Useful Contacts & Information
Coronavirus Related Information
- Government Advice
- If you have health problems that mean you're extremely vulnerable, you can register to get support: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable
- Benefits Advice From DWP
- Advice on money and debt issues from Money and Pensions Service
- Fact sheet from Nationadebtline
- Employment rights and financial support from Working Families
- Housing advice from Shelter
- Information relating to homelessness from Homeless Link
- Employment support helpline 020 7926 0500 or http://opportunity.lambeth.gov.uk
- Businesses and employers helpline 020 7926 2344 or https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/elections-and-council/about-lambeth/lambeth-coronavirus-information/coronavirus-covid-19-information
To support your wellbeing during this time, we have collected useful services and information:
- List of Mental Helath and Wellbeing Resources
- To talk to someone or if you need urgent support: Crisis Services
- For tips and practical activities on how to keep well, and to connect to others locally: Connecting in Isolation
Local support
- Lambeth Council Coronavirus help and support or Lambeth Council Helpline 020 7926 2999 (8am – 8pm). This helpline is available for people in Lambeth who are having difficulties due to Coronavirus, including access to medicines and food. They cover council and other community services.
- The Directory - the community food resource with local emergency food resources, including Foodbank, advice and support and money saving tips
- Connect Lambeth #Together campaign from Age UK Lambeth offers advice, befriending, shopping, online socialising
- West Norwood Mutual Aid group - to ask for help from your neighbours or to offer help email: wnorwoodc19aid@gmail.com On Facebook call 0208 168 7080 or text 0203 151 7080 WhatsApp group https://chat.whatsapp.com/DRcax9U97izFqduUJNS7hQ
- Lambeth Mutual Aid on Facebook
- Other local Mutual Aid groups can be found here.
- Paxton Green Time Bank - a community of local volunteers who offer support and activities to one another, all online at the moment.
General & Legal Advice
- Brixton Advice Centre - another local advice centre
- Citizens Advice Lambeth - another local advice centre
- Kings College London Legal advice clinic - students under supervision from qualified lawyers give advice on a range of issues, including immigration, family, small businesses, property, employment.
- Advice Now
- Citizens Advice - Advice Guide
- Civil Legal Advice and Find a Legal Adviser - phone 0345 345 4345
- Liberty (Human Rights)
- Public Interest Law Centre - Advice on action against public authorities (inlcuding the Police), Judicial Review
- Equality and Human Rights Commission - phone 0808 800 0082
- Equality Advisory Service - Discrimination Advice
- Court Service (making a claim, divorce etc)
- We are Advocate - Free represenation
- Royal Courts of Justice CAB (inc Civil, Housing,family, Debt and Bankruptcy) - phone 0844 856 3534
- Temple Legal Centre (family law) – phone 07887 776099
- Councillors, MPs, MEPs and Mayor of Lambeth - see www.lambeth.gov.uk/
- Government Website covering all areas of advice
- Disability Lambeth - advice in Lambeth for the disabled and long term ill, older people and carers - phone 020 7346 6800
- Police Action Legal Line (advice on mistreatment or injustice by police) - phone 020 7452 8902
- Support Through Court - Free support (not advice) for those attending Civil Court and Tribunal Proceedings
- Check if you have legal cover including through house or motor insurance, bank account, other policies
- Check if your Union provides legal cover
Debt, Consumer, Energy and Telecommunications
- National Debtline – phone 0808 808 4000
- Business Debtline – phone 0800 197 6026
- My Money Steps (free self help debt management)
- Money Advice Service – phone 0800 1387777
- Consumer Protection Rights – phone 03454040506
- Money A&E - resource on debt matters
- Resolver - free consumer online advice service (and app) to complain about Telecoms (e.g. mobile phones), energy (utilities), travel (airlines, car rentals etc), finance (banks, insurances etc), shops / retailers, public services such as DVLA, Local Authority and other services. Guides through the complaints process, provides draft letters and emails, will direct emails to companies complaints, notify when to escalate complaints and help with that. Keeps case files that can download and service can forward complaints to relevant independent complaint bodies e.g. like Ombudsman.
- Energy Ombudsman – phone 03304401624
- Office of Communications (OFCOM) – phone 0300 123 3333
- Telecommunications Ombudsman – phone 0845 050 1614
- Office of Water Services (OFWAT) – phone 01216447500
- Financial Ombudsman – phone 0845 080 1800
- TaxAid - help with tax and tax credits – phone 0345 120 3779
Benefits
- Benefits and Pensions
- Tax Credits Helpline – phone 0345 300 3900
- Maternity Action – phone 0845 600 8533
- Turn2us benefits and grants advice – phone 0808 802 2000
- Working Families (in work benefit advice) – phone 0300 012 0312
Housing and Homelessness
- Shelter – phone 0808 800 4444
- Leasehold Advisory Service – phone 020 78322500
- Lambeth Housing Advice (homeless or risk of homelessness)
- London Borough of Lambeth: Council tenants emergency repairs etc – phone 0207 926 6000
- Private Renting Issues
- Homeless related services: Streelink - phone 0300 500 0914 and The Pavement
- Find a Legal Adviser
- Housing Ombudsman
Employment
- ACAS - phone 0300 123 1100
- Work Smart (from the TUC)
- Mary Ward Legal and Financial Centre - phone 020 7831 7079
- Working Families - phone 0300 012 0312
- London Employment Rights Hub
- Check if you have legal cover including through house or motor insurance, bank account, other policies
- Consult your Union
- Covid-19 Employment Law FAQs: https://brixtonadvice.org.uk/covid-19-employment-law-faqs/
Immigration
- Migrant Legal Action - phone 020 3150 1470
- Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants - phone 020 7251 8708
- South London Refugee Association - phone 0203 490 3443
- Notre Dame Refugee Centre - phone 020 7440 2669
Family, Elderly, Health, Education and Work
- List of Mental Helath and Wellbeing Resources
- Temple Legal Centre (family law) – phone 07887 776099
- Age UK directory of older persons services – phone 0800 169 6565
- Rights of Women – phone 020 7251 6577
- Women and Girls Network (WGN) - supports women and girls affected or threat of being affected by gender based abuse and violence.
- Gingerbread (lone parent) – phone 0808 802 0925
- National Domestic Violence Helpline – phone 0808 200 0247
- Child Support Agency – phone 0345 7133133
- ACE (education advice)
- Child Law Advice
- National Family Mediation
- Action for Victims of Medical Accidents - phone 0845 123 2352
- Child Maintenance Options – phone 0800 988 0988
- Metro Charity - help on sexuality,gender, equality, HIV, diversity or identity
- Terrence Higgins Trust - help for people living with HIV and sexual health issues
- Lambeth Bereavment Services (including affordable simple funeral) – phone 020 89264221
- The Directory - the community food resource with local emergency food resources, advice and support and money saving tips