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Hardship

UPDATED: 19.07.2023
In this section you can find support for the following:
Unemployment
Debt
Poverty
Homelessness

UNEMPLOYMENT

Find A Job 
https://www.gov.uk/find-a-job
Government online job search 

Job Centre Plus
Contact information for anyone unable to use the online Find A Job search
Information: 0800 055 6688 (lines open Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm)
Textphone: 0800 023 4888 for those with speech or hearing difficulty (lines open Monday – Friday 8am- 5pm)

Job Seekers Allowance
https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance
Government information about jobseekers allowance.

Apprenticeships
https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Government information about apprenticeships and how to apply. 

National Apprenticeship Service
https://www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships
An online information and vacancy matching for apprenticeships. 

Prince’s Trust
https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/
Helps young people aged 13 -30 develop key skills, confidence and motivation to move into work, education or training.
Information line: 0800 842842 (lines open Monday – Friday 9am - 6pm)
Email: info@princes-trust.org.uk

Screenskills
https://www.screenskills.com/ 
Skillset information about apprenticeships. 

NHS - England & Wales
http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/
NHS job search for England and Wales.

NHS - Scotland
https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk/
NHS job search for Scotland

Northern Ireland
https://jobs.hscni.net/ 
Health and Social Care job search for Northern Ireland.

Learndirect (England, Wales & Northern Ireland)
https://www.learndirect.com/
Learndirect offer flexible learning opportunities.

Scotland - My World of Work
http://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/
Online information about finding work and building a career from Skills Development Scotland.
Information: 0800 917 8000 (Monday – Friday 9am - 5pm)

Film + TV Charity
https://filmtvcharity.org.uk/
Support and advice for anyone working behind the scenes in film, TV or cinema. 

DEBT

Citizens Advice Bureau - CAB
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk
The Citizens Advice Bureau offer advice across a variety of issues including debt. Further information is available online about where to find a local office.

Money Helper
https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en
A Government funded advisory service for unbiased money advice, including debt.
Advice line:0800 138 7777 (lines open Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm)
Web chat: Advisors available (Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm, Saturday 8am – 3pm)
Pensions Helpline: 0800 011 3797 (lines open Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm) 
Pensions Web chat: Advisors available (Monday – Friday 9am – 6pm)

National Debtline
http://www.nationaldebtline.org
National Debtline provide free, confidential and independent advice on debt problems for anyone in England, Wales and Scotland.
Helpline: 0808 808 4000 (lines open Monday - Friday 9am - 8pm, Saturday 9.30 - 1pm)
Web chat: Advisors available (Monday – Friday 9am -  8pm, Saturday 9.30am -1pm)

Benefit Information
https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits
Government information on benefits and tax credits, including eligibility criteria.

Benefits Calculators
https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators
Calculating benefit entitlement and how to claim, including benefits once in employment 

Debt Advice Foundation
http://www.debtadvicefoundation.org/
Debt advice 
Advice line: 0800 043 40 50 (lines open Monday – Friday 8am -6pm)

British Gas Energy Trust
https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/
Support from an independent charity for families and individuals struggling to pay their energy bills.

Stop Loan Sharks - England
http://www.stoploansharks.co.uk/
Safe place to report a loan shark, or to find out if you’re paying a loan shark or illegal money lender.

Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit
https://www.srs.wales/en/Wales-Illegal-Money-Lending-Unit/Wales-Illegal-Money-Lending-Unit-WIMLU.aspx

Scotland Illegal Money Lending Unit
https://stopillegallending.co.uk/

Step Change
http://www.stepchange.org/
Step Change offer advice about budgeting and debt management.
Helpline: 0800 138 1111 (lines open Monday – Friday 8am - 8pm, Saturday 9am – 2pm)

Business Debtline
http://www.businessdebtline.org
Business Debtline provide free, confidential and independent advice to businesses on how to deal with debt problems.
Helpline: 0800 197 6026 (lines open Monday - Friday 9am – 5pm)
Webchat with online adviser: (Monday – Friday 9am – 6.30pm)

POVERTY

The Trussell Trust
http://www.trusselltrust.org/
Community projects tackling poverty, with foodbanks in many areas. 

Christians Against Poverty - CAP
https://capuk.org/
Working to help people out from debt and poverty.

Turn2us
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
Provides information and advice for those in financial need online, by phone and face to face through partner organisations

Fare Share
http://www.fareshare.org.uk/
Tackling food waste and hunger.

Food Aware
http://www.foodawarecic.org.uk/
Taking wasted food to charities.

Child Poverty Action Group
http://www.cpag.org.uk/
Campaigning to help low income families.

Magic Breakfast 
http://www.magicbreakfast.com/
Delivering free breakfast food to primary schools.

TLG – Transforming Lives for Good
https://www.tlg.org.uk/your-church/run-a-programme/make-lunch
A network of churches offering food to children during school holidays.

HOMELESSNESS

Shelter - England & Scotland 
http://england.shelter.org.uk/  
http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/
Shelter give advice to anyone who is homeless or anyone with housing problems such as housing rights, harassment, benefits and hostel placements.
Housing adviceline: 0808 800 4444 (lines open Monday – Friday 8am – 8pm, Saturday, Sunday 9am – 5pm) 
Webchat: (online Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm)

Shelter Cymru - Wales 
http://www.sheltercymru.org.uk/
Information and support for housing problems in Wales.
Emergency support: 08000 495 495 (lines open Monday – Friday 9am – 4pm)   
Webchat: Online Monday – Friday 9am – 4pm)

Housing Advice Northern Ireland
http://www.housingadviceni.org
Information and support for housing problems in Northern Ireland.
Housing Rights Service: 028 9024 5640 (lines open Monday – Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm)

Centrepoint
https://centrepoint.org.uk/
Supports homeless young people in London, Manchester, Sunderland and Yorkshire, and through partner charities across the UK.
Helpline: 0808 800 0661 (lines open Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm)
Online advisors: (available Monday – Friday 9am – 4pm)

Housing Benefit 
https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit
Government information on eligibility for claiming Housing Benefit.

Salvation Army
http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/
Providing services for homeless people in UK & Ireland.

Gingerbread
http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/factsheet/27/Housing-options-for-single-parents
Information from Gingerbread about housing options for single parents.
Helpline: 0808 802 0925 (Monday – Friday 10am - 1pm, plus Monday 4-6pm, Wednesday 5pm-7pm)
Advice webchat: (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 2 - 4pm, Wednesday 12 – 1pm)

The Albert Kennedy Trust 
http://www.akt.org.uk
Supports lesbian, gay or bi-sexual 16-25 year olds who are made homeless or living in a hostile environment. 
London: 0207 831 6562 (lines open Monday - Friday 10am - 4.30pm)
Manchester: 0161 228 3308 (lines open Monday - Friday 10am - 4.30pm)
Newcastle-upon-Tyne: 0191 281 0099 (lines open Monday – Friday 10am – 4.30pm)
Bristol: 07761246386 (Monday – Friday 10am – 4.30pm)

Catch 22
https://www.catch-22.org.uk/what-we-do/
Catch 22 work in towns and cities across England and Wales supporting young people, they also help with offender rehabilitation.

The Mix 
http://www.themix.org.uk/housing/housing-crisis
The Mix offer advice and help on housing problems to young people up to age 25.
Helpline: 0808 808 4994 (Monday - Friday 4pm – 11pm)
1-2-1 web chat (Monday - Friday 4pm – 11pm)
Email: help@themix.org.uk
Crisis Messenger: 24/7 for crisis support, text THEMIX to 85258