We are closed for Christmas from Friday 24th December at 3pm until 9.30am on Tuesday 4th January. If you need support, there are a range of organisations you can contact. Please see below.
Help and Support over Christmas
Emergency services: 999
Your local authority duty/out of hours service. These are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can find your local authority here.
Crime
If you require assistance at the police station or have been contacted by the police who wish to interview you, you can contact our emergency 24-hour Crime Contact Line over the Christmas period on 07886 755321.
Homelessness
These services are mostly for young people over the age of 18. If someone under 18 is homeless, they should contact their local children’s services duty number (see below under safeguarding/ what to do if you’re worried about a child).
Shelter: 0808 800 4444. You can use this helpline if you have nowhere to sleep or might be homeless soon; you have somewhere to sleep, but nowhere to call home; or you are/could be at risk of harm. The helpline is open 8am-8pm on most weekdays and 9am-5pm on weekends and 25th and 26th December and 1st January.
The Albert Kennedy Trust. Advice and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans young people including accommodation issues. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve.
New Horizon Youth Centre. Support for homeless and vulnerable young people in London.
Alone in London. Support for homeless people in London aged 16-25.
Crisis at Christmas: 0300 636 1967. Crisis day centres will be open in North, West, South and East London for Christmas support.
The Simon Community. Support for the homeless (mainly food provision).
Child Safeguarding – what to do if you are worried about a child
If you are under 18 and you feel unsafe, or you are worried about someone who is under 18, you should contact the relevant local authority duty / out of hours service. These are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To find the duty number please Google your borough and then children’s services duty number (e.g. ‘Brent children’s services duty number’). If you have any difficulties finding your duty children’s services number, please contact the NSPCC (NSPCC: 0808 800 5000.)
Domestic Violence
Freephone 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Mental health/ crisis Support
Samaritans: 116 123
Papyrus: If you or a young person you know is thinking about suicide, or not coping with life, they can access confidential suicide prevention advice via HOPELINEUK - open 9am–12am (midnight) every day of the year: 0800 068 4141/ pat@papyrus-uk.org
Further support for Children and Young People
Family Action offers support for care leavers aged 18-27: 0808 802 0222
The Tope Project are offering Christmas events for care leavers up to age 25.
A comprehensive list of all Christmas Dinners running across the country this year.
The Mix offers everything you need to know about mental health, from anxiety and depression to self-care and counselling.
Office of the Children's Commissioner - Help at Hand Team: 0800 528 0731.