There are times in all our lives when we might find it difficult to cope. Whatever the matter, we know someone who can help.
We work with a number of organisations to support you. Find out more below, or get in touch by:
- Live chat - speak to us online between 8am and 5pm
- Leave us a message - we'll reply to you as soon as we're back online
Your local authority may have more support that you can access where you live. This often includes healthy hubs where you can drop in for advice on how to boost your mental and physical health, domestic abuse advice and more. Find out who your local authority is at: www.gov.uk/find-local-council
If you or someone you know is in danger and needs help immediately call 999 or the Samaritans on 116 123.
Financial Support
Independent Financial Advice
If you're having difficulty making payments, get in touch with us. We partner with the Citizens Advice Bureau to provide fast tracked independent financial advice to our customers free of charge.
Energy support
If you own your home, depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to help with your energy costs. Find out more at simpleenergyadvice.org.uk or call 0800 444 202.
Helping Hands (Buckinghamshire Council)
Helping hands supports those who are struggling with their finances and are in a place of crisis. They also provide help to those who are moving home or are in a home and don't have the finances to buy their own furniture or white goods. Find out more at: buckinghamshire.gov.uk/cost-of-living/contact-helping-hand
Heart of Bucks Community Foundation (Buckinghamshire)
Heart of Bucks support those facing all types of poverty include shelter, fuel, food and digital. This includes a range of hardships like rent arrears, utility bills, council tax arrears and more. Head to heartofbucks.org for more information.
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice offer independent advice around benefits, work, debt and money, consumer, family, housing, law and courts, immigration and health. You can find out more information at: citizensadvice.org.uk
Ofgem
Ofgem offer advice and online guides about home gas and electric supply at: ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households
Help for households
This is a government scheme available to help with the cost of living and energy saving tips. Head to: helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk
Christians Against Poverty (CAP)
CAP provide free debt help and community groups to tackle poverty in the UK. Find help here: capuk.org
Better Housing Better Health
Offering impartial expert advice to help improve the energy efficiency of your home, save money and improve comfort. Find more here: bhbh.org.uk
Other financial support
We often work with a number of partners who can provide support for customers facing financial difficulty. To find out more, visit: thrivehomes.org.uk/money-help
Mental Health Support Services
Herts MIND
Providing mental health support for our customers. If you need this service, contact us and we'll put you in touch. You can find out more about how they can help at: www.mind.org.uk
Herts Mind also offer a community support service providing holistic outreach support to those who are experiencing mental ill-health or need help with their mental wellbeing. This service can be used by adults living in Three Rivers, Watford, Hertsmere, Welwyn Garden City or Hatfield. Find out more here: hertsmindnetwork.org/services-for-adults/community-support/community-support-service
A slice of happiness
This service is free to customers who are unemployed, on Universal Credit or Pension Credit. It aims to support with understanding mind and thought. Head to: w3rt.org/a_slice_of_happiness for more information.
Hertfordshire Partnership (NHS)
This service supports people with mental ill health, learning disabilities and autism across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Nor folk, Waveney and Essex. More information can be found here: www.hpft.nhs.uk/get-help
Samaritans
The Samaritans are a mental health support service who listen, without judgement of telling you what to do, for their support head to: www.samaritans.org
Family Support Services
Families First
Provide help with parenting, children, advice and housing. If you need this service, contact us and we'll put you in touch. You can also find out more about the service at: hertfordshire.gov.uk/microsites/families-first/families-first.aspx
Home Start
A national service supporting families in crisis. Find out more at home-start.org.uk.
Parents Against Child Exploitation
This service supports parents and carers whose children are being exploited by offenders outside of their family. Head to: paceuk.info for more information.
