Support Directory
Real services. Real people. Free, confidential help for whatever you are dealing with.
999 Emergency Services
For immediate danger or life-threatening emergencies.
Use this if: You or someone else is in immediate danger right now.
Samaritans
Free, confidential emotional support for anyone in distress.
Use this if: You need someone to listen right now. No judgement, no advice. Just someone there.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
Support for men in crisis. Phone and webchat.
Use this if: You are a man in crisis and need to talk to someone who understands.
5pm to midnight, every day
Shout
Free, confidential 24/7 crisis text support.
Use this if: You cannot speak on the phone but need immediate support.
24/7
Text SHOUT to 85258
NHS 111
Urgent mental health advice and support.
Use this if: You need urgent mental health advice but it is not a 999 emergency.
24/7
StepChange Debt Charity
Free, expert debt advice. They will help you find a way through.
Use this if: Debt is overwhelming you and you do not know where to start.
Andy's Man Club
Free, peer-to-peer talking groups for men. No pressure, no judgement — just men talking it out.
Use this if: You need to sit with other men who get it, face to face.
Mondays 7pm, nationwide locations
National Debtline
Free, confidential debt advice from experts.
Use this if: You need practical advice about what to do about your debts.
Mind Infoline
Mental health charity providing information, advice and support.
Use this if: You want to understand what you are feeling and find local support.
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm (except bank holidays)
SANEline
Emotional support and information for people experiencing mental health problems.
Use this if: You need to talk to someone trained when other lines have closed.
Every day 4pm-10pm
NHS Talking Therapies
Free NHS talking therapy service (formerly IAPT) for adults in England with common mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Self-refer online — no GP needed.
Use this if: You want free, professional NHS therapy for anxiety, depression or stress and want to refer yourself.
Self-refer online anytime; service hours vary by local area
Relate
Relationship counselling for individuals and couples, including by phone and online.
Use this if: Your relationship is breaking down and you need help figuring out what to do.
Mon-Thu 8am-10pm, Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-5pm
Shelter
Urgent housing and homelessness advice and support.
Use this if: You are facing eviction, homelessness, or housing problems.
8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. 9am to 5pm weekends.
Both Parents Matter
Support for parents — especially fathers — to maintain relationships with their children after separation.
Use this if: You are a father worried about losing contact with your kids after a split.
Helpline varies — see website
Families Need Fathers
Helps fathers and mothers stay involved in their children's lives after separation.
Use this if: You are facing family court or losing time with your children.
Helpline Mon-Fri 9am-10pm
National Family Mediation
Family mediation to help separated parents agree on arrangements without court.
Use this if: You and your ex are stuck and want to avoid a court fight over the kids.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Men's Advice Line
Confidential helpline for men experiencing domestic abuse from a partner or ex.
Use this if: You are a man being abused by a partner and do not know where to turn.
Mon-Fri 10am-8pm
Age UK Advice Line
Free advice and support for older people.
Use this if: You are an older man dealing with loneliness, health, benefits, or housing.
ManKind Initiative
Support for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence.
Use this if: You need help understanding abuse you are experiencing as a man.
Helpline Mon-Fri 10am-4pm and 7pm-9pm
Respect Phoneline
Confidential helpline for anyone concerned about their behaviour towards a partner.
Use this if: You are worried your behaviour is hurting someone you love and want to change.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (Wed until 8pm)
Galop Domestic Abuse Helpline
Support for LGBT+ people experiencing domestic abuse.
Use this if: You are LGBT+ and experiencing abuse from a partner or family member.
Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
Citizens Advice
Free local advice on benefits, debt, housing, employment, and more.
Use this if: You need practical help with benefits, debt, housing, or employment rights.
FRANK
Confidential information and advice about drugs, their effects and the law.
Use this if: You are using drugs and want honest, non-judgemental information.
24/7
Alcoholics Anonymous
Fellowship of men and women helping each other recover from alcoholism.
Use this if: Drink is controlling your life and you want to stop.
24/7
Turn2us
Helps people access benefits, grants, and financial support.
Use this if: You need help finding benefits or grants you may be entitled to.
SMART Recovery
Science-based, mutual-aid support groups for any addiction, online and in person.
