Self Help Directory:
Free Telephone Advice Helplines for the General Public
Accommodation & Housing: Housing advice helpline Tel. 0808 800 4444
Opening hours: Weekdays, 8am – 8pm; Weekends, 8am – 5pm
Free housing advice from Shelter. Housing experts will offer support to callers no matter what their housing situation.
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Bereavement Support: Cruse Bereavement Care Helpline Tel. 0808 808 1677
The helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.30 - 5pm (excluding bank hols), with extended hours on Tues., Wed. and Thurs. evenings, when they're open until 8pm.
Here to support you after the death of someone close.
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Carers: Carers UK - Adviceline Tel. 0808 808 7777
Open Monday & Tuesday 10am to 4pm.
Information and advice on all aspects of caring. Caring can present all kinds of challenges from filling in forms to coping with emotions. The Adviceline Team can provide information and advice on benefits and tax credits, carers' employment rights, carers’ assessments, services available for carers, how to complain effectively and challenge decisions.
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Civil Liberties: Human rights advice Tel. 020 3145 0461
Opening hours: Mon. 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm; Wed. 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm; Thurs. 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm.
Liberty gives independent advice to members of the public on civil liberties and human rights issues.
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Consumer Rights: Consumer Helpline Tel. 03454 04 05 06
When you buy goods or services the law gives you consumer rights. These protect you from being treated unfairly by a trader. Find out what your rights are and how to take action. The Helpline is run by the Citizens Advice Bureaux.
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Contact with Children: Families Need Fathers Helpline Tel. 0300 0300 363
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am - 10pm; Weekends, 10am - 3pm.
FNF is a charity chiefly concerned with supporting all parents, dads, mums and grandparents to have personal contact and meaningful relationships with children following parental separation. They offer information, advice and support services to help parents to achieve a positive outcome for their children.
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Crime: Stop Hate Crime Helpline Tel. 0800 138 1625
The Stop Hate Line provides support to people affected by hate crime. A hate crime is any crime motivated by disability, gender identity, race, religion or sexual orientation.
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Crime: Victim Support Supportline Tel. 08 08 16 89 111
Weeknights, 8pm to 8am; Sat. night to Mon. morning, 5pm to 8am
The Supportline is there for you to talk about your experience of crime anonymously and in confidence.
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Disability: Disabled Students Helpline Tel.: 0330 995 0414
Opening hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11am-1pm
Free advice and support for disabled people who are studying or wish to study at any level on full-time or part-time education or training courses. It is run by Disability Rights UK.
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Discrimination: National Equality Advice Line Tel.:0808 800 0082
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am - 8pm; Saturday, 10am - 2pm
The Helpline advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights. It is provided by the Equality Advisory & Support Service. The EASS is government funded and replaced the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
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Domestic Violence: National Domestic Violence Helpline Tel. 0808 2000 247
24-hour freephone. Run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge.
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Drugs Education: Frank - Friendly confidential drug advice Tel. 0300 123 6600
24 hours a day, 365 days a year
‘Frank’ is a national drug education service jointly established by the Department of Health and Home Office.
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Dyslexia: Dyslexia Helpline Tel. 0333 405 4567
Opening Hours : Tuesday, 10am - 1pm; Wednesday & Thursday, 10am -3pm.
Advice for pre-school children, pupils and students who are dyslexic in England and Wales. Run by the British Dyslexia Association.
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Elder Abuse: Action on Elder Abuse Helpline Tel. 080 8808 8141
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Information, advice and support to victims and others who are concerned about or have witnessed elder abuse, neglect or financial exploitation.
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Employment law: ACAS Helpline Tel. 0300 123 1100
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm Saturday, 9am-1pm.
Helpline for workplace advice. ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) provides free and impartial information and advice to employers and employees on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law. It is funded by the government.
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Family Issues: Family Lives Helpline Tel. 0808 800 2222
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 3pm.
Information, advice, guidance and support on any aspect of parenting and family life.
