Useful links
Community works with a wide variety of organisations to support Community members and their families. Below are some links you may find useful. (The opinions contained in these websites are not necessarily those of Community union.)
Legal Aid
Community Legal Advice 0845 345 4345 http://www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/
Community Legal Advice can assess eligibility for legal aid and put the caller in contact with legal aid solicitors in the local area. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00am 6:30pm and Saturday 9.00am to 12:30pm.
Scottish Legal Aid Board 0845 122 8686 http://www.slab.org.uk/
As above, callers can find out their eligibility for legal aid and be put in contact with legal aid solicitors in the local area. Phone lines are open 7 days a week 7.00am 11.00pm.
Debt Management
National Debtline 0808 808 4000 http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/
The helpline provides free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 9.00pm and Saturday 9:30am to 1.00pm.
Consumer Credit Counselling Service 0800 138 1111 http://www.cccs.co.uk/
CCCS is a registered charity offering free, confidential advice and support to anyone who is worried about debt. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday 8.00am to 8.00pm.
Citizens Advice Bureau http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
The Citizens Advice Bureau provides a wide range of advice services, including debt management advice. Visit the CAB website to identify your local office from over 3,200 locations UK wide.
Pensions
Pensions Advisory Service 0845 601 2923 http://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/
The Pensions Advisory Service is an independent, non-profit organisation that provides free information, advice and guidance on the whole spectrum of pensions, including state, company, personal and stakeholder schemes. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.
State Pension Forecast
A State Pension forecast gives you in today's money values:
- an estimate of basic and additional State Pension you may get based on your National Insurance contributions so far;
- an estimate of basic and additional State Pension you may get when you claim your State Pension.
You can get a State Pension forecast by telephone if you:
- live in the UK and;
- are more than 30 days away from State Pension age.
Call the Future Pension Centre on 0845 300 0168 and they will fill in the form with you over the phone; lines are open from 8.00am to 8.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 1.00pm on Saturday.
You can get an online forecast from www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/state-pension/forecast/home.asp if you:
- live in the UK and;
- are more than four months away from State Pension age and;
- are not widowed or someone whose civil partner has died.
Tax
Tax Aid 0845 120 3779 http://www.taxaid.org.uk/
TaxAid is a UK charity providing free tax advice to people who cannot afford to pay a professional adviser. The service is independent and confidential. Phone lines are open Monday to Thursday 10.00am to 12.00pm.
Tax Help for Older People 0845 601 3321 http://www.taxvol.org.uk/
An independent free tax advice service for older people on low incomes (less than 17k) who cannot afford to pay for professional advice.
Over 60s
Counsel and Care 0845 300 7585 http://www.counselandcare.org.uk/
Counsel and Care is a national charity working with older people, their families and carers to get the best care and support.
Age UK 0800 169 6565 http://www.ageuk.org.uk/
Age UK (formerly Age Concern) provides information and advice to older people and their families on a wide range of issues. Information phone lines are open 7 days a week 8.00am 7.00pm. Age UK also have a network of local offices.
Housing/Property
Shelter 0808 800 4444 http://www.shelter.org.uk/
Shelter provides a free, national telephone advice line staffed by trained housing advisers. Shelter can provide advice on a range of housing issues, from finding a place to sleep to managing mortgage arrears. Phone lines are open 7 days a week, 8.00am 8.00pm. Also see the website for details of regional advice centres, offering face-to-face advice.
The Leasehold Advisory Service 020 7383 9800 http://www.lease-advice.org/
LEASE, The Leasehold Advisory Service, is an Executive Non Departmental Public Body (ENDPB) funded by Government to provide free legal advice to leaseholders, landlords, professional advisers, managers and others on the law affecting residential leasehold and commonhold. Leasehold advisers are available for telephone advice from 9:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.
Benefits
Citizens Advice Bureau - http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
The Citizens Advice Bureau can perform a benefits check to ascertain what benefits an individual may be entitled to. Visit the CAB website to identify your local office from over 3,200 locations UK wide.
