National Helplines & Online Advice
General:
Advice Guide
Online advice and information from Citizens Advice
www.adviceguide.org.uk
Community Legal Advice
0845 345 4 345
Telephone legal advice on a range of subjects, including benefits, housing, consumer and family issues, for people who qualify for legal aid.
www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/
AdviceNow
Independent online advice and information from the Advice Services Alliance
www.advicenow.org.uk/
Food banks
Independent food banks - vouchers obtainable from advice agencies. Download here for a list of Local foodbanks.
Housing:
Shelterline
0808 800 4444
Telephone advice and information for people with a housing problem or who are homeless.
www.shelter.org.uk
Joint Service Housing Advice Office
01722 436575
Housing information and advice for members of the armed forces and their families.
Housing Rights
Website from the Chartered Institute of Housing & the Housing Associations Charitable Trust, giving lots of detailing information about housing rights and responsibilities for people newly arrived in the UK.
Traveller Advice Team
0845 120 2980
Advice on evictions, planning matters, issues involving official caravan sites and other matters.
www.gypsy-traveller.org/law/travellers-aid-team
Advisory Service for Squatters
0845 644 5814
Telephone advice and information on squatting and homelessness.
www.squatter.org.uk/
Racial harassment:
S.A.R.I (Support Against Racial Incidents)
0117 942 0060
Telephone and online support for people suffering from racial harassment
www.sariweb.org.uk
Consumer:
Consumer Direct:
08454 04 05 06
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/
Energy Saving Trust
0800 512012
Helpline providing energy saving advice and information for the general public.
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
Money Made Clear
Impartial free information and guidance on money matters, with tools such as budget calculators and comparison tables for financial products.
0300 500 5000
www.moneymadeclear.org.uk
Debt:
Bristol Debt Advice Centre: Self-help resources
BDAC have produced a series of factsheets to help people begin managing their own debt situation, covering a wide range of debts and situations. They can be downloaded from here:
http://www.bdac.org.uk/services/self-help-resources/
Consumer Credit Counselling Service
0800 138 1111
Area Served: UK.
Telephone helpline and counselling for people with debt problems. Provide debt management plans, which include debt repayment schedules and advice on all aspects of money management.
www.cccs.co.uk/
Business Debtline
0800 1976 026 Freephone
Area Served: UK.
Telephone advice on debt and cashflow problems for self-employed people and small businesses.
www.bdl.org.uk/
National Debtline
0808 808 4000 Freephone
Area Served: England, Scotland and Wales.
Information and advice on debt, including bank, credit card, finance house, mortgage arrears, council tax, catalogues, hire purchase and utility debts.
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/
The Insolvency Service - Insolvency Enquiry Line
0845 602 9848
Area Served: England and Wales.
Helpline providing information about insolvency legislation eg bankruptcy, liquidation
www.insolvency.gov.uk/
TaxAid
0845 120 3779
Area Served: UK.
Advice and information for people needing tax advice who cannot afford to pay an accountant.
www.taxaid.org.uk/
Family:
Womens Aid:
0808 2000 247
Charity offering advice and support to women experiencing domestic violence
www.womensaid.org.uk/
Parentline Plus
0808 800 2222 Freephone
Area Served: England and Wales.
24 hour helpline for anyone involved in caring for children, including stepfamilies.
www.parentlineplus.org.uk/
Gingerbread - Single Parent Helpline
0800 018 5026 Freephone
Area Served: England and Wales.
Information and advice for lone parents.
www.gingerbread.co.uk
Grandparents Association
0845 434 9585
Telephone advice, information and support for all grandparents, particularly those denied contact with their grandchildren or are responsible for bringing up their grandchildren.
www.grandparents-association.org.uk
Employment:
The Pay and Work Rights Helpline
0800 917 2368
Advice and information on statutory employment rights, such as the minimum wage, maximum working hours, etc.
payandworkrightscampaign.direct.gov.uk
Benefits:
Benefits and Work
Online benefits guides - there is a charge for full membership, but lots of free resources to download