Hi there
Thank you for your letter and for telling me about your situation. You don’t say what living at home is like for you but it seems like you are quite keen to find out what help would be available to you if you did make the decision to move out of your parents’ home.
There are places that will be able to give you some advice on these issues, and I will give you some information on these in a moment. However before you contact them I’d also like to suggest that you think about what type of support you think you and you baby would need if you were living independently. Perhaps writing down a list of things you might need would be helpful for when you speak to an advisor who can help you with this.
I would also like to suggest that you contact ChildLine to talk to a counsellor about how things are now at home, and how you would like things to be. Sometimes talking out loud about your worries or plans can help to make things clearer in your head.
The number for ChildLine is 0800 1111 and it’s free to call. You can also sign up for a ChildLine account and chat to a counsellor online or send an email if you prefer.
To find out about the benefits or support you are entitled to, you could talk to a Connexions advisor, who will be able to provide you with information on what you are entitled to and what is available in your area. Their number is 0808 0013 219. You might also find it useful to check out their website which is www.connexions-direct.com. If you choose to call them, they are open everyday from 8 am to 2 am.
I hope you find this information helpful.
Take care
Sam