Benefits Enquiry Line 0800 882 200
The Benefits Enquiry Line provides advice and information for disabled people and carers on the range of benefits available. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday 8.30am 6.30pm and Saturday 9.00am 1.00pm.
Immigration
Immigration Advisory Service - http://www.iasuk.org/
The Immigration Advisory Service is the UKs largest charity providing representation and advice in immigration and asylum law. These services are free to people who are eligible (for legal aid). A fee-paying (non-profit) service is available for those who are not eligible for free help. See the website for details of regional offices providing free advice to those who qualify. Alternatively there is a telephone advice line 0844 974 4000. Calls cost £1.50 per minute.
Citizens Advice Bureau - http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
The Citizens Advice Bureau is able to advise on immigration matters at varying levels. Visit the CAB website to identify your local office from over 3,200 locations UK wide.
Home Office 020 7035 4848 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/
Education
Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) general advice line 0800 800 5793, exclusion advice line 0808 800 5793 http://www.ace-ed.org.uk/
A national charity that provides advice and information to parents and carers on a wide range of school based issues including exclusion, admissions, special education needs, bullying and attendance.
Children
Family Rights Group 0808 801 0366 http://www.frg.org.uk/
A charity in England and Wales that provides confidential advice to parents and other family members, whose children are involved with or require social care services. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday 10.00am 3.30pm.
The Childrens Legal Centre 0808 802 0008 http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/
The Child Law Advice Line provides free legal advice and information covering all aspects of law and policy affecting children. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm.
National Youth Advocacy Service 0800 616 101 http://www.nyas.net/
The National Youth Advocacy Service provides advocacy services for children and young people up to the age of 25. They provide specialist help in childrens rights, children in care, contact issues, education and youth justice.
Family
Families Need Fathers 0300 030 0363 http://www.fnf.org.uk/
A registered charity providing information and support on shared parenting issues, arising from family breakdown, to divorced and separated parents irrespective of gender or marital status. The helpline is open Monday to Friday 6.00pm 10.00pm.
One Parent Families/Gingerbread 0808 802 0925 http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/
Gingerbread provides free information to lone parents on issues including benefits, tax, legal rights, family law, contact issues, maintenance and returning to work. The helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.00am 5.00pm.
Parentline Plus 0808 800 2222 http://www.parentlineplus.org.uk/
A national charity offering help and information for parents. Free, confidential helpline open 24 hours a day.
National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 200 0247
http://www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk/
Free 24 hour advice line providing advice to women experiencing physical, emotional or sexual violence in the home.
Consumer
Consumer Direct 0845 404 0506 http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/
Consumer Direct is the government-funded telephone and online service offering information and advice on consumer issues.
Disabilities
National Bureau for Students with Disabilities 0800 328 5050 http://www.skill.org.uk/
A national charity promoting opportunities for young people and adults, with any kind of impairment, in post-16 education, training and employment. Advice lines are open Tuesdays 11.30am 1.30pm and Thursdays 1.30pm 3.30pm.
Equality and Human Rights Commission 0845 604 6610 (England) 0845 604 5510 (Scotland) 0845 604 8810 (Wales) http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/
An independent statutory body established to help eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and build good relations. The Equality and Human Rights Commission helpline is able to provide information and guidance on discrimination and human rights issues.
Power of Attorney
Office of the Public Guardian 0845 330 2900 http://www.publicguardian.gov.uk/
The Office of the Public Guardian has a customer services helpline. They are able to advise on application procedures and what you should do if you have concerns about someone. They cannot give legal advice.
Specialist Agencies
National Autistic Society 0845 070 4002 http://www.autism.org.uk/
The sociarty a dedicated advice line dealing with a range of issues including education provision and entitlement for children with Autism or Aspergers.
Nacro 0800 0181 259 http://www.nacro.org.uk/
A national charity focusing on crime reduction and the resettlement of offenders. They run a free advice line dealing with criminal record disclosure issues and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
Timeshare Consumers Association 01909 591 100 http://www.timeshare.org.uk/
Independent help for timeshare owners and holiday club members in Europe. Advice line available during office hours.
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