Age UK aims to improve later life for everyone with information and advice, services, campaigns, products, training and research. They also provide information and advice for the elderly about benefits, care, age discrimination and computer courses.

Maidstone: 7 Mill Street, Maidstone, ME15 6XW. To see this AGE UK location on a google map click here. Telephone: 01622 753618.

Sevenoaks Hollybush Day Centre: Hollybush Court, Hollybush Close, Sevenoaks, TN13 3UX. To see this AGE UK location on a google map click here. Telephone: 01732 454108.

Sevenoaks: The Old Meeting House, St Johns Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 3LR. To see this AGE UK location on a google map click here. Telephone: 01732 454108.

Edenbridge: Edenbridge Leisure Centre, Station Road, Edenbridge, TN8 5LU. To see this AGE UK location on a google map click here. Telephone: 01732 454108.

Tonbridge Town Lock: Town Lock Day Centre, Lockside, Tonbridge, TN9 1EA. To see this AGE UK location on a google map click here. Telephone: 01732 454108.

Tonbridge: 5 Bradford Street, Tonbridge, TN9 1DU. To see this AGE UK location on a google map click here. Telephone: 01732 366100.

Tunbridge Wells: Wood Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2QS. To see this AGE UK location on a google map click here. Telephone: 01892 522591.

For the national Age UK website click here.

• Comprehensive care for the elderly
• Finance, health, housing, community access, isolation etc.
• Social activities
• IT classes
• Benefits, money

http://www.ageuk.org.uk

Blackthorn Trust is a charity which offers medical care, specialist therapies and rehabilitation through work placements in the Blackthorn Garden. They offer help to people with mental or physical health difficulties or learning disabilities.

Blackthorn Trust provide a range of activities to help people gain confidence and self esteem and to develop life and work skills

Address: Blackthorn Trust, Blackthorn Medical Centre, St Andrew’s Road, Maidstone ME16 9AN. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Trust Office: 01622 722219 Garden/Cafe: 01622 722216 or email [email protected]. To go to their website follow the link www.blackthorn.org.uk

Bliss is a charity for the newborn. Bliss offers advice and support to families and friends of anyone with a baby who is in, or has been in, neonatal care. Bliss can also provide advice and information to professionals working with families. Advisers may also refer families to other services, many of them free of charge. The Helpline is free to call from landlines.

Bliss exists to ensure that all babies born too soon, too small or too sick in the UK have the best possible chance of survival and of reaching their full potential.

Bliss believes:

• All premature and sick babies and their families should have the best possible care and support.
• Babies should have the same rights as anyone else.
• The voices of babies and families must be heard.

Bliss run a helpline: 0500 618140 providing family support or you can email them at: [email protected]

To find out more go to their website: www.bliss.org.uk

BME Carers Service – Rethink Mental Illness: In Gravesend, Rethink Mental Illness provide a BME (Black and Ethnic Minority) specific carers service with information available in Punjabi, Urdu and Chinese.

• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 01474 364498
• http://www.rethink.org/services-groups/services/rethink-sahayak-carers-service

The Bridges Centre Edenbridge is a volunteer project for the community set up by local people. They offer:

• Café/snack bar and lounge
• Quiet room
• Children’s play area
• Toilets (with disabled access)
• Baby-changing facilities
• Disabled parking
• Patio area with seating

If you live in, work in, or are visiting Edenbridge, take a break from your job, your routine, or your shopping; and come in for a “cuppa” or light lunch. Relax in pleasant surroundings and meet people, or just to relax and be quiet. Child-friendly, disabled accessible,The Bridges Centre is for everyone in Edenbridge.

Address: High St, Edenbridge, TN8 5AJ. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Telephone: 01732 868186 or to go to their website follow the link: www.bridges.edenkent.org

Carers FIRST in Kent & Medway offer advice information and guidance to Carers of adults and children who, through ill health, frailty, disability, mental health issues or substance misuse are unable to manage without support. Some carers will live with the person they care for, others may not.

In West Kent, they support Adult Carers of adults and additionally we have a Young Adult Carer worker who supports Young Carers through the transition to adulthood from the age of 16 to 24. We provide limited support to parents of children with disabilities.

In Medway we support Carers, both Young Carers and adult from the age of 5 to 105.

Carers FIRST supports carers living in Medway, Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Edenbridge Dartford Gravesham and Swanley and the surrounding rural areas. They support carers who have a family member or friend who need help. They provide emotional and practical support, advice, information, guidance and offer access to statutory carers assessments, training, events, social groups, short breaks, activities, trips and more.

For their website follow the link: www.carersfirst.org.uk
Email : [email protected]
Telephone: 0300 303 1555

Address: Carers FIRST in Kent & Medway, 3 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5TP

Centra Support provides support for people who experience mental illness, older people, domestic abuse, young people, homelessness and learning disabilities with their accommodation needs. Centra Support projects are accommodation based. Centra Support provide a person centred approach, supporting people to achieve their aspirations, working closely with other agencies. There are five mental health schemes in Centra Kent. Four are accommodation based, with self contained flats and communal areas.

The Horizons projects, Archer House and George Culmer Court, are jointly managed with KMPT. People have more intensive support needs around both housing and mental health and may remain in their accommodation for some years. Referrals need to have a diagnosis of a mental illness and to be already receiving support from a CMHT.

Chaucer House and Lower Northdown Avenue are funded to support people with low or medium needs. The aim is for people to be living independently in the community within two years.

There is also another scheme, Release Planning and Re-enablement. (0238 1848729). Centra Support work in partnership with Oxleas NHS Trust with clients in Kent prisons who experience mental health and/or substance misuse issues and who are homeless. Centra Support help identify accommodation and provide a floating support service for up to 3 months upon release from prison.

To find out more about this service go to their website: www.centragroup.org.uk

Addresses and contacts for Centra Support projects:

Archer House, Sittingbourne : 01795 439120 email: [email protected]

George Culmer Court, Margate: 01843 297168

Lower Northdown Avenue, Cliftonville: 01843 223131

Chaucer House, Canterbury: 01227 454631

The Child Death Helpline is there to listen. They understand that the death of a child is one of the most devastating events that anyone may experience. Sometimes the feelings of grief can be so overwhelming that they make everyday living very difficult – they are there here to help. They have a dedicated helpline which offers support to anyone affected by the death of a child of any age, under any circumstances, however recent or long ago.

Your call will be answered by a trained volunteer who has also lost a child and understands the feelings that surround the death of a child. They offer a confidential, safe environment where you can talk openly about your child’s life and death. You can freely express your worries and emotions to someone who understands the day-to-day struggle.

There confidential helpline is open every day of the year.

• Monday to Friday: 10am to 1pm
• Tuesdays: 1pm to 4pm
• Wednesdays: 1pm to 4pm
• Every evening: 7pm to 10pm

You can contact them on their freephone helpline: 0800 282 986 or if calling from a mobile: 0808 800 6019

For more information on the Child Death Helpline go to their website: http://childdeathhelpline.org.uk/

If you are experiencing distress or need to speak to someone outside of the Child Death Helpline opening hours the Mental Health Matters Helpline is there for you 24 hours per day 365 days per year. You can call them on 0800 107 0160 and they have a freephone number for mobiles: 0300 330 5486.

Childline offers a free confidential helpline and website for young people.

If you are worried about anything, it could be something big or something small - don’t bottle it up. It can really help if you talk to someone. If there is something on your mind, ChildLine is here for you.

