Links to sources of support in the South Hams
We cannot endorse any of the organisations listed but you may find the following links helpful.
Benefits, Energy and Money Advice
Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk (email and webchat also available)
For general advice call: Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848 (9am – 5pm Mon – Fri)
For help applying for Universal Credit: 0800 144 8 444 (8am – 6pm Mon – Fri)
Citizens Advice South Hams
Call free on 0808 278 7948 (10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday)
Visit the South Hams Citizens Advice website
Money Advice Service: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en
Turn 2 Us: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Find-Benefits-Grants
Universal Credit Support: https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/employment-and-benefits-support/
HomeMaker South West, www.homemakersw.org,uk, mail@homemakersw.org.uk, 01392 686752
CAP Christians Against Poverty: 0800 328 0006 Lines are open 9:30am–5:00pm, Monday–Thursday and 9.30am – 3.30pm on Fridays. https://capuk.org/i-want-help
South Dartmoor Community Energy: 0800 112 3044, https://www.sdce.org.uk/, sophie@sdce.org.uk
Local Energy Partnership: Help with saving energy, energy debt and fuel poverty: https://applyforleap.org.uk/
FREEPHONE: 0800 060 7567 or email support@applyforleap.org.uk
Housing Advice
South Hams Homeless Housing Specialist: 01803 861234 (867034 out of hours) or email housing.advice@southhams.gov.uk to contact the Housing Options Team
Shelter National Helpline: 0808 800 4444 or local Plymouth one 0344 515 1880 (legal appointments only)
Totnes Connection Hub: 2a Burke Road, Totnes, TQ9 5XL 01803 840354. Provides sign posting for services and across to emergency accommodation. Provides practical support such as food and clothing. A warm welcome to homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged. (Due to COVID-19 please check with the service before turning up)
Young People’s Housing Advice: www.yhdevon.co.uk
Home Maker SW: https://www.homemakersw.org.uk/
Return to work, training and jobs
Job Centre: https://find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk/
Maternity Action: https://www.maternityaction.org.uk/
ACAS: http://www.acas.org.uk/
Learn Devon: https://www.learndevon.co.uk/
Eat That Frog: https://eatthatfrog.ac.uk/online-adult-courses/
POA Learning: www.poalearning.org.uk
Pluss: https://www.pluss.org.uk/locations/torbay-and-south-devon-employment-services
Pregnancy, Baby and Family Support
General Parenting Advice
Action for Children’s Parent Talk: A free Monday to Friday one to one online chat facility to speak with a parenting coach. The website includes lots of useful articles. parents.actionforchildren.org.uk
Bringing Up Baby Text Catch Up Service: Homestart’s text check-in service for anyone with a baby under 12-months. See Homestart poster for details.
Action for Children’s Dots: Advice, resources and signposting from the AFC Under 5’s team.
http://dots.actionforchildren.org.uk
Devon County Council & NHS: https://www.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/health
DCC: https://www.devon.gov.uk/positive-about-breastfeeding/support-groups/
Groups:
Contact details for all the Children’s Centres can be found below:
https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/in-your-area/services/childrens-centres/
The NCT is running various online and face to face courses at the moment. Prices vary depending on circumstances so it is worth asking.
https://www.nct.org.uk/local-activities-meet-ups/region-south-west-england/torbay-and-south-devon
The libraries are running some online and face to face events:
https://www.devonlibraries.org.uk/web/arena/librarieslive
Other providers who usually deliver groups within Devon may be offering online and/or face to face courses. These will have a fee but again it is worth asking if you would struggle to make the full payment.