Use this if: You want a practical, non-spiritual alternative to 12-step groups.
Meetings daily — see website
Universal Credit Helpline
Government helpline for Universal Credit queries. Admin: verify current number before publishing.
Use this if: You need help with your Universal Credit claim.
We Are With You
Free, confidential support with alcohol, drugs or gambling, online and locally.
Use this if: You want support for alcohol, drugs or gambling without walking into a meeting first.
Online chat available 24/7
GamCare
National helpline for anyone affected by problem gambling.
Use this if: Gambling is taking over your life and you need to talk now.
24/7
Cruse Bereavement Support
Free, confidential support for anyone grieving, in person, by phone and online.
Use this if: Someone has died and you cannot process it on your own.
Helpline Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm (until 8pm Tue/Thu), Sat-Sun 10am-2pm
WAY (Widowed and Young)
Peer support network for men and women widowed under 51.
Use this if: You lost your partner young and feel like no one your age gets it.
Online community 24/7
The Compassionate Friends
Support for anyone grieving the death of a child of any age.
Use this if: Your child has died and you need to talk to other parents who have been there.
Helpline daily 10am-4pm and 7pm-10pm
Child Bereavement UK
Support for families when a child is grieving or has died.
Use this if: A child in your life is grieving, or you are grieving a child.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Combat Stress
Mental health support for veterans dealing with trauma, PTSD and related issues.
Use this if: You served and are struggling with trauma, nightmares or the transition to civilian life.
24/7
SSAFA Forces Help
Practical and emotional support for serving personnel, veterans and their families.
Use this if: You are ex-forces and need practical or emotional help.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (24/7 for operational emergencies)
Op COURAGE
NHS specialist mental health service for veterans, service leavers and reservists.
Use this if: You want NHS mental health support tailored to veterans.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Veterans' Gateway
First point of contact for veterans and their families seeking support.
Use this if: You do not know which service you need — start here.
24/7
YoungMinds Crisis Messenger
Free 24/7 crisis support for young people, by text.
Use this if: You are 25 or under and in a mental health crisis.
24/7
Text YM to 85258
Papyrus HOPELINEUK
Suicide prevention helpline for young people under 35 and anyone worried about them.
Use this if: You are under 35 and having thoughts of suicide, or worried about someone who is.
Mon-Fri 9am-midnight, weekends 2pm-midnight
The Mix
Support for under-25s on anything from mental health to money and relationships.
Use this if: You are under 25 and need to talk through anything, not just crisis.
Phone 3pm-12am daily, online chat 3pm-12am
Kooth
Free, safe, anonymous online counselling and emotional support for young people.
Use this if: You want to chat with a counsellor online without anyone knowing.
Mon-Fri 12pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 6pm-10pm
National Careers Service
Free, impartial advice on careers, training and finding work in England.
Use this if: You have lost your job and need help finding a new path or updating your skills.
Mon-Sun 8am-10pm
Acas Helpline
Free, confidential advice on employment rights, redundancy, unfair dismissal and workplace disputes.
Use this if: You have been made redundant or dismissed and want to know your rights.
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Citizens Advice - Work and Redundancy
Help with redundancy pay, notice periods, and what to do if you are dismissed unfairly.
Use this if: You need practical, step-by-step help understanding your redundancy or dismissal.
Online advice 24/7
Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service
Support for people facing redundancy, including help finding new work and claiming benefits.
Use this if: You are being made redundant and need help moving into new work fast.
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Redundancy Payments Service
Government service that pays statutory redundancy and handles unpaid redundancy claims when an employer is insolvent.
Use this if: Your employer has gone bust and you have not been paid what you are owed.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Age UK - Work and Retirement
Advice and support for older workers and people approaching or adjusting to retirement.
Use this if: You are retired, retiring, or an older worker who has lost their job.
Mon-Sun 8am-7pm
Retirement Living Information Service
Independent guidance on housing, care, finance and wellbeing in later life.
Use this if: You have retired and feel lost, isolated, or unsure where to turn next.
Online advice 24/7
Prospects (now The Career Development Institute)
Career guidance for adults changing direction after redundancy or in later life.
Use this if: You need to retrain or change careers after losing your job or retiring.
Online advice 24/7