Contact ChildLine anytime - calls are free and confidential 0800 1111

A ChildLine Counsellor is someone who:

• who you can trust
• who is genuine, open and friendly
• who won’t judge you or put you down
• who is not easily shocked
• who will listen to you and knows it takes courage to contact us
• who is aware of the sorts of problems you might be worried about
• who will let you take your time
• who wants you to get in touch

To find out more go to their website: www.childline.org.uk

Citizens’ Rights for Older People can help with:

• As an older person do you need help to make a complaint?
• Can you negotiate satisfactory care services for yourself?
• Do you need help filling in benefit forms?
• Is your landlord keeping to his tenancy agreement

They provide a service in the following areas:

• Maidstone, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks area
• Ashford and Shepway including rural areas
• Thanet, Dover, Canterbury, Swale and the Isle of Sheppey

To find your local service go to the website: www.cropkent.org.uk

Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) is a set of informal self-help groups made up of men and women with a common interest in working through the problems that co-dependency has caused in their lives. CoDA meetings are open to everyone who wants to work towards having a healthy relationship.

What is co-dependency and are you co-dependent?

CoDA recognise co-dependency this as an inability to maintain healthy and nurturing relationships generally based on five major categories: denial, low self-esteem, compliance, control and avoidance. A full CoDA list of the CoDa patterns of characteristics and further details can be found at the CODA Patterns of Co-Dependency page here.

Each CoDA meeting usually incorporates a collection to cover the expenses of the group (eg hire of the meeting room) but CoDA is non-profit making.

For more information about CoDA go to: www.coda-uk.org

CoDA currently run meetings in the following areas of Kent*.

• Canterbury
• Chartham Hatch
• Tunbridge Wells

and details of the location of the meetings go to the link.

* this information was updated in September 2015

Combat Stress is helping more than 5,400 UK Veterans get their lives back. If you are suffering mental ill-health caused by military service, combat stress may be able to help you too. It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, or where you Served - Combat Stress may be able to help. And although they are called Combat Stress, you don’t have to have been in combat to use our services. As long as you are an ex-Service man or women, they are here for you.
And if you are the loved one or carer of an ex-Service man or woman, you can get in touch too.

People react to traumatic experiences in different ways, go to the Live It Well Post Traumatic Stress Information Page for more information.

Telephone: 01372 587000. 24 Hour Helpline 0800 1381619 you can also text 07537 404 719 (standard charges apply for texts) or email them at: [email protected]

For their website follow the link: www.combatstress.org.uk

Contact a Family supports families of disabled children across the UK, whatever their condition or disability. Contact a Family provide information, advice and support. Contact a Family brings families together so they can support each other.

Contact a Family can provide:

• Medical Information
• Information about your rights and entitlements
• Advice and Support
• Parent resources
• Workshops and information sessions
• Parent support groups

They have a free helpline 0808 808 3555 or call: Tel: 020 7608 8700 or email: [email protected]

To go to their website go to: www.cafamily.org.uk

CXK delivers a range of services across Kent to support young people and families to maximise their potential. In particular by providing them with advice, guidance, skills and the confidence that will help them to progress into education, employment and training. Services include:

• careers guidance, advice and work related learning for vulnerable young people and adults (including the National Careers Service);
• mental health & wellbeing services (Young Healthy Minds);
• Leadership & Development programmes for young people including the National Citizen Service and the Prince’s Trust team programme;
• Management of youth centres and a mobile youth service (Community Activity teams);
• Training Programmes for those not in employment, education and training (European Social Fund);
• Accredited training for adults and professionals working with young people
• Parenting programmes and family workshops

Telephone: 01795 439397, email: [email protected]. For their website follow the link: www.cxk.org

Domestic Abuse Support Services covers Kent and Medway providing advice and information on services for victims, friends & family, and perpetrators of Domestic Abuse and domestic violence.

Find local help to you if:

• You are in an abusive relationship
• A friend of yours is being abused
• If you are a young person
• If you are an abuser
• Or if you are a professional

The Domestic Abuse Support Service means you can search for services to help you in your local area. In addition they have further advice and help on their website: www.domesticabuseservices.org.uk

The Helpline can give support, help and information over the telephone, wherever the caller might be in the country. The Helpline is staffed 24 hours a day by fully trained female helpline support workers and volunteers. All calls are completely confidential. Translation facilities for callers whose first language is not English, and a service for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing are available.

To find out more about this service and go to the website click the following link: www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk

Domestic abuse is an unacceptable crime which affects people from all social and economic backgrounds, regardless of age, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. It includes any action involving abuse between adult family members (including current and former partners). The abuse occurs when a person causes, attempts to cause, or threatens to cause emotional, sexual or physical harm to an intimate partner or other family member.

Initial response to serious incidents dial 999

• Kent Police DVU enquiries and non-urgent crime reports dial 101 or visit your local police station to speak with an officer in confidence
• Medway Police DVU enquiries and non-urgent crime reports: 01634 792308 or email [email protected] or visit your local police station to speak with an officer in confidence
• Hearing impaired text ‘Police’ and message to 60066
• freephone 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge on 0808 2000 247 or the Mens’ Advice Line on 0808 801 0327
• Kent and Medway Domestic Violence website for information and advice click here.
• National Centre for DV (NCDV) 0844 8044 999 for legal help and civil injunctions
• Mankind (for male victims of DV) 01823 334 244
• Karma Nirvana (for honour based violence and forced marriage) 0800 5999 247
• Forced Marriage Unit 0207 008 0151

www.domesticabuseservices.org.uk

The Downs Syndrome Association provide information and guidance on all aspects of living successfully with Down’s syndrome. They also have a helpline and can help those affected by Down’s Syndrome with:

• specialist advisers on benefits
• education and health
• advice for new parents or anyone experiencing difficulties
• advice on employment for people with Down’s syndrome

If you have any questions or concerns about Down’s syndrome their Helpline advisors on tel: 0333 1212 300. They can provide information, support, guidance and signposting to other appropriate organisations. The Helpline is usually open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Callers can access trained helpline advisers. The service may be closed occasionally during these times for operational reasons; if this occurs notice will be given on our website.

For more information go to their website here: www.downs-syndrome.org.uk

They also support a local Kent Down’s Syndrome support group called the Kent Wide Downs Group you can go to their website here: www.kentwideds.org

Family Lives provide help and advice about all aspects of family life that include all stages of a child’s development, bullying, issues with schools and parenting/relationship support.

To find out more follow the link to go to their website: familylives.org.uk

You can also talk to one of their Family Support Workers through Live Chat or email them or call their confidential helpline on 0808 800 2222. You can also share experiences and advice with other parents on their Forums.

Family Matters are there to support you if you have been subjected to rape or sexual abuse. Family Matters operate throughout Kent and Medway and provide a confidential helpline, counselling, advice and support.

Family Matters provide:

• A safe and confidential environment in which to explore the thoughts, feelings and behaviour affecting your life.
• To listen, offer support and help as you find a way through some of the difficulties you are experiencing and how they impact on your wellbeing.
• To help reduce the mental and physical distress you may be experiencing.
• To assist those faced with inflicting self harm or suicidal thoughts.
• To guide you through a period of change, during which we will help you grow and replace old behaviour with new ways of thinking and self-discovery.

The Family Matters counselling practice is supported by qualified professionals - specialists in the areas of childhood sexual abuse and rape. They are trained across a wide range of issues and disciplines to help those affected address their fears and identify a clear path towards resolution and healing.

