Support Services

We’ve listed a range of organisations that can offer advice, support and resources on the following:

MENTAL HEALTH, DRUGS AND ALCOHOL SUPPORT:

  • CALM: Campaign Against Living Miserably provides a helpline (0800 585858) and webchat that are open 5pm-midnight every day of the year, to men under 45.

  • Cruse Bereavement Care: Information and support after a bereavement, run by trained bereavement volunteers. Call 0808 808 1677 or chat online.

  • Men's Advice Line: Support for men experiencing domestic violence or abuse. Call 0808 801 0327 between 10am-8pm Monday-Friday. Or, access webchat support 10-11:30am & 2:30-4pm on Wednesdays via the Men’s Advice Line website.

  • MIND: visit the MIND website or call 03001233393 between 9am-6pm for mental health support.

  • Rehab4Addiction: Helpline providing support for issues with alcohol, drugs and mental health - call 0800 140 4690 or visit their website for online guidance.

  • The Samaritans: visit the Samaritans website or call 116 123 any day, any time if you’re feeling very low or need to speak to somebody.

  • We Are With You: Free, confidential support with alcohol, drugs or mental health using their webchat service via their website. This service is open from 9am-9pm on weekdays and 10am-4pm on weekends. Find your nearest local service here.

SUPPORT WITH HOUSING:

  • Centrepoint: Free helpline for young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, aged 16-24. Call 0800 800 0661, Mon to Fri 9am-5pm, and online chat service 10am-4pm.

  • Crisis: Turn up at their day centres between 11am-5pm (there are 4 - North, South, East & West) for advice, as well as for hot food, services and activities. It is possible to self-refer but it is easier to be referred by another service such as the council, Streetlink, or other day centres or outreach teams. Visit their website or call their helpline on 0300 636 1967 (but you may have to wait 24 hours for a call back).

  • Local council: Contact your council if you're homeless with nowhere to stay and ask about emergency options. Councils will be closed on bank holidays.

  • Robes: Churches open their doors to become homeless shelters, open 7 nights a week for 35 guests, based in Lambeth and Southwark.

  • Salvation Army Homelessness Centres. In central London this includes No 10 Drop In Centre at 10 Princes Street, Oxford Circus. There’s a weekly programme of activities aimed at engaging clients and providing meaningful respite from the stress of street living, isolation and loneliness.

  • Streetlink: Support for people sleeping rough – call 0300 500 0914 or visit the website to make a self-referral with your exact location, and an outreach team will aim to find you and connect you with local support services.

  • Shelter: Call the helpline on 03300536091 or visit the Shelter website for advice around housing.

FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES:

  • Charity Begins At Home: Turn up to Charing Cross every Friday between 5-7pm for hot food, plus clothing and other necessities. Also serving just food every Wednesday from 6:30pm. Address details on the website. 

  • FoodCycle: Visit the location finder to see what meal service is running in your community, or sign up to receive a weekly call through our Check-in and Chat service for a weekly natter.  

  • Next Meal: visit the website to search for the nearest places to you where you can get a meal. Some places also offer showers, laundry services and accommodation advice.

  • Too Good To Go: an anti food waste app where you can search for the nearest restaurants/supermarkets giving away a 'Magic Bag' of all their daily leftovers for £3.

  • Trussell Trust: call free Citizens Advice helpline 0808 2082138 (Mon to Fri, 9am-5pm) or visit the website /for help with money management, benefits, and to get issued a food bank voucher..

  • Whitechapel Mission: A day centre providing free breakfast every day of the week, plus advice services, men’s showers, men’s clothing and computer use on weekdays only.

WARM BANKS IN LONDON:

Warm banks are public spaces people can go if they are struggling to heat their homes. They are free to visit and are open to anyone who needs support with keeping warm over the winter months. Below is information on warm banks for each London borough, taken from bbc.co.uk:

  • Barking and Dagenham

    Barking and Dagenham Council has opened up warm banks in some of its libraries and community halls, such as Barking Learning Centre, which is open on weekends.

    You can find out more about where their warm banks are here.

  • Barnet

    Barnet Council and Age UK Barnet are running a warm spaces scheme in the borough, with most of their warm banks based in local libraries.

    To find out where they are and when they are open, click here.

  • Bexley

    Lots of libraries and churches in Bexley will be opening their doors to anyone trying to keep warm this winter, with several of them offering free Wi-Fi and charging points.

    Find a list of them here.

  • Brent

    Brent Council has advised anyone struggling to keep warm to visit libraries in the borough, such as The Library at Willesden Green.

    They are also offering support through the six Brent Hubs across the borough, which can provide food and fuel vouchers for those in urgent need.

    You can find all the warm banks in the borough here.

  • Bromley

    Bromley Well, a health and wellbeing service delivered by local charities, is running warm centres based in cafes, churches and libraries in the borough.

    Find a map displaying all of the warm centres here.

  • Camden

    Leisure centres, children's centres and libraries will be welcoming residents into their warm spaces across Camden this winter.

    Some of the warm spaces targeted towards children will also be hosting story time sessions and rhyme workshops.

    The council has compiled a list of warm banks in the area here.

  • City of London

    The Barbican Library and Shoe Lane Library are two of the venues becoming warm spaces this winter for residents of the square mile.

    Find more of the borough's warm spaces here.

  • Croydon

    There are 10 warm spaces in Croydon, ranging from churches to community centres.

    To find out where they are all located, take a look at the warm spaces map here.

  • Ealing

    Council-run buildings in the Borough of Ealing such as community centres and libraries will be serving as warm banks to those in need.

    They are also running a free service called Healthy Homes Ealing to give advice on how to make your home energy efficient.

  • Enfield

    Libraries in Enfield will be serving as warm spaces this season, with some offering money and debt advice along with cafes.

