

What The Mix is

The Mix is a national charity providing free information and support for young people under 25 on mental health, relationships, money, housing, work and study. It operates primarily online and by text/chat, making it accessible to young people who will not ring a helpline. Its crisis support is delivered in partnership with Shout, the 24/7 text service.

What help it offers

Urgent text support: text THEMIX to 85258 — free, 24/7 crisis text line run with Shout.
Online chat and counselling with trained staff — check current availability on The Mix's get-support pages.
One-to-one chat with the team during opening hours for everyday problems.
Information hub — plain-English articles on mental health, family conflict, leaving home, benefits, and legal topics like police and housing rights for young people.
Community boards — peer support moderated for safety.

How a self-representing parent can use The Mix

1. For an older child caught in conflict. A 13–17 year-old resisting contact or distressed by proceedings may open up to The Mix where they won't to a parent. Signposting it shows you support their independent voice — consistent with the welfare checklist's "wishes and feelings" limb. 2. In voice-of-the-child work. Cafcass increasingly uses tools to capture older children's views. A child who has neutral support (The Mix, Childline) has somewhere to process those conversations. 3. If your teenager is struggling after separation. The Mix's mental health content, and its text line in a crisis, fill the gap between CAMHS referrals. 4. Young people 18+ in your case. For a young adult (a child over 16 in some proceedings, or a sibling) facing housing or money problems alongside the family conflict, The Mix's housing and money guidance is age-appropriate.

The Mix is not a legal service and does not engage in proceedings. It is for the young person.

Contact details

Crisis text line: text THEMIX to 85258 (free, 24/7)
Website: https://www.themix.org.uk
Get support: https://www.themix.org.uk/get-support/

Useful links

The Mix home: https://www.themix.org.uk
Urgent support: https://www.themix.org.uk/mental-health/urgent-help
Childline (up to 19): https://www.childline.org.uk
Samaritans (24/7 phone): https://www.samaritans.org

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.