Family Information Service
Providing information, advice and guidance for families, children and young people. More information can be found at: familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Carers in Hertfordshire
Provide advice, information and support to unpaid carers (children or adults) who live, work or care in Hertfordshire. Find help here: carersinherts.org.uk
Carers in Buckinghamshire
Provide information, advice, guidance and emotional support to unpaid carers (children or adults) in Buckinghamshire. Find help here: carersbucks.org
Adult Support Services
Emerging Futures
Support with alcohol, drug and addiction issues. If you need this service, get in touch at: emergingfutures.org.uk/projects/hertfordshire
Path 2 Recovery (P2R)
A one-stop service that provides drug and alcohol advice, treatment, and support. Find out more at: Path 2 Recovery (P2R) Bedford Borough | East London NHS Foundation Trust (elft.nhs.uk)
Change Grow Live
Provide a wide range of wellbeing services for challenges including drugs or alcohol, housing, domestic abuse, mental and physical wellbeing. Find out more at: changegrowlive.org
P3 Housing Support
This service supports people aged 16+ who live in Buckinghamshire and are at significant risk of homelessness, struggling to manage their home independently or need support with setting up a new tenancy. Help can be found at: p3charity.org/services/buckinghamshire-housing-support-service
One Recovery Bucks
Supporting anyone living in Buckinghamshire impacted by their own or someone else’s use of alcohol and drugs. More information can be found at: onerecoverybucks.org
Herts Help
Herts Help offer free and confidential assistance, they can put you in touch with relevant services and local support. Find out more at: hertshelp.net/hertshelp.aspx
Victim Support
This service offers independent, free and confidential advice to victims of crime and traumatic incidents. Head to: victimsupport.org.uk for more information.
Beacon Victim Care
Beacon help victims and witnesses in Hertfordshire cope and recover from the impact of crime. You can find out more at: catch-22.org.uk/beacon-victim-care
Victims First
This service is dedicated to making sure all victims and witnesses receive the support they need to cope with the impact of crime. Find out more here: victims-first.org.uk
Domestic Abuse advice and support
We will support customers and household members facing domestic abuse and we've set this out in our policy.
We work with a range of partners to further support victims as follows:
Herts Sunflower Domestic Violence
Providing advice and information for those experiencing domestic violence. Find out more at: hertssunflower.org
Herts Mind Domestic Abuse Service
This service is for those 18 years and over who are experiencing domestic abuse. They offer advice, information and support tailored to your needs. Head to hertsmindnetwork.org/domestic-abuse-service for more information.
Refuge
Refuge provide support to women and children who have experienced domestic abuse with physical, emotional and financial support and more. Find out more at: refuge.org.uk
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
This service offers free and confidential advice available 24 hours a day. Head to: nationaldahelpline.org.uk or call 0808 2000 247
Respect Men's Advice Line
Free and confidential support, advice and information for men at: mensadviceline.org.uk
Safer Places
Free and confidential support, advice and information at: saferplaces.co.uk
Women's aid
Offering support for women and children experiencing domestic abuse at: womensaid.org.uk
Men's Aid
Offering support for men experiencing domestic abuse at:mensaid.co.uk
National Centre for Domestic Violence
Offering free legal support for victims of domestic violence or abuse. Find out more at: ncdv.org.uk
Galop
This service supports LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence. Help can be found at: galop.org.uk
Karma Nirvana
This is an Honour Based Abuse helpline and can be found at: karmanirvana.org.uk
Hourglass
Hourglass is a UK charity focused on the abuse and neglect of older people. Reach out here: wearehourglass.org
Young Person support services
Herts Young Homeless
Support for 11-25 year olds who are in crisis and at threat of family breakdown. Find out more at: hyh.org.uk
Services for Young People
Offering information, advice and support with issues such as mental health, relationships, personal safety, benefits and finances, housing and homelessness, drug and alcohol use and more. Find out more at: servicesforyoungpeople.org/support-for-young-people/information-advice-and-support
Youth Space
Offering support for 11-19 year olds. Find out more at: familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/youth
Support for people with additional needs
Age UK
Age UK provide advice, support, and friendship to older people. This may include helping with care, finances, or health conditions. You can find out more at: ageuk.org.uk
Turning Point Hertfordshire
Turning point offer support for complex needs and supports adults with mental health needs and other complex health and social care issues. Visit: turning-point.co.uk/services/hertfordshire-complex-needs
Your local authority
Your local authority offers advice on aids and adaptations and community groups. You will find this on their website. Find your local authority at: gov.uk/find-local-council
Aids and adaptations
If you have a disability or health condition that stops you being able to make use of your home or live independently, we may be able to adapt your home to make it easier for you to manage. If this is not easily or reasonably possible, we can usually offer you other solutions that you might want to consider. Find out more here: thrivehomes.org.uk/aids-adaptations
NHS support services
You can find out the support available from the NHS at: nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide
They offer information on care and support, home adaptions, money, work and benefits and more.
Herts Help