Useful Downloads and Links

Useful information from the Citizens Advice self-help website, Advice Guide www.adviceguide.org.uk – select your country e.g. England and then click on ‘Debt & Money’ at the top.

The Money Advice Service www.moneyadviceservice.org

Money Saving Expert (the Martin Lewis website, lots of topics that may be of interest) www.moneysavingexpert.com

Step Change. Advice on problem debt, online and telephone only
www.stepchange.org

National Debtline www.nationaldebtline.co.uk (online and telephone advice), part of The Money Advice Trust, www.moneyadvicetrust.org

This organisation also provides advice to self-employed and small business owners on aspects relating to business debt www.bdl.org.uk

Savvy Woman, Sarah Pennells, a personal finance journalist, provides online advice and information on financial issues www.savvywoman.co.uk

Age UK offers advice about money and other issues for older people www.ageuk.org.uk

Advicenow offers advice on a range of issues including money, benefits, employment etc   www.advicenow.org.uk

Gamblers Anonymous provides advice on how to deal with gambling problems www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk

Association of British Credit Unions, local credit union in Waveney www.rainbowsaver.co.uk

IFA Promotions provides a list of Independent Financial Advisers
www.unbiased.co.uk

Gov.uk HM Revenue and Customs webpages www.hmrc.gov.uk/individuals/

Tax Help for Older People offers free tax help for older people on low incomes www.taxvol.org.uk

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) is an initiative of the Chartered Institute of Taxation to give a voice to those who cannot afford to pay for tax advice www.litrg.org.uk

TaxAid, free confidential advice about tax problems www.taxaid.org.uk

Benefit information from Gov.uk webpages including Entitlements, Child Benefit, Jobseekers Allowance (including Employment Support Allowance, ESA), Benefits for families, Tax credits, Carers and disability benefits (including Personal Independence Payment, PIP), Heating and housing benefits etc www.gov.uk/browse/benefits

Gov.uk HM Revenue and Customs
www.hmrc.gov.uk/individuals/

Turn2us charity helps people to access welfare benefits and grants
www.turn2us.org.uk

Age UK offers advice about money and other issues for older people
www.ageuk.org.uk

Dial UK, offers help for people with disabilities
www.lowestoftdial.co.uk

Government website on your legal obligations and rights
www.gov.uk/browse/housing

Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice

Access Community Trust, Waveney This organisation provides support with housing, health, wellbeing, education and employment. http://www.accessct.org

ACAS provides advice, training and conciliation service to resolve workplace problems www.acas.org.uk

The Human Rights Commission, your rights to equality at work
www.equalityhumanrights.com

The Health and Safety Executive, workers rights and responsibilities that affect health and safety at work www.hse.gov.uk/workers

Access Community Trust, Waveney This organisation provides support with housing, health, wellbeing, education and employment www.accessct.org

Gingerbread, provides advice and practical support to single families www.gingerbread.org.uk

ChildLine, confidential help for children www.childline.org.uk

Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.

http://www.coram.org.uk/about-us

Cruse provides advice and support for people dealing with death
www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk

Relate provides advice and counseling to help with relationship problems www.relate.org.uk

Child Support Agency, a government body that handles financial claims www.csa.gov.uk

National Domestic Violence Helpline. Support for people experiencing domestic violence www.refuge.org.uk

Waveney Domestic Violence and Abuse Forum. Local support for people experiencing domestic violence and abuse www.openyourheart.org.uk

0808 2000 247

Rights of Women. Legal advice for women
www.rightsofwomen.org.uk

Women’s Aid. Support for women and children suffering violence, plus other useful links www.womensaid.org.uk

Suffolk Family Carers. Local organisation that supports people looking after a relative, friend, partner or child who cannot manage without help.  www.suffolkfamilycarers.org

Useful fact sheets from Citizens Advice, Advice Guide.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/

Which? Campaigns for consumer rights www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights

Action Fraud. Central point of contact for information about fraud and financially motivated internet crime www.actionfraud.police.uk

Resolver. Free help to make a complaint about a product or service you’ve received www.resolver.co.uk

The BBC Radio 4 programmes, Money Box Live and Call You and Yours, provide topical advice and are worth listening to.

Government information from school to university level
www.gov.uk/browse/education

Local information on education in Suffolk
https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/

The Refugee Council helps and supports refugees
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk

Tackling Discrimination in the East Advice given on all forms of discrimination and local face to face interviews available in Lowestoft. www.iscre.org.uk

British Gas Energy Trust
www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk

EDF Energy Trust
www.edfenergytrust.org.uk

Energy Saving Trust
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

UK Power Networks – Priority services during a power cut

http://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/internet/en/power-cuts/priority-services-during-a-power-cut#

NHS Choices, advice and guidance
www.nhs.uk/service-search

Healthwatch England, consumer champion for health and social care www.healthwatch.co.uk

Adfam, a national charity working with families affected by drugs and alcohol www.adfam.org.uk

Rethink, practical mental health information www.rethink.org

The Stroke Association Support for stroke survivors to make the best recovery they can www.stroke.org.uk

The MS Society. UK’s largest charity dedicated to supporting everyone whose life is affected by Multiple Sclerosis www.mssociety.org.uk

The Alzheimer’s Society UK’s leading support and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. www.alzheimers.org.uk 

Sensing Change This organization works with people throughout Suffolk who have sight and hearing loss. Offers courses for carers and cared-for. www.sensingchange.org.uk

Suffolk Independent Living This organization promotes and supports independent living for everyone regardless of impairment or disability. www.suffolkindependentliving.org.uk

Great Yarmouth and Waveney Mind offers a range of services to support those suffering mental ill health and their carers.   www.gywmind.org.uk

Ombudsmen exist to deal with complaints from ordinary citizens and consumers about most public bodies and some services in the private sector.

British & Irish Ombudsman Association
Lists ombudsmen and complaint handling bodies
www.bioa.org.uk

Adjudicator’s Office
For complaints about HM Revenue & Customs, the Valuation Office Agency and The Insolvency Service
www.adjudicatorsoffice.gov.uk

Equality and Human Rights Commission
Advice and guidance on equality and human rights
www.equalityhumanrights.com

Financial Ombudsman Service
For complaints about banks, building societies, loans and credit, hire-purchase, mortgages, insurance, investments, endowment policies and pensions
www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

Financial Services Authority (FSA)
Regulator for financial services such as banks and credit companies, insurance companies and mortgage lenders
www.fsa.gov.uk

Financial Services Compensation Scheme
An independent organisation which pays compensation if you have a claim against firms authorised by the FSA
www.fscs.org.uk

Local Government Ombudsman
Deals with complaints about local councils and other bodies
www.lgo.org.uk

The Legal Ombudsman
www.legalombudsman.org.uk

Office of Communications (OFCOM)
An independent organisation which regulates phone, television and radio companies www.ofcom.org.uk

Office of Water services (Ofwat)
An independent organisation which regulates water companies
www.ofwat.gov.uk

Ombudsman Services: Communications
For complaints about phone and broadband companies who are members of the ‘Ombudsman Services: Communications’ scheme
www.ombudsman-services.org/communications.html

Ombudsman Services: Energy
If you have a dispute with a fuel supplier
www.ombudsman-services.org/energy.html

The Consumer Council for Water
For complaints about water companies
www.ccwater.org.uk

Parliamentary Ombudsman
Investigates complaints about UK Government departments or the NHS in England. Ask your MP
www.ombudsman.org.uk

The Information Commission
For advice about data protection and freedom of information
https://ico.org.uk/