Advice and Support
Our purpose is to provide anyone who has been affected by adoption, permanency and special guardianship, as well as the professionals who support them, with expert, independent advice and counselling. Please read all information listed on this page before contacting us.
National PAC-UK Advice Line
Our National PAC-UK Advice Line is available on 0300 1800 090 / advice@pac-uk.org and is staffed by qualified and experienced PAC-UK counsellors/social workers who can provide advice and information on all aspects of adoption, permanency and special guardianship. We have included information about the level of support our National PAC-UK Advice Line can offer and signposting details for other organisations below - please read all information listed on this page before contacting us.
Our opening hours are listed below, though please be aware that we may be experiencing high volumes of calls. If the line is busy when you call, please do leave a voicemail or send an email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Please only contact us with queries which are relevant to our area of expertise. Like all PAC-UK’s services, our National PAC-UK Advice Line is independent and confidential, within a safeguarding framework.
| National PAC-UK Advice Line 0300 1800 090 | Opening Times |
| Monday | 10.00am to 4.00pm |
| Tuesday | 10.00am to 4.00pm |
| Wednesday | 10.00am to 7.30pm |
| Thursday | 10.00am to 7.30pm |
| Friday | 10.00am to 4.00pm |
If you are a resident or professional from a PAC-UK subscribing local authority - click on the below 'PAC-UK Subscribing Local Authorities' heading to view the list - you can contact our National PAC-UK Advice Line to discuss your circumstances and eligibility for a referral to access further support from PAC-UK.
Correct as at 1 April 2025.
Adopt London East
Barking & Dagenham
Havering
Newham
Tower Hamlets
Adopt London North
Barnet
Camden
Enfield
Hackney
Haringey
Islington
Adopt London South
Croydon
Greenwich
Kingston
Lambeth
Lewisham
Merton
Richmond
Southwark
Sutton
Wandsworth
Adopt London West
Brent
Ealing
Hammersmith & Fulham
Hounslow
Coram - Ambitious for Adoption
Harrow
Hillingdon
Kensington & Chelsea
Redbridge
Waltham Forest
Westminster
Adoption South East
(Adoptee Support Group)
Brighton & Hove
East Sussex
Surrey
West Sussex
North London Fostering & Permanency Consortium (Special Guardianship)
Barnet
Camden
Enfield
Hackney
Haringey
Islington
Special Guardianship Contracts
Cumbria - Cumberland
Cumbria - Westmorland and Furness
Lambeth
Waltham Forest
Adoption Counts
Cheshire East
Manchester
Salford
Stockport
Trafford
Adoption in Merseyside
Knowsley
Liverpool
Sefton
Wirral
Adoption Now
Bolton
Blackburn with Darwen
Bury
Oldham
Rochdale
Tameside
One Adoption North & Humber
East Riding of Yorkshire
Hull City Council
North East Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire
North Yorkshire
York
One Adoption South
Barnsley
Doncaster
Rotherham
Sheffield
One Adoption West Yorkshire
Bradford
Calderdale
Kirklees
Leeds
Wakefield
Together for Adoption
Cheshire West & Chester
Halton
St Helen’s
Warrington
Wigan
Individual LAs
Bedford
Birmingham
Hertfordshire
Lincolnshire CC
Southend-on-Sea
Sunderland
If your local authority does not have a contract with PAC-UK, we will not be able to take a referral and the advice we can offer you will be limited. We understand this is difficult, but we do not want this to deter you from finding the right support; will do our best to share any helpful resources and signpost you to other organisations or agencies you could access.
Important: Please be aware that we cannot offer crisis services. If you are in crisis, or if you/someone else is at risk of harm, we will always need to consider who else can offer you more urgent and appropriate support.
- If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please contact emergency services on 999
- If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, contact NHS crisis services on 111
- If you are struggling with low mood and/or thoughts of suicide, you can speak with the Samaritans, anytime, on 116 123
- If you need help but it’s hard to talk, you can text SHOUT anytime, to 85258
- If you are worried about risks to children, you can contact NSPCC Helpline on 08088005000 / help@nspcc.org.uk
FamilyConnect Advice Line
We also have a dedicated FamilyConnect Advice Line available on 0300 1800 205 to support adult adoptees, their descendants and birth relatives who wish to reconnect with their relatives - this line is open each Monday 3.00pm to 6.00pm (excluding bank holidays), Tuesday 11.00am-2.00pm and Thursday 1.00pm to 4.00pm. You can also email familyconnect@pac-uk.org.
PAC-UK Services
- Adopted Adult Support Services (incl. Intermediary Services)
- Adoptive Parent & Carer Support Services
- Adopteens Service for Adopted Teens
- Birth Parent & Birth Relatives Support Services (incl. Intermediary Services)
- Child & Family Service
- Child to Parent Violence Service
- Education Service for Schools, Parents & Professionals
- Private Intermediary Service
- Support Groups for Birth Parents & Adoptive Parents
- Training Service (view our full Training Programme here)
Service Feedback
PAC-UK aims to provide high-quality services that meet our service users’ needs. By telling us how we are doing, you can help shape these services in the future.
All your views, whether positive or otherwise, are important to us, as we are committed to improving the services we provide.
Download our Family Action Comments, Compliments & Complaints Leaflet and contact us if you require any further information.
