Whilst our focus is on helping families overcome poor mental health, we know that practical worries can affect and hamper recovery. You may not have the time or energy to try and find out who can help you sort things out or how to get in touch with them. Below you’ll find a list of mainly Chester based organisations that we’ve identified who offer practical help and support and we’ll regularly update this as we find more.
Free, private and confidential service where children under 19 can talk about anything. Whatever their worry, whenever they need help, Childline is there online or on the hone anytime.
Call free on 0800 1111
Domestic Abuse Intervention and Prevention team (part of Cheshire West)
Offer a confidential service for male and female victims, aged 16 years and over. If you’re experiencing domestic abuse and are at risk of serious harm from intimate partners, ex-partners or family members call 0300 123 7047 option 2.
National UK Domestic Violence Helpline:
Offer help and support over the telephone to individuals experiencing domestic violence. Staffed 24 hours a day by fully trained female helpline support workers and volunteers. All calls are completely confidential.
Telephone for free: 0808 2000 247.
If you’re worried about a child, phone the NSPCC helpline for free on 0808 800 5000. You can get advice or share your concerns about a child anonymously.
You can also contact them online using their report abuse form
Designed for children to help them understand what domestic abuse is and how to tak positive action if it’s happening to them.
MyCWA Cheshire Without Abuse (Cheshire East)
Provide information and support to people suffering from domestic abuse in the Cheshire East area. Do also offer support for people outside of the area. Call our 24-hour domestic abuse hub on 0300 123 5101 at any time (or dial 01270 250390 if you’re calling from another area).
A website for advice and support for people who believe they might be in an unhealthy relationship. On the website, there is information on where to get support around the different areas of Cheshire.
Offer help if you seem to be having trouble with your drinking, or if it’s reached the point of where it worries you.
Telephone for free: 0800 9177 650 Email: help@aamail.org
Blacon Alcoholics Anonymous
Meet every:
Monday at 7.30pm at United Reformed Church, 121a Saughall Road, Blacon, CH1 5ET
Thursday 8pm-9.30pm at Chester Holy Trinity Church, Norris Road, Blacon, CH1 5DZ
Saltney Alcoholics Anonymous
Meet every Tuesday at 7.30pm at Oddfellows Hall, 65 High Street, Chester, CH4 8SG.
Cheshire based organisation that offers help with alcohol or drug addiction.
Telephone for free: 0800 140 4690 to speak to an addiction counsellor. Open 24 hours a day.
To report anti-social behaviour in Blacon or Lache:
Tel:0800 916 1522 (landline) or 0300 123 3568 (mobile)
If you’re concerned for the safety of yourself or others, always call the Police on 999.
Kidsbank
Supports local families in need with baby items, toiletries, nappies and clothes for 0-5 year olds. Find out more here
Telephone: 07305 019699
Email: info@kidsbankchester.com
Cheshire West and Chester council HELP scheme
They offer welfare benefit advice over the telephone or can request a visit on their website to come to your home.
Email: benefits@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
By post: Revenues and Benefits Department, PO Box 187, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH34 9DB
Telephone: 0300 123 7021
Free, confidential, independent advice and information on disability related issues with a focus on Welfare Benefits and Disability Rights.
Advice Line:01244 345655, Monday to Friday 10am-4pm
Website contact form: dialwestcheshire.org.uk/contact/
Age UK Cheshire offers a free and confidential information and advice service for older people, their families and carers. Age UK Cheshire’s Information and Advice Telephone Service can offer help on a range of issues, including benefits like pension credit, attendance allowance, carers allowance and personal independence payment.
AgeUk can help you with information on finding and arranging social care, paying for care, housing options, problems with care, and help for carers looking after a loved one.
Information and Advice telephone service is open:
Monday to Friday 11am – 3pm.
t: 01244 401500
e: informationqs@ageukcheshire.org.uk
National welfare advice Services
Benefits and financial support if you’re disabled or have a health conditions.
You may be able to get a home visit from a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) officer to help you with your benefit claim.
You cannot book a visit yourself. Tell DWP you need help to claim benefits by calling the number of the benefit you’re applying for. If you’re eligible, they’ll arrange a support visit.
Online benefits calculator turn2us.org.uk they also have a helpline for those without access to the internet 0808 802 2000
West Cheshire Bereavement Service
Offer free support and/or counselling or just someone to talk to.
Telephone: 01244 853193 E-mail: bereavement@hospicegs.com
MacMillan Community Support Service
Offer practical and emotional support if you’ve been affected by cancer. Can provide a listening ear and practical support with shopping, gardening, housework, etc.
Telephone: 07455 758 717(Monday – Friday, 9am -7.30pm)
Elsie Ever After
Cheshire based organisation that supports bereaved families. Facebook page
Email: elsieeverafter@hotmail.com
Provide free advice and help over the phone or in person about a range of issues including – money problems, debt, welfare benefits, housing and any legal matters.
Telephone for free on 0808 278 7806.
See them in person:
Lache – every Wednesday from 9am-12noon and from 1pm – 3pm at Sanctuary Housing Office, 89 Cliveden Road.
Blacon – make an appointment with them from Blacon’s Children Centre, Carlisle Road, Blacon, Chester, CH1 5DB Telephone: 01244 397412.