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Foreign Nationals: International students’ Advice Line Tel. 020 7788 9214
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 1pm – 4pm
Free advice service for international students on fees, finance, immigration, study, work and more. Run by the UK Council for International Student Affairs.
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Health: NHS 111 service Tel. 111
Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The NHS non-emergency number. It’s fast, easy and free. Speak to a highly trained adviser, 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 for you.
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Lone Parents: Gingerbread Single Parent Helpline Tel. 0808 802 0925
Opening hours: Mondays, 10am to 6pm Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays, 10am to 4pm Wednesdays, 10am-1pm and 5pm-7pm.
The Gingerbread Single Parent Helpline provides support and expert advice on anything from dealing with a break-up, to going back to work or sorting out maintenance, benefit or tax credit issues.
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Men in Emotional Distress: CALM Helpline Tel. 0800 585858
Open 7 days a week, 5pm to midnight
Offering support to men in the UK, of any age, who are down or in crisis. CALM offers an accredited confidential, anonymous and free support, information and signposting to men anywhere in the UK through our helpline. Calls are taken by trained staff who are there to listen, support, inform and signpost. CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, a registered charity which exists to prevent male suicide in the UK.
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Mental Health: Mind Infoline Tel. 0300 123 3393
Opening times: Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays), 9am to 6pm.
Information on a range of topics including: types of mental health problem, where to get help, medication and alternative treatments, and advocacy. The Infoline will look for details of help and support in your own area.
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Pre-Natal Issues: Pregnancy National Helpline Tel. 0808 802 5433
Free, lottery funded advice line run by Life Care.
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Problem Debt: National Debtline Tel. 0808 808 4000
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm; Saturday, 9.30am to 1pm
National Debtline is a free, independent and confidential debt advice service run by the charity Money Advice Trust.
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Sexual Assault: Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Helpline Tel. 0808 802 9999
Opening times: 12:00 – 14:30 and 19:00 – 21:30 daily
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Sex Designation (Transgender): Transfigurations Helpline Tel. 07476 151717 or 01803 404500
Opening hours: Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays, 6pm to midnight.
Service open to transgender people of all ages, and parents, guardians or partners of transgender people.
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Sexuality: Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays Helpline Tel. 0845 652 0311
FFLAG is a national voluntary organisation and registered charity. They are dedicated to supporting parents and their lesbian, gay and bisexual daughters and sons. If you, your family or friends need support, reassurance or information, call the confidential helpline.
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Suicidal Thoughts: The Samaritans Tel. 116 123
Available round the clock, every single day of the year, providing a safe place for anyone who is struggling to cope.
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Victims of False Allegation: FASO National Help Line Tel. 0844 335 1992.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 18:00 to 22:00.
False Allegations Support Organsation (FASO) is a voluntary organisation that offers clear information, practical advice, and emotional support to anyone affected by false allegation of abuse. FASO strives to be a refuge for the innocent, not a safe house for abusers in denial.
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N.B. ‘Helplines Partnership’ is the membership body for organisations that provide helpline services in the UK and internationally. Their nationally recognised quality standard defines & accredits best practice in helpline work.
The organisation has a helpful 'find a helpline' facility on its website: https://helplines.org/helplines/
Useful Websites:
Advicenow
Clear, user-friendly, step-by-step guides on common legal problems. Advicenow is provided by Law for Life, a charity working to ensure that individuals have the knowledge, confidence and skills they need to manage the law in their lives.
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Citizens Advice Bureaux https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
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Health & Safety Executive
Advice, guidance, news, templates, tools, legislation, publications from Great Britain's independent regulator for work-related health, safety and illness.
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Turn2us
Turn2us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services.
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WorkSMART
workSMART is brought to you by the TUC - the umbrella for Britain's unions. It plans to be a one-stop shop for everything to do with your working life.
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Ensuring the best student experience; inspiring success and positive change
Registered Charity Number: 1150387