Helpful Information

Find Your Local Food Bank

If you need support from your local food Bank please use the link below. If you add your postcode it will show details one the nearest one.


New Helpline to Aid Autistic people, people with learning disabilities and their families and carers

Respect For All Counselling is a specialist long-established counselling service covering the whole of Greater Manchester, specifically for autistic people, people with learning disabilities, and their family members and carers.

Respect For All’s new telephone support and helpline service to aid autistic people, people with learning disabilities, and their family members and carers.

The service is designed to support any of these people who might be affected by the current Coronavirus crisis, or who might just need some short-term telephone support.

The service started taking calls from the start of the week (Monday, 1 June 2020).

The phone lines are staffed for 2 hours a day, 6 days a week, and the service will return any messages left on our answer phone, available 24 hours a day.

Their opening times may change based on demand levels, but will be updated on their website. Current opening times are:

Monday6pm – 8pm
Tuesday4pm – 6pm
Wednesday6pm – 8pm
Thursday10am-12 noon
Friday5pm – 7pm
Saturday4pm – 6pm
Sundayclosed

In addition to listening and providing suitable suggestions and signposting for each call, the service can offer limited follow-up telephone sessions for callers who need more help than one phone call can provide https://www.respectforall.org.uk/counselling/home

Their Contact Number is: 0161 532 4070


Gas & Electric Companies Support

We have been made aware that certain gas and electricity companies are providing customers with additional credit on their meters if they are self-isolating.

All customers need to do is call up their provider on the below numbers and tell them they are self-isolating.

They will then be sent 2 weeks’ worth of gas / electricity or if they have a smart meter they will top you up.

The numbers to call are:

Radio Heroes

Could you be a radio hero? Are you, or do you know someone aged over 70, who would benefit from a free DAB digital radio to help them keep in touch with news and information whilst in isolation?

Local BBC radio stations have joined with manufacturers and retailers to set aside thousands of DAB digital radios to be given away for free to vulnerable people aged over 70.

From Monday 30 March, the charity Wavelength is inviting people to nominate someone for a free radio by completing an online application form at https://wavelength.org.uk – (by clicking on this link you will be redirected to the Wavelength website and subject to their privacy notice and terms.)

Mood Buster

During this difficult time if you are feeling low and live in Manchester, you may be interested in taking part in our study to evaluate Moodbuster, an online programme that can help to improve your mood and wellbeing. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/research/moodbuster

The Manchester Wellbeing Fund

The Manchester Wellbeing Fund wants to support groups which are developing new ways of keeping in touch with the most vulnerable in our communities.

During these challenging times, many people will be feeling isolated.

Now more than ever, we need to take care of our own mental health and the mental wellbeing of those around us – and now more than ever community groups are adapting and responding. Some examples of the types of costs we can support are:

  • Basic mobile phones or smartphones;
  • Printing and distribution of information leaflets about support available;
  • Replacing a group’s outdated laptop;
  • Group subscriptions to services such as Zoom;
  • Online training in use of social media;
  • Craft and creative materials.

Fast-track grants of between £250 and £500 are available and we will aim to decide on applications within 10 days.

We will monitor demand and hope to be able to keep the fund open for several weeks. We don’t want to duplicate the excellent work that is already being co-ordinated across the city so kindly ask that groups do not apply for funding for food parcels or other essentials.

To apply, visit the MWF webpage for criteria and a short Expression of Interest form.

For further information about support during the COVID-19 pandemic, refer to the websites of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Community Central and Manchester Community Hub.

Silverline

The Silver Line operates the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK that’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year.

We also offer telephone friendship where we match volunteers with older people based on their interests, facilitated group calls, and help to connect people with local services in their area.

The Silver Line Helpline – 0800 470 8090

The Silver Line is the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK open every day and night of the year.

Our specially trained helpline team can:

  • offer information, friendship and advice
  • link callers to local groups and services
  • offer regular friendship calls
  • protect and support older people who are suffering abuse and neglect.

68% of calls to the helpline are made at night and weekends.

Who can use The Silver Line?

The Silver Line is a helpline and friendship service for people aged 55 and over.

All helpline calls are free

The Silver Line Helpline is free to callers.

All costs of calls are covered by The Silver Line.

We rely entirely on donations from organisations and people who care about the welfare and safety of older people.

Find out more about how to support The Silver line here.

All helpline calls are confidential

The Silver Line is a confidential helpline.

Callers are free to express their feelings, and describe their lives honestly, and can trust us to respect their privacy.

In cases of abuse or neglect, with the callers’ permission, we will involve specialist safeguarding organisations such as Action on Elder Abuse or the appropriate social services team.

Silver Line Telephone Friends

If callers would like to be put in touch with a Silver Line Friend, they can enjoy a regular weekly friendship telephone call.

Silver Line Friends are volunteers who have contacted The Silver Line because they enjoy talking to older people.

Calls are free for both parties, as costs are covered by The Silver Line through donations.

