UK Helplines and web sites.
Emergency Services - fire, police, ambulance, coastguard and mountain rescue
999
Non emergency police number
101
NHS Direct - Less urgent medical issues (or for screening / triage if you're not sure)
111
National Health Service
Trustworthy health advice in layman's terms from the NHS
www.nhs.uk
turn2us - Excellent benefits (government social security payments) calculator
www.turn2us.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau, legal, consumer, benefits, housing and other advice
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
(postcode needed to find local number)
Queen Mary [free] legal advice Centre
https://www.lac.qmul.ac.uk/
Shelter - housing / homelessness help
https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help
Housing rights / legal advice for residents of private and social housing though the helpline is for urgent advice only, for those "who have nowhere to sleep, or might be homeless soon, have somewhere to sleep, but nowhere to call home or you are/could be at risk of harm”. 365 days 8am - 8pm on weekdays /9am - 5pm on weekends: 0808 800 4444
Step change - Debt charity
Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 4pm. Freephone 0800 138 1111
Citizens Advice list of grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/
Help with water bill debt (Many water companies have a grant scheme).
www.ccwater.org.uk/households/help-with-my-bills/
Also good advice on how to deal with debt here:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/debt-help-plan/
The Trussell Trust - Find a local food bank
https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/
Refugee Action's resources list for refugees / Asylum Seekers
www.refugee-action.org.uk/help-support-advice-services
Refugee Council
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
The Refugee Council’s Infoline connects refugees and people seeking asylum with organisations that can help. A short term project to support people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Leave a message with your name and phone number. If you need an interpreter, add the language that you want to speak in. They will call you back. Freephone 0808 196 7272
Samaritans for those contemplating Suicide (24 hours)
www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/talk-us-phone/
24hr line: 116 123
MIND – Mental Health Charity
www.mind.org.uk Mental health problems: where to get help near you, treatment options, advocacy services. The web site also has good links to other organisations specialising in specific conditions.
8am to 7pm, 365 days: 0800 055 6112.
Infoline: 0300 123 3393 info@mind.org.uk
Legal line: 0300 466 6463
MIND’s list of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resources
www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-and-complex-ptsd/useful-contacts/
MIND’s list of Schizophrenia resources
www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/schizophrenia/useful-contacts
SANEline
www.sane.org.uk
For anyone experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else.
4.30pm to 10.30pm, every day: 0300 304 7000
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – for men
5pm to midnight every day, freephone: 0800 58 58 58.
Shout 85258
a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
Cruse bereavement counselling
0808 808 1677
Beat Eating Disorders the Campaign Against Eating Disorders
includes anorexia, ARFID, binge eating disorder, bulimia and OSFED.
www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
365 days a year from 9am–8pm during the week, and 4pm–8pm on weekends and bank holidays:
Helpline: 0808 801 0677
Studentline: 0808 801 0811
Youthline: 0808 801 0711
web chat: https://support.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/app/chat/chat_launch
National Autistic Society
Helpline closing down
NHS list of gambing addiction resources
including ones for those affected by another's gambling.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/gambling-addiction/
GamCare
Information, support and counselling for problem gamblers in the UK, also offers face-to-face counselling.
www.gamcare.org.uk
National Gambling Helpline.
24 hrs freephone: 0808 8020 133
NHS list of alcohol addiction resources
www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support
Drinkline The national alcohol helpline.
“If you're worried about your own or someone else's drinking”
0300 123 1110
Good starting point for drug addiction resources (NHS page)
www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/drug-addiction-getting-help
Childline (for children to call).
Children in distress / abused etc .
www.childline.org.uk
freephone: 0800 1111
Report child abuse:
www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse-to-local-council
or Contact the NSPCC - National Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Children).
For adults to call: 0808 800 5000
The Silver Line - Helpline for older people
www.thesilverline.org.uk.
24 hours. freephone 0800 4 70 80 90
Age UK
www.ageuk.org.uk
“Confidential national phone service for older people, their families, friends, carers and professionals.”
8am to 7pm 365 days: 0800 055 6112
Dementia: Alzheimer’s Society
www.alzheimers.org.uk
Support line: 0333 150 3456
Parkinson’s UK
For carers and those living with Parkinson’s.
www.parkinsons.org.uk
0808 800 0303
NRAS - National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
https://nras.org.uk/
Freephone 0800 298 7650
Muscular Dystrophy UK
www.musculardystrophyuk.org
Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm.
Freephone 0800 652 6352
Epilepsy Action
www.epilepsy.org.uk
Mon-Thur 8.30am-7pm, Fri. 8.30am-4.30pm and Sat. 10am-4pm freephone 0808 800 5050
Macmillan Cancer Support
www.macmillan.org.uk
Freephone 0808 808 00 00
Good list of Cancer charities:
www.cclg.org.uk/useful-links/cancer-charities-and-cancer-information
British Heart Foundation
Heart Helpline - advice from experienced cardiac nurses.
www.bhf.org.uk
Weekdays 9am - 5pm: 0300 330 3311.
RNID - Royal National Institute for the Deaf.
https://rnid.org.uk/
information@rnid.org.uk
0808 808 0123 Other means of contact including via a sign language video call - details are on the web site.
RNIB - Royal National Institute for the Blind
www.rnib.org.uk
helpline@rnib.org.uk
0303 123 9999
The Dyslexia Association
www.dyslexia.uk.net
helpline 01159 246888
helpline@dyslexia.uk.net
Switchboard LGBTQ+ Helpline
https://switchboard.lgbt/
0300 330 0630
LGBT Foundation helpline
https://lgbt.foundation/
helpline@lgbt.fou
LGBT Foundation’s trans resources list:
https://lgbt.foundation/who-we-help/trans-people/resources-for-trans-people#BAME
National Poisons Information Centre
www.npis.org
For urgent advice if you are dealing with a poisoning.
Technically for healthcare professionals only but they won’t turn away members of the public when urgent toxicology advice is needed.
Don’t abuse that kindness.
0344 892 0111
Miscarriage Association
www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
9am-4pm: 01924 200799
Rape Crisis
https://rapecrisis.org.uk/
0808 8029999
Women’s Aid (Domestic Abuse)
www.womensaid.org.uk (full of useful resources)
Live (text) chat https://chat.womensaid.org.uk/
Email helpline@womensaid.org.uk (replies within 5 days)
Refuge - Domestic Abuse Helpline
www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
Freephone, 24-hours: 0808 2000 247
Terence Higgins Trust - HIV and sexual health
www.tht.org.uk
freephone 0808 802 1221
NHS - Find an NHS Sexual Health Clinic [STDs/STIs] (via a postcode)
www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-sexual-health-clinic
BPAS - British Pregnancy Advice Service
www.bpas.org/abortion-care/considering-abortion/advice-and-counselling
Advice and counselling for those considering abortion (evidence based - no religious / or anti abortion agenda).
03457 30 40 30 to make an appointment.
Suggestions and updates are very welcome, please contact me
Created by Adrian Mars May 2021, last updated Sept 2025.
All rights waived, aside from requiring it is made clear any additions or changes to derivative versions have not been made by me.