Accessing support and advice

Cost of Living Support

Countries around the world are facing rising goods and energy prices, inflation and cost of living pressures after the pandemic and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

We know people are worried so the government is offering help for households. See what cost of living support you could be eligible for: Help for Households - Get government cost of living support

More information is also available on the Ealing Council Website: www.ealing.gov.uk/costofliving.

Local Welfare Assistance

Local welfare assistance is a discretionary support scheme. The fund is there to help people to try to maintain an independent life or for those facing an immediate financial crisis.

As well as helping you to cope in the short term, the local welfare assistance team can also help with debt advice, budgeting and improving chances of finding a job. Your financial award may be dependent on you attending a session to help in these areas.

Anyone struggling to meet food costs, cover their rent or purchase essential items can apply for financial assistance. 

To find out more, and to apply : Local welfare assistance | Local welfare assistance | Ealing Council 

Discretionary housing payments and discretionary council tax discount

Discretionary housing payments can help with a rent shortfall and or arrears of rent if you are already in receipt of housing benefit/universal credit (housing costs element).

To find out more, and to apply visit Discretionary housing payments and discretionary council tax discounts | Discretionary housing payments and discretionary council tax discounts | Ealing Council

Ealing Advice Service 

Ealing Advice Service offer tailored advice to residents in Ealing. The service brings together key advice agencies in Ealing to help with basic information to advice, to full legal representation from a specialist solicitor or caseworker. You can get in touch with Ealing Advice for help with debt, benefits and more.

Visit ealingadvice.org 

Tel: 0208 579 8429, (option 1) or 03000 125464 (Mon- Fri 10am-4pm) 

You can also find further information on our COVID-19 Financial support and advice |  Ealing Directory (ealingfamiliesdirectory.org.uk) page, which includes details of grants you can apply for,  support for families with children with special educational needs and disabilities, help with applying for universal credit and more. 

Ealing Foodbank 

To access Ealing Food Bank you will need a referral. Referrals can be made by:

• your job centre worker
• social worker
•  local welfare assistance team
• or other professional you are working with. 

If you do not have a professional that you are working with, you can contact the Ealing Family Information Service who can make a referral on your behalf.

Tel: 020 8825 5588

Email: children@ealing.gov.uk 

As you won't be able to physically collect a voucher - a voucher code will be issued to you by the person making the referral.

Once you have your voucher code, you can drop in to collect your food parcel. If you are unable to collect it in person, you can nominate a named person to collect it for you. 

To read more about Ealing Food Bank, as well as other organisations that offer support with food, visit  Food Banks, Food Distribution Services & Food Bank Collections |  Ealing Directory (ealingfamiliesdirectory.org.uk)

Sometimes it's useful to speak to a friend or relative that you can trust about how you are feeling.

If you want to speak to someone else, there are many organisations that can help.

We have listed some of these organisations below, however why not visit our Mental health support and resources |  Ealing Directory (ealingfamiliesdirectory.org.uk) page where you will find more information for parents/carers and children and young people too.

West London NHS -24/7 Helpline 

If you need urgent mental health advice or support, you can contact West London NHS Trust's 24/7 Helpline. You can call this number to get help or advice in a crisis from trained mental health advisors and clinicians, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

• Tel: 0800 328 4444
• Visit : https://westlondon.nhs.uk/services/help-in-a-crisis/

Speak CAMHS Helpline

You can call the speak CAMHS helpline if: 

• You are a child/young person and you are worried about your mental health
• You are a parent/carer or professional worried about a child's mental health

The service is for residents in Ealing, Hammersmith & Fuylham and Hounslow. 

Call 0800 328 4444 and choose Option 2 for CAMHS.
 
The helpline is open:

• Monday to Friday from 8am to 11pm                     
• Weekends and Bank holidays from midday to 8pm

Outside these hours, crisis calls will be passed to an out of hours CAMHS professional. If they're not available to talk straight away, you can arrange a call back.

For more information, visit: Speak CAMHS helpline :: West London NHS Trust

Samaritans 

Samaritans provide a 24-hour service offering confidential emotional support to anyone who is in crisis.

• Call 116 123 (24 hours a day, every day. Calls are free)
• Email jo@samaritans.org
• Visit: www.samaritans.org

Young Minds 

Young Minds are a Mental health charity that help children and young people. Parents can contact their parent helpline for detailed advice, emotional support and signposting about a child or young person up to the age of 25.

• Call 0808 802 5544 (9.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday)
• Visit www.youngminds.org.uk 

Family Lives 

Confidential helpline service for families. You can get in touch for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life.

• Call 0808 800 2222 (9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday and 10am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday. Calls are free from landlines and most mobiles)
• Visit www.familylives.org.uk 

Family Lives also offer a befriending service in Ealing: Family Lives |  Ealing Directory (ealingfamiliesdirectory.org.uk)

Ealing Health Visiting Team 

You can call the Health Visiting advice line for confidential telephone health advice. 

The Health Visiting team can provide support on all aspects of child health,development and parenting including:

• Infant Feeding  / Introduction to Solids 
• Management of Minor Illness 
• Behaviour / Sleep

The School Nursing Team can offer health promotion advice on:

• Allergies  / Bedwetting
• Nutrition / Growth and Development  / Physical Activity
• Behaviour / Relationships and more! 

