The coronavirus pandemic has changed life for everyone. Advice charities are here for you.
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The charities listed here provide free, quality impartial advice in the following areas: welfare benefits, housing, debt, immigration, family law, employment law, general (non-criminal) law, discrimination, consumer rights and domestic abuse. We work in partnership together to make sure that people can access advice as soon as they need it.
| Charity | Remit | Criteria | Face to Face Service | Phone | Email/Web Chat/Social Media |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age UK Norwich | Offers help and advice about benefits, housing, debt, money, lasting power of attorney, social care and support. Other services available include telephone befriending and activities. | Aged 50 and over, including carers and families. Norwich area only | None at this time. | 01603 496333 | enquiries@ageuknorwich.org.uk @AgeUKNorwich |
| Age UK Norfolk | Offers help and advice about benefits, housing, debt, money, lasting power of attorney, social care and support. Other services available include telephone befriending and activities. | Aged 50 and over including carers and families Excludes Norwich. | None at this time. | 0300 5001217 | advice@ageuknorfolk.org.uk@AgeUKNorfolk |
| Shelter | Housing advice including tenancies, private/social housing, evictions, contracts, and homelessness. | None. | None at this time. | 03445 151860 | norfolk@shelter.org.uk @ShelterEasternC |
| Equal Lives | Disability rights organisation led by disabled people. Areas include: Debt, employment, welfare benefits, discrimination | For people with mental and/or physical disabilities | None at this time. | 01508 491210 | info@equallives.org.uk @equallives.org |
| MAP | Housing, money and benefits. Employment, education and training. Being a young parent. Relationships, sex and sexual health. Gender identity. Mental health. Drugs and alcohol | For 11-25 year olds | Limited by appointment only for those who cannot access services digitally. Employment, education and training available at Norwich and Great Yarmouth by appointment. | 0800 0744454 – for young people only | advice@map.uk.net – for young people @mapyoungpeople |
| Norfolk Community Law Service | Offers free, confidential and independent legal advice to people in Norfolk who might not otherwise be able to access legal assistance. Areas include: employment law, family law, general law, discrimination, domestic abuse, debt, immigration and welfare benefits (appeals and tribunals only) | Does not advise on criminal law (unless relating to Domestic Abuse) | None at this time. | 01603 496623 or 07900 153753. Mobile also uses WhatsApp | info@ncls.co.uk Twitter: @NCLawService Facebook:@NorfolkCLS |
| Norfolk Citizens Advice | Broad range of advice including debt, benefit checks, housing, employment | Excludes Diss and Thetford areas | Preparing for your visit Dereham – emergencies only. Wymondham – limited general service. North Walsham – limited general service. Kings Lynn – limited general service. Attleborough, Great Yarmouth, Fakenham, Holt and Norwich are CLOSED for face-to-face advice. Please use their Adviceline, E-mail and Webchat services. See locations for more information. | 03444 111444. For Universal Credit ‘Help to Claim’ 0800 1448444 | www.ncab.org.uk and click ‘email advice’. Webchat available via website. Twitter: @CAB_Norfolk Facebook: @NorfolkCAB |
| Diss and Thetford Citizens Advice | Broad range of advice including debt, benefit checks, housing, employment | Diss and Thetford area only | Diss , Thetford & District Citizens Advice closed for the period of the lockdown. If you need advice, you can call them on 0800 144 88 48 (Freephone) Monday – Friday, 9-5 or, E-Mail them via the e-mail enquiry form, which you can access using their website – www.cadat.org.uk in the ‘contact us’ section.’ | 03444 111444 For Universal Credit ‘Help to Claim’ 0800 1448444 | Web: www.cadat.org.uk Email: dissadviser@cadat.org.uk or advice.thetford@cadat.org.uk Twitter: @DissThetfordCA Facebook: DissThetfordCA |
| The Bridge Plus+ | Provides services that range across employment, equality, housing, immigration, and welfare benefits. | Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in Norwich and surrounding areas. | None at this time. | 01603617076 | Web: http://www.bridgeplus.org.uk Email: office@bridgeplus.org.uk Facebook: thebridgeplus |
The Norfolk Community Advice Network (NCAN) is made up of accredited and affiliate member organisations, including social welfare advice agencies and the wider voluntary, public and private sectors.
Through partnership working we are pleased to have built a strong, effective and inclusive network of advice agencies. We aim to continue to:
- Improve access to free, high-quality social welfare advice.
- Ensure quality and best practice.
- Enhance partnership working and collaboration.
- Identify and reduce gaps in provision.
- Provide strategic and policy expertise.