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Forced marriage and school holidays

As the school holidays approach and travel restrictions are lifted, there is a risk of children being taken abroad, and being forced to marry. Forced marriage is illegal.

We need to stay alert to Signs of children and young people being in potential danger of Forced Marriage. It is important to act quickly, without alerting family members or friends who may be part of the plans.

Find out how to get help

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Support services for children and young people

Tower Hamlets support services

Tower Hamlets Support services
Organisation	Support	Contact
LBTH MAST (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Team)	The multi-disciplinary ‘front door’ to Children’s Social Care. It aims to provide a holistic approach to protecting vulnerable children and families.	Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Tel: 020 7364 5601 Out of hours Tel: 020 7364 5006
LBTH Multi-Agency Safeguarding Team (MAST) Child Protection Advice Line	Available to schools and children’s centres, education support staff, parents/carers and pupils and to voluntary and community organisations in Tower Hamlets. If there is a concern about the welfare of a child or young person and the Designated Teacher/Person for Child Protection, parent or pupil would like to talk it through then they can contact the Child Protection Advice Line and speak to the Duty Officer.	Tel: 020 7364 3444 Other family support services are delivered through Children Centres.
MAST Early Help & Children and Families Service	The single point of access for the public, and all those working with children, young people and their families within the local community and across the authority, offering advice and recommending support for a range of issues which include: Family breakdown, housing problems, emotional health and well-being, money troubles, children’s and young people’s behaviour, parenting, drug or alcohol addiction.	Multi Agency Support Team (MAST) Request for support form
Family Information Service (FIS)	Provides free, impartial information and advice on a wide range of services for children and young people (birth to 25 years old), parents and families. A telephone helpline and drop-in service	Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm 30 Greatorex Street, London E1 5NP Tel: 020 7364 6495 Email: fis@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) CAMHS Tower Hamlets \| East London NHS Foundation Trust	Part of a wider network of statutory, non-statutory, universal and targeted services within East London NHS Foundation Trust that help with children and young people who have mental health difficulties. They provide person and family-centered care for children and young people up to 18 years old.	Both centres are open: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5pm 18 Greatorex Street, Whitechapel, E1 5NF Tel: 0207 426 2375/2400 The Emmanuel Miller Centre, 11 Gill StreetIsle of Dogs, LondonE14 8HQ Tel: 0208 2155 230
Step Forward	Provides free and confidential services to young people aged 11-25 years living in and around Tower Hamlets. Services include counselling, personal development programmes, LGBTQ group sessions and a sexual health clinic.	Monday to Saturday (By appointment only on Saturdays) The best ways to contact us are by Email: info@step-forward.org Tel: 020 7739 3082 or 07961 201234 (By appointment only on Saturdays) If you are struggling with your mental health and wellbeing and feel that you need urgent help then you can call the 24hr Tower Hamlets Mental Health Crisis Line on: 020 7771 5807

Pan-London and national services

Pan-London and national services
Organisation	Support	Contact
Childline	Free 24 hour helpline for children. Trained volunteer counsellors provide advice, comfort and support to children and young people who may feel they have nowhere else to turn.	Tel: 0800 1111
The Hideout	A space to help children and young people understand domestic abuse and how to take positive action if it is happening to them.
#LoveRespect	A website for young people, highlighting healthy behaviour in relationships through a variety of quizzes and games.
London Survivors Gateway	Offers victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse help to access specialist services in London. They provide information on what help is available in London after rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse or any form of sexual violence and offer support to access these services. They work with anyone aged 13 or above regardless of gender, sexuality, disability, language, ethnicity or immigration status.	Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Tel: 0808 801 0860
Nia	Young Women and Girls’ Advocate provides 1-to-1 and/or group work with young women aged between 11- 18 years, who have experienced or are at risk of sexual violence, including but not limited to sexual exploitation, rape, ‘gang’ sexual involvement, prostitution and trafficking.	Tel: 020 7683 1270 Email: info@niaendingviolence.org.uk
National Youth Advocacy Service	Offer information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children, young people and vulnerable adults (up to 24 years) through a network of dedicated paid workers and volunteers throughout England and Wales.	Tel: 0808 808 1001 Head office: 0151 649 8700 Email: help@nyas.net
Respect Not Fear	A website for young people about healthy relationships, honour based abuse, female genital mutilation and an LGBT section, all with games and activities.
Thinkuknow	Provides resources, training and support for professionals who work directly with children and young people, to help them to stay safe online.
Signhealth	SignHealth's Domestic Abuse Service is a specialist service for Deaf adults and children who have experienced or witnessed abuse. We are the only domestic abuse service in the UK that communicates with Deaf people directly, using a variety of communication methods, predominantly British Sign Language (BSL). We are a team of IDVAs, YPVAs and a children and family worker that work with professionals and the client to ensure the best support. Who the service is for? People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. We support people of all genders, sexuality, and religion.	Text only on 078600 33214 Email: da@signhealth.org.uk Adult Referral Form
Depaul UK	Focuses on young people in crisis and beyond. They support young people by: Offering a safe place to stay in a crisis, Helping them to take the step from homelessness into stable housing, Providing specialist long-term support to help get lives back on track. Projects include ‘Nightstop’ that provides a bed for the night for young people who need it, in a moment of crisis. Also ‘Alone in London’ delivers a range of services to young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including developing young people's skills and providing the resources they need to secure sustainable and safe housing.	Tel: 020 7939 1220 Email: depaul@depaulcharity.org.uk
Abianda	1:1 support for young people exploited from London Specialist support for young women Help manage risk and safeguarding Support to move away from criminal exploitation Family support Help build network analysis through pan London intel gathering An out of hour’s phone number for professionals operated by St Giles Trust	Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Tel: 020 7686 0520 Email: Contacthello@abianda.com
Advance’s Maia service	Advance’s Maia service is part of the wider Maia & LIFT partnership. Chance UK, delivers the LIFT programme, offering mentoring to young women and girls from the age of 9 to 13, in one-to-one sessions with professional youth workers as well as group work.	Head office (general enquiries): 020 3953 3111 Email: admin@advancecharity.org.uk

VAWG service directory

You can find lots of other useful services on the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) service directory homepage.