Hardship

Updated: 01.08.2024

In this section you can find support for:

Debt
Homelessness
Poverty
Unemployment

Debt

British Gas Energy Trust

Support from an independent charity for families and individuals struggling to pay their energy bills.

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 – 8pm)
Webchat with online adviser: (Monday – Friday 9am – 6.30pm)

Citizens Advice Bureau - CAB

The Citizens Advice Bureau offer advice across a variety of concerns including debt. Further information is available online about where to find a local office.

Debt Advice Foundation

Debt advice
Advice line: 0800 043 40 50 (lines open Monday – Friday 8am -6pm)

Government - Benefits Calculators

Calculating benefit entitlement and how to claim, including benefits once in employment.

Government - Benefit Information

Government information on benefits and tax credits, including eligibility criteria.

National Debtline

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)

Money Helper

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)

Scotland Illegal Money Lending Unit

Step Change

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

Stop Loan Sharks - England

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

Homelessness

Catch 22

Catch 22 work in towns and cities across England and Wales supporting young people, they also help with offender rehabilitation.

Centrepoint

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)

Gingerbread

Information from Gingerbread about housing options for single parents.
Helpline: 0808 802 0925 (lines open Monday 10am – 12pm, 2pm – 7pm, Tuesday 10am – 12pm, 2pm – 4pm, Wednesday 10am – 1pm, 4pm – 7pm and Thursday 10am - 12pm, 2pm – 4pm)
Advice webchat: (Monday - Thursday 12 – 2pm)

Housing Advice Northern Ireland

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

Housing Benefit

Government information on eligibility for claiming Housing Benefit.

Salvation Army

Providing services for homeless people in UK & Ireland.

Shelter Cymru - Wales

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)

Shelter - England and Shelter - Scotland

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 – 6pm)
Webchat: (online Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm)

The Albert Kennedy Trust

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: 011 7981 4085 (Monday – Friday 10am – 4.30pm)

The Mix

The Mix offer advice and help on housing problems to young people up to age 25.
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

Poverty

Child Poverty Action Group

Campaigning to help low income families.

Christians Against Poverty - CAP

Working to help people out from debt and poverty.

Fare Share

Tackling food waste and hunger.

Food Aware

Taking wasted food to charities.

Magic Breakfast

Delivering free breakfast food to primary schools.

The Trussell Trust

Community projects tackling poverty, with foodbanks in many areas.

Transforming Lives for Good - TLG

A network of churches offering food to children during school holidays.

Turn2us

Provides information and advice for those in financial need online, by phone and face to face through partner organisations.

Unemployment

Apprenticeships

Government information about apprenticeships and how to apply.

Film + TV Charity

Support and advice for anyone working behind the scenes in film, TV or cinema.

Government - 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)