Live Fear Free Helpline

COVID-19 Update

In light of the current and developing situation with Coronavirus, violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence (VAWDASV) services are taking action to continue to provide the lifesaving and lifechanging support to those who need it in Wales as well as protecting survivors and staff within their services. The Live Fear Free helpline services will continue to provide advice, support and referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
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Who is it for?

Women and children who have experienced domestic abuse

Age range

0+

Services offered

If you have experienced domestic abuse, sexual violence and/or violence against women, or are worried about a friend or relative who is experiencing any form of violence or abuse, you can call us – it’s free, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Callers are guaranteed a friendly, supportive and understanding response by our experienced team, who can discuss your concerns and provide help, support and information. We won’t judge you, or blame you and you don’t have to be ready to take any action. Our skilled Helpline staff offer a professional service and will understand what you are experiencing. We can listen, provide help and support, and give you information on a range of options and services in your area, designed to help meet your needs, including: Emergency Accommodation, Counselling, Local support services, Welfare and Benefits Rights, Housing Issues, Legal Issues, Child Welfare, Perpetrator Programmes and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs). We can support you in Welsh, English and any other languages using LanguageLine. Text phone users can contact us via Type Talk on 1800108088010800. You can contact the Live Fear Free Helpline by text 24/7 on 078600 77 333.

How to access

Telephone, email, live chat and text message

Phone Number

08088010800

Email

[email protected]

Open hours

24/7

Website

https://www.welshwomensaid.org.uk/what-we-do/our-services/live-fear-free-helpline/

Social Media

Twitter @WelshWomensAid

Dyn Project

COVID-19 Update

The Safer Wales Dyn project provides support to Heterosexual, Gay, Bisexual and Trans men who are experiencing Domestic abuse from a partner. The Safer Wales Dyn helpline lets you speak confidentially to someone who can listen to you without judging your situation. We can give you support to deal with the problems faced and tell you if there are any services already available in your area.
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Who is it for?

Heterosexual, Gay, Bisexual and Trans men who are experiencing Domestic abuse from a partner.

Age range

All ages

Services offered

The Safer Wales Dyn helpline lets users speak confidentially to someone who can listen without judging the situation. They can give support to deal with the problems faced and tell you if there are any services already available in your area

How to access

Telephone

Email

[email protected]

Open hours

Monday – 10am – 4pm Tuesday – 10am – 4pm Wednesday – 10am – 1pm. 24 hour answerphone service available.

Website

http://www.dynwales.org/

Social Media

Facebook @safer.walesTwitter @saferwales

Mermaids

COVID-19 Update

Yes, our helpline, webchat, email support and text support services are operating as normal. Our dedicated team of staff and volunteers are determined to offer more support not less during this period of uncertainty. However, some services which rely on group meetings and activities have had to be postponed or cancelled in the best interests of our service users, volunteers and staff.
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Who is it for?

Transgender children and young people

Age range

0+

Services offered

Mermaids supports gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care. Transgender and gender-variant children and teens need support and understanding, as well as the freedom to explore their gender identity. Whatever the outcome, Mermaids is committed to helping families navigate the challenges they may face. Our support; reduces isolation and loneliness for gender-variant and transgender children, young people and their families. Provides families and young people with the tools they need to negotiate education and health services. Helps young people to cope better with mental and emotional distress, and equips their parents with what they need to offer individual support. Improves the self-esteem and social skills of children and young people. Improves awareness, understanding and practices of teachers, GP’s, CAMHS, Social Services and other professionals.

How to access

Telephone Helpline, Webchat, text and email

Email

[email protected]

Open hours

Monday – Friday; 9am – 9pm

Website

https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/

Social Media

Twitter @Mermaids_GenderFacebook @MermaidsGenderInstagram - mermaidsgender

Muslim Youth Helpline

COVID-19 Update

Our core service is a free and confidential Helpline, available nationally via the telephone, email, live chat and letters. The service uses male and female volunteers trained in basic counselling skills to respond to client enquiries.
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Who is it for?

Muslim Youth in Wales

Age range

up to 30

Services offered

The Muslim Youth Helpline (MYH) is an award winning registered charity which provides pioneering faith and culturally sensitive services to Muslim youth in the UK. Our core service is a free and confidential Helpline, available nationally via the telephone, email, live chat and letters. The service uses male and female volunteers trained in basic counselling skills to respond to client enquiries. We respond to any issues that our clients call us about. In line with our non-judgmental ethos we treat all enquiries seriously. The majority of our Helpline volunteers are under the age of 30 years of age as our services are targeted at young people. However we take calls from people of all ages and backgrounds and don’t turn anyone away.

How to access

via the telephone, email, live chat and letters

Email

[email protected]

Open hours

he helpline service is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year including Bank Holidays and Eid. Our current opening hours are: Monday to Sunday : 4pm-10pm

Website

https://www.myh.org.uk/

Social Media

Facebook @muslimyouthhelplineTwitter @muslimyouthhelpInstagram - muslimyouthhelpline

Runaway Helpline – Missing People Charity

COVID-19 Update

Runaway Helpline is here for you 24/7 during the coronavirus outbreak
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Who is it for?

Anyone who is thinking about running away, have already run away, or have been away and come back.

