Sources of Support
Please note we are not an emergency service, there are a number of alternative support options available:
Medical/mental health
· In an emergency dial 999
· None emergency dial 111 (or see NHS Direct – www.nhs.uk)
· Minor injury & illness unit available 24/7 at High Wycombe Hospital – HP11 2TT, Tel 01494 526161
· Accident and Emergency Department (A&E): Wexham Park Hospital, Wexham, Slough, SL2 4HL – tel: 01753 633000, open 24 hours
· A fee paying medical service is offered by Doctor Now – https://doctornow.org/. PLEASE NOTE YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR USING THIS SERVICE
If you are unsure about charges for accessing the NHS, see information on the Gov.UK website.
· Samaritans can be contacted by telephone at any time 116 123 or email: jo@samaritans.org
· If it is out of hours and you need to speak to someone urgently you can call Nightline who offer a term time listening service between 6pm & 8am and can be contacted via instant message www.nightline.org.uk or telephone 0207 631 0101. Out of term time, you can email: listening@nightline.org.uk for a response within 48 hours.
· Mind the mental health charity have an information line 0300 123 3393 or text 86463. They also have links on their website to Elefriends a supportive on-line community, a place to share experiences and listen to others. https://www.elefriends.org.uk/
· Togetherall a free 24/7 online and anonymous support for mental health. Visit https://togetherall.com/joinnow/nfts and register for loads of information, resources and support.
· Sexual health advice and support – including emergency contraception https://sexualhealthbucks.nhs.uk/
· Sexual Assault Referral Unit (based in Slough): 0800 970 9952 or message via website https://www.solacesarc.org.uk/
Other support
· Citizens Advice – https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ – Professional advice on a whole range of issues, including Benefits, Work, Debt and money, Consumer, Family, Housing, Law and courts, Immigration, Health. You can find details of local CAs on their website.
· Shelter – https://england.shelter.org.uk/ – advice and support in relation to housing and accommodation, including contract rights and responsibilities.
· LGBT Switchboard – Switchboard is an LGBT+ helpline – a place for calm words when you need them most. There to help you with whatever you want to talk about. Nothing is off limits and conversations are 100% confidential. Call 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm daily).
· RU Coming Out? – Real life coming out stories.
· Meetup – allows people to search for relevant groups in their area. You can also set up your own.
· FFLAG – supports friends and family members of LGBT people.
· Maytree – provides support for people who are feeling suicidal and provides a 4-day or 5-day stay. Call 020 7263 7070 for more details and to be assessed. Email address: maytree@maytree.org.uk. The site is in London and they are hoping to open another house in Manchester in 2020.
· Papyrus – the national charity for prevention of young suicide. They run HOPELineUK which is a National Confidential Helpline. Phone: 0800 068 41 41 / Text: 0778 620 9697 / email: pat@papyrus.org.uk (Mon-Fri 10am-10pm / Weekends & Bank Holidays 2-10pm)
· Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) – advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights across England, Scotland and Wales. Phone number 0808 800 0082.
· Mermaids UK – family and individual support for gender diverse and transgender children and young people. Mermaids is passionate about supporting children, young people, and their families to achieve a happier life in the face of great adversity.
· The Gendered Intelligence (GI) Network for Therapists and Counsellors – aims to support therapists and counsellors to enable a positive experience in a therapy setting for trans people (including young people) and their families. Here’s a link to the PDF version.
· MindLine Trans+ – a confidential emotional, mental health support helpline for people who identify as transgender, agender, gender fluid and non-binary. Phone number 0300 330 5468.
· Galop – If you’ve experienced hate crime, sexual violence or domestic abuse, GALOP is there for you. They also support lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people who have had problems with the police or have questions about the criminal justice system.
· Stonewall’s Information Service is here to help with any issues affecting LGBT people or their families. Whatever your situation, you’re not on your own. We’ll do what we can to help, or point you in the right direction of someone who can.
· LGBT Foundation is a national charity delivering advice, support and information services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities. https://lgbt.foundation/
· Help and support for those with hearing loss: https://actiononhearingloss.org.uk/information-and-support/
· Help and support for blind and partially sighted people – this can be anything from practical and emotional support, campaigning for change, reading services and the products offered in their online shop https://www.rnib.org.uk/
· The Equality Advisory Service Helpline advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights, across England, Scotland and Wales. https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/
· Forced marriage – https://www.gov.uk/stop-forced-marriage
