Other Links
General
Advice guide:This is the information website of the Citizens Advice Bureau Organisation.
It contains information on the wide range of subjects that local citizen
advice bureaux assist with. It is written specifically for the public and is easy to understand.
If you simply need information about your query, you may find the answer here.
Community Legal Services Direct:
This is a service run by the Legal Aid Board. It provides free information and advice direct to the public. Tel: 08453 454 345 Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm
Age Concern: The UK's largest charity working with older people.
Housing
ShelterLine:Shelter provides a free and confidential
national telephone advice line on all aspects of housing problems.
They also have fact sheets you can download from their website. Tel: 0808 800 4444 - 7 days a week - 8am - midnight.
Employment
ACAS Employment Helpline:ACAS provide independent practical information and advice on relevant employment law. They advise on your rights and options available
to you. Their website has many fact sheets on a wide range of employment problems. Their services are available to both employees and employers.Tel: 08457 474747 Mon - Fri / 8am - 6pm.
Health
NHFA Invaluable information on funding
the cost of care. Tel - 0800 998833
NHS direct: Delivers telephone
and e-health information services day and night direct to the public Tel:
0845 4647 - Available 24 hours
Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals
NHS Trustprovides general and specialist acute hospital care for more
than a million people. Their services are located on two main sites, The
Princes Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath and the Royal Sussex County Hospital
in Brighton, and they work in partnership with other local community hospitals,
GP practices and clinics.
South Downs Health NHS Trustprovides
community, rehabilitation and children's services for people living mainly
in the Brighton and Hove area.
Independent
Complaints Advocacy Services (ICAS) supports patients and their carers
wishing to pursue a complaint about their NHS treatment or care. ICAS
South East 0845 600 8616 covers: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire
and Isle of Wight, Kent (except Greater London), Oxfordshire, Surrey (except
Greater London) and Sussex.
General
Direct government: - Public services all in one place.
Brighton and Hove council
- Public services all in one place.
East Sussex Community Information Services
- Provides information on local organisations, clubs and services across
East Sussex and Brighton & Hove
Consumer
Brighton Trading standards
Consumer Direct :
free advice on all consumer related issues.
Euroconsumer The website
of the UK European Consumer Centre, the UK contact point for consumers
with a cross-border consumer query. They can give you advice and information
on your rights as a consumer in the European Union and help you to solve
problems with goods and services you have purchased in the EU.
Money Advice
Direct Debtline: 01323 481111
Mon - Thur 9pm - 5am, Fri 9am - 4pm First port of call for clients in
this area as the service is based in Polegate. They provide an option
of making payments through a Debt Management Plan if your finances allow.
There is no charge for this service. You make one payment, which can
be weekly, fortnightly or monthly, which is distributed among creditors.
Consumer Credit Counselling Service:0800
138 1111 Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm. provides an option of setting up a
debt management plan. CCCS has a good reputation among creditors so reasonable
offers are likely to be accepted.
National Debtline 0808
808 4000 Mon - Fri 9am - 9pm Sat 9.30am - 1pm They publish the 'Dealing
with your Debts' booklets and several very helpful and practical fact
sheets. They can also advise about setting up payments.
Payplan 0800 9177823 Mon - Fri 8am
- 9pm, Saturdays 9am - 3pm Offer free advice and debt management planning.
Specialists in IVAs and remortgages.
Utilities
Help paying your fuel bills factSheet
Energy Watch - Complaints
Brighton and Hove City Council: Energy
efficiency information page
Saving EXpert - Search for money saving ideas
USwitch: Search for cheaper deals.