Age range

11 to 17

Services offered

Whatever you tell us at Runaway Helpline we’ll listen and offer support. Not judge or tell you what to do. It’s your call. Runaway Helpline is here if you are thinking about running away, if you have already run away, or if you have been away and come back. You can also contact us if you are worried that someone else is going to run away or if they are being treated badly or abused. Runaway Helpline has been supporting young people for many years and is run by the UK charity Missing People. Our staff and volunteers are trained professionals who want to help you through anything you are finding tough. There is also advice on the website that covers a range of topics/issues young people may be facing at home.

How to access

You can call or text, for free, 24 hours a day. You can also talk to an advisor on the online 1-2-1 Chat.

Email

[email protected]

Open hours

24 7 service

Website

https://www.runawayhelpline.org.uk/

Social Media

Twitter @RunawayHelpline

Action for Children

COVID-19 Update

As Coronavirus puts extra pressure on families, we're offering even more online parenting support. Read our tips or speak directly to our experts via live chat
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Who is it for?

Children and teenagers

Age range

0+

Services offered

Action for Children raise awareness, identify and provide direct support to children and young people who look after or help to look after someone in their family who is unwell or disabled, including children caring for parents who have mental health or substance misuse problems. The direct support that they provide includes: Young carers needs assessment Personal support, advice and guidance Individual and group support Trips and activities during school holidays Help to access specialist services Help to access universal services such as leisure and youth services

How to access

Phone or website

Email

[email protected]

Open hours

Phone line (open 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday)

Website

https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/

Social Media

Twitter @actnforchildren Facebook @ActionforChildrenInstagram @actionforchildrenukYouTube Action for Children

Citizens Advice Bureaux

COVID-19 Update

This page is regularly updated as government advice becomes available.
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Who is it for?

Anyone needing advice

Age range

All ages

Services offered

The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) service offers free, confidential, impartial and independent advice. They have a drop in services across Wales, a national phone line and online chat service. The expert advisors can cover issues such as debt advice, employment advice, discrimination advice, disability benefits for children project, gambling intervention on various days throughout the week.

How to access

Drop in, telephone or webchat

Email

webchat available online

Open hours

Advice line's available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. It’s usually busiest at the beginning and end of the day. It's not available on public holidays.

Website

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/

Social Media

Twitter @citizensadvice Facebook@CitizensAdvice

Turn 2 Us

COVID-19 Update

Coronavirus - help for self-employed people For self-employed people struggling with money because of coronavirus
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Who is it for?

Anyone needing financial advice on a range of circumstances

Age range

All ages

Services offered

Turn2us helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help – online, by phone and face to face. The Benefits Calculator takes less than 10 minutes to complete and it will tell you which means-tested benefits you may be entitled to, including tax credits. The Grants Search can help you look for funds that might be able to give you a grant or other types of help. We also award our own grants from the Turn2us Elizabeth Finn Fund, the Turn2us Response Fund, and the Turn2us Edinburgh Trust. Support is available through our helpline

How to access

Online or telephone

Email

[email protected].

Open hours

Website always available

Website

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/

Social Media

Facebook @turn2usTwitter @turn2us_orgInstagram @turn2us_orgYouTube Turn2Us

Beat

COVID-19 Update

In the past few weeks, a lot has changed at Beat as we’ve responded to the coronavirus crisis and adapted our Helpline services to provide the support people need. We know uncertainty and isolation is taking a serious toll on people’s mental health, and that this, as well as the impact on treatment services, lack of food in shops and worries about stockpiles at home, makes this a very difficult time for people with eating disorders. We are doing all that we can to help people at this frightening and unprecedented time.
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Who is it for?

People affected by Eating Disorders across the UK

Age range

all ages

Services offered

helpline services provide support and information 365 days a year or One Chat You can talk one-to-one with us using our secure instant messaging service. Beat’s advisors are highly trained, and available to talk to anyone affected by an eating disorder from mon-fri 12:00-20:00 and sat-sun 16:00-20:00 . We’ll listen to your concerns in a non-judgemental way, provide you with support, and help you to decide on your best next step. Online Support Groups: Beat run a number of eating disorder online support groups for both those suffering and for carers. Our support groups run every day of the week and are facilitated and moderated by our trained support staff. Each day from 6pm – 7pm we have The Nest which is a confidential, inclusive and welcoming space for anyone wanting to share their eating disorder experiences. Then from 7pm each day we run more focussed groups that support people affected by an Eating Disorder in different ways. We have an online support group for under 18s suffering from an Eating Disorder called Phoenix held at 7pm on Sunday evenings.

How to access

no referral process, access via telephone or online

Email

Under 18: [email protected] or student email address: [email protected] or 18 plus: [email protected]

Open hours

24 hours a day 7 days a week

Website

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

Social Media

Facebook @beat.eating.disordersTwitter @BeatEDInstagram @beatedsupportYouTube Beat

Buzz

COVID-19 Update

There’s a lot of information being shared about coronavirus (COVID-19) right now. This can be scary and it might make you feel worried. Find out, what coronavirus is, how to protect yourself, what to do if you have symptoms, when to get help and what to do if you’re feeling worried.
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Who is it for?

Deaf young people

Age range

Not specified

Services offered

The Buzz is the only website for deaf children and young people in the UK. It’s covers topics such as bullying, communication, sign language, sex, health, relationships and well being.

How to access

website and telephone

Email

[email protected]

Open hours

Emails are monitored 9–5pm weekdays but the website is available 24 7

Website

https://www.buzz.org.uk/

Social Media

Facebook @ndcsBuzz Twitter @NDCS_UK Instagram @ndcs_ukYouTube National Deaf Children's Society