Tel: 020 8102 5888 or email CLCHT.ealingadminhub@nhs.net for confidential telephone health advice.

Phones open 9am-5pm, 7 days a week, Monday to Sunday (including bank holidays)

If you are over 10+ weeks pregnant and/or have children under 4 years of age and are claiming benefits, you could be eligible to receive money to purchase healthy food, milk, and free vitamins.

Visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply to check your eligibility and sign up.

You could receive up to £8.50 per week via a pre-paid contactless card to purchase, fruit, vegetables, lentils and pulses, Cow’s milk, and infant formula.

Please contact a Healthcare Professional for any further queries.

Ealing Work West

Ealing Work West provide information on careers advice, recruitment guidance training courses and more.

Advisors are available to speak to via phone or email: 

To book an appointment you can contact the service via email CIAG@ealing.gov.uk or phone 020 8825 8486

Visit their website: https://ealingworkwest.com/ 

Learn Ealing

The council’s adult learning service offer various courses, including those which can provide Employability skills

Visit Learn Ealing

The Skills Tool Kit 

The Skills Toolkit is a new government website, which provides to free digital and numeracy courses. Visit theskillstoolkit.campaign.gov.uk

Jobhelp is a new website from Jobcentre Plus to help people looking for work. Visit jobhelp.dwp.gov.uk

The National Careers Service

Offers free and impartial information, advice and guidance to help you with your decisions about careers, courses and work. Use its career tools to explore careers, find out about your own skills, find a course or get advice about getting a job.

Visit: nationalcareers.service.gov.uk

Ealing Parenting Service

Ealing's Parenting Service offer various programmes as well as online workshops to help with all aspects of parenting. 

You can find out about all their upcoming programmes on their Ealing Parenting Service |  Ealing Directory (ealingfamiliesdirectory.org.uk) page. 

Family Lives 

As part of the Energise Families Project, families with children aged from 5 to 10 years can have access to trained befrienders in Ealing who will provide support, advice and a listening ear help you to feel more confident as a parent and explore solutions.

Visit Family Lives |  Ealing Directory (ealingfamiliesdirectory.org.uk) to find out more. 

The below services offer to support to families in Ealing with SEND. They also offer online sessions and workshops covering various topics, such as parent/carer support. 

Contact Ealing

Contact Ealing can offer support with providing information around your child’s condition, benefit entitlements and also signpost to other organisations that can help.  As well as information, Contact also provide guidance and support with filling out forms such as PIP and DLA.  Contact run regular workshops and classes on topics that can benefit parents living within the borough, as well as parent support group meetings and condition specific groups for support and the opportunity for parents and carers to meet.  

Tel: 07908 826948 

Email: ealing@contact.org.uk

Website: https://contact.org.uk/

Visit Contact Ealing's Facebook for updates  Contact Ealing | Facebook 

Ealing Mencap 

Ealing Mencap are a learning disability organisation in Ealing that campaigns for people's rights, creates opportunities, showcases our customers' talents and skills, breaks down barriers, overcomes isolation and changes lives.  Ealing Mencap offer a range of opportunities and services for people with learning disabilities as well as their carers and families. 

Ealing Mencap have also launched LIFELINE, a help line offering support, guidance and someone to talk to during these confusing difficult times. 

LIFELINE is available to anyone in Ealing with learning disabilities, Autism or physical disabilities, as well as their families/carers. 

Tel: 020 8566 9575 

Website: Ealing Mencap - Support us in changing lives for the better

Ealing Anchor Foundation (formerly known as P.E.S.T.S Parents of Ealing Self Help Training Scheme) 

Ealing Anchor Foundation offers a welcome place for parents and carers of children aged 0-5 with a disability, additional or complex need in Ealing. Ealing Anchor Foundation offer advice, support, information and training workshops for parents and carers in a friendly and nurturing setting. Language therapists who visit the sessions to give free, confidential, impartial advice and support. 

Tel: 020 8571 9954

E-mail: info@ealinganchor.org.uk

Visit Ealing Anchor Foundation on Facebook for updates Ealing Anchor Foundation | Facebook

Ealing Impartial Support, Advice & Information on Disability & Special Educational Needs (ISAID) 

ISAID is part of national charity Family Action which has for over 150 years transformed lives by providing practical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation. Ealing ISAID works with children and young people 0-25 with SEND and also with their parents and carers. ISAID supports with:

• EHCP process, annual reviews, transport appeals.
• School transition and SEN support
• Help with tribunals and other legal processes. 
• Support and advice for young people.
• Caseworker support as part of the Ealing Advice Service for children and young people with complex education, health and social care needs.
• Sessions to help parents, carers and professionals understand SEND procedures and the law.

Tel: 020 3978 8989

Email: isaidealing@family-action.org.uk

Website: www.ealing-isaid.org.uk

Ealing Parent & Carer Forum 

Representative group of over 1000 parents/carers of children and young people with SEND in Ealing.

• Regular information events such as coffee mornings to keep you updated.
• Have a local voice that’s heard by the Council and other key organisations.
• FREE membership (no need to be a member to access workshops).

Email: info@epcf.org.uk

Visit: www.epcf.org.uk