Being a parent is not always easy, and if you’re on your own it can seem even more difficult. You may feel scared about the responsibility and whether you’re doing the best you can for your baby. You may feel you want support to help you cope. There are lots of places you can get help and advice.
If you want to know more about having a baby, bringing up children, childcare, play, education, work or support, try
Locally:
There are national organisations supporting teenage and lone parents:
- BBC Parenting
- DirectGov
- If you are under 20 and have a child and want to return to or start learning Care to Learn may be able to help with your childcare and other extra costs.
- Lone Parents helpline 0808 802 0925.
- Parentline Plus offers support to anyone parenting a child – contact them on 0808 800 2222.
- Gingerbread has information on benefit entitlements for teenage parents. Contact their single parent helpline 0808 802 0925.
- Youngdads was created to enable young dads to access information everything they wanted to know about pregnancy, birth and beyond - but were afraid to ask!
Did you know that you can get free milk, fruit and vegetables when you are pregnant? Visit Healthy Start to find out if you qualify.
Local Help:
Advice for young parents under 19.
Teenage Pregnancy Specialist Personal Advisers:
North Manchester - Helen - 205 1644
Central and East Manchester - Catherine - 248 7684
South Manchester - Ruth - 437 4288.
Helplines:
- 0161 203 7906 if you live in North Manchester or
- 0161 234 1570 for the rest of the city.
Drop ins at Connexions Centres:
- Harpurhey - Friday 1pm- 4.30pm offering advice and support around benefit issues for teenage parents.
Wednesdays 10am - 1pm offering help with childcare, college, sexual health, - Longsight - Wednesdays 1-4pm Benefits Advisor
- Wythenshawe - Wednesdays 10am - 1pm
You can use the library in your Connexions Centre too as it has information for you to read or take away. You could also go to Relationships Weblinx for more useful websites.