Housing Contacts and Advice

 

Talk to Housing Officer! Resettlement who will have specialised knowledge. What type of housing problem do you have?

Where do you want to live? They can discuss issues such as housing benefit entitlement.

Find out who your Local Housing Association (LHA) is.

Depending upon your release condition, you will need to talk to prison authorities! probation about your plans.

Are you open to supported housing! hostel accommodation? Here are the names and contacts of some national providers:-

 

Salvation Army — Hostels! Projects Nationwide. See Chaplaincy or Phone 0207 619 6100

Stoneham Housing — Hostel Projects Nationwide See Kainos/ Resettlement or Phone 0207 401 2020

Langley House Trust — Hostels! Projects Nationwide See Kainos Resettlement or Phone 01993 774075

Shelter — provides advice and information on housing.  Tel: 0808 800 4444

Housing Corporation — have details on LHA’s Tel: 0845 230 7000

English Churches H.A. (National Housing Centres) Tel: 0845 070 7071

 

Your Local Probation will have information on local projects to your area in which you wish to reside.

Upon release The Citizens Advice Bureau or even the internet may be of help to you. Top

  

Help with Substance Misuse Pointers

 

We have divided this into two sections. Obviously in prison your first contact is CARATS. Kainos can help with providing individuals with a referral. CARATS will have more specific and local information.

 

SECTION 1 - GOAL IS ABSTINENCE

 

Alcoholics Anonymous — support and meetings nationwide. Tel: 0845 769 7555

Narcotics Anonymous — support and meetings nationwide. Tel: 0845 373 3366

Rehabilitation Centres — No. of nationwide projects.

 

See www.patient.co.uk for a broad list of centres. CARATS will have info.

 

 

SECTION 2 - HEALTH INFORMATION AND SUPPORT

 

· Talk to Health Care Centre for local projects or Health Care Trust resources.

· Talk with CARATS for street agencies or advice. Top

 

Self Worth

 

Counselling — National Organisations

 

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Tel: 0870 443 5252 or www.bacp.co.uk

 

Association of Christian Counsellors. Tel: 0845 124 9469 or www.acc-uk.org

 

Faith Groups: Contact Prison Chaplaincy for specific faith groups.

 

A specific caring for ex-offenders group is run by Alpha. Tel: 0845 644 7544

 

Health Care

 

www.patient.co.uk lists various individual support groups/ networks.

 

NACRO — supporting ex-offenders. Contact Resettlement in prison or Phone 0207 582 6500 Top

   

Employment Help and Advice

 

Careers Advice — Prison has access to careers advisors who can offer various support or information.

 

Jobseekers Direct — national phone line Tel: 0845 606 0234

 

Training Support — Learn direct offers various ongoing training and courses. Tel: 0800 100 900

 

NACRO — offers advice and support if you are having problems getting a job. Tel: 0207 582 6500

 

Local Probation will sometimes have lists of companies willing to employ ex-offenders. Top

 

Help with Education

 

Careers Advice — Prison has access to careers advisors who can offer various support or information.

 

Training Support — Learn direct offers various ongoing training and courses. Tel: 0800 100 900

 

Local colleges offer many evening and part-time courses that you may wish to consider.

 

The Open University offers higher-level education opportunities, which you may be able to undertake in or out of prison.

Tel: 01908 653231 Top

   

Environment Issues

 

If you are having problems where you live, then consider the following pointers:- Local Housing Association (LHA’s) — if problems emanate from LHA tenants you may wish to contact the LHA.

 

Local Council — can help you with noisy neighbours etc.

 

Local Police — don’t be afraid to contact them if you are having genuine problems.

 

Residents associations.

 

Is moving an option for you? Remember this does cost money.

 

Employment may give you the resources to make a move and a fresh start.

 

Remember your family and sanity are more important than fear or intimidation from

disruptive neighbours. Top

   

Family Issues

 

RELATE— runs specific courses and counselling for ex-offenders and their families.

Tel: 0800 093 5711

or www.relate.org.uk

 

     Broken Families?  Try Families need Fathers on 0870 760 7496.

 

Parenting Help? Try — Fathers Direct on 0845 634 1328  Care for the Family on 029 2081 0800 Top

 

Help with Budgeting and Finance

 

The consumer credit counselling service offers free independent, impartial and realistic advice on budgeting and finance skills. Tel: 0800 138 1111 www.ccs.co.uk — good advice online.

 

Christians Against Poverty — Free advice, A worker can visit you to support you.

Tel: 0274 760 720 or www.capuk.org Top

Click on any of the below:

 

• Housing Contacts and advice
• Help with Substance Misuse
• Help with Self Worth
• Employment Contacts and advice
• Education Pointers
• Environment Pointers
• Family Issues
• Help with Budgeting and Finance

 

This page is here to assist you with getting help when you are on the out.

 

Click on one of the headings below for a range of useful contact telephone numbers, addresses and web sites of agencies. These details were all covered in the Citizenship Course and they are regularly up-dated.