Family Action

03/10/2026

Planning for the future can feel like a big thing to think about. 💚

Having your wishes written down can bring a little peace of mind, knowing you’ve thought about the people and things that matter most to you.

This October, we’ve partnered with Octopus Legacy to help make that step a little easier, with a free Will-writing service available online, over the phone or face to face. ✍️

Use the voucher code FAMILY-FREE to access the service.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/4rzRjxE

02/10/2026

National Adoption Week 2026 is taking place from 19 to 25 October.

Our adoption support service PAC-UK is marking the week with five free online events, bringing together adopted people, birth parents, adoptive parents and carers, young people and professionals to share lived experience, research and different perspectives on adoption.

Here's what's happening:

1️⃣: Monday 19 October -100 Years of Adoption: What Can We Learn from the Past, What Has Changed, and What Does the Future Hold?
A roundtable discussion reflecting on the history of adoption, what has changed and what the future might look like.
🔗: Register: https://bit.ly/3VuWLpG

2️⃣: Tuesday 20 October - Working Therapeutically with Adopted Adults
Exploring the experiences and therapeutic needs of adopted adults, including separation, attachment, reunion and accessing adoption records.
🔗: Register: https://bit.ly/46Ey0d9

3️⃣: Wednesday 21 October - Annalisa Toccara-Jones: Media Narratives, Loss and Adoptee Sense-Making in the UK
Exploring adoption across social media and public discourse, and how adult adoptees make sense of their experiences.
🔗: Register: https://bit.ly/4yWYXF1

4️⃣: Thursday 22 October - Birth Parents Stepping Out of the Shadows: Who We Are and How We Are Represented
A conversation with birth parents about lived experience, identity and representation within the adoption system.
🔗: Register: https://bit.ly/4Awq8bj

5️⃣: Friday 23 October - Listen Up! How Teenage and Young Adult Adoptees Are Informing Adoption Practice
Hear from young people involved in Adopt a Change about sharing lived experience and helping to shape adoption practice.
🔗: Register: https://bit.ly/4hMrasc

Some of the topics discussed may feel emotive or triggering. We encourage everyone attending to listen with respect and openness to the experiences and perspectives being shared. 💚

01/10/2026

We're excited to announce that the Institute of Family Therapy (IFT) has joined Family Action. 💚

IFT provides high-quality family therapy and training and supports families, couples and individuals, as well as professionals. With a shared commitment to helping families thrive, we're excited to bring together our expertise and extend our reach to help even more families across the country.

IFT’s training and clinical work will continue as normal, while together we look forward to creating new opportunities for learning, innovation and high-quality support for families.

Find out more here: https://bit.ly/4AGsRPp

30/09/2026

After losing his partner, who he had cared for a long time, Alan was adjusting to a very different way of life.

He joined a LifeSkills Open session and found support and new connections. He’s now an active volunteer with the carers centre too.

“Just [having someone] saying that it’s okay to ask for help and to get a bit of help and support, it changed my life.”

Alan’s is the final story in our Barclays UK LifeSkills series. Watch below. 💚

https://bit.ly/4ityv0Q

Family Action LifeSkills

29/09/2026

When a child or young person is being bullied, it can affect so much more than their time at school. 💚

As a parent or carer, you want to be there for them, but knowing what to say or what might help isn't always easy.

Our self-help article shares practical advice on talking things through, listening to what your child needs and supporting them through what they're experiencing.

Find advice and support here: https://bit.ly/4hJqTX0

28/09/2026

There’s a lot more behind Chloe’s smile than you might realise. 💚

As a young carer, Chloe had already taken on a lot at a young age. Finding other young people with similar experiences gave her somewhere she could feel understood and enjoy time for herself.

Then came Christmas and a Toy Appeal gift that ended up becoming much more than just a present. 🎁

Read Chloe and her family’s story: https://bit.ly/3V9RL9W

24/09/2026

When Caroline found LifeSkills Plus, everyday life was feeling overwhelming and she was going through a difficult time with her mental health.

Through the programme, she had extra support as she thought about what she wanted to do next. Caroline has now enrolled on a hair and beauty course at college and feels much more confident about moving forward.

“I thought it was not possible, but Sana never gave up on me.” Watch Caroline’s story below. 💚

https://bit.ly/46s9bRx

LifeSkills Plus sessions are delivered by Family Action in partnership with Barclays UK LifeSkills.

Family Action LifeSkills

23/09/2026

If your child hasn’t quite found their feet at school yet, that’s okay. 💚

Settling in can take time, and there are ways you can support them along the way:

1️⃣: Make space for a chat: let them know you’re there when they’re ready.
2️⃣: Chat to school: they might have noticed something that could help.
3️⃣: Give them time to unwind: a bit of downtime after school might be just what they need.
4️⃣: Listen to their worries: feeling heard and understood can be reassuring.
5️⃣: Try a reminder of home: something small and familiar can offer a little extra comfort.

Find more ways to support your child if they’re struggling to settle back at school here: https://bit.ly/4gS1itz

23/09/2026

We're really proud of what the Charity Community Shops achieve - not just by raising vital funds for our work with children and families, but by giving pre-loved items a second life too. 💚

Relate - Relationship Counselling

Giving something a second life can do more good than you might think. ♻️

Across our 11 Charity Community Shops, every donation, purchase and volunteer hour helps support Family Action's work with children, families and communities - while also helping reduce waste.

Last year, our shops kept 92,413kg of items out of landfill and saved 831.72 tonnes of CO2. That's the equivalent of driving around the world 126.6 times or planting 2,770 trees. 🌳

To everyone who has donated, shopped or volunteered with us: thank you. ❤️

Find your nearest Charity Community Shop and see how you can get involved: https://bit.ly/46U2N5z

22/09/2026

Sometimes you can tell something’s on your teenager’s mind, but knowing how to reach them can be the tricky part. 💚

Do you give them space? Ask questions? Wait for them to come to you?

Our self-help article shares practical ways to keep the conversation open, stay connected and how to support your teenager’s mental health when they need you.

Find more advice and support here: https://bit.ly/4ygjNyL