Maesteg:  Contact us – Bridgend County Borough (Maesteg) Citizens Advice

Health & Wellbeing Centre Hartshorn House Neath Road, MAESTEG, CF34 9EE

Telephone:  01656 762 800

Pontypridd:  Citizens Advice Rhondda Cynon Taff – We provide free, confidential and impartial advice and campaign on big issues affecting people’s lives. (carct.org.uk)

The Old Mountain Ash Library Knight Street, Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taff, CF45 3EY

Telephone:  08007022020 or 01443 853221

Community Legal Advice

Community Legal Advice is a free and confidential advice service in England and Wales paid for by legal aid that can offer advice on benefits and tax credits, debt, education, housing, employment, and family problems. Please click here for further information.

Telephone: 0845 345 4345

Email: emailhelp@communitylegaladvice.org.uk

Specialised Areas of advice – Contacts and Helplines

Addiction

Wales Drug and Alcohol Helpline

(DAN 24/7)
A free and bilingual telephone drugs helpline providing a single point of contact for anyone in Wales wanting further information or help relating to drugs or alcohol.
Freephone: 0808 808 2234
Opening hours: 7 days a week/24 hours a day
Text: DAN to: 81066
Website: dan247.org.uk

Alcoholics Anonymous

AA is concerned solely with the personal recovery and continued sobriety of individual alcoholics
Freephone: 0800 9177 650
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Email: help@aamail.org
Website: alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Talk to Frank

A helpline and website that provides information and answers questions for young people, parents and carers who are concerned about drugs.
Helpline: 0300 123 6600
Opening hours: 24 hours a day/7 days a week
Text: 82111
Email: frank@talktofrank.com
Website: talktofrank.co.uk

Hartshorn House Health & Well-Being Centre

Multi-agency base which houses health and well-being services for the Maesteg community and surrounding areas. Services include help and support for substance misuse, domestic abuse, homelessness and counselling services.

Hartshorn House, 1st Floor, Neath Road, Maesteg,CF34 9EE.

Website: Health & Well Being Centre Maesteg – Meeting Rooms available – Maesteg (inuklocal.co.uk)

Telephone: 01656 738320

Email: julie.jones2@uk.g4s.com

Benefits

Direct.gov has all the relevant information for people who wish to inquire about benefits or search for employment.

Website: www.gov.uk

Contact Jobcentre Plus: New benefit claims – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits and financial support if you’re on a low income – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Telephone: 0800 055 6688

Bereavement

Child Bereavement UK

Child Bereavement UK supports families when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.
Freephone: 0800 028 8840
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Email:  support@childbereavementuk.org
Website: childbereavementuk.org

Cruse Bereavement Care

Cruse Bereavement Care is the leading national charity for bereaved people. They offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies
and work to enhance society’s care of bereaved people.
Freephone: 0808 808 1677
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Website: cruse.org.uk

Bullying

The National Bullying Helpline

The National Bullying Helpline is the UK’s only charitable organisation addressing Adult Bullying and Child Bullying.
Helpline: 0845 22 55 787
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Website: nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk

Carers

Carers UK

A national charity for carers which offers support to those who need help with looking after a friend or family member.
Freephone: 0808 808 7777
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Website: carersuk.org/help-and-advice

Child abuse

NSPCC

The UK’s leading children’s charity, preventing abuse and helping those affected to recover. If you’re worried about a child, even if you’re unsure, contact their
professional counsellors for help, advice and support.
Helpline: 0808 800 5000
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am – 10pm or 9am – 6pm at the weekends
Email: 0808 800 5000
Website: nspcc.org.uk

Debt

Step Change

Offers Debt advice for people in the UK.
Freephone: 0800 138 1111
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Online support:  stepchange.org/Debtremedy
Website: stepchange.org

National Debtline

National Debtline offers free, confidential, and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems, as well as providing useful information on their website.

