Advice & help

Also on this page: Consumer | Benefits | Housing | Immigration & nationality

Key links

KnowUK [24/7]

Information and advice on a variety of different subjects from money to marriage, education to health.

[more information about KnowUK] [Can't get in?]

CANs Citizens' Advice Notes [24/7]

A summary of the laws of England, Wales and Scotland updated daily to provide legal advice that is easier to understand.

CAB Adviceguide

Up-to-date information on a wide range of topics from the Citizens' Advice Bureaux, including benefits, housing, employment and debt, consumer and legal issues.

How To Books

Full-text electronic versions of the dependable advice books on subjects including business, leisure and "life events" - scroll to the bottom of the page for the link to the online version.

The Site

No-holds-barred advice and help for 16-24 year olds, run by the YouthNet UK charity.

Youth Information

National Youth Agency's online information toolkit for young people.

DirectGov

As well as being a great source of government information and links, this site offers advice on a wide variety of subjects with links to relevant and useful departments, organisations and websites.

Consumer

Westminster Trading Standards

Advice and information on consumer rights. Investigates breaches of consumer protection laws.

Consumer Direct

Provides advice and is a gateway to a wide range of consumer web sites, from both government agencies and consumer organisations. Useful advice page from Warwickshire county council.

Mailing Preference Service

Register online to stop unsolicited direct mail in the UK. Links to similar services for telephone, fax, & text, plus Baby MPS to reduce baby-related marketing to people who have lost children.

Which? [IHS]

Britain's leading consumer magazine. Subscription service available at Westminster Reference Library, Marylebone Information Service, Maida Vale Library, Mayfair Library, and St. John's Wood Library only - ask staff for details.

Benefits

Benefits & services A-Z

From the Department for Work and Pensions (which was the DSS until 2001). Includes downloadable claim forms 

Turn to us

A site which includes a grant calculator and a benefits calculator to see how much you should be entitled to. Plus find out how to get advice and from whom.

Housing

Housing Net

Gateway to all kinds of housing information - on social, student and private housing, with guides to buying / moving home.

Hometrack

Detailed property price and trend details for the UK, plus estate agent listings.

Shelter Know your rights

Advice for tenants, the homeless, students, and anyone seeking a place to live.

Homeless London

Information and details of a variety of services for residential and non-residential homeless people in London.

Immigration and nationality

Refugee Council

Information for refugees and asylum seekers, including legislation, statistics and entitlements.

Life in the UK Test

Information about the test, now one of the requirements for applying for British Citizenship. Now you can read the information and take practice tests (and judge your readiness to sit a real test) at the Life in Great Britain website [24/7] available in any Westminster Library (please note that you must click 'sign up' when you use the tests this is so you can save your information when you try the tests and no personal information is required) and from home.

Passports and Immigration

Home Office department responsible for immigration and nationality. Informative site with forms available for download but it can be very slow.

Not quite what you were looking for? See also:

Family & personal

Health

Law