It is not a counselling service and Silver Line Friends will not meet, or know the telephone numbers of the people they speak to.

Silver Circles

Silver Circles are facilitated group phone calls where people with shared interests can discuss topics that interest them with a wider small group of 6 to 8 people.

Calls are free for people taking part, as costs are covered by The Silver Line.

Silver Connects

The Silver Connects team provides older people with support, advice, and help with connecting to local services.

Since launching in November 2015, the team has worked on issues ranging from housing and health, to finding lunch clubs and even financial concerns.

Age UK Website

The Age Uk Website can be found here.

Mental Health & Other Support

Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)

Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Emergency Food & Essentials

Helpline – 0161 770 7007

Emergency food and essential basic items are available to people genuinely in need, unable to leave the house and without neighbour or family support. 9am to 5pm weekdays and 11am to 2pm on weekends.

Funeral services

Services are following national guidance which restricts the number of mourners to 10 people.

There are currently no delays in the funeral process.

This may change in the next few weeks and we ask for people’s understanding during this difficult time.

Education Update

We understand that this is a difficult time for parents/carers of children in education.

The vast majority of schools have remained open since the covid-19 outbreak to provide care for a limited number of children whose parents are key workers and cannot be safely cared for at home as well as for children who receive support from social workers and have Education Health Care Plans.

In some cases neighbouring schools have pooled their resources to offer this service and this is working well locally in Oldham.

At this stage the government have been clear there is an expectation on schools to open over the normal Easter Holiday period for these children they have been supporting.

In Oldham the response of our schools has been tremendous and staff have volunteered to cover this whole period, including the bank holidays.

This information is also available in easy to Read & Different Languages here.

Relate

The UK’s largest provider of relationship support.

Website: www.relate.org.uk

Phone: 0300 003 0396*

(* Monday-Thursday: 8am to 8pm, Friday: 8am to 6pm, Saturday: 9am to 1pm)

Family Lives

Advice on all aspects of parenting, including dealing with bullying.

Website: www.familylives.org.uk

Phone: 0808 800 2222*

(*Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm)

Befriending

Age Uk Call in Time Telephone Befriending

For Befriending or to Volunteer.

Cyril Flint Befrienders

Website: www.cyrilflint.org

Telephone: 0161 942 9465

Young Minds

Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.

youngminds.org.uk

Refuge

Advice on dealing with domestic violence.

Website: www.refuge.org.uk

Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)

Bereavement

Website: www.cruse.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Self Help Services

Self Help offer a wide range of support and services for people living with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, phobias and panic attacks.

Website: www.selfhelpservices.org.uk/

Phone: 0161 226 3871

CALM

CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.

Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)

Mind

Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.

Website: www.mind.org.uk

Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)

Rethink Mental Illness

Support and advice for people living with mental illness.

Website: www.rethink.org

Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)

Samaritans

Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

Website: www.samaritans.org.uk

Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)

SANE

Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.

SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30pm to 10.30pm)

Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: www.sane.org.uk/textcare

Peer support forum: www.sane.org.uk/supportforum

Website: http://www.sane.org.uk/support

Oldham Safeguarding Children Partnership

Oldham Safeguarding Partnership has been developed by Oldham Council, Greater Manchester Police and the Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group to ensure that all children and young people in the area get the safeguarding and protection they need in order to help them to thrive. 

The partnership will provide leadership and accountability for the promotion of children and young peoples’ well-being and the prevention and protection from harm.

The partnership will promote a child-centred approach to safeguarding, listening to children, empowering families and, where needed, providing services that are professional, evidenced-based and effective.

The partners will continuously strive to improve and challenge each other to learn the lessons from daily practice.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and Oldham Safeguarding Partnership will provide lead responsibility in demonstrating what this means for all people and professionals living and working in the local community.

www.olscb.org

COVID-19 response – Paediatrics

From Tuesday 7th April 2020, all paediatric emergencies are temporarily relocating to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, so Wythenshawe Hospital’s Emergency Department will not accept paediatric emergencies.

All ambulances will now divert to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Paediatric Emergency Department.

This is to support the increased need for critical care at Wythenshawe Hospital during this time.

In the event of an emergency, parents, guardians and carers must also now take children to the Paediatric Emergency Department, Oxford Road, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL. It is extremely important that children are not taken to the Wythenshawe Hospital Emergency Department.

Changes have also been made to urgent paediatric referrals. This includes in-patient, out-patient and phlebotomy referrals

Young Womens Trust

Young Women’s Trust is a feminist organisation working to achieve economic justice for young women. For more information please click here.

Ramadan at Home- Useful Link

coronavirusresources.phe.gov.uk/ramadan-at-home/resources

Bereavement helpline

A new bereavement helpline has been launched and is initially being piloted in the North West, the number is 0800 2600 400.

Please note this is for immediate bereavement support and is available to anyone who may need it.

Never Alone – Useful Phone Numbers

Greater Manchester Bereavement Service

For Bereavement support click here.