Family Matters expertise is wide-ranging and covers physical abuse, depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress, child protection, trauma, bereavement, self-esteem issues, and anger management. Family Matters would also address how being vulnerable impacts on work related problems, sexuality issues and - where appropriate - related drug and alcohol problems.

Helpline 01474 537392 or email at: [email protected] or write to their Head Office at 13 Wrotham Road, Gravesend, Kent DA11 0PA.

To go to their website follow the linkL www.familymattersuk.org

Family Mosaic Home Improvement agencies help to promote independence at home by offering a wide range of services that include:

HomeSafe:

• Information and advice to help you maintain independent living in your own home.
• Professional service to help you adapt your home to meet your needs.
• Fully insured surveyors and register of trusted contractors

Homefixed

• Affordable Handyperson service covering a raft of minor repairs and DIY type work
• Competitive quotation service for larger works, decorating and galvanized handrails
• Supply and fit keysafe service

Care Navigator Service

• Free confidential help, advice and support for older people
• We can help you find out about services available in your community
• Improve your confidence in decision making and dealing with everyday problems
• Take charge and manage your situation
• Improve your sense of wellbeing
• Assess, and arrange the supply of equipment and minor aids to your home.

To find your local service go to their website by following the link: www.familymosaic.co.uk

Fusion Healthy Living Centre is a partnership project featuring a cafe with internet access and a huge range of services including;

• Café with full internet access.
• Health Trainer Service
• Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB)
• Golding Homes Benefit surgery.
• Sexual Health clinic for young people.
• Youth Café
• Chiropody
• Health Walks
• Activities for All
• Lunch Boxes
• Families Matter Most

4 Parkwood Parade, Maidstone, ME15 9HL. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Telephone: 01622 691177 or email: [email protected]
To go to their website go to the following link: www.fusionhlc.org.uk

Get Connected are there for advice if you’re under 25, they are there for you, 365 days a year, for absolutely anything you’re going through. Get Connected are free, confidential, and you can contact them however you’d prefer - by phone, email, text or webchat.

They can help you with anything you are going through, and this includes:

• Abuse and violence
• Bullying, harassment and discrimination
• Citizenship and cultural issues
• Crime, the law and your rights
• Drink, drugs and addictions
• Families and care
• Feelings and mental health
• Gender and sexual identity
• Harming yourself
• Housing and homelessness
• Physical health
• Sex, relationships and pregnancy
• Work, education and money

To go to the Get Connected website click here, or follow the link: www.getconnected.org.uk

By phone - Call them free on 0808 808 4994 open from 1pm - 11pm every day

By text - Text them free on 80849 Texts will usually be answered within 24 hours

By Email - click here to go to the Get Connected contact page. Emails will usually be answered within 24 hours.

Gingerbread provide expert advice, practical support and campaign for single parents. They have a range of factsheets and advice on practical advice on issues such as money, work and family. If you can’t find what you’re looking for their helpline advisers are only a free phone call away.

So if you are looking for information and advice on any of the below topics (and more) and are a single parent Gingerbread can help:

• Child maintenance
• Contact
• Single Dads
• Employment
• Education
• Welfare benefits and tax credits
• Housing
• Debt, money and benefits.

The Gingerbread Single Parent Helpline is open as follows:

Mondays: 10am to 6pm,

Tuesdays / Thursdays / Fridays: 10am to 4pm

Wednesdays: 10am-1pm and 5pm-7pm.

Phone today for free, on 0808 802 0925.

For more information or to see the advice and factsheets available go to the Gingerbread website at: www.gingerbread.org.uk

The Good Neighbours provides a range of services aimed improving the health and wellbeing of older adults in Tunbridge Wells.

Services that they can offer include:

• Befriending scheme which includes, company and home visits, information on local clubs and activities, call and chat service, short term help if you are unwell.
• Help with forms and paperwork and services available to you.
• Support when attending a medical appointment
• Falls prevention classes – aimed to help prevent falls and the injuries that occur from them.

Contact them at:

Good Neighbour Project:

TWBC, 12 Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2EP.

Telephone: 01892 510200 or email: [email protected]

To find out more go to their website by following the link: www.goodneighbourproject.org.uk

Grandparents Plus is a charity that supports and promotes the role of grandparents and the wider family in children’s lives – especially when they take on the caring role in difficult family circumstances. Grandparents Plus offer:

• advice and information on welfare benefits and other sources of financial support, and a wide range of other issues including employment, housing, debt, social care and education
• signposting to other appropriate organisations. Grandparents Plus can give more information about the services Grandparents Plus offers kinship carers – grandparents and other members who are raising a relative’s child – including the national Support Network for the wider family raising children

Grandparents Plus run two advice lines for help and support. Calls to their Advice Line and Helpline cost the same as calls to any geographical (01 or 02) phone number, whether you are calling from a landline or a mobile. If you have an inclusive calling plan your free calls will include calls to this number. At busy times or out of hours please leave a message and they will get back to you.

Family and Friends Advice Line: for those looking after a relative’s child. Call Grandparents Plus Family and Friends Advice Line on 0300 123 7015 between 10am and 3pm Monday to Friday. They provide a free, confidential and impartial service run by experienced and sympathetic professional advisers or email: [email protected]./uk.

Grandparent Contact Helpline: for those who’ve lost contact with a grandchild. If you have lost, or are losing, contact with your grandchild Grandparents Plus friendly team of trained staff and volunteers can offer confidential support. Call the Grandparent Contact Helpline on 0300 033 7015 between 10am and 3pm Monday to Friday or email: [email protected].

To find out more about Grandparents Plus and the work that they do go to their website: www.grandparentsplus.org.uk

Have you seen your GP or Doctor and they have recommended you see a counsellor and get some therapy? Healthy Mind is one of the free NHS funded talking therapy and counselling services available in Kent and Medway

Are you feeling stressed or depressed or anxious?

Or struggling with a phobia, eating disorder or addiction?

Or if you are looking for someone to help you through a difficult time in life, maybe a friend or relative has died or you’re struggling with fertility of if you have lost your job?

Talking therapies can help all sorts of people in many different situations. Talking therapy is for anyone who’s going through a bad time or who has emotional problems they can’t sort out on their own.

You can refer yourself into this free service and see a NHS funded therapist.

Contact: Healthy Mind: email [email protected] or telephone: 0800 2346 733 to self refer online follow this link: www.healthymindwk.org.uk/referral

Healthy Mind provide counselling and support for common mental health problems; anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem, stress, trauma, phobias and anger, as well as problems with regards to relationships, work or debt.

www.healthymindwk.org.uk

To see their service leaflet click here.

There are several talking therapy providers in your area so if one has a waiting list why not try another therapy provider go to our list of local NHS Talking Therapy providers which you can find on our free NHS Counselling and Therapy page.

The Hearing Voices Network is a network and support service for people who hear voices, their families and carers.

Telephone: 0114 271 8210 or email: [email protected]. To find out more go to their website by following the link: www.hearing-voices.org.

The Hearing Voices Network provides information, support and understanding to people who hear voices and those who support them.

The aims of the network are:

• To raise awareness of voice hearing, visions, tactile sensations and other sensory experiences
• To give men women and children who have these experiences an opportunity to talk freely about this together
• To support anyone with these experiences seeking to understand, learn and grow from them in their own way

www.hearing-voices.org

Many parents need help, friendship, advice or support during those early years when their children are young. If you have at least one child under five then Home Start can help. Being a parent can be a tough job, and a lack of support from family or friends can lead to isolation.