Website:  Debt advice | Free debt advice | National Debtline | National Debtline

Telephone: 0808 808 4000

Dementia

The Wales Dementia Helpline is there to support those living with dementia and their carers.
Freephone: 0808 808 2235
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Website: callhelpline.org.uk

Disability

Scope

Providers of free, independent and impartial information and support on issues that matter to disabled people and their families.
Freephone: 0808 800 3333
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Email: helpline@scope.org.uk
Website: scope.org.uk

Eating disorders

BEAT

The UK’s eating disorder charity and offers support and information relating to all eating disorders.
Helpline: (Adult Support)
Freephone: 0808 801 0677
Email: help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Youthline (Under 18)
Freephone: 0808 801 0711
Email: fyp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Studentline (Available for all students)
Freephone: 0808 801 0811
Email: studentline@beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Family support

Family Lives

A charity helping parents to deal with the changes that are a constant part of family life – they offer a confidential helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously known as Parentline)
Helpline: 0808 800 2222
Opening hours: 9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday and 10am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday
Email support: askus@familylives.org.uk
Website: familylives.org.uk

Family courts- support for parents who have their children removed by children’s services

Advice and support:  Family Rights Group (FRG) for free advice and support. It is a national charity that seeks to advise parents about their rights and options when social workers or courts make decisions about their children’s welfare. It works with parents whose children are in need, at risk or are in the care system.

Parent forums: FRG offers a free specialist legal and child welfare practice advice service for parents. It also has a very wide range of free advice and support including online forums for parents Get Help and Advice – Family Rights Group. The parents’ forum can be found here: Parents’ Forums.

Parental mental ill-health: The FRG website has resources for parents who may want to get help with their mental health: Adult mental ill-health in the context of care proceedings including FAQs such as  Will a parent or carer suffering with mental ill-health be treated fairly by children’s services and other agencies?

Challenging court decisions: There is a specific FRG website section entitled Can final decisions and order(s) made by the court at the end of care proceedings be appealed? The website includes information about challenging decisions in these advice sheets including information about Judicial Reviews and Human Rights Act claims

Long term contact arrangements: The FRG website also provides information about longer term contact arrangements Children in care under a court order although this would depend on the judgement made by the court

Food Banks

The Trussell Trust

Supporters of a nationwide network of food banks and provide emergency food and support to people experiencing poverty.
Find your nearest food bank: trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank

Gambling

The National Gambling Helpline

Providing a confidential advice, information and emotional support to anyone experiencing problems with gambling.
Freephone: 0808 8020 133
Live chat: gamcare.org.uk
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Website: gamcare.org.uk

Health advice

NHS Direct Wales

Telephone: 0845 4647
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Website: nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk

NHS Wales Complaints

For information on how to make a complaint – Health in Wales | NHS Complaints

Community Health Council:  Health in Wales | Community Health Councils

Housing and homelessness

Shelter Cymru

Housing and homelessness charity offering advice and information.
Telephone: 0345 075 5005 (Wales)
Website: sheltercymru.org.uk
Opening hours: Please visit the website

Youth Homeless Helpline
The Youth Homeless Helpline is an out-of-hours freephone helpline for homeless young people in Wales.
Helpline: 0800 328 0292
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday5pm to 9am and Friday 5pm to Monday 9am
Website: llamau.org.uk

Learning disabilities

Mencap

Learning Disability Helpline – free helpline service offering advice and support for people with a learning disability, and their families and carers.
Freephone: 0808 808 1111
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
Email: helpline@mencap.org.uk
Website: mencap.org.uk

Loneliness and Isolation

British Red Cross Support Line

If you feel lonely, worried or need help with basic needs, such as access to food, British Red Cross can help.
Freephone: 0808 1963651
Opening hours: 10am–6pm, 7 days a week
Website: redcross.org.uk

