Housing advice

Shelter England offer support for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness through an emergency helpline, online housing advice or webchat. Call the helpline on 0808 800 4444 if you are homeless, have nowhere to stay tonight, are worried about losing your home in the next two months, or are at risk of harm or abuse.

Legal advice

Citizen's Advice offers confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person on a range of topics including benefits and debts, legal issues, and employment issues. Call for free on 0800 144 8848 between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. It’s usually busiest at the beginning and end of the day and is not available on public holidays.

Mental health & wellbeing support

Call The Samaritans on 116 123 for confidential, nonjudgemental support for free, any time, from any phone.

National Domestic Violence Helpline, run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge, supports women experiencing domestic violence, as well as their family, friends and others calling on their behalf. Call for free on 0800 2000 247, 24 hours a day.

Men's Advice Line offers confidential advice for men experiencing domestic violence from a partner or expartner. Call on 0808 801 0327 (weekdays 9am-5pm)

National LGBTQ+ Domestic Violence helpline run by Galop, provides support to LGBTQ+ people suffering domestic abuse. Call on 0800 999 5428, Monday – Thursday, 10am to 8:30pm or Friday, 10am to 4:30pm.

Young People (aged 16-25)

Centrepoint supports young people aged 1625 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless as well as those worried about a young person they know. Call for free on 0808 800 0661, Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

Support in Scotland

Simon Community operate 24hour helplines in Glasgow on 0800 027 7466 or Edinburgh on 0808 178 2323 to support people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. You can also contact them by email on hello@simonscotland.org or drop into their Glasgow Access Hub or Edinburgh Support Hub.

Unlock

Unlock are an independent charity, supporting people with criminal records to be able to move on positively in their lives. Call the Unlock helpline on 01634 247 350 for information, advice, and training on dealing with the ongoing effects of criminal convictions. Unlock are also able to provide direct one-to-one support to help those who need it when navigating life with a criminal record.

Nacro

Nacro provides information and advice about criminal justice, housing, health and education for prisoners, prison leavers, their families, and friends. Call for free on 0300 123 1889.

Apex Trust

Call the Apex Trust helpline for support with employment after leaving prison on 01744 612 898. Access support on a range of issues including when a conviction becomes spent, how to find local sources for help, information about the Criminal records Bureau and how to disclose a criminal record to an employer. Available for prison leavers, prisoners, probation staff and employers.

Caring For Prisoners

Caring For Prisoners has a list of useful organisations for prison leavers, covering health, housing, financial support, employment, education, mental health, and other topics.