The Home-Start volunteers are all parents themselves, and offer friendship, support and strategies to help families establish good bedtime routines, manage challenging behaviour, and even finances. They also help families with more complex needs including mental health, child protection or domestic violence issues. They work with the family over a number of weeks providing confidential friendly support to help families grow in confidence, strengthen their relationships with their children and widen their links with the local community.

Address: 116b London Road, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 0PN. Click here to see this location on a google map.

Telephone: 01892 524916, or email [email protected]

Click here to go to the Home Start South West Kent website or go to: www.home-startswk.org.uk

• Provide support for parents
• Support and Friendship for families

Have you seen your GP or Doctor and they have recommended you see a counsellor and get some therapy? Psychology Online is one of the free NHS funded talking therapy and counselling services available in Kent and Medway. These services are open to everyone aged from 17+.

Are you feeling stressed or depressed or anxious?

Or struggling with a phobia, eating disorder or addiction?

Or if you are looking for someone to help you through a difficult time in life, maybe a friend or relative has died or you’re struggling with fertility of if you have lost your job?

Talking therapies can help all sorts of people in many different situations. Talking therapy is for anyone who’s going through a bad time or who has emotional problems they can’t sort out on their own.

Ieso Digital Health provides live secure one-to-one cognitive behavioural therapy over the internet. All therapy is provided online via secure instant-messaging. This convenient, easy to use service is now FREE for NHS patients in West Kent. You can refer yourself to the service (you must be registered with a GP in West Kent) or you can ask your GP for a referral.

Contact: Ieso Digital Health: www.iesohealth.com/westkent or email: [email protected] or telephone: 01954 230066

• Anyone aged 18 and above
• Conditions including: depression, generalised anxiety disorder, mixed depression and anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias (including social anxiety disorder), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), health anxiety, adjustment disorders, anger management, psycho sexual issues, depression or anxiety in adults with a chronic physical health problem, medically unexplained symptoms, a mild learning disability or cognitive impairment.

www.iesohealth.com/westkent

There are several talking therapy providers in your area so if one has a waiting list why not try another therapy provider go to our list of local NHS Talking Therapy providers which you can find on our NHS Counselling and Therapy page.

This service was provided as part of the IAPT programme, to find out more about IAPT go to: www.iapt.nhs.uk.

Have you seen your GP or Doctor and they have recommended you see a counsellor and get some therapy? Insight Healthcare is one of the free NHS funded talking therapy and counselling services available in Kent and Medway. These services are open to everyone aged from 17+.

Are you feeling stressed or depressed or anxious?

Or struggling with a phobia, eating disorder or addiction?

Or if you are looking for someone to help you through a difficult time in life, maybe a friend or relative has died or you’re struggling with fertility of if you have lost your job?

Talking therapies can help all sorts of people in many different situations. Talking therapy is for anyone who’s going through a bad time or who has emotional problems they can’t sort out on their own.

You can refer yourself into this free service and see a NHS funded therapist.

Contact: Insight Healthcare: Telephone: 0300 555 5555 or email [email protected]. To go to their website click here.

Insight Healthcare provide counselling and support for common mental health problems; anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem, stress, trauma, phobias and anger, as well as problems with regards to relationships, work or debt.

www.insighthealthcare.org

There are several talking therapy providers in your area so if one has a waiting list why not try another therapy provider go to our list of local NHS Talking Therapy providers which you can find on our NHS Counselling and Therapy page.

This service was provided as part of the IAPT programme, to find out more about IAPT go to: www.iapt.nhs.uk.

Worried about making your internet safe for your family? There are a range of guides and help available to make your surfing safer!

CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) www.ceop.police.uk) run the Think U Know website which has hints and tips for safe surfing for people of all ages as well as providing information for concerned parents. To go to the Think U Know website link here www.thinkuknow.co.uk.

The BBC have also produced some great online guides and information which you can access at the BBC website by following this link: Share Take Care pages.

Cyberstreetwise is a UK Government run website that is full of hints and tips to help you take control of your own cyber security. Advice includes using strong, memorable passwords, installing anti-virus software on new devices, checking privacy settings on social media, checking online retail sites are secure, and downloading software and application patches when prompted.

Follow the link: www.cyberstreetwise.com

The Cybersmile Foundation is an anti cyberbullying non-profit organization. Committed to tackling all forms of digital abuse and bullying online and promoting a safer, more positive digital community. Cybersmile can help with bullying, sexting and other onine issues: www.liveitwell.org.uk/recovery-resource/cybersmile/

Share Aware - NSPCC

The NSPCC have launched their Share Aware campaign to help parents talk to their children about how to stay safe on social networks. Keeping Children safe online can be a big concern for parents but the Share Aware guide provides straightforward no nonsense advice for parents of 8 – 12 year old children.

The Share Aware website has information on Online Safety as well as a guide of what to do if a child is being abused online which is often called cyberbullying and other forms of abuse.

To go to Share Aware follow the link: www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/share-aware/

Safer Internet Centre

The UK Safer Internet Centre, where you can find e-safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe on the internet.

Find out more and to see their resources follow the link: www.saferinternet.org.uk

Cybersmart have created a guide called So You Got Naked Online which can give you some advice if you have been involved in sexting.

Internet Fraud

If you are concerned about Internet Fraud and want to learn how to avoid i tor think you might have been a victim of internet fraud The Action Fraud cyber crime reporting centre should be able to help you. It has advice about cybercrime and fraud and how to avoid it. Find out more here: www.actionfraud.police.uk

Involve Kent based in Maidstone provide a range of services to the community which includes:

• Carers - providing assessments, information, advice and peer support
• Older Adults - community support and groups to reduce isolation and falls prevention services
• Community Transport - safe and reliable transport for those unable to use public transport - for a small fee
• Volunteering - supported volunteering projects to support vulnerable people of in Maidstone Gateway as well as running the Volunteer Centre Maidstone & Malling
• VCS Support - providing advice, information and training for the VCS sector in the Maidstone area
• Cancer Support - through Macmillan Volunteer Service helping support those diagnosed with cancer
• Your Voice - For people with mental health needs, giving them a voice and enabling them to share their experiences of services and support

To go to their website click here or follow the link: www.involvekent.org.uk or email them for more information: [email protected] or call: 01622 677337

Address: Involve Kent, 39-48 Marsham Street, Maidstone Community Support Centre, Maidstone, ME14 1HH

A Carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to a family member or friend who could not manage without help. The person cared for or supported could be a relative, partner, friend or neighbour who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems.

Involve Carers recognises and values the contribution that Carers make; not only to the life and well being of the person they care for, but also to the wider community. They want to support Carers in their caring role.

Involve Carers is a point of contact and support for anyone living in Maidstone, Malling and surrounding rural areas who cares for a relative, partner or friend. They provide:

• emotional and practical support
• advice
• information
• free ‘Caring with Confidence’ courses
• peer support groups
• a wide range of free activity groups
• newsletters

They offer statutory Carers Assessments, and can register Carers with the free Kent Carers Emergency Card scheme.

Website: www.involvekent.org.uk/services/carers

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01622 685276

Address: Involve Carers, 39-48 Marsham Street, Maidstone Community Support Centre, Maidstone, ME14 1HH

SureStart Children’s Centres are places that provide information and services for families with young children aged from birth to five years in the local community and are great places to meet new people. SureStart Centres are designed to give children the best start in life and to support their parents and carers.

