A guide to advice services across York

Transcription

1 A guide to advice services across York

2 Who is this leaflet for? This leaflet is for anyone looking for information and advice services who offer free, independent, impartial, confidential legal advice to people in York in areas of social welfare law, including welfare benefits, debt, housing and employment. This leaflet includes National advice services available online or by telephone Local advice services available online, by telephone and face to face Many of the agencies operate a drop in service, appointments, home visiting, and community based advice surgeries around the City. For more information please contact the service directly. Please note, a number of the agencies provide services on single issues such as welfare benefits or for particular client groups such as older people or young people. See agency details for more information. 2 A guide to advice services across York

3 Index National Support Advice service Area of advice For Page Adviceguide Benefits, employment, housing, immigration, relationships, debt, All 8 money, consumer, other legal issues Advice Now Legal issues All 8 ACAS Employment All 8 Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline Consumer All 8 Civil Legal Advice Legal issues All 9 Gov.uk General All 9 Independent Age Benefits, community care Older people 9 Money Advice Service Debt, money All 9 My Money Steps Debt, money All 10 National Debtline Debt, money All 10 Shelter Housing All 10 StepChange Debt, money All 10 Stop Loan Sharks Illegal money lenders All 11 Turn2us Benefits, grants All 11 Yorkshire Water Water debt All 11 A guide to advice services across York 3

4 Local advice services Advice service Area of advice For Page Benefits, housing, Older Age UK - York money, community 12 people care Castlegate Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Family Money Advice GP Surgeries Advice Service Housing Debt Advice Benefits, money, housing, employment People age Debt, money All 13 Benefits, employment, housing, immigration, relationships, debt, money, consumer, other legal issues Benefits, debt, money, housing, employment Benefits, debt, money, housing, employment, other legal issues, Debt All 13 People with children and on low income Priory Medical Group patients People in mortgage or rent arrears Housing Options Housing All A guide to advice services across York

5 Advice service Area of advice For Page Keyhouse Housing People on low 16 income Older Person s People Housing Housing Advice over People Pheby & Co Housing on low Solicitors income 17 University of Law Legal Advice Non urgent legal issues All 17 Centre Welfare Benefit Advisors - CYC Benefits All 17 York Carers Centre Benefits, community care Unpaid carers 18 Advice Service for Travellers Mind Partnership Advice Service Advice for Housing Association Tenants Benefits, debt, money, employment, housing, other legal issues Benefits, debt, money, other legal issues Benefits, debt, money Traveller/ Gypsy Community People affected by mental ill-health Housing association tenants A guide to advice services across York 5

6 Local information services Information service Better Homes Yorkshire First Call 50+ Area of information For Page Energy efficiency All 20 Benefits, community care, housing, money, other issues People over 50 Healthwatch Community Care All 21 Homeless Housing, benefits, debt, Prevention All 21 money Scheme Domestic abuse, money, IDAS All 21 housing, benefits, Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY) Travellers Trust York Advocacy Yorkshire Energy Partnership Community care, housing, benefits, other issues Benefits, employment, housing, money, other issues Health, community care Energy efficiency, money, consumer Older people Traveller/ Gypsy community People who have a disability or health problems All 22 6 A guide to advice services across York

7 Information service York Family Information Service York Mind York Racial Equality Network - YREN Area of information For Page Benefits, money, other issues Benefits, community care, housing, money, relationships, other issues Race equality issues, harassment, victimisation, discrimination or isolation. Hate crime reporting. People with children People affected by mental ill-health All 23 A guide to advice services across York 7

8 National Support - online and telephone Adviceguide Adviceguide from Citizens Advice provides round-the-clock access to information - including debt, benefits, housing, employment, consumer and legal issues. Advice Now Advice Now provide information on rights and legal issues for people who need it. ACAS ACAS provide information, advice, conciliation and other services for employers and employees to help prevent or resolve workplace problems. ACAS helpline Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline Information and advice on consumer issues. Tel: Monday to Friday 9m 5pm 8 A guide to advice services across York

9 Civil Legal Advice Government website provides information on where to get advice to help with legal problems. Online tool for people to assess if they are eligible for Legal Aid. Tel: Monday Friday 9am-8pm, Sat 9am- 12:30pm Gov.uk Gov.uk website offers a wide range of advice on government services and information. Independent Age Independent Age provide a national advice service for older people, their families and carers on benefits and entitlements, getting a care assessment, moving into a care home, paying for care, being discharged from hospital and much more. Tel: Monday - Friday 10am-4pm The Money Advice Service The Money Advice Service helps people manage their money. The website provides interactive tools and information on a range of issues from budgeting to savings, credit and borrowing, mortgages, insurance, debt, managing life changes, starting a family or losing a job. Online: Tel: Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-1pm A guide to advice services across York 9

