Who can help? - key sources of information for older and disabled people (view report contents)
More information and advice
In this short guide we have been able to list only a few of the agencies which give information and advice. Here’s where to start if you need more.
Advice centres
There are many local centres which give information. They are well informed and know about national and local services. They can answer most questions themselves. If they can’t they can help you find an expert who knows the answer.
Citizens’ Advice Bureaux
Give free, confidential and independent advice from nearly 3,400 locations
including in bureaux, GP surgeries, hospitals, colleges, prisons and courts.
Advice is available face-to-face and by telephone. Most bureaux offer
home visits and some also provide email advice. To find the nearest Citizen
Advice Office contact the London Office Tel: 020 7833 2181
or see the website
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
There is an online CAB service that provides independent advice on your
rights see www.adviceguide.org.uk
It has a practical, reliable, up-to-date information including frequently
asked questions in English, Welsh, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu and
Chinese on a wide range of topics and factsheets to download. Information
is continuously reviewed by a team of advisers and covers England, Northern
Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Local authority advice centres - phone your local authority to see what they have. Even if they don’t run one themselves they should know what else is in the area.
Information related to disability - there are also around 600 local specialist advice centres for disabled people in various parts of the UK. For the nearest, look under ‘disability’ in the Yellow Pages. Or phone DIAL UK 01302 310 123, or, in Scotland, UPDATE 0131 558 5200.
Information for older people - freephone lines which offer information for older people, including advice on welfare and disability benefits are Seniorline run by Help the Aged 0808 800 6565, and the Age Concern Information Line 0800 00 99 66.
Other starting points - classified phone books such as Yellow Pages sometimes have a list of helplines at the front, and should list information services - look for headings such as ‘Disabled - information and services’.
Specialist organisations and helplines
If you have a particular disability or concern it’s always worth getting in touch with organisations who specialise in it. They give information, advice and sometimes practical support. They can put you in touch with people in similar situations.
The two publications listed below have details and the Telephone Helplines Directory lists all national telephone helplines - cost £20 - from Resource Information Service 020 7494 2408. Your local library should have a copy.
Useful resource
The Department of Health published a guide in 2003 which although out
of date in many places is still useful reference if you are not sure of
where to start looking:
A Practical Guide for Disabled People or Carers: where to find
information, services and equipment (2003): (Code 29614)
is available online on the Department of Health website:
www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics
Page updated July 2007
Report contents
Introduction
Communication
Caring for someone
Getting
around outside
Holidays
and clubs
Legal
advice
Making
your home easier to live in
Money
More
information and advice