Each centre offers different services, including

• childcare
• early education
• training or finding a new job
• antenatal classes
• baby clinics
• support with breastfeeding
• support with parenting and speech and language
• drop-in sessions for parents and children
• Services for children with special needs and disabilities
• opportunities for families to get involved with volunteering and designing services

Please check with your local children’s centre to find out what they offer: www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/childcare-and-pre-school/childrens-centres

If you are experiencing a family dispute Kent Family Mediation Service can offer low cost mediation at a variety of venues in Kent.

They can help you with:

• Have recently separated, or separated some time ago from your partner
• Are a heterosexual, homosexual or a same sex couple i.e. gay or lesbian
• Are already Divorced
• Wish to divorce or dissolve your civil partnership
• Are a Grandparent or other family member who would like to make arrangements to see a child/children
• Have a shared interest in a financial matter, albeit you never lived with the other person
• Lived with the other person, were not married and have a family or a financial matter that you wish to resolve
• Still live together and wish to separate
• Are still married or still in a civil partnership
• Have a dissolved civil partnership
• Are separated from your partner and wish to discuss issues relating to a child/children
• Have a business dispute

Their head office is at: 1 London Road, Sittingbourne, Kent. ME10 1NQ

Telephone: 01795 410457 or email: [email protected] to go to their website click here, or go to the following link: www.kentfms.co.uk

They run services all over Kent to find a local service click here.

Kent Sheds support groups and organisations across Kent to establish a network of Kent Sheds projects. Kent Sheds will provide a place for people to come together to pursue hobbies and interests, share their knowledge and skills and develop new friendships.

Kent Sheds is there to support community groups to develop their own and can offer support, including:

• one to one mentoring and support
• advise and guidance
• development grants and financial assistance

To find out more download the Kent Sheds leaflet by following the link.

To find out more about Kent Sheds and how you can get involved follow the link: www.kentsheds.org.uk

Kent Young Carers supports all young carers aged 5-18 across Kent with information, advice, social activities and individual support. If you support someone who would otherwise struggle to look after themselves without your help - mum, dad, brother, sister… and you are aged 5 - 18 then you are a young carer.

Kent Young Carers Website gives information, events, referral forms, links and more to support young carers in Kent.

• Are you at Primary or Secondary School?
• Aged 5 - 18?
• Do you help look after someone at home because they cannot look after themselves?

Kent Young carers gives young carers the opportunity to socialise with other young carers because it is important to know they are not alone in this situation.

To find out more go to the Kent Young Carers website by clicking here, or you can call them on 0300 111 111 0 or email: [email protected]

www.kentyoungcarers.org.uk

Have you seen your GP or Doctor and they have recommended you see a counsellor and get some therapy? KMPT Primary Care Psychological Therapies West Kent is one of the free NHS funded talking therapy and counselling services available in Kent and Medway. These services are open to everyone aged from 17+.

Are you feeling stressed or depressed or anxious?

Or struggling with a phobia, eating disorder or addiction?

Or if you are looking for someone to help you through a difficult time in life, maybe a friend or relative has died or you’re struggling with fertility of if you have lost your job?

Talking therapies can help all sorts of people in many different situations. Talking therapy is for anyone who’s going through a bad time or who has emotional problems they can’t sort out on their own.

You can refer yourself into this free service and see a NHS funded therapist.

KMPT Primary Care Psychological Therapies West Kent

If you are based in Maidstone, South West Kent or Medway please call 0800 2799 500 or click here to self refer www.kmpt.nhs.uk/pcpts

KMPT Primary Care Psychological Therapies West Kent provide counselling and support for common mental health problems; anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem, stress, trauma, phobias and anger, as well as problems with regards to relationships, work or debt.

There are several talking therapy providers in your area so if one has a waiting list why not try another therapy provider go to our list of local NHS Talking Therapy providers which you can find on our NHS Counselling and Therapy page.

This service was provided as part of the IAPT programme, to find out more about IAPT go to: www.iapt.nhs.uk.

The Live It Well Website has a range of information and advice all designed to support your mental health and wellbeing. Find out about the Six Ways to Wellbeing and what people in Kent are doing to support their wellbeing.

We have information on money and benefits, debt help and advice, mental health services and how to get help in Kent and Medway.

We have a unique database of local support and help that is available in your community.

We have listings for all of the NHS Talking therapy providers in Kent, so if you are struggling find out how you can refer yourself into services here.

• Gives advice and links to other services
• Local focus website, with links to social activities, physical health and things to do in Kent and Medway
• Hosts the Live It Library - mental health recovery stories
• Offers support pages, live online support and local information
• Information on how the community mental health teams work and the mental health system in Kent and Medway
• Supports the Six Ways to Wellbeing and has local suggestions to support these - Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Take Notice, Give, and Planet - Care
• Employment , money and debt advice
• Information about personal budgets and self direct support
• Information on carers groups and service user networks
• Information on PTSD
• Information on Housing help and support

We are always looking to improve our website so if you have any ideas about how we can help let us know. To go to the home page go to www.liveitwell.org.uk or to contact Live It Well email: [email protected]

The Live Well Kent service is there to help people improve their mental and physical health and wellbeing. It is a free service for anyone over 17. Some of the things Live Well Kent can help with are:

Mental health and wellbeing

• Understanding and managing thoughts and emotions
• Achieving personal goals
• Accessing therapies and support groups.

Keeping active and healthy

• Healthy living support eg stopping smoking or cutting down on alcohol
• Dance clubs
• Walking groups and sporting activities.

Meeting people

• Volunteering
• Social enterprises and community projects
• Arts, music and culture groups.

Training and work

• Gaining new skills
• Finding the right job.

Everyday living

• Managing money, including debt and benefits
• Housing support and guidance

Live Well Kent’s aim is to connect people with their communities, ensuring they have access to the widest possible range of support and services to meet their particular needs.

So if you are looking for help and support for yourself or someone you know call on 0800 567 7699 or email [email protected] and they talk you through how we can help you and give the support and advice you need. To go to their website go to: www.livewellkent.org.uk

Live Well Kent is delivered on behalf of Kent County Council and the NHS by two charities, Porchlight and Shaw Trust.

M.A.P.S. is an Activity Programme Service for people who have physical and/or learning disabilities. They run a variety of activites all over Kent. They give people a positive outlook in life as they help individuals have new experiences and make new friends. They run activities and events all of which are listed on their website.

To go to their website follow the link: www.mapsactivityprogrammes.co.uk

Cruse provide bereavement counselling for all. Cruse provides support, counselling and advice and gives you someone to turn to when someone dies.

Cruse provides advice, information and support to anyone who has been bereaved (children, young people and adults), whenever or however the death occurred. The service is provided by trained, experienced volunteers, and is confidential and free. Cruse provides Can offer:

• someone to talk to face-to-face, or
• on the telephone
• online support
• groups – some bereaved people find it helpful to talk to others in similar circumstances
• information – about many aspects of bereavement and other sources of help and support
• face-to-face, telephone helpline and online support for children and young people.
• Support for those bereaved by death
• Supports military families
• Provides training in bereavement support

Maidstone Community Support Centre, 39-48 Marsham St, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1HH
Tel: 01622 671011 or to go to their website follow the link: www.maidstonecruse.org.uk

• Support for those bereaved by death
• Supports military families
• Provides training in bereavement support

National helpline: 0844 477 9400 or Email: [email protected]. To go to the national Cruse website click here or follow the link: www.cruse.org.uk

Maidstone Borough Council provides a range of services for the residents and businesses of Maidstone. Find out about local activities, leisure centres, groups, clubs and housing advice.

Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, ME15 6JQ. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

To go to their web page click here, or go to the following link: www.maidstone.gov.uk

Find out about local activities, leisure centres, groups, clubs and housing advice.

Maidstone Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) provide services to adults people living in the community who are experiencing mental health problems.

Maidstone Community Mental Health Team, 180/186 Union Street, Maidstone, ME14 1EY. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Tel: 01622 766900. For their website click here or to find out more about Community Mental Health Teams click here.

• Referrals to the CMHTs are usually made directly through a GP
• The intake element of a CMHT acts as a single point of access for all referrals to mental health services that we provide.
• If you are referred to a team they will assess you, signpost and offer short-term treatment as close as possible to your home

www.kmpt.nhs.uk

Day centre run by Maidstone Christian Care providing support and facilities for people facing homelessness including:

• hot showers
• laundry
• food
• lounge
• telephone
• basic skills training
• help with benefits claims and housing

Lily Smith House, 15 Knightrider Street, Maidstone, ME15 6LP. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Telephone: 01622 674064 or email: [email protected]. To go to their website follow the link: www.homelessinmaidstone.org.uk/mdc.htm.

Maidstone Mind are committed to supporting mental health and wellbeing in the community with a person centred approach. They offer a wide range of services which include:

• Arts and craft therapy
• Gardening project
• Cooking groups
• Social groups
• Walking group
• OCD Peer support
• Recovery group and Recovery Star guidance
• Coping with Life Courses (CBT based)
• Home visits for hoarders
• Befriending service
• Volunteer opportunities
• Support programme for hoarding

Maidstone Mind are also an accredited IAPT provider with counselling services.

Hoarding Service - Maidstone Mind provides home visits by appointment for individuals in the Maidstone area who hoard. They can also provide CBT specially for Hoarding. Individuals can self-refer or be referred by external agencies. Please contact Maidstone Mind for more information.

Address: 23 College Road, Maidstone, ME15 6YH. To see the location of this service on a google map click here. Telephone: 01622 692383 or email: [email protected]

To go to their website go to: www.maidstonemind.org

In collaboration with Age Maidstone, Brighter Futures and Maidstone Borough Council they provide a free Counselling Service to all Maidstone residents aged 50 and over.

mcch Maidstone supports people who have or are recovery from mental health issues to get back into work, voluntary work, training or educational opportunities.

mcch support people to build confidence, write CVs, fill out application forms and practice interviews. We also support people with computer training through the UK Online centre and support to find employment.

Live It Well Centre, 84 Holland Road, Maidstone, ME14 1UT.

Telephone: 01622 688003 or email: [email protected]

To find out more click here.

Mental Health Matters provide support for all mental health matters including bereavement, relationships, loneliness and stress 24 hours per day 7 days per week.

Mental Health Matters Telephone Helpline consists of a team of highly trained and experienced support workers who use counselling skills to provide you with emotional guidance and information.

You might choose to call us if:

• You may be feeling low, anxious or stressed and feel talking to another person might help you cope
• You may be in extreme emotional distress and feel that there is nowhere else to turn including thoughts of suicide
• You may be caring for another person and finding it difficult to cope.

Contacting the Helpline can give you a feeling of relief, wellbeing and peace of mind. You won’t be judged and our service is confidential unless we consider that there is a risk to yourself or others.

Helpline (Kent & Medway): 0800 1070160 24 hour support, 7 days a week, all year around.

The MindEd online resource provides information and advice concerning children’s mental health and wellbeing. The MindEd online resource is for concerned children and their families to seek help and advice. MindEd directs visitors to sections including ‘risky behaviour’, ‘eating disorders’, ‘sexual orientation and gender’ and ‘being a parent in the digital age’ for expert advice.

Topics on the website include:

• Should I Be Worried?
• What To Do In A Crisis
• Death And Loss (Including Pets)
• Trauma And Coping
• Talking To My Child
• Who Can Help Us?
• Building Confidence And Resilience
• Parenting In A Digital World
• Refusal To Go To School
• Bullying And What To Do As A Parent
• Sexual Orientation And Gender
• Eating Disorders

The website has been developed by the The Department for Education and Department of Health

To go to the MindEd webpage follow the link: minded.e-lfh.org.uk/families/index.html

Missing People is a charity that helps you look for missing people on behalf of the friends and family left behind and they are there is you are thinking of running away or going missing.

If you have gone missing, run away or been forced to leave home, or you know someone who has, the charity Missing People is here around the clock to offer support.

If someone you care for has gone missing they listen in confidence, and support missing people and their families to explore their options and, where possible, to reconnect. For those left behind we provide specialised support to ease the heartache and confusion, and help search for their missing loved ones.

116 000 is the number to call, text for advice, support and options if you or someone you care for it’s free, 24 hour and confidential.

To find out more about their services go to their website: www.missingpeople.org.uk

The Money Advice Service (MARS) are an independent service, set up by government to help people make the most of their money, we give free, unbiased money advice to everyone across the UK – online, over the phone and face to face.

Find free advice, online or on the phone on a wide variety of money matters.

Click here to go to the website, or call 0300 500 5000 they are open 8am - 8pm Monday - Friday and 9 - 1 on Saturday or follow the link: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

Find information, advice, online tools and templates on a variety of subjects including:

• Life Stages: Setting up home, having a baby, losing your job, divorce and separation
• Retirement
• Long-term care
• Managing your money better, including: How to review or reduce borrowing & Money saving tips
• Universal Credit and other benefits
• Bank accounts and credit or debit cards
• Scams and identity theft
• Wills and estate planning
• Saving and investing
• Borrowing money
• Debt management
• Homes and mortgages
• Insurance

NAPAC is the National Association for People Abused in Childhood. NAPAC is there to help adults come to terms with what abuse suffered in childhood. NAPAC was set up, as the only national organisation solely focussed on helping all adult survivors of any kind of childhood abuse – whether physical, sexual, emotional, ritual or organised or the result of neglect.

Millions of adults in the UK today carry with them the painful memories of abuse they suffered when they were children. Many adults with a history of childhood abuse can continue to suffer – from post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, depression. They have a higher chance than others of becoming involved in crime, prostitution, drugs or alcohol abuse. They can suffer from low self-esteem and be prone to self-harm or suicide.

NAPAC:

• Provide a range of services and information which offer direct support to survivors
• Ensure that survivors know where they can go for help
• Spread best practice in the support of survivors among those who they may approach for help
• Stand up for survivors and representing their interests among those who are in a position to help improve their lives

Call their freephone number from a landline or mobile: 0808 801 0331 the phoneline is manned from 10 am - 9pm Monday - Thursday and 10 am - 6pm Friday

or email: [email protected]

To go to the NAPAC website follow the link: napac.org.uk

The National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) was established to help survivors of domestic violence obtain protection against an abuser, as well as offering services to the police, probation service, domestic abuse agency workers, the legal profession and judiciary.

The NCDV specialise in providing free, fast and effective legal support to survivors of domestic violence, usually by helping individuals obtain injunctions from their local county court. This free service is provided to everybody, regardless of their financial circumstances, sexual orientation, race, gender, age, or political or religious belief or otherwise.

Telephone: 0844 8044 999 or to go to the National Centre for Domestic Violence website follow the link: www.ncdv.org.uk

Relate services include Relationship Counselling for individuals and couples, Family Counselling, Mediation, Children and Young People’s Counselling and Sex Therapy. They also provide friendly and informal workshops for people at important stages in their relationships.

