Help and support agencies

Here you can find information about help and support agencies (mostly in the London area). To find out more, expand each section by clicking on the "Read More" button.

HIV information and advice

NAM / Aidsmap
Comprehensive and accurate online and printed information and news about living with HIV and HIV treatment
www.aidsmap.com
NAM
Lincoln House
1 Brixton Road
London
SW9 6DE
UK
020 7840 0050
[email protected]

National AIDS Trust (NAT)
Find information, resources and answers to some of the most important questions you have when living with HIV. NAT is the UK's leading charity dedicated to transforming society's response to HIV.
www.nat.org.uk/Living-with-HIV.aspx
NAT
New City Cloisters
196 Old Street
London
EC1V 9FR
020 7814 6767
[email protected]

AVERT
Information, advice and news about HIV and HIV treatment
www.avert.org
AVERT
4 Brighton Road
Horsham
West Sussex
RH13 5BA
[email protected]

The Body
Large US based HIV information resource
www.thebody.com

Treatment information and advice

HIV i-Base
Offering comprehensive and easy-to-follow online and printed guides to HIV treatment
Treatment information phoneline: 0808 800 6013
Monday to Wednesday 12noon - 4pm
www.i-base.info
HIV i-Base
4th Floor
57 Great Suffolk Street
London
SE1 0BB
020 7407 8488
[email protected]

AVERT
Information, advice and news about HIV and HIV treatment
www.avert.org
AVERT
4 Brighton Road
Horsham
West Sussex
RH13 5BA
[email protected]

The Body
Large US based HIV information resource
www.thebody.com

Support for HIV-positive men

Hivision
Free events for people living with HIV/AIDS including friends and family
www.hivision.org.uk
[email protected]

Naz Project London
Sexual health and HIV support services for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in London
www.naz.org.uk
Naz Project London
30 Blacks Road
London
W6 9DT
020 8741 1879
[email protected]

Positive East
Providing a comprehensive and co-ordinated practical (welfare, housing and benefits advice plus employment support) and emotional (counselling and mentoring) support for those people living with and affected by HIV in east London. Plus with dedicated HIV+ gay men’s support team providing one-to-one appointments and support group (Positive Life for HIV+ gay men), along with regular workshops and courses, such as Recently Diagnosed courses and an onsite HIV testing service ‘It Better to Know’.
www.positiveeast.org.uk
www.itsbettertoknow.org.uk
020 7791 2855
General enquiries: [email protected]
Gay men’s team: [email protected]

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT)
The largest HIV and AIDS charity in the UK offering a wide range of HIV information and support services
THT Direct: 0808 802 1221
Monday to Friday 10am – 10pm
Saturday & Sunday 12noon – 6pm
www.tht.org.uk
Ask the HIV Health Trainer service:
www.tht.org.uk/howwecanhelpyou/livingwithhiv/hivhealthrainers
Terrence Higgins Trust
314-320 Gray's Inn Road
London
WC1X 8DP
020 7812 1600
[email protected]

National AIDS Trust (NAT)
Find information, resources and answers to some of the most important questions you have when living with HIV. NAT is the UK's leading charity dedicated to transforming society's response to HIV.
www.nat.org.uk/Living-with-HIV.aspx
NAT
New City Cloisters
196 Old Street
London
EC1V 9FR
020 7814 6767
[email protected]

Sexual health information, advice, councelling

Counselling Directory
A support network of UK counsellors and psychotherapists, with information on their training and experience, areas of counselling covered, fees and contact details. This service is free, confidential and easy to use.
www.counselling-directory.org.uk

GMFA
The leading UK gay men’s health charity, providing sexual health information specifically for gay men through our Sex and Sexual Health webpages

Positive East
Providing a comprehensive and co-ordinated practical (welfare, housing and benefits advice plus employment support) and emotional (counselling and mentoring) support for those people living with and affected by HIV in east London. Plus with dedicated gay men’s support team providing one-to-one appointments and support groups (Positive Life for HIV Positive gay men; Himat open to all South Asian men regardless of HIV status), along with regular workshops and courses, such as Recently Diagnosed courses and an onsite HIV testing service ‘It Better to Know’.
www.positiveeast.org.uk
www.itsbettertoknow.org.uk
020 7791 2855
General enquiries: [email protected]
Gay men’s team: [email protected]