10 My Money Steps My Money Steps is an online debt advice service from National Debtline. They provide practical step-by-step money advice. National Debtline National Debtline provide online and telephone advice for individuals experiencing debt and financial difficulties. Tel: Monday-Friday 9am-9pm, Sat 9.30am-1pm Shelter Shelter provide a range of information and advice services to support people to understand their housing rights and options. Tel: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm StepChange Step Change provide free, impartial debt advice for individuals online and by telephone only. Tel: Monday-Friday 8am - 8pm, Sat 9am-4pm 10 A guide to advice services across York

11 Stop Loan Sharks Stop Loan Sharks offer confidential help and advice to people under threat and struggling to repay a debt to illegal money lenders (loan sharks). Tel: [email protected] Text: loan shark (+ your message) to Turn2us Turn2us help people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help. Yorkshire Water Yorkshire Water offers various payment options to help with the water bill. They have also established an independent registered charity called the Community Trust to help people in cases of extreme financial hardship. For more information, contact: The Yorkshire Water Community Trust, Freepost BD3074, Bradford, BD3 7BR Tel: A guide to advice services across York 11

12 Local advice services - online, telephone and face to face Age UK - York Information and Advice Provides specialist information for people over 60 on health, housing, support in the community, benefits, finances, clubs, leisure activities, holidays and personal matters. Benefits and money advice is offered to people over state pension age. Tel: [email protected] Castlegate, City of York Council Offers information, support, advice, guidance and counselling to young people aged 16 to 25 who live in York. This includes practical and emotional support, advice on sexual health, benefits, debt, housing options and housing rights and help with employment, training and education. Tel: Appointments: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Drop in: Monday to Thursday, 1pm to 5pm. Friday, 1pm to 4.30pm 29 Castlegate, York YO1 9RN 12 A guide to advice services across York

13 Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Provides debt advice in association with Christians Against Poverty a national UK debt counselling charity. An appointment will be arranged to work out a realistic budget, as well as negotiating affordable payments with creditors. Tel: [email protected] Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Provides legal advice on a wide variety of issues; including welfare benefits, money advice, employment, immigration, homelessness, housing, relationships and other legal issues. When you go to the bureau, or ring AdviceLine, you will be given a short (10 to 15 minute) assessment so they can identify the most appropriate way to help you. Give the information you need to solve your problem Make an appointment for advice in person or by phone Direct you to another organisation better placed to help. Tel: Monday Friday 9.30am 4.00pm Drop-in and outreach sessions overleaf A guide to advice services across York 13

14 Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Drop-in: York CAB, West Offices, Station Rise, York YO1 6GA Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9.30am pm Tang Hall Community Centre, Fifth Avenue, York YO31 0UG Friday 9.30am 12.30pm The Old School, Mill Lane, Wigginton YO32 2PU 3rd Wednesday each month 9.30am 12.30pm Please note: we have limited resources and sometimes the demand for these sessions is so high that we have to close early. Outreach appointments: The Gateway Centre, Front Street, Acomb YO24 3BN Mondays 9.30am 12.30pm Appointments can ONLY be made in person at The Gateway Centre reception Oaken Grove Community Centre, Reid Park, Oaken Grove, Haxby YO32 3QW 4th Tuesday each month 9:30am - 12:30pm Haxby and Wigginton residents ONLY To make an appointment ring Oaken Grove Community Centre on Huntington Community Centre, The Old Board School, 26 Strensall Road, Huntington YO32 9RG 2nd and 4th Thursday each month 9:30am - 12:30pm Huntington residents ONLY To make an appointment ring A guide to advice services across York

15 Family Money Advice Advice on benefits, tax credits, debt problems, housing and rights at work. for families on a low income who have a dependent child/children aged 0-19 years (whether in education, training, unemployed or working). Appointments are available at weekly outreach sessions in Clifton, Westfield, Haxby Road and York CAB, West Offices. This service is provided by York CAB. Tel: for an appointment. GP Surgeries Advice Service Advice on benefits, tax credits, debt problems, housing, employment and other legal issues. For Priory Medical Group patients. This service is provided by York CAB. Appointments are available at Rawcliffe surgery on Tuesdays and Cornlands Road surgery on Thursdays. Tel: or ask at the surgery reception for an appointment. Housing Debt Advice Advice for people who have rent or mortgage arrears. Appointments are available at weekly outreach sessions in Bell Farm, Tang Hall and York CAB at West Offices. This service is provided by York CAB. Tel: for an appointment A guide to advice services across York 15