https://www.babysensory.com/index
https://www.singandsign.co.uk/
https://www.lemon-fitness.co.uk/lemon-fitness-sessions/
https://www.onefitmama.co.uk/devon
https://www.adventurebabies.co.uk/classes/devon/
https://www.pinpointdevon.co.uk/ (To search for groups and services)
Early Days and Infant Development
- The Association For Infant Mental Health
- https://aimh.org.uk/getting-to-know-your-baby/
- NHS
- Unicef’s Baby Friendly Initiative
- Best Beginnings
- Brazelton Centre, Learning what your baby is saying to you
- Global Health Infant Feeding
- La Leche - 0345 120 2918 (helpline is open from 8am to 11pm, seven days a week)
- National Breastfeeding Helpline - 0300 100 0212 (Open 9.30am – 9.30pm every single day of the year, Live online support also available via web chat service)
- NHS
- Twins Trust - breastfeedingsupport@twinstrust.org
- BfN
- NHS Weaning
- NCT Weaning
Coping with Crying
Localised support
- https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/maternity-services/maternity-antenatal/
- http://www.southdevonslinglibrary.com/free-sling-hire-and-general-library.html
- https://www.nct.org.uk/branches/
- http://homestart-southandwestdevon.org.uk/
- https://www.pinpointdevon.co.uk/
- https://healthforunder5s.co.uk/devon/
- Little Bluebell (supporting mums and families who are affected by antenatal or post-natal depression and anxiety with one to one support and/or group activities) Email: selina@bluebellcare.org or mel@bluebellcare.org
Other Support
Domestic Abuse
- FearLess Toolkits: https://www.fear-less.org.uk/
- Devon Rape Crisis: Offers support for anyone who has experiences sexual abuse or sexual violence, 01392 204174 support@devonrapecrisis.org.uk
- Rape Crisis: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/it-happened-some-time-ago/ 0808 802 999 open between 12pm – 2:30am and 7pm – 9:30pm every day of the year
- Devon Victim Support: Providing emotional and practical support to victims and witnesses of crime, 0300 303 0554 devon.cornwall@victimsupport.org.uk
- Women’s Aid: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/
- Gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help
- Safe Lives: https://safelives.org.uk/node/278
- Freedom Course: https://freedomprogramme.co.uk/
Other
- Cruse Devon: Bereavement support, 0300 330 5466 devon@cruse.org.uk
- Balloons: https://www.balloonscharity.co.uk/ Bereavement support especially for families
- Choices Pregnancy Centre: http://choicespregnancycentre.co.uk/
- Children and families in grief: www.childrenandfamiliesingrief.co.uk
- Rainbows: https://rainbowsgb.org/
- To be Honest: Information and advice for young people about anorexia, bulimia, depression and self-harm: tobehonest.org.uk/
- South West Intervention Services: https://www.southwestinterventionservices.com/
- Diabetes UK: http://south-devon.diabetesukgroup.org/
- Proud2Be: Supporting LGBTQIA and youth and adults through activities, events, groups and counselling in Totnes and beyond, 01803 864321 or info@proud2be.co.uk
- Devon Forces Family provides information for anyone who has ever served in any branch of the armed forces and is now living in Devon, or is planning to move here. https://www.devonforcesfamily.org.uk/
- Together Drug and Alcohol Service: https://www.edp.org.uk/together-drug-alcohol-service/ 0800 233 5444
Food Banks
Due to COVID-19, Food banks may be operating differently so please contact them beforehand.
South Hams Council: https://southhams.gov.uk/help
Referrals are preferred for the food banks which can be accessed through The Children’s centre. “We do cover all our neighbouring parishes and do not turn anyone away. After their first visit (if in urgent need without referral) we ask people to get a referral, either from CAB, Dartmouth Caring, surgery, Children’s Centre or Citizens Advice. These referrals are for a 4 week period”.
Ivybridge
Collection at Ivybridge Methodist Church, Wednesdays 1-3pm
07706 457336 or info@ivybridge.foodbank.org.uk
You can have 4 per year but if in emergency they may offer more. You would need to contact us to get a voucher, and then go and collect from the Methodist Church. You can contact them directly and we can give them the voucher at a later date if needed urgently.
Totnes
Totnes Connection Hub Food Bank, 2a Burke Road, TQ9 5XL Tuesdays and Fridays 10.00am-12.30pm
01803 840354/07946821154 info@totnesconnectionhub.co.uk
Kingsbridge
Horizons, Fore Street, Friday’s 10-12pm
07593 881633/01548 853287 info@kingsbridgefoodbank.org.uk
Dartmouth
Guildhall/ Ivy Lane Centre, Ivy Lane, Dartmouth,TQ6 9QQ
The food parcels can be collected from our Centre based in Ivy Lane on Wednesdays between 11am and 1pm. Parcels can be collected from The Guildhall in Victoria Rd during Monday - Friday working hours & from the Flavel Church.
07925 120024 dartmouthfoodbank@gmail.com
Townstal Community Partnership, Dartmouth
Every Friday, 11am to 4pm at the Townstal Community hall in Davis Road. Food can be provided, uniform if appropriate, a hot meal and you can be signposted to benefit and energy saving support and lots more.
Other
- Healthwatch: https://healthwatchdevon.co.uk/
- Young Devon: http://www.youngdevon.org/ 0808 281 0155
- Young Carers: http://www.devonyoungcarers.org.uk/
- South Hams CVS: http://www.southhamscvs.org.uk/
- Pinpoint Devon (Community Services in Devon) https://www.pinpointdevon.co.uk/
- DCFP: https://www.devonchildrenandfamiliespartnership.org.uk/parents-carers/
- Refurnish: www.refurnish.org.uk/
- Young Carers: http://www.devonyoungcarers.org.uk/
- Pete’s Dragon (Comfort after suicide loss): http://www.petesdragons.org.uk/Home_341.aspx