Relationship support

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT)
The largest HIV and AIDS charity in the UK offering a wide range of HIV information and support services
THT Direct: 0808 802 1221
Monday to Friday 10am – 10pm
Saturday & Sunday 12noon – 6pm
www.tht.org.uk
Ask the HIV Health Trainer service:
www.tht.org.uk/howwecanhelpyou/livingwithhiv/hivhealthrainers
Terrence Higgins Trust
314-320 Gray's Inn Road
London
WC1X 8DP
020 7812 1600
[email protected]

Positive East
Providing a comprehensive and co-ordinated practical (welfare, housing and benefits advice plus employment support) and emotional (counselling and mentoring) support for those people living with and affected by HIV in east London. Plus with dedicated gay men’s support team providing one-to-one appointments and support groups (Positive Life for HIV Positive gay men; Himat open to all South Asian men regardless of HIV status), along with regular workshops and courses, such as Recently Diagnosed courses and an onsite HIV testing service ‘It Better to Know’.
www.positiveeast.org.uk
www.itsbettertoknow.org.uk
020 7791 2855

General enquiries: [email protected]
Gay men’s team: [email protected]

Naz Project London
Sexual health and HIV support services for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in London
www.naz.org.uk
Naz Project London
30 Blacks Road
London
W6 9DT
020 8741 1879
[email protected]

Relate
Offering advice, relationship counselling, sex therapy, workshops, mediation, consultations and support face-to-face, by phone and through their website
0300 100 1234 – call to speak to a trained consultant who can help point you toward the help you need, help you book an appointment at a location close to you or a telephone counselling appointment, or find out information about Online Counselling or booking on a training course or workshop.
www.relate.org.uk

Employment and benefits advice

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT)
The largest HIV and AIDS charity in the UK offering a wide range of HIV information and support services
THT Direct: 0808 802 1221
Monday to Friday 10am – 10pm
Saturday & Sunday 12noon – 6pm
www.tht.org.uk
Terrence Higgins Trust
314-320 Gray's Inn Road
London
WC1X 8DP
020 7812 1600
[email protected]

National AIDS Trust (NAT)
Find information, resources and answers to some of the most important questions you have when living with HIV. NAT is the UK's leading charity dedicated to transforming society's response to HIV.
www.nat.org.uk/Living-with-HIV.aspx
NAT
New City Cloisters
196 Old Street
London
EC1V 9FR
020 7814 6767
[email protected]

Positive East
Providing a comprehensive and co-ordinated practical (welfare, housing and benefits advice plus employment support) and emotional (counselling and mentoring) support for those people living with and affected by HIV in east London. Plus with dedicated gay men’s support team providing one-to-one appointments and support groups (Positive Life for HIV Positive gay men; Himat open to all South Asian men regardless of HIV status), along with regular workshops and courses, such as Recently Diagnosed courses and an onsite HIV testing service ‘It Better to Know’.
www.positiveeast.org.uk
www.itsbettertoknow.org.uk
020 7791 2855
General enquiries: [email protected]
Gay men’s team: [email protected]

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Helping people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice from over 3,000 locations
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Online advice guide: www.adviceguide.org.uk

TCell
Providing information and advice around the review of DLA awarded under the ‘special rules’
www.hivbenefits.co.uk
hivdlareview.blogspot.com

Housing advice

Albert Kennedy Trust
Supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender homeless young people
www.akt.org.uk
The Albert Kennedy Trust
Unit 305a Hatton Square Business Centre
16/16a Baldwins Gardens
London
EC1N 7RJ
London: 020 7831 6562
Manchester: 0161 228 3308
[email protected]

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Helping people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice from over 3,000 locations
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Online advice guide: www.adviceguide.org.uk

Harbour Trust
HIV/AIDS Information Benefits and Housing Advice in Greenwich and Bexley
www.iain-rossmacleod.co.uk/harbour/index.html

National AIDS Trust (NAT)
Find information, resources and answers to some of the most important questions you have when living with HIV. NAT is the UK's leading charity dedicated to transforming society's response to HIV.
www.nat.org.uk/Living-with-HIV.aspx
NAT
New City Cloisters
196 Old Street
London
EC1V 9FR
020 7814 6767
[email protected]

Naz Project London
Sexual health and HIV support services for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in London
www.naz.org.uk
Naz Project London
30 Blacks Road
London
W6 9DT
020 8741 1879
[email protected]