Men’s Sheds Cymru

Men’s Sheds are community spaces for men to connect. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together. They help reduce loneliness
and isolation, but most importantly, they’re fun.
Find your local shed: mensshedscymru.co.uk/find-a-shed

Meet Up

Meetup is a platform finding and building local communities. You can use Meetup to meet new people, find support and learn new things.
Find a local group: meetup.com

Side by Side

Side by Side is Mind’s online community where you can connect with someone else over shared experiences.
Join the community: sidebyside.mind.org.uk

Mental Health

C.A.L.L. (Community Advice & Listening Line)

C.A.L.L. offers emotional support and information on mental health and related matters to the people of Wales.
Freephone: 0800 132 737
Website: callhelpline.org.uk
Opening hours: Please visit the website

Mind

Mind provides information on a range of topics including types of mental health problems, where to get help, medication and alternative treatments and advocacy.
Telephone: 0300 123 3393
Text: 86463
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Website: mind.org.uk
Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 9am–6pm (except Bank Holidays)

Childline

Childline is there to help anyone under the age of 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through.
Freephone: 0800 1111
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Online chat: childline.org.uk
Website: childline.org.uk

MEIC

MEIC is the Wales helpline service for children and young people up to the age of 25, who are struggling to cope.
Freephone: 0808 802 3456
Opening hours: 7 days a week, 8am – midnight
SMS Text: 84001
IM/Online Chat: meic.cymu
Website: meiccymru.org

HOPELINE UK

If a child or young person is having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be,  contact HOPELINEUK for confidential support and practical advice.
Freephone: 0800 068 4141
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Text: 07786209697
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Website: papyrus-uk.org

Nightline

Nightline is a listening, emotional support, information and supplies service, run by students for students.
Nightlines are open at night, run by trained, caring, fellow student volunteers. Nightline can be contacted by phone, face to face, by email or by online chat.
Students can find out whether their university has a Nightline at: www.nightline.ac.uk/want-to-talk

Possible misdiagnosis of a mental health issues

A person can ask their GP or another healthcare professional for a second or further opinion (an opinion about a health condition from a different doctor) if they are concerned about a misdiagnosis. Although they do not have a legal right to a second opinion, it appears that a healthcare professional will rarely refuse to refer for one.

Website:  NHS 111 Wales – Health A-Z : Second opinion

Military

Veterans’ Gateway

Veterans’ Gateway is the first point of contact for veterans/military personnel and families seeking support.
Freephone: 0808 802 1212
Text: 81212
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Website: veteransgateway.org.uk

Veterans NHS Wales

A specialised, priority NHS service for veterans in need of mental health support in Wales. Veterans can self-refer to the service

Website:  Veterans NHS Wales

Combat Stress

Veteran’s mental health charity provides a 24 hour helpline, online support and a range of mental health services for former servicemen and women

Helpline:  0800 138 1619

Website:  Combat Stress

Minority ethnic organisations

BAME Mental Health Support (BMHS)

BMHS is a not-for-profit organisation focused on education and advocacy to inspire a mentally healthy BAME community by providing support appropriate to their mental health and wellbeing.
Telephone: 0800 144 8824
Opening hours: 12pm –11pm, 7 days a week
Website: bamementalhealth.org

BAWSO

BAWSO is committed to providing advice, services and support to BAME individuals and communities in Wales who are affected by abuse, violence and exploitation.
Telephone: 0800 731 8147
Opening hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Website: bawso.org.uk

Older people

Age Cymru

Age Cymru Advice is committed to being the foremost information and advice service to older people in Wales – offering lots of support and advice for older people on issues such as money, health and well-being. Freephone: 08000 223 444
Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 9am–5pm
Email: advice@agecymru.org.uk
Website: ageuk.org.uk/cymru

The Silver Line

The Silver Line is a free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people.
Freephone: 0800 4 70 80 90
Opening hours: 24 hours a day, every day of the year
Website: thesilverline.org.uk

Money Helper/Pensions Advisory Service

The Money Helper Service – formerly known as 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.

