Supporting Your Journey: Complementary Services in Bristol
Mediation is a vital step toward resolving conflict, but it rarely happens in isolation. Navigating major life changes often requires a “wrap-around” approach. Whether you need independent legal advice to formalize an agreement, financial guidance to understand your options, or emotional support for your family, Bristol offers a range of specialist services to help you move forward.
Below is a curated list of local services designed to complement your mediation journey.
AMITY MEDIATION SERVICES BRISTOL TEL:0330 133 4255
Address: Horley Rd, St Werburgh’s, Bristol BS2 9TJ
Legal Support & Advice
While mediators are neutral facilitators, we strongly recommend having a solicitor “in the background.” They can provide personal legal advice, check your eligibility for legal aid, and help turn your mediated agreements into legally binding Consent Orders.
Avon and Bristol Law Centre
- Specialism: Free legal advice and advocacy for those on low incomes.
- Address: 2 Moon Street, Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS2 8QE
- Tel: 0117 924 8662
Barcan+Kirby Solicitors
- Specialism: Accredited family law specialists offering mediation support and collaborative law.
- Address: 31 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 8AA (Multiple offices city-wide)
- Tel: 0117 325 2929
Battrick Clark Solicitors
Specialism: Specialist family law firm covering divorce, finances, and children.
Address: 151 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2RA
2. Debt & Financial Wellbeing
Financial clarity is the backbone of successful mediation. These services provide free, impartial advice to help you manage debts or create a sustainable post-separation budget.
- Citizens Advice Bristol
- Specialism: Debt, benefits, and housing advice.
- Address: 48 Fairfax Street, Bristol, BS1 3BL
- Tel: 0808 278 7957
- Talking Money
- Specialism: Free, independent debt advice and financial education.
- Address: 1 Hide Market, West Street, St Philips, Bristol, BS2 0BH
- Tel: 0117 954 3990
St Paul’s Advice Centre
Specialism: Comprehensive money and legal advice for the local community.
Address: 146 Grosvenor Road, St Paul’s, Bristol, BS2 8YA
3. Counselling & Emotional Support
Managing the emotional impact of conflict is essential for productive mediation. Bristol has several centers offering therapy for individuals, couples, and children.
- Relate Avon
- Specialism: Relationship and family counselling to help through separation.
- Address: 58 Queen Square, Bristol, BS1 4LF
- Tel: 0117 942 8444
Bristol Counselling Service
- Specialism: Affordable mental health support and family therapy.
- Address: 121-123 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 8AT
- Tel: 0117 924 3333
The Harbour
- Specialism: Free counselling for people facing life-threatening illness (often a factor in family disputes).
- Address: 30 Frogmore Street, Bristol, BS1 5NA
- Tel: 0117 925 9348
4. Parenting & Family Hubs
For families with children, focusing on “the best interests of the child” is paramount. Bristol’s Family Hubs offer parenting courses and support workers to help you transition to co-parenting.
North Bristol Family Hub (Southmead)
East & Central Family Hub (Wellspring)
South Bristol Family Hub (Knowle)
Child contact Centres in Bristol
Child Contact Centres in Bristol offer a safe, neutral space for children to spend quality time with parents or family members they no longer live with. These centres are typically accredited by the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC), ensuring they meet rigorous safety and child-welfare standards.
The Bristol Child Contact Centre is a long-standing accredited provider operating from the Trinity-Henleaze United Reformed Church (Address: Waterford Road, Henleaze, BS9 4BT; Tel: 07511 290505), primarily offering supported contact sessions.
For families in South Bristol, the South Bristol Child Contact Centre (Address: St Aldhelm’s Church Hall, Chessel Street, Bedminster, BS3 3DP;Tel: 0117 329 3957) provides a welcoming environment for weekly or fortnightly visits.
Additionally, specialized providers like Children’s Contact Services offer enhanced supervised contact and handover services across the city (Tel: 0333 577 8500).
Families can also access broader parenting support and “family time” resources through the city’s Family Hubs, such as the St Paul’s Nursery School and Children’s Centre (Address: Little Bishop Street, BS2 9JF; Tel: 0117 903 0337) and the Southmead Family Hub (address: Doncaster Road, BS10 5PW; Tel: 0117 377 2350).
For cases requiring local authority involvement or court-ordered supervision, it is recommended to contact Bristol City Council Children’s Services (Tel: 0117 922 2000).1950), offer extensive community-based support for families in transition.
Domestic Abuse Support in Bristol
Domestic abuse support services in Bristol provide comprehensive crisis intervention, safe housing, and long-term advocacy for anyone experiencing or fleeing abuse.
Next Link is the city’s primary provider, offering a 24-hour helpline (Tel: 0800 4700 280) and a dedicated office for women and children at Link House (Address: 5 Queen Square, BS1 4JQ; Tel: 0117 925 0680).
For national policy and specialized support, the Women’s Aid Federation of England is headquartered in Bristol (address: PO Box 3245, BS2 2EH; Tel: 0117 944 4411).
Male victims can access specialized advocacy through the Men’s Advice Line (Tel: 0808 801 0327) or local support via the BRI IDVA Service, which operates daily from 9 AM – 5 PM for all victims (Tel: 0117 342 1495).
Local community-based support is also available through the Southern Arc (Tel: 0117 353 3853) for residents in areas like Hartcliffe and Knowle West, and the Northern Arc (Tel: 0117 982 2495) for those in Southmead and Avonmouth.
Additionally, SARSAS provides specialist support for survivors of sexual violence (Tel: 0808 801 0456), and The Green House offers professional therapy at their base on address: Ryeford Road (BS16 2HB; Tel: 0117 935 1707). In any immediate danger, always dial 999 and use the “Silent Solution” (press 55 when prompted) if it is not safe to speak.