Help, Support & Advice
Local support groups for children, young people, parents and carers
Useful Information
Scope Navigate phone-based support service
Navigate is a phone-based support service for parents whose children have either been diagnosed with a disability within the past twelve months or who are on a pathway to a diagnosis. We offer up to six support sessions for parents with their own parent adviser who will provide a combination of practical advice and emotional support.
More details about what we offer, as well as our online referral form, can be found here Scope’s Navigate
Family, caring and housing support
- RelationKit – no relationship is perfect – resources for families/parents, and see RelationKit information poster
- Citizen Advice Bureau wide range of support
- Foodbank – Runcorn and Foodbank – Widnes
- Food Parcels/Gifts – Winter Warmth
- Family Information Service Tel: 0151 511 7375
- Halton Borough Council Tel: 0303 333 4300 (Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm)
- Halton Carers Centre
- Halton Speak Out – meet the team
- Housing and Adaptations e.g. Halton Housing for Halton Property Pool Plus (PPP) service
Disability support - families, children and young people with SEND
Money Matters
When you are 18, you will be responsible for paying your own bills, how much you pay depends on whether you are in education, employment or looking for work. These are some organisations that can help advice you:
- Citizens Advice Halton
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claim form/information for children under 16
- DLA for adults
- Ultimate Disability Living Allowance Guide
- DWP Disability Living Allowance video’s
- Disability Service Centre – benefits helpline
- Carer’s Allowance
- Benefits and financial support for families
- Attendance Allowance
- Contact for families with disabled children
- DWP Benefit Checker
- Benefit Calculator
- Understanding Universal Credit – making a new claim
- Universal Credit
- Access To Work Fund
- Benefits and Welfare Advice
- Council Tax and Benefits
- Household Support Fund
- GOV.uk
- Family Fund
- Family Fund – are you eligible to apply for a grant?
- Entitled To
- From Child to Adult
- Citizens Advice Bureau
- Christians Against Poverty
- Money Advice Service
- (PIP) Personal Independence Payment
Moving from Benefits to Work
Provides help and advice on moving from benefits to work, work experience/volunteering, starting your own business and support available when you start working.
- NEW DWP Benefit Checker provides a quick idea of what you may be able to claim
- Benefit Calculator gives a more detailed picture of what you may be entitled to
- Understanding Universal Credit – making a new claim is another way to access the Benefit Checker
Halton SENDIASS
- Halton SENDIASS – free confidential/impartial information, advice and support for children, parents, carers and young people
- Tel 0151 511 7733, email SENDpartnership@halton.gov.uk
- Easy Read Guides
Keeping safe
- Halton Borough Council – Adult Social Care Tel: 0151 907 8306 or 0345 050 0148 (out of hours/weekends)
- Halton Borough Council – Children Social Care Tel: 0151 907 8305 or 0345 050 0148 (out of hours/weekends)
- Got Your Back Halton self-referral by you or your friends aged 18 or under if you have been a victim of crime. If a referral is made by a Professional/Agency, parental or guardian permission is required to pass the young person’s details on to the service. Tel: 0800 6406466, text GYBMentor 82228 or email halton@gyb.org.uk
Hate Crime, Childline & Prejudiced Incidents
Hate Crime
- What is Hate Crime
- Different types of Hate Crime explained
- How to report Hate Crime
- Finding support in the local area
Childline
- Childline is a private and confidential service for children and young people up to the age of 19
Prejudiced Incidents
Got Your Back Halton
- Self-Referral can be made by you or your friends aged 18 or under if you have been a victim of crime
- Referral by a Professionals/Agency – parental or guardian permission is required to pass the young person’s details on to the service
- Got Your Back Halton Tel: 0800 6406466, Text GYBMentor to 82228, Email halton@gyb.org.uk
Using the internet safely
- CEOP Reporting Centre for staying safe
- Child Exploitation and Online Protection
- Digital Parenting Guide
- Get Safe Online
- Guide to Keeping Safe Online
- Grooming – Knowing the signs of child sexual exploitation – signs to spot it happening
- Internet Matters
- Internet Safety for Teens
- Keeping Kids Safe Online – O2/NSPCC
- Online Safety Resource Guide
- PACE – Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation
- Sexting
- Thinkuknow – CEOP’s
- Underwear Rule
Dealing with scams and cold callers
- Halton Trading Standards
- iCAN is a free email alert service by Trading Standards
- No cold callers window card and Letterbox sticker are available to collect at Halton Direct Links
- Telephone and mail prompt card for dealing with scam phone calls and doorstop callers
Advocacy support
- Halton Healthwatch Advocacy Hub Tel: 0151 347 8183
- Advocacy First support adults living in the community
- NYAS Advocacy Care Leavers Leaflet
- NYAS – National Youth Advocacy Service for children and young people
- Always Heard and AdvoCat – Coram Voice
Help with debt and money worries
The cost of living crisis is affecting more and more people. If you need help or advice about money, debt and other issues, there are organisations in Halton who can help.
- Citizens Advice Halton can help with a range of issues, not just around debt and finances but also housing, legal issues and much more Tel: 08082 787 956
- Energy Projects Plus (EPP) provide a Save Energy Advice Line for free and impartial advice on reducing your energy bills and keeping warm at home Tel: 0800 043 0151
- Mental Health Info Point can also provide more details of help and support for money worries