Finding the right info
HELP WITH FOOD & SHELTER
If you have seen an adult sleeping rough and want to get them the offer of support please report their whereabouts to Streetlink(opens in new window). However, if you believe that the person sleeping rough is at risk of imminent danger, needs urgent care or you believe the person to be a child under 18 please call 999.
Shelter(opens in new window) offers advice on housing or homelessness on 0808 800 4444 if in England (open 8am - 8pm Monday to Friday; 9am - 5pm on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays); 0808 800 4444 if in Scotland (open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday); or 0800 049 5495 if in Wales (open 9.30am - 4pm Monday to Friday).
If you need some help with food, you can find your nearest Food Bank at the Trussell Trust(opens in new window) or contact their helpline for advice England & Wales – 0808 208 2138; Northern Ireland – 0808 915 4604; open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday (closed on bank holidays).
A lot of foodbanks need you to have a referral or voucher. In order to obtain this you can speak to Citizens Advice (opens in new window)or contact Your Local Authority. You might have to provide some information as to why you are in need of support. For more information about this please visit this website.
For advice about asylum support, contact Migrant Help on 0808 8010 503 (open 24 hours a day).
Citizens Advice(opens in new window) offer advice and support to overcome problems related to money, family, legal and health. You can talk to them online (available 8am - 7pm Monday to Friday for advice relating to debt, and 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday for advice relating to any other problem). Alternatively, you can call their Adviceline (England) on 0800 144 8848 or Advicelink (Wales) on 0800 702 2020, both services are open 9am - 5pm on weekdays (closed on bank holidays). If you can’t hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say using their Relay UK service: 18001 then 0800 144 8884.
Step Change(opens in new window) give free expert debt advice and money guidance. By providing some of your information, confidentially, they recommend advice specifically for your circumstances.
TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH
If you are worried that you, or someone you know, may be experiencing mental illness you can contact Samaritans(opens in new window) on 116 123 or on jo@samaritans.org(opens in new window) (open 24 hours a day) or Mind(opens in new window) Infoline on 0300 123 3393, text 86463 or info@mind.org.uk(opens in new window) (open weekdays 9am - 6pm).
Papyrus(opens in new window) is a suicide prevention charity for young people. Contact their HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141 (open daily 9am - 12am).
YoungMinds(opens in new window) provides information on child and adolescent mental health for parents and professionals. Contact the parent’s helpline on 0808 802 5544 (open weekdays 9.30am - 4pm).
Switchboard(opens in new window) is a helpline for LGBTQ+ people who can be contacted on 0300 330 630 or chris@switchboard.lgbt(opens in new window) (open 10am - 10pm daily).
Maternal Mental Health Alliance(opens in new window) resource hub provides links to a broad range of services and information for mums and families.
If you are an older person and need support, Age UK’s Advice Line(opens in new window) is available on 0800 678 1602 (open daily 8am - 7pm). Age UK also has a free telephone Friendship Service(opens in new window) so you can connect with someone over the phone.
You can also speak to your GP(opens in new window) or contact NHS Talking Therapies(opens in new window). If you, or someone you know, is in immediate danger then call the emergency services on 999.
We know it's not a mental illness but if you or someone you know has suffered a brain injury and you need advice and support please contact Headway (opens in new window)either online or you can call their helpline on 0808 800 2244.
If you have suffered a bereavement, you don’t have to deal with it alone. Cruse Bereavement Support(opens in new window) can help, you can visit their website or contact their helpline on 0808 808 1677.
Support to children and young people
If you are a child and need to speak to someone, call Childline(opens in new window) on 0800 1111. You can also speak to an adviser on the online 1-2-1 chat service here(opens in new window).
If you are concerned about a child, call the NSPCC(opens in new window) on 0808 800 5000 (open weekdays 9am - 5pm) or outside of these hours by email at help@nspcc.org.uk(opens in new window).
Family Lives(opens in new window) (in England and Wales) is a confidential and free national helpline service offering advice on different aspects of parenting and family life. Their helpline is 0808 800 2222 and is open 9am - 9pm Monday to Friday and 10am - 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.
For parents in Scotland, Children 1st run Parentline Scotland(opens in new window) and you may wish to contact them on 0800 028 22 33 from 9am - 9pm Monday to Friday, and 9am - midday on Saturday and Sunday.
Young carers are people aged 25(opens in new window) and under who provide care to a friend or family member who cannot cope without their support. If you think you might be a young carer please find further information about young carers and where to find support here.
ESCAPE FEAR & VIOLENCE
If you are in danger, at imminent risk of harm or in need of urgent help please call 999.
To talk to someone about domestic abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Helpline(opens in new window), a charity providing support to women and children, on 0808 2000 247 (open 24 hours a day).
If you are a woman or girl who has experienced sexual violence, contact Rape Crisis England & Wales(opens in new window) on their helpline on 0808 802 9999 (open daily between 12pm - 2.30pm and 7pm - 9.30pm) or on their live chat helpline (open different times Monday - Friday, click here for details). For support for men or boys, please click here.
There is also the National Male Survivors Helpline(opens in new window) on 0808 800 5005 (usually open 9am - 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am - 2pm on Saturday and Sunday, closed on bank holidays and training days) or by email support@safeline.org.uk(opens in new window) (usually open 9am - 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am - 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays, closed on bank holidays and training days). There is also a text support line on 07860 065187 and a live chat service. See here for further details.
Southall Black Sisters(opens in new window) offers specialist support to women from Asian and Black communities on gender related violence living in England. They also have a resource page where you can find out about services in Scotland and Wales. You can call them on 0208 571 9595 (9am – 5pm Monday to Friday).
If you are LGBTQ+ and have experienced domestic abuse, call Galop(opens in new window) on 0800 999 5428 (open 10am - 5pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, and 10am - 8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays) or email at help@galop.org.uk(opens in new window). There is also a webchat service available between 5pm - 8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you can’t get through to their helpline the first time you try, they should call you back.
You can find more information about Honour based violence and forced marriage at Karma Nirvana(opens in new window). If you are experiencing honour based abuse or facing a forced marriage you can contact their helpline on 0800 599 9247 Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm.
Forced Migration
The Refugee Council UK(opens in new window) offers practical support for people seeking asylum and can help you find services that meet your specific need. You can find out more here at their advice pages or call their info line on 0808 196 7272.
Alternatively you can also ask for advice about asylum support by contacting Migrant Help(opens in new window) or their free helpline on 0808 801 0503.
You can also contact your local Citizen Advice Bureau (opens in new window)who can offer tailored advice throughout the UK to overcome many problems including financial, immigration and health ones.
If you are based in Scotland, you can contact the Scottish Refugee Council(opens in new window) or call their free helpline on 0808 196 7274.
If you require further information about support services, consider the BBC Action Line(opens in new window) here.
Please note that Comic Relief does not take responsibility for the advice or actions of these organisations. Please note that their opening times are subject to change and may differ on public holidays and during holiday periods.