Address: 12 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8AS, to see this location on a google map click here.

For appointments call 01892 529927 or Email: [email protected]

• Helping couples, families and individuals to make relationships work better
• Delivering inclusive, high-quality services that are relevant at every stage of life
• Sex therapy
• Relationship education

Relates relationship help pages offer practical tips, guides and videos to help you manage common relationship issues such as sex, separation and divorce, and parenting. Whatever the issue, they can help. Follow the link to go to their website www.relate.org.uk

Rethink South West Kent Voluntary Group is a support group for people who have mental health needs and their families and carers.

The Vine Baptist Church Meeting Rooms, Park Lane, Sevenoaks, TN13 3UP. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Telephone: 01732 452143 or email: [email protected]. To go to their web page click here.

This group meet for mutual support and information. They have a variety of speakers and also hold some social events which service users may attend.

http://rethink.org

The Council provides a range of services for their residents and businesses. Find out about local activities, leisure centres, groups, housing advice and more.

Council Offices, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 1HG. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Telephone: 01732 227000 or to go to their web page follow the link: www.sevenoaks.gov.uk

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness. They provide free information and advocacy to people in housing need.

24 Housing support, help and advice 0808 8004444

• Visit the Get Advice section for help online
• Phone or visit a Shelter advice centre near you
• To go to their website click here
• Provides advice and support on all aspects of housing
• Legal advice on eviction, emergencies, homelessness
• Will offer support and advice for housing in cases of family break-up, domestic violence and homeless young people

http://england.shelter.org.uk

SOBS (Survivors Of Bereavement by Suicide) is a self-help, voluntary organisation helping those who have been bereaved or affected by suicide. If you have been bereaved or affected by suicide at any point, there is help available and you do not have to be alone.

SOBS (Survivors Of Bereavement by Suicide) services can be accessed as often and for as long as you need them. It doesn’t matter how long it has been since your bereavement happened or what your relationship was with the person who died. If you feel you have been affected by a suicide and you would like to talk about it, SOBS (Survivors Of Bereavement by Suicide) are there.

Please contact their National Helpline on 0300 111 5065 9am to 9pm every day.

For more information or to access their resources go to the SOBS website here: uk-sobs.org.uk

To find a local support group go to: uk-sobs.org.uk/we-can-help/local-support-groups

If you are experiencing distress and need to speak to someone now please go to www.liveitwell.org.uk/support-and-help/need-help-now/ or call:

Mental Health Matters Helpline: 0800 107 0160

Social care services help people who are in need of support due to illness, disability, old age or poverty. Social care services are available to everyone, regardless of background. However, social care is subject to rules about your needs and ability. Services can also support the families or carers of people who receive social care.

Services include:

• Support in your own home - helping you live independently in your own home.
• Your options if living in your own home is no longer possible.
• Paying for care & how much your care costs and how to pay for it.
• Caring for other people - help and support for those who regularly care for another person in Kent.
• Disability - services for people in Kent with a disability.
• How to get social care help
• Children in care and looked after children in Kent.
• Adoption and fostering

To find out more or follow the link: www.kent.gov.uk

South West Kent Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) provide services to adults people living in the community who are experiencing mental health problems.

• Referrals to the CMHTs are usually made directly through a GP
• The intake element of a CMHT acts as a single point of access for all referrals to mental health services that we provide.
• If you are referred to a team they will assess you, signpost and offer short-term treatment as close as possible to your home

Highlands House, 10-12 Calverley Park Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2JN. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Tel: 01892 709 211. For their website click here or to find out more about Community Mental Health Teams click here to go to the Live It Well Information.

http://www.kmpt.nhs.uk

SSAFA provide whatever support is needed for the Forces family. SSAFA provide lifelong support to anyone who is currently serving or has ever served in the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force. They are here for you and your family, whenever and wherever you need us. They will always treat you with dignity and respect.

Call our central team on 0207 403 8783

If you are currently serving in the armed forces they can help with:

• Housing and housing advice
• Family Support Groups
• Adoption for serving families
• Additional Needs and Disability support
• Mentoring for Service personnel
• Professional health and social care
• Personal Support & Social Work for the RAF
• Forcesline confidential helpline
• Support for serving families abroad

If you are an ex armed services veteran SSAFA have trained volunteers can provide practical and emotional help if and when you need it. They also have a network of local branches, which means that help and advice is always close at hand.
Call our team on 0845 241 7141 or send them an enquiry.

They also offer the following specialist services for veterans and their families:

• Housing and housing advice
• Forcesline confidential helpline
• Support for offenders, ex-offenders and partners

For more information go to their main website: www.ssafa.org.uk

For Kent specific help call: 01622 792363 or email: [email protected]

They should be able to answer your calls and emails between: Monday to Friday - 9.00 - 17.00 At other times please leave a message or send an email and someone will get back to you soon

Support Line is a preventative service and aims to support people before they reach the point of crisis. Support Line is aimed at those who are socially isolated, vulnerable, at risk groups and victims of any form of abuse. Support Line will enable the caller to talk over their feelings with a helpline worker who offers non-judgmental, caring, empathic support. The helpline worker will encourage greater understanding and awareness of the caller’s issues and help the caller develop more positive coping strategies.

Telephone: 01708 765 200 (hours vary so ring for details)

www.supportline.org.uk

The Bridge Trust provides a range of services that a single homeless person may need in their journey from homelessness to independent living.

They provide:

• Supported Accommodation - Accommodation for a total of 23 single people, in 5 houses.
• Supported Move-on - Following a successful period of support in our accommodation, they will help you move-on into your own home
• Advice - They can give you advice about housing options etc
• Mediation - Many homeless situations are caused by a relationship breakdown. Their mediation service can help restore a homeless person to their original home

Address: 17a Quarry Hill Road, Tonbridge, TN9 2RN. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Telephone: 01732 368363 or email: [email protected]. To go to their website follow the link: www.thebridgetrust.org.uk

The Compassionate Friends are a charity that supports bereaved parents and their families after a child dies. The Compassionate Friends is open to all parents whose son or daughter has died at any age and from any cause, and also to grandparents and siblings. The Compassionate Friends are there to offer continuing understanding, friendship, encouragement and hope. The Compassionate friends provides opportunities to listen and share experiences and feelings. They run:

• A Helpline run by bereaved parents.
• A network of local contacts, some of whom may offer to meet one-to-one or hold group support meetings.
• A private online forum
• A range of publications written by bereaved parents, offering both practical and emotional support
• Newsletters and advice
• Occasional bring-and-share days and informal get-togethers
• Legal helpline

To go to the website of The Compassionate Friends go to: www.tcf.org.uk

For their National Helpline call: 0345 123 2304 for support and information daily 10 am – 4pm and 7pm – 11pm or email: [email protected]

The National Autistic Society provide a wide range of services for those affected by autism and their families. Click here to go to their website, and look for your local branch.

Their services include:

• Advice and Information
• Education and schools
• Residential Help
• Support for Carers
• Employment and Support

www.autism.org.uk

The Ripple Pond provides support for carers and families armed service and ex armed service personnel. The Ripple Pond groups are here for family members of those who have been impacted by events experienced, be that by physical injury or emotional trauma, while serving in the Armed Forces, however long ago and in whatever conflict or manner.

To find out more click here to go to their website or follow the link: www.theripplepond.co.uk

You can email the Ripple Pond at: [email protected]

The Salvation Army work with people who are vulnerable and marginalised they offer practical help, unconditional assistance and support.

