Getting help
You can get free face-to-face advice from advice centres, Citizens Advice Bureaux, and law centres. Some advice and law centres can help with lots of different problems, others just deal with one particular area like housing, benefits, or money problems.
There are also lots of charities who run advice services for particular groups - for example, RNID has services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, Mind has services for people with mental health problems, Working families has services for people who work and care for children, and Gingerbread has services for single parents.
If you can't see someone face-to face, there are also lots of organisations who can give you advice over the phone or some can give you advice over email.
There are lots of different ways you can get help and advice to deal with a problem.
Community Legal Advice
You can use the Community Legal Advice website to search for advice services and solicitors in your area. If you live on a low income or benefits, Community Legal Advice can also give you free advice over the telephone.
Search their directory
Telephone: 0845 345 4 345 Open Monday-Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday 9am-12:30pm. Calls cost from 4p a minute - or you can ask them to call you back.
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Citizens Advice Bureau help people resolve their debt, benefits, housing, legal, discrimination, employment, immigration, consumer and other problems.
Find a CAB near you
Law Centres
Law Centres help people with problems with employment, immigration, education, housing, community care, and benefits. They are staffed by both solicitors and other workers who specialise in legal problems. Law Centres usually only help people who work or live in their area.
Find a Law Centre near you
Shelter
You can use the Shelter website to search for services that provide advice on housing, debt, benefits, care and health needs.
Find an advice service near you
Shelter can also give you free advice over the phone about housing problems.
Telephone: 0808 800 4444. Open 8am-8pm Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm Saturday-Sunday Calls are free from UK landlines.
Age UK / Age Concern
Age UK / Age Concern provides information and advice to older people, and their friends and relatives. Age UK can also give you information over the phone.
Find an Age UK / Age Concern near you
Telephone: 0800 169 6565.
Youth Access
You can use the Youth Access website to search for services that provide information, advice, counselling and support to young people in your area.
Find a service for young people near you
Your local library or council offices should also be able to tell you about the advice services in your area. Or you can find details of local advice services in the Yellow Pages or phone book.
DIAL
DIAL is a network of local disability information and advice services run by and for disabled people.
Find a DIAL near you
National Debtline
National Debtline can give you advice and information about debt problems over the phone or go to their website to email them.
Telephone: 0808 808 4000. Open Monday – Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday 9.30am-1pm
Calls are free.
Debt Advice Foundation
Debt Advice Foundation can also give you advice about your debt problems over the phone.
Telephone:0800 043 40 50. Open Monday – Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-5pm.
Calls are free.
Consumer Direct
Consumer Direct can give you advice over the phone about problems you might have with a shop, or service.
Telephone: 08454 04 05 06. Open Monday – Friday 8am-6:30pm, Saturday 9.00am-1pm
Calls cost from 4p a minute.
Family problems?
If you are trying to deal with an issue to do with your family (like a divorce, or issues to do with the children) you should speak to a solicitor who is a member of Resolution.
Search for a member of Resolution
Personal injury?
If you are trying to deal with an issue to do with personal injury (like if you have been hurt in an accident), you should speak to a solicitor who is a member of Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
Search for a member of APIL
Solicitors
For some legal problems, you will need the help of a firm of private solicitors. Different solicitors will specialise in different issues - you should always try to get a solicitor who specialises in dealing with problems like yours.
You can search for a solicitor who deal with problems like yours on the Law Society website or call them and they will search for you.
Search for a solicitor near you
Telephone: 0870 606 6575
If you are on a very low income you may be able to get help to pay for a private solicitor. To find out if you qualify for this help see: Can I get legal aid?
If you do not qualify for this help, don't be put off. Don't be afraid to phone around and compare prices, or see if anyone will give you a free first appointment.
Still can't find what you need? Try looking for the right organisation on the AdviceUK website.