Website:  Pensions and retirement | Help with pensions and retirement | MoneyHelper

Telephone: 0800 011 3797

Online Inquiry Form here

Care and Repair Cymru

Older person’s charity which ensures homes are safe and secure.

Telephone: 0300 111 3333

Website: Care & Repair Cymru: Improving Homes, Changing Lives (careandrepair.org.uk)

Relationships

Relate Cymru

Relate provide Relationship Counselling for individuals and couples, Family Counselling, Mediation, Children and Young People’s Counselling and Sex Therapy. They also provide friendly and informal workshops for people at important stages in their relationships.
Information line: 0300 003 2340
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Email: enquiries@relatecymru.org.uk
Website: relate.org.uk

Special Educational Needs

SNAP Cymru

SNAP Cymru provides information, advice and support for parents, children and young people who have, or may have, special educational needs or disabilities.
Freephone: 0808 801 0608
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Website: snapcymru.org

Self-Harm

Heads Above The Waves

Heads Above The Waves is a not for- profit organisation that raises awareness of depression and self harm in young people. They promote positive, creative ways of dealing with
the bad days.
For straight-up advice for young people and adults: hatw.co.uk/straight-up-advice

Sexuality and gender

LGBT Cymru Helpline

The LGBT Cymru Helpline offers general information, advice and confidential support in many areas of life and around various issues that LGBT people, their family, and friends
might experience.
Freephone: 0800 840 2069
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Email: line@lgbtcymuhelpline.org.uk
Website: lgbtcymru.org.uk

Stonewall Information Service

Stonewall are there to help with any issues affecting LGBT people or their families. Whatever your situation, you’re not on your own. Please be aware that this is an information service, not an advice service. Although they can put you in touch with organisations who provide counselling services and legal advice, they don’t offer these services themselves.
Freephone: 0800 0502020
Opening hours: 9:30am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday
Website: stonewall.org.uk/help-and-advice

Sexual or domestic abuse

Live Fear Free Helpline

For those who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual violence and/or violence against women, or are worried about a friend or relative.
Freephone: 0808 80 10 800
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Email: info@livefearfreehelpline.wales
Live chat: livefearfree.gov.wales
Website: livefearfree.gov.wales

Rape Crisis

Rape Crisis is a national organisation offering support and counselling for those affected by rape and sexual abuse.
Helpline: 0808 802 9999
Opening hours: Every day of the year (including bank holidays) between 12–2:30 and 7–9.30pm
Website: rapecrisis.org.uk

Survivors UK (Male Rape and Sexual Abuse Support)

Survivors UK are there to help sexually abused men as well as their friends and family, no matter when the abuse happened, and challenge the silence and attitudes.
Webchat: survivorsuk.org
Opening hours: Mon–Sun, 12–8pm
Text: 020
3322 1860
Whatsapp: 07491 816 064
Website: survivorsuk.org

Sexual Health

Terrance Higgins Trust

Terrence Higgins Trust is a British charity that campaigns on and provides services relating to HIV and sexual health.
Helpline: 0808 802 1221
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10am – 8pm
Email: info@tht.org.uk
Website: tht.org.uk

Refugees and asylum seekers

Migrant Help UK

Migrant Help UK supports asylum seekers, refugees and victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.
Freephone: 0808 8000 630
Opening hours: Please visit the website
Website: migranthelpuk.org

Suicidal thoughts

Staying safe from suicidal thoughts

StayingSafe.net offers compassion, kindness and easy ways to help keep people safer from thoughts of harm and suicide, seek support and discover hope of recovery through powerful videos from people with personal experience.
Website: stayingsafe.net

Victims of crime

Victim Support

Victim support offers help for victims of crime, witnesses and their families and friends.
Freephone: 0808 168 9111
Opening hours: 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
Website: victimsupport.org.uk