Financial and Other Advice Expand Citizens Advice Provides free, impartial and confidential advice on areas such as benefits, debt, housing, healthcare, etc. England 03444 111 444 Wales 03444 77 20 20 www.citizensadvice.org.uk Credit Unions A Credit Union is a self-help financial co-operative. They provide two basic services to their members - convenient savings and cheap loans. In addition some Credit Unions offer bill paying services and cheap life assurance to members. For details of your nearest credit union contact your local Citizens Advice centre (see above). National Debtline An independent charity, dedicated to providing free debt advice by phone and online to people across the UK. 0808 808 4000 https://www.nationaldebtline.org/ Pay Plan Pay Plan is a website providing free, impartial debt advice. Helpline: 0800 280 2816 (Mon to Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-3pm) www.payplan.com
Physical and Mental Health for Returnees Expand Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics anonymous is an informal society with more than 2,000,000 members worldwide. Memberships is open to anyone with a drink problem seeking help. Group meetings take place regularly in all parts of the country. Alcohol support meetings or call the Helpline on 0800 9177 650 www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) BACP is the main body in the UK promoting counselling and psychotherapy, providing contact details for therapists in specific areas of the UK as well as advice on how to find the right therapist for your own situation. Telephone: 01455 883300 www.bacp.co.uk Drinkline Drinkline offers: - information and self-help materials - help to callers worried about their own drinking - support to the family and friends of people who are drinking - advice to callers on where to go for help Helpline: 0300 123 1110 (Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm) FRANK Offers a free, confidential 24-hour helpline for drug information and advice. Their website provides details of specific drugs, uses, effects and addictions Helpline: 0300 123 6600 www.talktofrank.com Narcotics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous is a non-profit fellowship of men and women for whom drugs have become a problem. Membership is open to anyone with a drug problem seeking help. Group meetings take place regularly. Narcotic support meetings or call the helpline on 0300 999 1212 (open 10am-midnight 7 days a week) www.ukna.org NHS 111 111 is a free NHS non-emergency number you can call to speak to a trained advisor, supported by healthcare professionals. They will ask you a series of questions to assess your symptoms and immediately direct you to the best medical care. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones. Samaritans Provide confidential emotional support 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Telephone: 116 123 www.samaritans.org SANELINE SANELINE provides information and support to anyone affected by a mental health problem, putting them in touch with available sources of help and support. Helpline: 0300 304 7000 (open from 4.30pm to 10.30pm daily) Terrence Higgins Trust Terrence Higgins Trust offers free and confidential services for people with HIV and AIDS, including specialist advice and representation on welfare rights, housing and legal matters, practical help and befriending. Helpline 0808 802 1221 www.tht.org.uk
Ex-Prisoner Advice Expand Apex Charitable Trust Apex Charitable Trust seeks to help people with criminal records to obtain appropriate jobs or self-employment by providing them with the skills they need in the labour market and by working with employers to break down the barriers to their employment. Helpline: 0870 608 4567 www.apextrust.com Nacro Nacro offers information and advice for families and friends of people in prison and those returning from prison. Their resettlement and advice service can help identify housing and employment / training prospects. Helpline: 0300 123 1999 www.nacro.org.uk NEPACS (North East Prison After Care Society) NEPACS supports prisoners, ex-offenders and families in Durham, Cleveland, Northumberland, North Yorkshire and Tyne & Wear. Telephone: 0191 375 7278 www.nepacs.co.uk Unlock Unlock is an independent charity that provides a voice and support for people with convictions who are facing stigma and obstacles because of their criminal record. www.unlock.org.uk/
Homelessness Assistance Expand Crisis Crisis can offer homeless people expert help to find safe housing, an opportunity to gain new skills plus wellbeing and safety advice at their Skylight centres. Telephone: 0300 636 1967 www.crisis.org.uk The Passage The Passage runs a London resource centre for homeless and vulnerable people. Their team of Outreach Workers makes contact, often late at night or early in the morning, with those sleeping rough in Victoria as they are bedding down or getting up each day. They run a hostel for rough sleepers. Telephone: 020 7592 1850 http://passage.org.uk Shelter Shelter helps people struggling with bad housing or homelessness through advice, support and legal services. Telephone: 0808 800 44 44 (8am to 8pm, Mon - Fri, and 8am to 5pm Sat - Sun). https://england.shelter.org.uk https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/ Streetlink StreetLink exists to help end rough sleeping by enabling members of the public to connect people sleeping rough with the local services that can support them. Telephone: 0300 500 0914 https://www.streetlink.org.uk/