Useful Organisations
General advice and information
Advice UK
Phone: 020 7407 4070
Email: general@adviceuk.org.uk
Website: www.adviceuk.org.uk
UK-wide network of advice centres. Can supply details of member agencies in your area.
Association of Charity Officers
Phone: 01707 651 777 helpline
Website: www.aco.uk.net
Provides information to people applying for financial help from charities, by providing a signposting service and putting them in touch with organisations who might be able to help them. They also produce ‘A Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need', available in most public libraries and has information about local and national charities that give grants to individuals in need.
Citizens Advice
Phone: details of individual bureaux on website or in Yellow Pages.
Website: www.adviceguide.org.uk
Free confidential advice and information provided through local bureaux including specialist money advisers. The website has a range of useful information, ranging from family issues to money matters.
Office of Fair Trading
Government body protecting the rights of consumers.
The consumer direct website explains your rights. www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Phone: 08454 04 05 0
SSAFA Forces Help
Phone: 020 7403 8783
Website: www.ssafa.org.uk
Helps current and ex-service personnel and their divorced, widowed or separated spouses and partners. Provides a range of services, advice and support in areas such as social work, health, welfare and housing. Telephone for local branch.
Single parent organisations
One Parent Families | Gingerbread
Phone: 0800 018 5026 (Lone Parent Helpline)
Website: www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk
Free information for lone parents on benefits, work, education, holidays, children, relationship breakdown and child maintenance. Also provides information on other helpful organisations and lone parent groups throughout the UK, and offers a membership scheme.
Dads UK
Phone: 07092 391 489
Website: www.dads-uk.co.uk
Information, advice, email and telephone support for lone fathers and details of local contacts. Also has an online forum, which can put you in touch with other lone fathers. Free membership.
Single Parents Action Network (SPAN)
UK Phone: 0117 9514231
Website: www.singleparents.org.uk
Network of self-help organisations for single parents. Also provides an advice, information and signposting service to lone parents and can offer help to those wanting to set up a new self-help group.
Childcare
4Children
Phone: 020 7512 2100 helpline
Website: www.4children.org.uk
Advice and information on all aspects of out-of-school childcare.
Childcare Link
Phone: 0800 096 0296
Website: www.childcarelink.gov.uk
Information and factsheets about the different types of childcare, and help to find childcare providers in your area. Can give you details of your local Children's Information Service.
Daycare Trust
Phone: 020 7840 3350 helpline
Website: www.daycaretrust.org.uk
Provides information on childcare issues for parents, employers and childcare providers.
Child maintenance
Child Support Agency (CSA)
Phone: 0845 713 3133 national enquiry line
Website: www.csa.gov.uk
Collects child maintenance for your child from the non-resident parent. You can download an application form from the website.
Independent Case Examiner (ICE)
Phone: 0845 606 0777
Textphone: 0151 801 8888
Website: www.ind-case-exam.org.uk
An independent body who can help resolve complaints about the Child Support Agency. You must go through the Child Support Agency's complaints process first. Children and parenting
ParentlinePlus
Phone: 0808 800 2222 Parentline 24-hours
Textphone: 0800 783 6783
Website: www.parentlineplus.org.uk
Provides advice and support for parents.
Raising Kids
This website covers all aspects of raising children.
www.raisingkids.co.uk
Phone: 0208 883 8621
Saving for Children
Website showing the different ways children can save money.
www.savingforchildren.co.uk
Toy Libraries
Social services should have details of the toy libraries in your area or you can contact the National Association of Toy and Leisure Libraries on: 0207 7255 4616, www.natll.org.uk
Debt and managing your money
Credit Action
Phone: 0800 138 1111 (Helpline operated by CCCS)
Website: www.creditaction.org.uk
Free service offering practical and confidential advice on personal money management and debt.
Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS)
Charity providing free advice and support to those with debt problems.
www.cccs.co.uk
Phone: 0800 138 1111
National Debtline
Phone: 0808 808 4000 helpline
Website: www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
Provides free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems.
The Financial Services Authority
Government body that provides free information about money matters. The website includes budget and loan calculaters as well as lots of other useful information.
www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk
Phone: 0845 606 1234
Textphone/Minicom: 0845 730 0104
Housing
Shelter
Leading charity addressing housing issues in the UK.
www.shelter.org.uk
Freephone helpline: 0808 800 4444
Legal
Community Legal Service
Provides general advice about legal services and advice to people who qualify for Legal Aid. Its website includes a calculator to work out whether you may be eligible for legal aid.
www.clsdirect.org.uk
Phone: 0845 345 4345
Credit Reference Agencies
If you have been turned down for credit you can obtain details of your credit file from:
Experian Ltd
One of the three main credit reference agencies.
www.experian.co.uk
Phone: 0870 241 6212
PO Box 9000,
Nottingham NG80 7WP
Equifax plc
One of the three main credit reference agencies.
www.equifax.co.uk
Phone: 0870 514 3700
Equifax Credit File Advice Centre,
PO Box 1140,
Bradford BD1 5US
Callcredit plc
One of the three main credit reference agencies.
www.callcredit.co.uk
Phone: 0870 060 1414
PO Box 491,
Leeds LS3 1WZ
Check My File
Website that helps you check your credit history online for a fee.
www.checkmyfile.com
Phone: 0800 612 0421
Comparison websites for getting the best deal
uSwitch.com
Well known internet comparison site for utilities, loans and credit cards etc.
www.uswitch.com
moneysupermaket.com
Internet comparison site for utilities, loans and credit cards etc.
www.moneysupermarket.com
MoneySavingExpert
Dedicated money saving site covering a wide range of consumer issues. The excellent weekly money saving tips email is well worth signing up for. www.moneysavingexpert.com
simplyswitch
Well known internet comparison site for utilities, loans and credit cards etc.
www.simplyswitch.com
Phone: 08000 111 395
Energy Saving Trust
An impartial body designed to provide advice about how to save energy. They can provide details of your local Energy Saving Trust advice centres.
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
Phone: 0800 512 012
