Further sources of information

Advicenow

An independent, not-for-profit website providing accurate, up-to-date information on rights and legal issues.

Website: www.advicenow.org.uk

Advice UK

A UK network of advice-providing organisations. They do not give out advice themselves, but the website has a directory of advice-giving agencies.

Website: www.adviceuk.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 7469 5700 | Fax: 020 7469 5701

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice Bureaux provide free, confidential and independent advice in England and Wales. Advice is available face-to-face and by telephone. Most bureaux offer home visits and some also provide email advice. To receive advice, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau, which you can find by visiting the website.

Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Telephone: (admin only) 020 7833 2181
Fax: (admin only) 020 7833 4371

The Adviceguide website is the main public information service of Citizens Advice. It covers England, Scotland and Wales.
Website: www.adviceguide.org.uk

Citizens Advice Scotland

Citizens Advice Scotland is the umbrella organisation for bureaux in Scotland. They do not offer advice directly but can provide information on Scottish bureaux.

Website: www.cas.org.uk

Community Legal Service (CLS)

The CLS can help you find legal advice and information from a range of sources, including Citizens Advice Bureaux, law centres, independent advice centres and high street solicitors across England and Wales. You can also find out more about legal aid and whether you might be entitled to financial help with your case. The CLS helpline can give you free advice about benefits, tax credits, debt, education, employment or
housing if you qualify for legal aid.

Tel: 0845 345 4 345
Website: www.clsdirect.org.uk

Directgov

Directgov is the UK government's digital service for people in England and Wales. It delivers information and practical advice about public services, bringing them all together in one place.

Website: www.direct.gov.uk

Government Equalities Office (GEO)

The GEO is the Government department responsible for equalities legislation and policy in the UK.

Website: www.equalities.gov.uk
Telephone: 0303 444 0000

Law Centres Federation

The Law Centres Federation is the national co-ordinating organisation for a network of community-based law centres. Law centres provide free and independent specialist legal advice and representation to people who live or work in their catchment areas. The Federation does not itself provide legal advice, but can provide details of your nearest law centre.

Website: www.lawcentres.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7842 0720
Fax: 020 7842 0721
Email: [email protected]

The Law Society

The Law Society is the representative organisation for solicitors in England and Wales. Their website has an online directory of law firms and solicitors. You can also call their enquiry line for help in finding a solicitor. They do not provide legal advice.

Website: www.lawsociety.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7242 1222 (general enquiries)

They also have a Wales office:

Telephone: 029 2064 5254
Fax: 029 2022 5944
Email: [email protected]

Scottish Association of Law Centres (SALC)

SALC represents law centres across Scotland.
Website: www.scotlawcentres.blogspot.com
Telephone: 0141 561 7266

Age UK:
Age UK aims to improve later life for everyone by providing information and advice, campaigns, products, training and research.

Website: www.ageuk.org.uk
Telephone: 0800 169 6565
Email: [email protected]

ChildLine
ChildLine is the UK’s free, confidential helpline dedicated to children and young people. Advice can also be found on its website.

Website: www.childline.org.uk
Telephone: 0800 1111

The Children's Legal Centre (CLC):
The CLC provides legal advice, information and representation for children and young people.

Website: www.childrenslegalcentre.com
Telephone: 01206 877 910
Fax: 01206 877 963
Email: [email protected]

Children’s Rights Alliance England (CRAE):
CRAE provides free legal information and advice, raises awareness of children’s human rights, and undertakes research about children’s access to their rights.

Website: www.crae.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7278 8222
Advice line (Tues to Thurs 3.30-5.30pm): 0800 32 88 759
Email: [email protected]
Advice email: [email protected]

Disability Law Service (DLS):
The DLS is a national charity providing information and advice to disabled and Deaf people. It covers a wide range of topics including discrimination, consumer issues, education and employment.
Website: www.dls.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7791 9800
Minicom: 020 7791 9801

Mencap:
Mencap is the leading UK charity for people with a learning disability and their families. It provides a range of services including advice and information.

Website: www.mencap.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 808 1111
Fax: 020 7608 3254
Email: [email protected]

Mind:
Mind is the leading mental health charity for England and Wales. It provides information to help promote understanding of mental health and campaigns to promote and protect good mental health. It has an info-line and a legal services line, and also provides online advice.

Website: www.mind.org.uk
Infoline: 0845 766 0163
Legal Advice Service: 0845 2259393
Email: [email protected]

RADAR:
RADAR is a national umbrella organisation with around 500 member groups. It campaigns for equal rights for disabled people and gives information and advice on disability issues.

Website: www.radar.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7250 3222
Fax: 020 7250 0212
Minicom: 020 7250 4119
Email: [email protected]

Rethink:
Rethink helps over 48,000 people every year through its services, support groups and by providing information on mental health problems.

Website: www.rethink.org
Telephone: 020 7840 3188 or 0845 456 0455 (10:00 to 14:00 Monday–Friday)
Email: [email protected]

Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB):
The RNIB is the UK's leading charity offering information, support and advice to over two million people with sight loss.