Maidstone: The Salvation Army, Maidstone Corps, 74-80 Union Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1ED. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Tel: 01622 681 808 Email:[email protected]

Tunbridge Wells: The Salvation Army, Tunbridge Wells Corps, Bayhall Road, Tunbridge Wells
Kent, TN2 4UT. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Tel: 01892 523 849, 01892 531 080 (office), Email: [email protected]

• Clubs, support and night shelters for the vulnerable - please contact branch for details

The Silver Line is the only free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The Silver Line staff can help with:

• Offer information, friendship and advice
• Link callers to local groups and services
• Offer regular befriending calls
• Protect and support those who are suffering abuse and neglect

Who is it for?
The Silver Line is a helpline for older people – the Silver Generation. We have no strict age limits but most people we speak to are over 65. So, if you think it’s for you, it’s for you.

Telephone: 0800 4 70 80 90

To go to their website to find out more click here or follow the link below

www.thesilverline.org.uk

TheSite.org is an online guide to life for 16-25 year olds in the UK. It provides non-judgmental support and information on everything from sex and stress to debt and drugs.

Straight-talking emotional support is available 24 hours a day. There are options for:

• Chatting about anything on moderated discussion boards and live chat rooms
• Browsing over 2000 articles and videos full of trustworthy facts
• Reading about the experiences of other young people in the True Life section
• Asking questions about friends, dating, love or family life to trained advisors – free and confidential

They have information and advice on:

• Sex & Relationships
• Your Body
• Mental Health
• Drink & Drugs
• Housing
• Money
• Work & Study
• Crime & Safety
• Travel & Lifestyle

www.thesite.org

Tonbridge Volunteer centre helps people find a volunteering role which matches their skills, experience and circumstances.

3 St Mary’s Road, Tonbridge, TN9 2LD. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Telephone: 01732 357978 or email: [email protected]. To go to their web page click here, or go to the following link: www.tonbridgevb.care4free.net

Tourettes Action is an online resource for people, families and carers of people with Tourettes syndrome. Tourettes Action has a range of support, help and advice about how to deal with Tourettes.

Their information includes:

• Support in dealing with Tourettes syndrome in everyday life
• Advice for young people about what it means to have Tourettes syndrome and where to find support.
• Guidance for parents and pupils on accessing support in school.
• Advice for people with Tourettes syndrome about what it means at work.
• Support in everyday life, including housing, benefits and transport.

Tourettes Action also has a range of services for people living with Tourettes this includes:

• A helpdesk for advice
• Latest events, including regular support group meetings - including find a TA support group near to you
• Online chat forum for people affected by Tourettes

Go to their website by following this link: www.tourettes-action.org.uk

Tunbridge Wells Volunteer Centres help people find a volunteering role which matches their skills, experience and circumstances.

Wood House, Wood Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2QS. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Telephone: 01892 540131 or email: [email protected]

Tunbridge Wells Mental Health Resource centre provides practical and emotional support in a safe and caring environment, for people suffering with mental ill health.

The Resource Centre, 2a Grosvenor Park, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2BD. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Telephone: 01892 615 552 or email: [email protected] . To go to their web page click here, or go to the following link: www.twmhr.org.uk

Reachout provides friendly and confidential peer support groups for people with mental health difficulties based in the community. Our aim is to reduce isolation and encourage people to be pro-active in managing their own recovery. Reachout covers Cranbrook, Hawkhurst, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Edenbridge.

A free counselling service and community one to one support programme are available.

Sevenoaks Volunteer Centres helps people find a volunteering role which matches their skills, experience and circumstances.

Bradbourne School, Bradbourne Vale Road, TN13 3LE. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Telephone: 01732 454785 or email: [email protected]. To go to their web page click here, or go to the following link: www.sevenoaksvolunteers.org.uk

Cruse provide bereavement counselling for all. Cruse provides support, counselling and advice and gives you someone to turn to when someone dies.

Cruse provides advice, information and support to anyone who has been bereaved (children, young people and adults), whenever or however the death occurred. The service is provided by trained, experienced volunteers, and is confidential and free. Cruse provides Can offer:

• someone to talk to face-to-face, or
• on the telephone
• online support
• groups – some bereaved people find it helpful to talk to others in similar circumstances
• information – about many aspects of bereavement and other sources of help and support
• face-to-face, telephone helpline and online support for children and young people.

Tel: 01732 353575 or email: [email protected]

• Support for those bereaved by death
• Supports military families
• Provides training in bereavement support

National helpline: 0844 477 9400 or Email: [email protected]. To go to the national Cruse website click here or follow the link: www.cruse.org.uk

The West Kent Eating Disorders Support Group For Carers is part of b-eat Self-Help Network and is being run in collaboration with Carers First in Tonbridge.

Carers First, 192 High Street, Tonbridge, TN9 1BE. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Telephone: 01732 357555 or email: [email protected]. To go to their web page click here, or go to the following link: www.eda-westkent.org.uk

The group meets on the last Thursday of every month from 7.30pm - 9.00pm. All parents, carers and friends of people with an eating disorder, or of people who they believe might have an eating disorder, or of people who might be at risk of developing an eating disorder are welcome.

There are three main types of eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.

West Kent Mind works to create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress, they run many support groups and counselling.

West Kent Mind provides mental health support and help for people in Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Edenbridge, Westerham and surrounding areas.

Provides support for all and their friends, relatives and carers also run:

• Support groups for mums
• ASD Support Groups
• Stress
• Counselling
• Supported Housing

Address: Sevenoaks Centre, 34, St John’s Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3LW. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Telephone: 01732 744950 or email: [email protected]

To go to their web page go to the following link: www.westkentmind.org.uk

Winston’s Wish is a leading childhood bereavement charity in the UK. Winston’s Wish offers practical support and guidance to bereaved children, their families and professionals. Winston’s Wish offers the widest range of practical support and guidance to children, families, professionals and anyone concerned about bereaved children. Their services give bereaved families the opportunity to talk about and make sense of what has happened, to meet with us and to meet others in a similar situation.

Winstons Wish run a helpline offering support information and guidance to all those caring for a child or young person who has been bereaved.
Winston’s Wish Helpline: 08452 03 04 05 . The helpline is is open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm and Wednesdays 7pm to 9.30 pm. Calls cost 2p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

Winstons Wish also have a downloadable Living with Bereavement booklet which you can access here: www.winstonswish.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/LivingWithBereavement-2014.pdf

To find out more about the work Winston’s Wish do go to their website here: www.winstonswish.org.uk

Young Healthy Minds work directly with children and young people and with the organisations that are also working with them. Young Healthy Minds is for children and young people with issues which may include:

• Anxiety/phobias
• Low mood
• Behavioural difficulties as a result of emotional needs
• Low self –esteem
• Relationship/ social interaction issues
• Loss/ attachment/ bereavement issues

These can be caused by:

• Bullying
• Death or critical illness in family
• Domestic abuse (direct or witness)
• Family break up/ dysfunction
• Sibling conflict
• Poor home environment
• Parenting capacity
• Learning difficulties/ additional needs
• Transitions

Access to the service is predominantly through the Common Assessment Framework process. Young Healthy Minds considers referrals through this process across the whole of Kent. You can find out how to initiate a CAF by accessing the Kent website here.

Parents, children and young people can find more information about the CAF process here.

For more information about Young Healthy Minds go to the link here: www.cxk.org/young-people/emotional-health-and-wellbeing/young-healthy-minds

or call the Young Healthy Minds team on 01233 224242 or by emailing [email protected].