Helplines and Organisations
Our community offers a range of local services aimed at supporting you in your journey through childhood, adolescence and adulthood and where that can lead you to in education, work or parenthood. We all meet obstacles along the way but for some of us these can be difficult to manage. If you feel that you need some support, we have collated a collection of local support groups for parents, activities and sessions for young people, and also a list of helplines and other organisations that may be best equipped to support you on your journey through life.
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Please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you need support to explore the services below or if you are looking for support but there is not a service listed that is suitable for you. This is not an exhaustive or endorsed list of support, and there are many other services available that could be perfect for you so do use this for suggestions but always do your own research too.
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If you or someone else is in immediate danger please always call 999.
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Quick links to support categories:
Alcohol, Drug and Substance Misuse
Antisocial Behaviour and Crime
Facilitating engagement with authorities
Financial Stress, Housing and Poverty
Abuse and Exploitation
Are you worried about a child? You do not need to know everything about the child and what is happening; you may just be worried, or feel that everything is not right. If you have concerns you will always be taken seriously.
If you are the victim of abuse or you think you know someone who is being or has been abused, it is really important to get help and advice. Contact us and we will take your concerns seriously.
To transform the lives of children and young people in Derbyshire who are affected by child exploitation. At Safe and Sound we are passionate that every child should live a life without exploitation but sadly still many are affected and far from safe. That’s why we will work to prevent, support and help rebuild lives to a point where we are no longer needed, no matter how long that takes.
We support vulnerable women & families by providing essential skills and helping to instill the confidence to truly flourish in life.
Derby Women’s Centre aims to empower women to be more independent. We aim to reduce economic inequality, improve mental well being and facilitate personal development. To do this, we offer support and guidance, signposting, counselling, legal advice and social activities and courses.
We provide a safe and non-judgmental environment for all women regardless of situation or background. Our services are completely confidential.
The Derbyshire Domestic Abuse Helpline, facilitated by The Elm Foundation, is a safe, welcoming, supportive place for any man, woman or child affected by domestic abuse.
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A friendly, informal, peaceful haven in which you can talk freely and make sense of your thoughts. A hub that can provide the advice, support and tools you may need to change your situation; where you will feel empowered to take back control of your life.
Our team has decades of experience in supporting LGBT+ people who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, so-called conversion therapies, honour-based abuse, forced marriage, and other forms of abuse.
SV2 is a charity in Derbyshire that provides support services to victims of sexual violence such as assault, abuse or rape. Our team are here to help you and offer support for recent and past victims of sexual abuse. See how we can help you to move forward.
Alcohol, Drug and Substance Misuse
Breakout is the young persons' drug and alcohol service for Derby. If you are under 18 and your drug or alcohol use is worrying you or causing problems, Breakout can help.
Change Grow Live provides free and confidential advice for under 19's who are using drugs or alcohol and want some support.
We deliver support to families and partners affected by another person’s substance use. Our service supports you to reduce alcohol or drug use and its associated impact on yourself, your family and your community and to move you towards a drug free recovery.
We deliver support to young people aged 10-18 affected by a parent/carers alcohol or drug use.
Antisocial Behaviour and Crime
DVS is here to provide both the public and victims of crime with easily accessible information, advice and links to local and national support services. It helps ensure people can self-refer to support services and access information on a wide variety of different crime types. It also offers people the opportunity to report a crime and provides advice on what to do if somebody has been a victim of crime.
‘GOT YOUR BACK‘ is there to help anyone under 18 that has been a victim. It doesn’t matter when that was and it doesn’t matter if you reported it to the police or not we are here to help with whatever you need, even if that’s just someone to talk to.
All of our services are FREE and CONFIDENTIAL
Victim Support is the independent charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales.
Education and Employment
We are here to help and support people from across the city who would like to volunteer.
The Prince's Trust helps people aged 11 to 30 to build confidence, get a job or launch a business. Start something today.
Get ready to boost your confidence, grow your resilience, meet new friends, be a force for good, and learn new skills for the world of work.
It's our mission to deliver outstanding learning and skills provision that improves the economic, social mobility and wellbeing of Derby’s citizens.
Extremism and Radicalisation
Prevent helps to guide people away from radicalisation, and the dangers it presents. Some of the help offered through Prevent's support programme, Channel, includes mentoring and ideological interventions, mental health support such as counselling, education or career support, and online safety training for parents. Being supported through Channel is voluntary, confidential, and won't go on someone's criminal record.
Contact Derby Prevent Team: prevent@derbyshire.police.uk or
0300 122 8694
Facilitating engagement with authorities
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Get help with the cost of living.
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Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills.
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Get help with bills.
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Check if you can pay less council tax.
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How to read your smart electricity meter.
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Check what benefits you can get.
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Claim compensation if your flight's delayed or cancelled.
At ‘One Advocacy’, we are led by the people who we support.
We are a rights based independent charity. Our services are free and confidential.
We can help you to understand your rights, and to feel empowered to act upon them.
We provide specialist independent advocacy support focused on one-to-one, issue based advocacy services.
You can contact PALS via email, telephone, completing a feedback form, through a video call or face to face meeting.
What can we do?
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Talk to senior staff on your behalf to try to resolve any concerns or issues.
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Tell you about the service we provide and about the NHS.
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Provide information and signpost you to other support organisations.
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Listen to your suggestions and comments and take action to improve our services.
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Hear from your positive experience and share compliments with those involved.
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Tell you about complaints advocacy services and the formal complaints process.