Website: www.rnib.org.uk
Helpline: 0303 123 9999
Email: [email protected]

Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID):
The RNID offers a range of services for Deaf and hard of hearing people and provides information and support on all aspects of deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus.

Website: www.rnid.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 808 0123
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
Fax: 020 7296 8199
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

SCOPE:
Scope is the leading UK disability charity for children and adults with cerebral palsy. It provides information, help, support and advice on disability issues.

Website: www.scope.org.uk
Helpline: 0808 800 3333
Text SCOPE, plus your message to 80039
Email: [email protected]

Terrence Higgins Trust:
Terrence Higgins Trust is the leading and largest HIV and sexual health charity in the UK. It offers a range of services including advice and information for people affected by HIV.

Website: www.tht.org.uk
Telephone: 0845 1221 200 (10:00–22:00 Monday– Friday, 12:00–18:00 Saturday and Sunday)
Email: [email protected]

Gingerbread:
Gingerbread is a national and local charity working for, and with, single parent families, to improve their lives. It lobbies and campaigns to raise awareness and provides advice and information for single parents.

Website: www.gingerbread.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 802 0925 (single parent helpline)
Email: [email protected]

Maternity Action:
Maternity Action works to end inequality and promote the health and well-being of all pregnant women, their partners and children from before conception through to the child's early years. It provides information sheets but cannot provide advice on individual cases.

Website: www.maternityaction.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7253 2288

Rights of Women (RoW):
RoW is a UK voluntary organisation working to attain justice and equality by informing, educating and empowering women on their legal rights. It provides free, confidential advice on a range of issues.

Website: www.row.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7251 6577
Email: [email protected]

Women's Aid:
Women's Aid is the key national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children. It supports a network of over 500 domestic and sexual violence services across the UK and provides a free 24-hour helpline.

Website: www.womensaid.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 2000 247
Email: [email protected]
Helpline: [email protected]

Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES):
GIRES provides a wide range of information and training for Trans people, their families and professionals who care for them.

Telephone: 01372 801 554
Fax: 01372 272 297
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.gires.org.uk

The Gender Trust:
The Gender Trust is the UK’s largest charity working to support transsexual, gender dysphoric and transgender people or those who are affected by gender identity issues. It has a helpline and provides training and information for employers and organisations.

Website: www.gendertrust.org.uk
Telephone: 0845 231 0505

Press for Change (PfC):
PfC is a political lobbying and educational organisation. It campaigns to achieve equality and human rights for all Trans people in the UK through legislation and social change. It provides legal advice, training and consultancy for employers and organisations as well as undertaking commissioned research.

Website: www.transequality.co.uk / www.pfc.org.uk
Telephone: 0161 432 1915 (10:00–17:00, Thursdays only until further notice)
Email: [email protected]

Trans Youth Network
Run by and for young trans people aged 11–26, Trans Youth Network is a new UK-wide project to provide advocacy, support, signposting and training opportunities to young trans people and young people unsure of, questioning, and generally exploring their biological sex, gender or gender identity in any way at all.

Website: www.transyouth.org
Email: [email protected]

Inter Faith Network:
The Inter Faith Network for the UK promotes good relations between people of different faiths. It has a good list of contact details for faith groups and organisations across the UK.

Website: www.interfaith.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7931 7766
Fax: 020 7931 7722
Email: [email protected]

The Albert Kennedy Trust:
The Albert Kennedy Trust provides information and support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans homeless young people.

Website: www.akt.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7831 6562 (London)
Telephone: 0161 228 3308
Email: [email protected]

Equality Network:
The Equality Network works for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality and human rights in Scotland. It provides information, and carries out campaigning and policy work.

Website: www.equality-network.org
Telephone: 07020 933 952
Fax: 07080 933 954
Email: [email protected]

Galop:
Galop works to prevent and challenge homophobic and transphobic hate crime in Greater London. It aims to reduce crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and campaigns for an improved criminal justice system.

Website: www.galop.org.uk
Helpline: 020 7704 2040
Admin: 020 7704 6767
Fax: 020 7704 6707
Email: [email protected]

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation (LGF):
The LGF is a North-West based charity working to support lesbian, gay and bisexual people. It provides advice and information, counselling, and support groups.

Website: www.lgf.org.uk
Telephone: 0845 3 30 30 30
Email: [email protected]

Queer Youth Network (QYN):
QYN is a national organisation providing advocacy, support, signposting and training opportunities to young lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

Website: www.queeryouth.org.uk
Email: [email protected]

Stonewall:
Stonewall is the UK’s leading lesbian, gay and bisexual charity and carries out campaigning, lobbying and research work as well as providing a free information service for individuals, organisations and employers.

Website: www.stonewall.org.uk
Telephone: 08000 50 20 20
Email: [email protected]

Stonewall Housing:
Stonewall Housing provides supported housing, advice and advocacy for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in London.

Website: www.stonewallhousing.org
Telephone: 020 7359 5767
Email: [email protected]