    To find a warm bank near you, use the Warm Welcome search tool.

  • Greenwich

    Greenwich will have three types of warm space on offer:

    • Community locations which will be serving hot drinks on certain days in the week

    • Retail venues, some of which will serving discounted meals

    • Free community activities

    The council has provided a map of all of the warm spaces here.

  • Hackney

    Several Hackney libraries will be providing support to residents by offering warm spaces this winter.

    They will also be running a 'Kind Coat' scheme, allowing residents to pick up or donate a warm coat to help keep others warm.

    You can use this search tool to find warm banks in the area.

  • Hammersmith and Fulham

    There are several warm hubs across the borough based in libraries and other venues.

    Find a map of the warm spaces near you here.

  • Haringey

    Haringey Council is running a Warm Welcome scheme and opening warm banks in cafes, churches and children's centres.

    Residents can also pay for an extra cup of coffee or pastry for anyone who might need it when they see a Warm Welcome sign in any shops in the borough.

    See more information on the scheme and where to find food banks here.

  • Harrow

    The charity Harrow Giving is running a Warm Hubs scheme in the borough based in leisure centres and church halls.

    Find more information here.

  • Havering

    There is a network of warm banks in Havering, with several set up by community associations in the area.

    Age UK Havering is hosting warm spaces for over 50s across the borough in venues such as the Queens Theatre.

    You can find a list of all of them here.

  • Hillingdon

    Hillingdon's libraries and community buildings will be serving as warm spaces this winter, as well as offering wellbeing and mental health support sessions.

    Find more information on them here.

  • Hounslow

    Warm banks will be open until March 2023 in Hounslow, with the majority based in church halls and libraries. Most of the venues will also be offering hot drinks.

    Find out where the warm spaces in Hounslow are here.

  • Islington

    Several community centres including London Irish Centre and the Brickworks Community Centre will be open during the day for residents struggling with their energy bills.

    The council has made a list of all the venues.

  • Kensington and Chelsea

    Public spaces across the borough of Kensington and Chelsea will be serving as warm spaces, such as the Chelsea Theatre, which will be screening World Cup matches.

    For more information on where the warm spaces are and what other activities are on offer, see the comprehensive list here.

  • Kingston

    Supported by volunteers in the area, Kingston Council has opened a network of warm spaces in the borough.

    The Kingston Town Warm Hub offers free Wi-Fi, board games, and a silent area for residents who want to enjoy some peace and quiet.

    Find all of the borough's warm spaces here.

  • Lambeth

    There are just under 30 warm spaces dotted around the borough, with the majority based in churches or libraries.

    Some of them offer hot food and refreshments, such as the Emmanuel Church warm bank, which is run by the Norwood and Brixton Foodbank and is open on Thursdays.

    You can search for all of the borough's warm spaces here.

  • Lewisham

    Lewisham's libraries will be acting as warm spaces for the borough this winter. The libraries will also be holding events such as homework clubs and film nights for the family.

    To find out opening times and other information, visit the libraries information page.

  • Merton

    All seven libraries in Merton will be taking part in the council's warm spaces scheme and hosting events such as history talks, as well as giving debt advice.

    Several churches in the borough will also be opening their doors to residents during the winter - to find out where they are, search the directory here.

  • Newham

    Newham Council will be opening 19 Warm Havens as part of its cost of living crisis response and is offering grants to voluntary organisations willing to open their doors.

    Find out more information on the scheme here.

  • Redbridge

    Redbridge Council is referring to its warm banks as Community Living Rooms, each with different things on offer.

    All 11 Redbridge libraries are involved in the scheme and offer a range of activities such as chess club and coding for kids.

    To find out which venues are taking part, you can see more information here.

  • Richmond

    Several libraries in the borough along with other venues, such as the Museum of Richmond will be open to residents as warm spaces this winter.

    To find out where they are, see the council's map here.

  • Southwark

    Southwark has opened several food banks for its residents, with some offering advice and activities such as puzzles and games to keep visitors busy.

    The council has provided a list of all of their warm spaces here.

  • Sutton

    Sutton's libraries will be serving as warm spaces in the winter months, with warm spaces volunteers available at specific times to direct residents to information that could support them with the rising cost of living.

    You can find out which library is nearest to you and what other organisations are opening their doors here.

  • Tower Hamlets

    Tower Hamlets will be hosting warm spaces in its libraries, idea stores and community centres.

    Several of them will be offering refreshments and holding board games sessions for visitors throughout the winter season.

    Read more about the council's warm spaces scheme here.

  • Waltham Forest

    The council has launched a Winter Spaces Network including 44 buildings across the borough, including libraries and community cafes, which will be serving subsidised meals.

    The service will be delivered by over 30 voluntary organisations in the borough and you can find your nearest warm space on the council website.

  • Wandsworth

    There are over 20 warm banks in Wandsworth, with some only open to specific age groups, such as the Franciscan Children's Centre in Tooting, which is for under-fives and their family members only.

    Find all the warm banks in the area using their Warm Spaces Directory here.

  • Westminster

    The council has created a directory of all of the warm spaces in its borough, from Queen's Park Library to the Royal Albert Hall, which will open its doors every Monday morning.

    To get more information on what warm spaces are based near you, search the directory here.

OTHER HELPFUL SERVICES

  • Signpost: use this online form to create a list of local services for any accommodation, financial support, health services, work, education or faith communities near you.

  • Universal Credit Prison Leaver Helpline: call 08001690345 (Mon to Fri, 8am to 6pm) for help setting up your benefits when you are released from prison.

  • Counselling Directory: Find local counsellors who give free or discounted counselling sessions for people who are unemployed or have a low income, or are OAPs or students (tick the box that applies to you in the 'Concession' filter).