MIND- If you need support with your mental health and wellbeing  you can call MIND on 0300 123 3393. Their phonelines are open 10am-6pm weekdays.

They are closed: Monday 25th December (Christmas day)Tuesday 26th December (Boxing day) Monday 1st January (New year’s day)

Side by Side is an online peer support community where you can talk about mental health and connect with others. Available 24/7 including Christmas Day and other bank holidays.

The Samaritans phoneline is open 24/7.

You can call them on 116 123 if you need to speak to someone about your mental health and wellbeing.

If you are in need of support, worried about a loved one or struggling to cope, you can call CALM on 0800 58 58 58.

Their phoneline is open from 5pm-midnight.

If you are under 25 and in need of mental health support you can call The Mix on 0808 808 4994.

Their phonelines are open 4pm-11pm.

The Mental Health Foundation is the UK’s leading charity for everyone’s mental health.

There is also a podcast episode about looking after your mental health you can listen to: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/podcasts/how-look-after-your-mental-health-christmas

Connect is a service that operates across West Yorkshire offering early intervention, outpatient and inpatient services for adults with eating disorders.

Link-ED is a part of the West Yorkshire Adult Eating Disorders ED Network, a tiered service providing  support for people with eating disorders in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.

You can follow them on Instagram at @connectlypft where you can find helpful tips and information to navigate any challenges that may come up around the festive period.

You can also visit the BEAT website for more information and support. They are the UK Charity for Eating Disorders.

Battle Scars supports anybody affected by self-harm.

They are a survivor-led service that runs easy to access support.

For those located in Leeds and surrounding areas you can access the face-to-face services, but there are phone services and online support available too.

For more information and to get support: https://www.battle-scars-self-harm.org.uk/ 

Trussell Trust 

You can find your local food bank, their contact details and opening times here. 

If you are struggling to afford the essentials or need advice you can call 0808 208 2138. This is a free phoneline where you will speak to a trained Citizens Advice adviser.

North Yorkshire Food Banks 

https://www.billhelp.uk/north-yorkshire-food-banks/ 

There are several food banks available to residents in North Yorkshire. Each centre has different hours and availability of items. There are some eligibility criteria so make sure to check these out before heading over.

North East Food Banks 

FareShare North East provides food to local community groups in the North East.

You can find out more here.

The Trussell Trust also has a foodbank in Newcastle and other areas in the North East.

The Help for Households Campaign outlines what support is available to help with the cost of living and how to save money on energy costs.

For more information you can click here.

Energy Saving Checklist

Handy information sheet available here. This a checklist of energy saving tips you can use around your house to save on energy usage.

General Energy Advice

For advice on energy usage, information on grants and to use an energy efficiency calculator you can click here.

Warm and Well- North Yorkshire 

Warm and Well raises awareness of the impact of cold homes on our health and wellbeing. They also offer practical solutions to reduce fuel poverty, and supports people and communities to stay warm and well whilst at home.

You can receive free energy advice and support through your local Citizens Advice. 

You can discuss concerns with your bills or meters or if you are struggling to pay for the energy you are currently using.

They also have resources on 20 Ways to Save on Energy.

To learn more, you can click here.

The following advice can help protect anyone experiencing abuse at home:

-Try and plan an escape route. Think about where you will go so you can call the police or alert a neighbour and plan a place to meet with your children if you get separated

-Move to lower-risk parts of your home, where there is an escape route or access to a phone

-Avoid rooms like the kitchen or garage, which contain objects that could be used to hurt you

-Teach your children how to call 999 in an emergency

-If you are unable to get out of the house, barricade or lock yourself into a room, from which you can call the police and contact friends, family or neighbours

-If you are experiencing abuse or are in immediate danger, call 999, remain silent and press 55 when the operator asks you to. This will let them know you are in immediate danger and help will be despatched to you.

We provide domestic abuse services for victims in several areas across the North of England:

Foundation Durham – provides a mixture of accommodation based, floating and triage support to clients across County Durham. The Domestic Abuse Navigator Service (DAN) provides a responsive integrated support service for clients with complex needs who are fleeing domestic abuse.

+Choices – A Respect Accredited service that operates in North Yorkshire and offers an Integrated Support Service to partners, ex-partners and/or other family members who have experienced domestic abuse.  A dedicated Victim Liaison Officer (VLO) will be the first point of contact. They will work in partnership with the Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS) and other agencies to provide a robust and integrated system of support.

Respect (National):

Respect is a national organisation leading on the development of safe, effective work with perpetrators, male victims, and young people using violence in their close relationships.

The Respect website: www.respect.uk.net

If you are concerned about your behaviour or think you might be an abuser, you can call the Respect Phoneline on 0808 802 4040. It is an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are abusing their partners and families and is open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm. The helpline also takes calls from partners or ex-partners, friends and relatives who are concerned about perpetrators.

+Choices (North Yorkshire):

+Choices (Positive Choices) is a Respect Accredited service of Foundation (part of the Inspire North Group) for perpetrators of domestic abuse, providing an opportunity to recognise, acknowledge and change abuse behaviour.

The Positive Choices programme is available for anyone in North Yorkshire, regardless of gender or sexual orientation aged 16 years and over who is a perpetrator of domestic abuse, including repeat offenders and adolescents violent toward parents, who wish to voluntarily address their abusive behaviour.

Self referrals can be made via the form on the +Choices webpage: www.foundationuk.org/team/choices-domestic-abuse-perpetrator-programme/

To learn more about how +Choices can support perpetrators, you can watch this short video.

If you are worried a friend, neighbour or loved one might be a victim of domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free and confidential advice, 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247. If you believe someone is in immediate danger, stay safe yourself and call 999.