Fuel support
For people on prepayment meters only – also known as a pay-as-you-go meters – we can help with gas and/or electricity payments. Please inform the agency or organisation you are working with that you would like help with fuel support. If you are eligible they will send us a fuel voucher on your behalf.
Toiletries and cleaning products
We may be able to add non-food items to your food parcel. These vary and can be requested when your referral is made, but they are subject to availability. However, we do usually stock toilet roll, sanitary items and nappies.
Receive help from other services
Visit East Herts – Worrying about Money? for advice and guidance.
Or take a look below at the services and agencies that may be able to you help you –
Money Advice, Debt etc
- Christian’s Against Poverty – Free help on getting out of debt, budgeting and more.
- Citizen’s Advice – Information and advice on debt issues, benefits, cost of living etc.
- Debt Advice Foundation – A specialist debt charity offering free, confidential advice on any aspect of debt.
- East Herts Citizen’s Advice – Free, confidential, impartial advice.
- Money Helper – Free Money advice
- StepChange – Free, confidential, expert debt advice and money guidance. They are a national organisation and operate 24/7.
- Turn2Us – Free helpline with online benefits calculator to ensure you are claiming all means tested benefits you are entitled to.
Housing
- Clarion Housing – The UK’s largest housing association. Its charitable foundation offers training and employment help.
- East Herts Citizen’s Advice – Free, confidential, impartial advice.
- East Herts Council – temporary accommodation – The council may be able to provide temporary accommodation for people who are homeless.
- East Herts Housing Options Team – Free information, assistance and specialist advice to help people keep their home or find an alternative.
- Herts Young Homeless – Free services for people aged 16 to 24 who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.
- Holy Trinity Night Shelter – Night shelter for people who find themselves homeless in Bishop’s Stortford during the winter.
- Paradigm Housing – One of the south east’s leading providers of affordable homes.
- Shelter – Housing advice and support
- YMCA – Bishop’s Stortford hostel – A secure environment and support for young people aged 16 to 30.
Family
- ASPECTS – Family and pupil support
- Essex Children’s Social Care – Support for children, young people and families in Essex.
- Families First – Family support service
- Hertfordshire Children’s Social Care – Children’s social services in Hertfordshire including child protection, fostering and adoption, and help for young people in/leaving care.
- Hertfordshire Family Centre Service – Support for children, young people, parents, families and carers.
- Home-Start Hertfordshire – Support for families with young children through challenging times.
- NHS Hertfordshire Community Perinatal Team – Support for mums to be, new mums and families who are likely to, or are experiencing problems during pregnancy and up to baby’s first birthday.
Domestic Abuse
- Herts Domestic Abuse helpline – Free, confidential support and signposting for anyone affected by domestic abuse.
- Safer Places – Support and advice for those experiencing domestic abuse.
- Women of Grace – UK-based charity working towards ending the harmful practices of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Honour Based Violence (HBV).
- Red Kite – A local charity that supports survivors of rape and sexual abuse.
- Women’s Aid – A grassroots federation working together to provide life-saving services in England and build a future where domestic abuse is not tolerated.
- Dog Trust Freedom Project – Dog fostering for people escaping domestic abuse.
Mental Health Services
- East Herts Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) – Specialist help for children, young people and their families who are seeking to deal with feelings, thoughts or behaviour problems – based at Oxford House in Bishop’s Stortford.
- Essex Partnership – For help in a mental health crisis.
- Hertfordshire Mind Network – For mental health support across Hertfordshire.
- Hertfordshire Partnership – Health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities.
- PATH – Psychosis: Prevention, Assessment and Treatment in Hertfordshire – Support for people aged 16 to 65 years old who are experiencing their first episode of psychosis.
- Togetherall -Mental Health support – feeling lonely, stressed or worried – get support from Togetherall.
Social Support
- Age Concern – The Apton Centre – Social centre open to people over the age of 55.
- East Herts Social Prescribing Service – Support for people aged 50+ with social, emotional or practical needs that can
be helped by joining local social community groups. - HertsHelp – A network of community organisations in Hertfordshire working together to provide independent support, guidance and information.
Drug and Alcohol Support
- Alcoholics Anonymous – Advice and support with alcohol addiction.
- Breaking Free – Recovery support programme for drug and alcohol.
- Cocaine Anonymous – Advice and support with cocaine and other drug addictions
- Narcotics Anonymous – Advice and support with drug addiction.
- Talk to Frank – Information on drugs.
- The Living Room – Support for adults with addiction.
- Spectrum Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services – Support for anyone addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Other Support
- Exchange – An initiative run by Bishop’s Stortford Baptist Church for people to pass on things they don’t need to people who do.
- Hertford JobCentre Plus – Find your local job centre office for help with Jobseeker’s Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, and Income Support.
- National Probation Service – Information and contact details for North Hertfordshire Probation Centre.
- Salvation Army – Practical help for people in need.
- Priority Services Register (PSR) – The Priority Services Register helps gas and electric companies look after customers who have additional communication, access or safety needs. Its free and easy to join, giving extra support to those who need it.
- East Herts Frontline – Keep up to date with lots of other services.