Positive East
Providing a comprehensive and co-ordinated practical (welfare, housing and benefits advice plus employment support) and emotional (counselling and mentoring) support for those people living with and affected by HIV in east London. Plus with dedicated gay men’s support team providing one-to-one appointments and support groups (Positive Life for HIV Positive gay men; Himat open to all South Asian men regardless of HIV status), along with regular workshops and courses, such as Recently Diagnosed courses and an onsite HIV testing service ‘It Better to Know’.
www.positiveeast.org.uk
www.itsbettertoknow.org.uk
020 7791 2855
General enquiries: [email protected]
Gay men’s team: [email protected]

Stonewall Housing
www.stonewallhousing.org
2A Leroy House
436 Essex Road
London
N1 3QP
Advice line: 020 7359 5767
During office hours
[email protected]

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT)
The largest HIV and AIDS charity in the UK offering a wide range of HIV information and support services
THT Direct: 0808 802 1221
Monday to Friday 10am – 10pm
Saturday & Sunday 12noon – 6pm
www.tht.org.uk
Terrence Higgins Trust
314-320 Gray's Inn Road
London
WC1X 8DP
020 7812 1600
[email protected]

Shelter
The housing and homelessness charity providing housing advice and support
For urgent advice call 0808 800 4444
8am-midnight, seven days a week
www.shelter.org.uk
Supporter helpdesk 0300 330 1234
Monday-Friday 9am-9pm and Saturday 9am-1pm
[email protected]uk

Financial support

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT)
The largest HIV and AIDS charity in the UK offering a wide range of HIV information and support services
THT Direct: 0808 802 1221
Monday to Friday 10am – 10pm
Saturday & Sunday 12noon – 6pm
www.tht.org.uk
Terrence Higgins Trust
314-320 Gray's Inn Road
London
WC1X 8DP
020 7812 1600
[email protected]

National AIDS Trust (NAT)
Find information, resources and answers to some of the most important questions you have when living with HIV. NAT is the UK's leading charity dedicated to transforming society's response to HIV.
www.nat.org.uk/Living-with-HIV.aspx
NAT
New City Cloisters
196 Old Street
London
EC1V 9FR
020 7814 6767
[email protected]

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Helping people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice from over 3,000 locations
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Online advice guide: www.adviceguide.org.uk

Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS)
Free and confidential debt advice and support
0800 138 1111
Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm.
www.cccs.co.uk

Consumer Credit Counselling Service
Wade House
Merrion Centre
Leeds
LS2 8NG
[email protected]

National Debtline
Provides free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems
0808 808 4000
Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm
Saturday 9.30am to 1pm
24-hour voicemail
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk

Capitalise
London’s debt advice partnership
020 7392 2942
www.capitalise.org.uk

Hardship

Crusaid

Hardship grants for essentials such as food, clothing and heating supporting those people living with HIV in poverty who have nowhere else to turn
www.crusaid.org.uk
1-5 Curtain Road
London
EC2A 3JX
020 7539 3880
[email protected]

Drugs and alcohol advice and support

Antidote LGBT
Antidote is London's only targeted LGBT drug and alcohol service. Based in Soho in partnership with London Friend and Turning Point UK, Antidote serves the substance use needs of London's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, pan-London. Antidote does not require abstinence from their clients (though many choose abstinence as a goal, and Antidote works with those clients toward that objective). They offer a range of therapies: telephone/online advice and support, structured one-to-one therapies, group work, drop-in services, alternative and holistic therapies, referrals to detox, rehab and other community and health services. See below for details of the drop-in services.
www.antidote-lgbt.com
020 7437 4669 (ask for Toni or David)
[email protected]
Antidote drop-in services:
There are a number of places you can drop in without an appointment to have a discreet and casual chat, or to arrange an assessment or referral for key-work, counselling, detox or sexual health check.
Thursday Night Drop-in
Every Thursday night in Soho; no appointment needed, just come by for a chat with an Antidote worker, or enjoy the (sober) social space with other LGBT people looking for peer support or a change from bars and clubs. Free auricular acupuncture available to help with cravings, to improve sleep and to manage feelings of anxiety. All free and confidential.
Every Thursday, 6pm to 8.30pm
32A Wardour St, London, W1D 6QR
0207 437 4669
[email protected]
Every Friday at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital Drug Treatment Centre. Assessments by appointment with a specialist worker; advice, support, key-work, detoxes on-site and referrals to counselling and other therapies as well as sexual health checks. All LGBT people from across London are welcome. All free and confidential.
Every Friday 1pm to 4pm
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, entrance in Nightingale Lane, 369 Fulham Rd London, SW10 9NHFor information and appointments, contact David Stuart on 020 7437 4669, email [email protected] or contact the DTC direct on 020 3315 6111.
[email protected]
Every Wednesday between 3pm and 6pm in the (closed) basement bar of G.A.Y, 30 Old Compton St, W1D 5JX.
Casual and anonymous chat with an Antidote worker about anything drugs or alcohol, as well as rapid HIV testing, Hep B vaccinations and chat with a sexual health worker from 56 Dean St, the sexual health clinic. Brook are also down there to provide Chlamydia screens, as are the boys from GMI Partnership and the THT youth team.

