How to access help in an emergency

If you need local support you may want to contact your local authority for help with housing, social care and health care matters. You can find your local council by visiting the GOV.UK website.

If someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, call 999. If it’s not a life-threatening emergency and you or the person you’re with doesn’t need immediate medical attention, please visit the NHS website or call the NHS Helpline on 111.

For support, advice and information in dealing with the loss of a loved one, please visit Cruse Bereavement Care’s website or call their free Helpline on 0808 808 1677

If you’re having a difficult time and would like information and support, please visit Mind’s website.

If you’d like to talk to someone about what you’re going through, you can call the Samaritans Helpline for free on 116 123

If you’d like to talk to someone for help with domestic abuse, you can:

• Call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free on 0808 200 0247, for women and children
• Call the Men’s Advice Line for free on 0808 801 0327
• Call Galop’s National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline for free on 0800 999 5428

For information on relationship support, please visit Relate’s website.

For advice and practical solutions to problem debt, please call Stepchange Debt Charity’s free Helpline on 0800 138 1111.

If you are in need of financial support, please visit the Turn2us website for help with claiming welfare benefits and grants.

You can also find more information by visiting the Citizens Advice website.

If you are homeless or at risk of losing your home, you can:

• Call Shelter England/Scotland’s Helpline for free on 0808 800 4444
• Call the Shelter Cymru Helpline on 0345 075 5005
• Call the Housing Rights Service Northern Ireland (NI) Helpline on 0289 024 5640
• Visit the Turn2us website for help with housing costs
• Visit the Crisis website for information on housing matters

For help with accessing emergency boxes of food, you can:

• Visit the Trussell Trust website to learn more about how food banks work
• Visit the Independent Foodbanks Network (IFAN) website to locate local food banks near you