We are called Pennysmart CIC www.pennysmart.org.uk started by people from Blacon for people in Blacon and based in Chester, we offer budgeting, benefits and regulated debt advice. Our service involves advice and casework support for anyone living in Cheshire. We specialise in support for those with MH problems that might struggle with face to face delivery, especially popular during Covid lockdown.
we operate a free helpline Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm 03003 651210 clients can also reach us via Text and Whatsapp on 07934901186 or email: advice@pennysmart.org.uk.
the UK’s largest national telephone provider their Helpline is 0800 138 1111 and they operate 8am to 8pm Mon-Fri.
Telephone (free of charge): 0330 055 2198
Give free advice and help over the phone or in person about money problems, debt, welfare benefits. See the contact details above.
The 2nd biggest national telephone debt charity and have advice to help with debt and any questions you might have.
freephone is 0808 808 4000
This is a group that offers free debt/budgeting/ benefits etc advice to people. They have a base at St Mark’s church in Saltney, but also work with people in Lache and Blacon.
If you have any clients struggling with finances/benefits/ rent etc, then they can contact St Mark’s directly or we can help them with to refer themselves. Contact details are:
Phone: 01244 675 372
Email: debtadvicecentre@stmarkssaltney.org.uk
Community Connectors (part of Citizens Advice Bureau)
If you are unsure where to turn to for help, this service will connect you to the appropriate services that you need all across Cheshire West.
Chester Contacts:
Pushpi: pushpi.ranasinghe@citizensadvicecw.org.uk (07598 579594)
Sue: sue.lyne@citizensadvicecw.org.uk (0771 4616672)
Benefits Advice:
Provide free advice and help over the phone or in person about a range of issues including – money problems, debt, welfare benefits, housing and any legal matters.
Telephone for free on 0344 57 66 11.
See them in person:
Lache – every Wednesday from 9am-12noon and from 1pm – 3pm at Sanctuary Housing Office, 89 Cliveden Road.
Blacon – make an appointment with them from Blacon’s Children Centre, Carlisle Road, Blacon, Chester, CH1 5DB Telephone: 01244 397412.
Blacon: every Friday from 10am-12midday at Matthew Henry Church, Nevin Road, CH1 5RS
Lache: every Friday from 12noon-2pm at The Venue, The Lache Community Centre, Hawthorn Rd Chester, CH4 8HX.
Crossroads Community Hub
Based in Hoole, this is a church group that offer food parcels to all over Chester and can be delivered to homes.
Telephone: 07598 536904
Email: hello@hbc.org.uk
West Cheshire Food Banks (Central)
Offers advice and information on referrals and anything questions regarding foodbanks, including deliveries in West Cheshire.
Phone: 0151 355 7730
Citizens Advice Bureau
Provide free advice and help over the phone and acts as a referrer to Foodbanks.
Phone: 0344 57 66 11
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
Health support services. There are four services to choose from: Quit Smoking, Lose Weight, Falls Prevention or Exercise Safely
Free phone: 0300 777 0033
Blacon www.avenueservices.org/contact-us
Avenue Services, Parade Enterprise Centre, 14 The Parade, Blacon, Chester, CH1 5HN
Telephone: 0300 123 1741 Email: avenue.services@sanctuary-housing.co.uk
(Open from 9am to 5pm – Monday to Friday)
Lache
Lache Housing Office, 89 Cliveden Road, Lache, Chester, CH4 8DT
Tel: 0800 131 3348 (from a landline) or 0300 123 3511 (from a mobile)
Text: 07795 265 843
(Open from 9am to 5pm – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
Offer you free help and advice on housing issues such as problems with a Landlord and Housing Benefits. See the contact details above.
Rethink Mental Illness – Chester support group
An organisation offering support to people living with mental illness. Contact them via Facebook by searching for “Rethink Mental Illness – Chester Support Group”
Provides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK. If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis and need support, you can text CAM to 85258.
Finding the right support is important, especially if you need someone to talk to right now and CAM Crisis Messenger Service aims to connect every texter to a trained volunteer promptly to provide crisis help. You’ll text back and forth, only sharing what you feel comfortable with. By asking questions, listening to you and responding with support, they will help you sort through your feelings until you both feel you are now in a calm, safe place. You might be provided with some signposting to other services that can provide you with further help, so that you can continue to get support.
Immediate 24 hour emotional support for any issues or problems.
Call free on 08457 90 90 90
Give immediate support. See contact details above.
Open every day for calls on 0808 200 0247.
Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service
Offer free support and help for people who are experiencing or have experienced sexual abuse.
Telephone 0808 284 0484 to talk to someone friendly. Support line open every Monday and Wednesday from 6pm – 8pm.
Also provide counselling – telephone the office during office hours on 01244 307 499 discuss this further or text 07583 879 464. Email: info@csass.org.uk
Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Cover Cheshire and Merseyside. Offer help and advice and someone to listen to over the telephone.
Phone for free on 0808 802 9999. Open 12-2.30pm and 7-9.30 pm every day.
Support male survivors of sexual abuse. Helpline open between 8pm-10pm on 0808 808 4321
Email: colin@male-rape.org.uk
WHAG (CWAC refuge service)
At the refuge, we provide a safe and welcoming space where women and their children are supported to move forward following the abuse they have experienced.
There are eight self-contained flats, and each one has a bedroom, bathroom, sitting room and a small kitchen/dining area. There are cots, beds or bunk beds for children.
When on the website they have a hid button at the top that takes you to the BBC news website to hide your visit.
01706 298 222