Drug and Alcohol Service for London (DASL)
Formerly Alcohol East. Provides a range of services for people affected by drugs or alcohol.
www.alcoholeast.org.uk
Capital House
134-138 Romford Road
Stratford
London
E15 4LD
020 8257 3068
[email protected]

Blenheim Community Drug Project (Blenheim CDP)
Blenheim CDP is a leading substance misuse charity working across London to reduce the harm caused by drug misuse to individuals and the public.
www.blenheimcdp.org.uk
020 7582 2200

Druglink Hammersmith & Fulham
The Old Coach House
103a Devonport Road
London
W12 8PB
020 8749 6799
[email protected]

Westminster Drug Project
Provides information, advice, counselling and treatment services to drug users across London.
www.wdp-drugs.org.uk
Kingsway House
103 Kingsway
Holborn
London
WC2B 6QX
020 7421 3100
[email protected]

Release
Offers a range of specialist services to professionals and the public concerning drugs and the law.
Helpline: 0845 4500 215
Monday-Friday 11.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 4.00pm
www.release.org.uk
124-128 City Road
London
EC1V 2NJ
[email protected]

FRANK
Free and confidential information about drugs
Talk to FRANK: 0800 77 66 00
24 hour helpline
www.talktofrank.com
Text 82111 anytime with a question for FRANK about drugs and you'll soon get an answer you can trust.
For people with hearing impairments, you can textphone FRANK on 0800 917 8765.

Narcotics Anonymous
Fellowship of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. Recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean.
Helpline: 0300 999 1212
www.ukna.org

Cocaine Anonymous
Fellowship of men and women for whom cocaine had become a major problem. Recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean
Helpline: 0800 612 0225
Monday – Sunday 10am – 10pm
www.cauk.org.uk
[email protected]

Alcoholics Anonymous
National Helpline: 0845 769 7555
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Alcohol Concern
Works to reduce the incidence and costs of alcohol-related harm and to increase the range and quality of services available to people with alcohol-related problems.
Drinkline: 0800 917 8282
www.alcoholconcern.org.uk

Smoking cessation

Quit
Independent charity whose aim is to save lives by helping smokers to stop.
Quitline: 0800 00 22 00
www.quit.org.uk
[email protected]

Mental health advice and support

The Eddie Surman Trust / Positiveline
Support for young people in particular who are HIV positive and may be feeling suicidal
Positiveline: 0800 169 6806
Monday to Friday 11am – 10pm
Saturday and Sunday 4pm – 10pm
www.eddiesurmantrust.org.uk
[email protected]

Positive East
Providing a comprehensive and co-ordinated practical (welfare, housing and benefits advice plus employment support) and emotional (counselling and mentoring) support for those people living with and affected by HIV in east London. Plus with dedicated gay men’s support team providing one-to-one appointments and support groups (Positive Life for HIV Positive gay men; Himat open to all South Asian men regardless of HIV status), along with regular workshops and courses, such as Recently Diagnosed courses and an onsite HIV testing service ‘It Better to Know’.
www.positiveeast.org.uk
www.itsbettertoknow.org.uk
020 7791 2855
General enquiries: [email protected]
Gay men’s team: [email protected]

Samaritans
Confidential emotional support 24 hours a day
www.samaritans.org.uk
Support by phone: 08457 90 90 90
Support by email: [email protected]
Support by post:
Chris
P.O. Box 90 90
Stirling
FK8 2SA

Sane
UK charity concerned with improving the lives of everyone affected by mental illness
Helpline: 0845 767 8000
Every day of the year, 6pm to 11pm
www.sane.org.uk
1st Floor Cityside House
40 Adler Street
London
E1 1EE
020 7375 1002
[email protected]

Depression Alliance
The leading UK charity for people affected by depression
www.depressionalliance.org
Depression Alliance
20 Great Dover Street
London
SE1 4LX
0845 123 23 20
[email protected]

Mind
The leading mental health charity in England and Wales
MindinfoLine: 0845 766 0163
Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm
www.mind.org.uk
Mindinfoline
PO Box 277
Manchester
M60 3XN
[email protected]

