Support groups & helplines for divorce

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a woman having a coffee and a supportive chat at a divorce support group

Everything on this page is free unless it says otherwise.

If you need to talk to someone now

Samaritans — 116 123. Free, day or night, every day of the year. You don't have to be in crisis and you don't have to know what to say.
Welsh language line: 0808 164 0123, 7pm–11pm daily.

SHOUT — text SHOUT to 85258. Free, 24 hours, and a text conversation rather than a phone call, which some people find much easier.

If you're not safe

If you're leaving an abusive relationship, or you're not sure whether what's happening counts, these are the people to speak to first - before solicitors, before anything on the rest of this site.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline — 0808 2000 247. Run by Refuge, free, 24 hours a day, every day. Live chat is available Monday to Friday 10am–10pm and weekends 10am–6pm, and there's a British Sign Language service on weekdays 10am–6pm.

Men's Advice Line — 0808 801 0327, Monday to Friday 10am–5pm. For male victims of domestic abuse; trans and non-binary people are welcome.

Galop — 0800 999 5428, Monday to Thursday 10am–8pm and Friday 10am–4pm. Specialist support for LGBTQ+ people experiencing abuse.

Abuse includes controlling behaviour and financial control, not only violence. If any of that is familiar, it also affects how a divorce should be handled - so say so early to whoever advises you.

Relationship counselling

For people who haven't decided anything yet, or who want help deciding. Useful if you’re in the quiet divorce phase and aren’t sure if you want to leave or attempt to rebuild your relationship.

Relate — relationship counselling across the UK, for couples and for individuals. You don't need your partner's agreement to go on your own. Costs vary by centre and there's usually a sliding scale, so ask.

BACP — the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy keeps a searchable register of accredited therapists. Useful if you'd rather see someone privately, and the register is how you check that a therapist is properly qualified.

Your GP can also refer you to NHS talking therapies, and in England you can self-refer without going through your GP at all. Free, though waiting times can vary a lot by area.

Emotional support and mental health

Mind Support Line — 0300 102 1234, Monday to Friday 9am–6pm. For talking through anything to do with your mental health, and for finding out what support exists near you.

SANEline — 0300 304 7000, 4pm–10pm every day.

CALM — 0800 58 58 58, 5pm to midnight every day. Also has a webchat.

Support groups, and meeting other people in the same position

This is the thing people most often ask for and the hardest to point at, because almost all divorce support groups are local rather than national. There's no single UK organisation running them.

What actually works:

  • Relate centres often run group sessions as well as one-to-one counselling — worth asking your nearest one directly

  • Gingerbread — 0808 802 0925 — supports single parents, and runs local groups and an online community

  • Family Action — 0808 802 6666, Monday to Friday 9am–9pm — practical and emotional support for families

  • Your council's community directory and local library noticeboards are unglamorous and genuinely the best source of what exists in your area

  • Facebook groups are where most of this has quietly moved. Search your town plus "divorce" or "single parents". The quality varies enormously, but the good ones are very good

  • Divorce recovery courses run in many areas, some through churches and open to anyone regardless of faith — worth checking locally

We're building a directory of counsellors, mediators and legal services, and local support groups will be part of it. It isn't ready yet, but watch this space.

Money, debt and housing

National Debtline — 0808 808 4000, Monday to Friday 9am–8pm and Saturday 9.30am–1pm. Free, impartial debt advice.

StepChange — 0800 138 1111, Monday to Friday 8am–8pm and Saturday 9am–2pm. Free debt advice and managed plans.

Shelter — 0808 800 4444, Monday to Friday 8am–6pm. Housing advice, including if you're worried about losing your home.

Citizens Advice — citizensadvice.org.uk. Benefits, housing, and your rights generally. Local offices as well as online.

MoneyHelper — the government-backed service for free money and pensions guidance. Useful before you make decisions about a pension or a mortgage.

For children

Childline — 0800 1111. Free, 24 hours, for anyone under 19. Worth telling your children it exists rather than waiting until they need it.

Your child's school is also more useful than most parents expect. Telling them what's happening at home means somebody is watching out, and many schools have a pastoral lead or access to a counsellor.

If you need a mediator

The Family Mediation Council keeps a register of accredited family mediators, which is the way to find one who's properly qualified. Only FMC-accredited mediators can take part in the government voucher scheme, where that's available.

What we can't help with

We can't give legal advice, we can't advise on your finances, and we're not a counselling service. What's on this page is the list of people who can.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Helpline numbers and opening hours change - if you find something out of date on this page, please tell us and we'll fix it.

Sources for the fact-check