Financial Stress, Housing & Poverty
The cost of living is rising steeply. Energy, food and bills are all increasing, and many of us are struggling to keep up. We can offer support with debt, help to cover your bills, or access to jobs advice.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please get in touch. You can call the Community Action reception on 01332 346266 between 9:30 - 16:00 Monday - Friday. Or you can email us at:
Derby City Council has a range of services available for those who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness.
Our support staff provide help with
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Debt advice & Budgeting
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Welfare Benefit Issues & Sanctions
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Landlord and housing issues
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Referrals to addiction, mental health and wellbeing programmes
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Referrals and Support with Education, Employment Skills, Volunteering/Work Experience
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Trafficking
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Registering with a GP and Dental services
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Legal advice
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Prevention of homelessness
Free support for anyone affected by gambling harm across Great Britain. Speak to the National Gambling Helpline 24/7.
Health and Wellbeing
Our Derby Family Health team has launched a new text messaging service, so that both young people and parents and carers living in Derby city can get confidential health advice and support.
Derby Safe Haven is a responsive and tailored mental health service for anybody experiencing a mental health crisis/period of mental ill health and is in need of immediate support.
We’re open from 4:30pm – 12:30am, 365 days a year, and open to anybody who is 18 years or above. We are hoping to expand this to 16+ in the near future.
First Steps ED is an award-winning quality assured Mental Health and Specialist Eating Disorders charity. Our services are open to all ages, genders, and backgrounds, and you don't need an official mental health or eating disorder diagnosis to access us.
Kooth is an anonymous counselling and emotional wellbeing site which helps children and young people to feel safe and confident in exploring their concerns and seeking professional support.
SH:24 provides free and confidential online STI testing and advice and information on sexual, genital and reproductive health in partnership with the NHS 24 hours a day.
Find a GP near you on the NHS website. Check your local GPs opening times, services and facilities, performance measures, reviews and ratings.
​Shout 85258 is the UK's first 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis. Get free, confidential mental health support anytime, anywhere. Text 'SHOUT' to 85258.
PAPYRUS UK is a charity for the prevention of young suicide (under 35) in the UK. Call PAPYRUS 24/7 on
0800 068 4141
Urgent and emergency care services. Services the NHS provides if you need urgent or emergency medical help. Find urgent and emergency care services.
​This signposting service is aimed at professionals, members of the public and children and young people who wish to access local services or just require further information on the services that are available to them both locally and nationally. The four elements of the website focus on Children and Young People, Adults, Suicide Prevention and Neurodiversity.
Life and Family Changes
Cruse Bereavement Care is here to support you after the death of someone you know has died and you need to talk to someone. Face to face and group support is delivered by trained bereavement support volunteers.
The National Prisoners' Families Helpline offers support and information for people with a loved one in contact with the criminal justice system in England. Call the Freephone confidential helpline for information and support for anyone who is affected by imprisonment.
Family Hubs Derby are a group of hub centres across Derby City open to the public to access support around all aspects of their family. Parenting and peer support groups, baby development and weight checks, and sports and youth activities.
Whether you would like someone to have a cuppa and a chat with, someone to support you at appointments or even someone to be there during your labour and birth – we can support you. We also hold free, drop-in groups across the city where every pregnant parent and mum, dad and carer with babies and toddlers are made to feel welcome! The spaces are free, safe and supportive and facilitated by a trained Perinatal Peer Supporter.
Cohesion and Integration
Pakistan Community Centre is a focus for the Pakistani community.Our AIM is to provide service for all communities regardless of the race, beliefs, views and religion. We provide advice on benefits, and help with visa and passport issues and we also offer some sports opportunities for young & old people, particularly Gymnasium facilities.
The Derby West Indian Community Association (DWICA) is a voluntary run community organisation which exists to provide services for the Black and Culturally Diverse community of Derby.
We offer support and signposting for those seeking sanctuary in the UK. We do this through our drop-in advice sessions every Tuesday and Thursday, through our English and maths classes and through the variety of workshops, trips and activities we have on offer.
We aim to provide a positive, respectful environment where people can get the help they need.
The mission of our organisation is to promote Ukrainian culture, arts and heritage, provide a safe-space
for social events and to promote multi-cultural understanding between communities.
Upbeat Communities is a Derby-based charity that welcomes refugees and asylum seekers, empowering them to thrive as they rebuild their lives.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Umbrella enables disabled children and young adults to realise their full potential.
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We empower parents and carers, supporting them in their care of their disabled child or young adult.
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We provide exciting, stimulating activities for children and young adults which encourage the development of skills, whilst having fun; giving disabled children and young adults opportunities that non-disabled children take for granted
We provide services, support, advice and information to adults and children across Derbyshire who are blind or partially sighted.
The SEND Dynamic C.I.C offers a combination of in person and online/telephone support to parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities to empower them to navigate the SEND system.
​CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. We support children and young people aged 0-18 (and their families) with a wide range of mental health difficulties in Derby and south Derbyshire.
Neurohubs are welcoming local spaces for neurodivergent children and young people aged 0 to 25 and their parents and carers.
​CamTAD Hearing Support offer expert advice and ongoing assistance with all areas of hearing loss.
Headway helps brain injury survivors come to terms with their new circumstances, re-integrate into family and community life, and maximise their opportunities and choices.
It also provides practical and emotional support for families and carers, recognising that they too are coping with new and demanding responsibilities that can leave them feeling isolated and inadequate.
Deaf-initely Women is run and governed by deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing women.
We give each other emotional strength to help us to cope with our working and family lives and provide opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing women to gain confidence and experience new things. Our group includes all deaf and hard of hearing women from the age of 16+ and with varying degrees of deafness and communication needs.
Youth Voice and Participation
Voices in Action (ViA) is a youth council for young people aged 11 to 19 years old representing their school, support group or youth project.