Discrimination

Naz Project London
Sexual health and HIV support services for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in London
www.naz.org.uk
Naz Project London
30 Blacks Road
London
W6 9DT
020 8741 1879
[email protected]

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT)
The largest HIV and AIDS charity in the UK offering a wide range of HIV information and support services
THT Direct: 0808 802 1221
Monday to Friday 10am – 10pm
Saturday & Sunday 12noon – 6pm
www.tht.org.uk
Terrence Higgins Trust
314-320 Gray's Inn Road
London
WC1X 8DP
020 7812 1600
[email protected]

National AIDS Trust (NAT)
Find information, resources and answers to some of the most important questions you have when living with HIV. NAT is the UK's leading charity dedicated to transforming society's response to HIV.
www.nat.org.uk/Living-with-HIV.aspx
NAT
New City Cloisters
196 Old Street
London
EC1V 9FR
020 7814 6767
[email protected]

Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
The EHRC has a statutory remit to promote and monitor human rights; and to protect, enforce and promote equality across the seven 'protected' grounds – age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, sexual orientation and gender reassignment. See below for the regional office contact details.
www.equalityhumanrights.com

England
0845 604 6610 – England main number
0845 604 6620 – England textphone
Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm
Equality and Human Rights Commission Helpline
Freepost RRLL-GHUX-CTRX
Arndale House
Arndale Centre
Manchester
M4 3AQ
Email: [email protected]

Wales
0845 604 8810 – Wales main number
0845 604 8820 – Wales textphone
Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm
Equality and Human Rights Commission Helpline Wales
Freepost RRLR-UEYB-UYZL
3rd Floor
3 Callaghan Square
Cardiff
CF10 5BT
Email: [email protected]

Scotland
0845 604 5510 – Scotland main number
0845 604 5520 – Scotland Textphone
Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm
Equality and Human Rights Commission Helpline Scotland
Freepost RRLL-GYLB-UJTA
The Optima Building,
58 Robertson Street
Glasgow
G2 8DU

Stonewall
www.stonewall.org.uk
Helpline: 08000 502020
Tower Building
York Road
London SE1 7NX
Info Line: 08000 50 20 20 (Mon-Fri 9:30am to 5:30pm)
Email: [email protected]

Stonewall Cymru
3rd Floor, Transport House
1 Cathedral Road
Cardiff CF11 9SB
Wales
Telephone: 029 2023 7744
Email: [email protected]
The Equality Centre / Y Ganolfan Cydraddoldeb
Ffordd Bangor Rd
Penmaenmawr
Conwy LL34 6LF
Telephone: 01492 622202
Email: [email protected]

Stonewall Scotland
9 Howe Street
Edinburgh EH3 6TE
Scotland
Telephone: 0131 557 3679
Email: [email protected]

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Helping people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice from over 3,000 locations
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Online advice guide: www.adviceguide.org.uk

Complementary and alternative therapies

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT)

The largest HIV and AIDS charity in the UK offering a wide range of HIV information and support services
THT Direct: 0808 802 1221
Monday to Friday 10am – 10pm
Saturday & Sunday 12noon – 6pm
www.tht.org.uk
Terrence Higgins Trust
314-320 Gray's Inn Road
London
WC1X 8DP
020 7812 1600
[email protected]

Black and minority ethnic HIV-positive gay men

Young HIV-positive gay men

Workshops and courses

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT)
The largest HIV and AIDS charity in the UK offering a wide range of HIV information and support services
THT Direct: 0808 802 1221
Monday to Friday 10am – 10pm
Saturday & Sunday 12noon – 6pm
www.tht.org.uk
Information can also be found at: www.gmfa.org.uk/gwk
Terrence Higgins Trust
314-320 Gray's Inn Road
London
WC1X 8DP
020 7812 1600
[email protected]

Positive East
Providing a comprehensive and co-ordinated practical (welfare, housing and benefits advice plus employment support) and emotional (counselling and mentoring) support for those people living with and affected by HIV in east London. Plus with dedicated gay men’s support team providing one-to-one appointments and support groups (Positive Life for HIV Positive gay men; Himat open to all South Asian men regardless of HIV status), along with regular workshops and courses, such as Recently Diagnosed courses and an onsite HIV testing service ‘It Better to Know’.
www.positiveeast.org.uk
www.itsbettertoknow.org.uk
020 7791 2855
General enquiries: [email protected]
Gay men’s team: [email protected]

HIV and GUM clinics

To find your nearest HIV or GUM clinic, go to our London GUM-clinics webpages.

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