Help for individuals and families
- Do you need general help and support?
- Are you worried about debt?
- Do you want information about your entitlement to benefits?
- Are you out of work or looking for a new job?
- Are you interested in education and training?
- Do you want to make your home more energy efficient?
- Are you looking for support for young people, families and relationships?
- Do you want support for older people?
- Do you want more support for your family, including childcare?
Do you need general help and support?
Your GP can offer support and advice and recommend treatments such as counselling. Call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or visit their website for more details including where to find your nearest GP.
The Samaritans offer confidential support to those experiencing personal crises and help with managing stress. Call 08457 90 90 90 or visit their website.
Library Gateway Help and Advice is a quick reference to links to useful and informative online sites for customers and staff of Westminster's library service. Visit our web pages for more information.
Are you worried about debt?
The Citizens Advice Bureau can give you free, impartial, independent advice on all manner of issues relating to debt, tax and finance issues. You can visit their website, or download their credit and debt facts sheets here.
The Consumer Credit Counselling Service is a charity that provides confidential, free counselling and money management assistance to financially distressed families and individuals. Visit their website.
DirectGov provides information on managing debt. Visit their website.
The National Debtline provides free debt advice and support for people with money worries and debt problems. Visit their website.
Shelter provides debt and arrears advice on their website.
Do you want information about your entitlement to benefits?
Westminster's Housing Benefit and Council Tax Service can advise you on whether you are entitled to housing benefit, which helps with the cost of your rent, or council tax benefit, which pays some or all of your council tax if you are on a low income.
Jobcentre Plus can advise you on your entitlement to state benefits including carer's allowances, housing benefit, council tax benefit, income support, jobseeker's allowance and tax credits. Call 0800 055 6688 or visit their website.
Are you out of work or looking for a new job?
Westminster City Council employs over 4,500 people across the city. For details of our current vacancies, please visit our job vacancies.
Our libraries can help you get back in to work. Visit our back to work web page for more information.
The Careers Advice Service provides free advice on changing your career and learning new skills. Call 0800 100 900 or visit their website.
DirectGov is a useful source of advice on redundancy and leaving your job.
Westminster Works is a well funded programme to help people in Westminster find good jobs and get the training they need to (re)start a career. Visit their website.
Are you interested in education and training?
Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES) is one of the largest providers of adult education in London offering full-time and part-time study in the daytime, evenings and at weekends. Whether you wish to retrain in a new field or update your skills, there are over 1100 courses available to choose from.
Accredited programmes of training include: Business, IT, Childcare, Fashion, Graphic Design, Hairdressing, Health and Social Care, Music, Personal Training, Photography and Visual Art. Other courses available include Professional CV building, Preparation for Interviews, and English for Work.
In addition, WAES works with employers to help meet the training and development needs of their businesses. Details of these programmes are available at the WAES website.
The Build Up programme at the University of Westminster offers unemployed built environment professionals a range of FREE courses designed to help enhance skills and progress careers. Course topics include business skills, project management and negotiation skills, and low carbon and sustainable community projects. To find out more about the programme and apply for a free course, please visit the Build Up website at www.build-up.org.uk
Do you want to make your home more energy efficient?
Westminster City Council provides a range of grants for residents who need support and financial assistance in order to live in a safe and warm home. To find out more please visit our housing grants page.
Citizens Advice Bureau can give you information on fuel costs, heating your home, winter fuel payments, fuel arrears, grants and schemes, energy efficiency and more. Visit their website.
Westminster City Council has launched the Warm and Healthy Homes Advice Line to help Westminster residents get through the winter safely, comfortably and economically. Call 0800 072 9005 for advice and assistance with reducing the cost of your fuel bills, making sure you claim all the benefits you are entitled to and improving the energy efficiency of your home.
The Energy Savings Trust is a not-for-profit organisation that provides free, impartial advice on making your home more energy efficient. Visit their website.
Improvements to your home may require planning and listed building consent. For more information, visit www.westminster.gov.uk/planning
Are you looking for support for young people, families and relationships?
Barnado's is a charity that supports children and young people with a wide range of issues including drug misuse, disability, youth crime, mental health, domestic violence, poverty and homelessness. Visit their website.
Citizens Advice Bureau offers advice on family matters and individuals' rights, should a partnership or marriage end. Visit their website.
Connexions is a support service for young people aged 13-19, and up to 25 for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. It offers advice, guidance and support on a range of issues such as education, training, jobs, money and lifestyle decisions. Visit their website.
If you are concerned about your relationship, Relate provides a wide range of services for couples, families and individuals. You can access support on your own or with others; face to face, on the phone or through their website.
The Youth Passport is a free card for 11-19 year old Westminster residents, which entitles them to a growing list of free or discounted activities, such as free swimming, discounts on DVD/CD hire and competitions. Junior Passports are also available for 8-11 year old Westminster residents. Visit www.youthpassport.info for more information.
Do you want support for older people?
Age Concern is a charity working with and for older people. It offers a wide range of information and advice on issues that affect older people. Visit their website.
Help the Aged provides information for older people and their carers on issues such as housing, health and finance. Visit their website.
The Pension Service can give you advice on Pension Credit and other benefits you might be entitled to if you are a pensioner. Visit their website.
Westminster City Council's Older People web page gives details of local services and sources of advice and support for older people. It also provides information on offers, entitlements, local leisure facilities and social events. Visit the Older People web pages for more information.
WELDIS Information Service (WELDIS) is a directory of services created for Westminster residents and workers who are:
- Older people carers and service providers
- Children and adults with a disability or chronic illness
- Anyone with mental health concerns
- Anyone with substance misuse or other problems
Visit www.westminster.gov.uk/weldis for more information.
Do you want more support for your family, including childcare?
The council's Family Information Service can help with impartial advice on childcare and early education, activities for children and young people, day nurseries and pre-schools, tax credits and early education places, childminders and parent and toddler groups, and careers working with children. The service's helpline is staffed Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm, with a voicemail service at other times.
For more information or help, contact beattherecession@westminster.gov.uk
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