16 Housing Options, City of York Council Advice on preventing homelessness, housing assessment and re-housing, which may include budget and debt advice for people who are homeless, threatened with homelessness or in some form of housing need. Housing Options, West Offices, York, YO1 6GA Tel: Keyhouse Provides advice and legal representation to those on a low income who are eligible for legal aid on the following areas of housing law - possession proceedings, homelessness, evictions, unsuitable housing, anti-social behaviour and serious disrepair. Duty Advisors attend the County Court on Housing Possession days and can help you on the day of your hearing. When you arrive at the court, ask for the Duty Advisor. Keyhouse, Room D005, Ground Floor, D Block, Hudson House, Toft Green, York, YO1 6JT Tel: Older Person s Housing Advice Service, City of York Council Provide housing advice and information for people over 60, in partnership with FirstStop; including information on support to stay at home, retirement or specialist accommodation, warden call or adaptations. Open to all home owners, private, social and housing association tenants, older people, their families and carers. Tel: [email protected] 16 A guide to advice services across York

17 Pheby & Co Solicitors Provides advice to those on a low income who are eligible for legal aid on the following areas of housing law - possession proceedings, anti social behaviour proceedings, homelessness, unlawful eviction, serious disrepair cases. Tel: University of Law Legal Advice Centre Provides preliminary legal advice on a range of non urgent issues from September to May. Advice is given in writing, some queries can be dealt with by or you may need to attend the Centre for an interview and an appointment will be arranged. Tel: [email protected] Welfare Benefit Advisors, City of York Council Provides information, advice and support to help residents claim the benefits they may be entitled to. If the advisors are out of the office, you can leave a message and they will ring you back. Tel: or A guide to advice services across York 17

18 York Carers Centre Provides support for unpaid carers of all ages who live, or care for someone who lives, in York. Carers can also get advice and information on a range of issues including benefits, training, employment, carers rights and how to plan for an emergency. Support can be given over the phone, at home or at the Centre. Tel: [email protected] 18 A guide to advice services across York

19 Advice Service for Travellers Advice services for everyone in the Traveller/ Gypsy community. This service is provided by York CAB Drop in: Thursday 10.00am pm at York Travellers Trust 20 Falsgrave Crescent, York. YO30 7AZ Appointments are available at other times and places. Tel: Mind Partnership Advice Service Advice services for people affected by mental ill-health. This service is provided by York CAB. Appointments are available though York Mind or York Advocacy. Tel: or [email protected] Advice for Housing Association Tenants If you rent your property from a housing association you may be able to get benefits, debt and/or money advice or information from your landlord, including: York Housing Association Tel: Yorkshire Housing Tel: Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust Tel: A guide to advice services across York 19

20 Local information services - online, telephone and face to face Better Homes Yorkshire Better Homes Yorkshire helps residents pay less for energy and live in healthier, warmer homes by taking advantage of heavily discounted energy efficiency improvement works to their homes. Better Homes Yorkshire is open to homeowners, private tenants and landlords. Tel: or First Call 50+ Offers signposting and information for people aged 50 and over on a wide range of issues including money and benefits, housing and accommodation, repairs and maintenance around the home, healthcare and social services, keeping your home warm and support for carers This service is provided by Age UK York. Tel: A guide to advice services across York

21 Healthwatch York Healthwatch provides information about local services to make sure you know how to access the help you need; can signpost you to independent complaints advocacy if you need support to complain about a service you ve received; and listens to your views about local services and make sure these are taken into account when services are planned and delivered. Tel: [email protected] Homeless Prevention Scheme Information and support around managing and maintaining tenancies and homes. Support around debt, access to benefits, budgeting advice, moving home. The scheme supports private and council tenants and also owner occupiers. This service is provided by York Housing Association. Tel: for information about the service and to be referred for support. IDAS Offers information, accommodation and support to people experiencing domestic abuse. Tel: A guide to advice services across York 21

22 Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY) Provides information about services, benefits and assessments and advocates to support you or simply to make sure your point of view is listened to and respected. Tel: Travellers Trust Provides information, support and advocacy, empowering individuals and the community. Drop in: 20 Falsgrave Crescent, York. YO30 7AZ Tel: York Advocacy Provides advocacy for people in York who have a disability, mental ill-health or who are disadvantaged or vulnerable. They also deliver NHS Complaints Advocacy for people who have a complaint or concern about their NHS Care and Treatment. Tel: [email protected] Yorkshire Energy Partnership Provides information and advice about energy efficiency, grants and discounts to help you live and work more sustainably, saving money in your home, business and community. Tel: [email protected] 22 A guide to advice services across York

23 York Family Information Service Provides information and support for children, young people, mums, dads and carers. Tel: York Mind Provides a range of services such as counselling, befriending, healthy eating, self-help groups and activities for anyone affected by mental ill-health or emotional distress. Tel: [email protected] York Racial Equality Network YREN YREN provides an independent, impartial, information, support and advocacy service for people who are experiencing racial harassment, victimisation, discrimination or social isolation. YREN is one of York s designated hate crime reporting and support centres. Tel: [email protected] A guide to advice services across York 23

24 June 2015