Autism Bedfordshire

Autism Bedfordshire are an independent charity dedicated to improving the lives of autistic people and their families across Bedfordshire.

Telephone: 01234 350704

Website: www.autismbedfordshire.net

Email: enquiries@autismbeds.org

The Avenue

The Avenue is a positive, friendly, organisation that understands the highs and lows of living with autism.

Telephone: 07425 551110

Website: theavenuesupport.co.uk

Email: theavenuesupport@outlook.com

National Autistic Society

Founded in 1962, the National Autistic Society are the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families. Their goal is to help transform lives, change attitudes and create a society that works for autistic people.

Website: www.autism.org.uk

Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership

The Partnership brings together key agencies across Bedfordshire to raise awareness, to deliver services and to work together to improve our local response to domestic abuse.

Telephone: 0808 2000 247

Website: bedsdv.org.uk

ManKind Initiative

ManKind Initiative’s confidential helpline is available for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence across the UK who are suffering this abuse from their current or former wife or partner (including same-sex partner).

Telephone: 01823 334244

Website: www.mankind.org.uk

Men's Advice Line

Men’s Advice Line is a confidential helpline for men experiencing domestic violence from a partner or ex-partner (or from other family members).

Telephone: 0808 801 0327

Website: www.mensadviceline.org.uk

Email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk

Galop - National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline

Emotional and practical support for LGBT+ people experiencing domestic abuse. Abuse isn’t always physical- it can be psychological, emotional, financial and sexual too. Speak out, don’t suffer in silence.

Telephone: 0800 999 5428

Website: www.galop.org.uk

Email: help@galop.org.uk

The Emerald Centre

The Emerald Centre SARC offers free support and practical help to anyone in Bedfordshire and Luton who has experienced sexual violence and/or sexual abuse.

Telephone: 01234 897504

Website: www.emeraldcentre.org

Women's Aid

Women’s Aid are a grassroots federation working together to provide life-saving services and build a future where domestic violence is not tolerated.

Telephone: 0808 2000 247

Website: www.womensaid.org.uk

Rape Crisis UK

Rape Crisis England & Wales (RCEW) is a feminist organisation that supports the work of Rape Crisis Centres across England and Wales. They also raise awareness and understanding of sexual violence and abuse in all its forms.

Find your nearest rape crisis centre.

Website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk

Road Victims Trust

The Road Victims Trust is a registered charity offering a range of free support services to residents of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire who have been affected by fatal road collisions.

Telephone: 01234 843345

Website: www.rvtrust.org.uk

Email: enquiries@rvtrust.co.uk

Cruse Bedfordshire

CRUSE runs bereavement support groups for adults, whether recently bereaved or many years past. Please contact Bedfordshire CRUSE to self refer for this support.

Telephone: 0300 200 4108

Email: bedfordshire@cruse.org.uk

Bedford Hospital

Provides support and information to families of the deceased.

Telephone: 01234 792163

Website: www.bedfordhospital.nhs.uk

Bedford Bereavement Services

Bedford Borough Council offer impartial help, support and guidance on all aspects of bereavement including memorialisation.

Telephone: 01234 718150

Website: www.bedford.gov.uk

CHUMS – Child Bereavement Service

Chums was created to meet the needs of children, young people and their families following the death of someone close.

Telephone: 01525 863924

Website: chums.uk.com

Bedford Women's Centre

Bedford Womens Centre is based in the Raleigh Centre which is in the Cauldwell ward of Bedford on Ampthill Road. Their aim is to support women in the community to improve the quality of life for them and their families.

Telephone: 01234 316801

Website: bedfordwomenscentre.org.uk

Bedford and District Cerebral Palsy Society

BDCPS is a small local charity which provides playschemes and youth clubs for disabled young people (aged 0 to 25) in addition to critical support and funding to families, parents and carers.

Telephone: 01234 351759

Website: www.bdcps.org.uk

Email: cp.enquiries@bdcps.org.uk

Bedford Foodbank

Bedford Foodbank are part of a nationwide network of food-banks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

Telephone: 01234 268569

Website: bedford.foodbank.org.uk

Email: info@bedford.foodbank.org.uk

Bedfordshire Diabetes

Written and maintained by Bedfordshire’s leading Diabetes Service Specialists, this website is designed to be a comprehensive source of information and advice on diabetes for Bedfordshire.

Website: www.bedfordshirediabetes.org.uk

Bedford Diabetes UK

Bedford Diabetes UK are a local Diabetes UK group who aim to provide help and support to people living with or affected by diabetes in Bedford and surrounding areas.

Website: bedford.diabetesukgroup.org

Carers in Bedfordshire

Carers in Bedfordshire strive to identify and support all carers of family and friends. They will enhance their health and well-being by offering specialist support according to their needs and wishes.

Telephone: 0300 111 1919

Website: www.carersinbeds.org.uk

Central Bedfordshire - Support for Carers

If you’re a carer, there’s considerable advice and support available to you. You can get help to look after your own health and wellbeing so you have time to enjoy social activities, work or educational opportunities alongside your caring role.

Website: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Carers UK

They’re here to make sure that no matter how complicated your query or your experience, you don’t have to care alone.

Telephone: 020 7378 4999

Website: www.carersuk.org

Email: info@carersuk.org

Early Childhood Partnership

Early Childhood Partnership (ECP) is a local Charity set up for the sole purpose of delivering Children’s Centre services in Bedford Borough.

Telephone: 0300 323 0245

Website: ecpbedford.org

Email: admin@ecpbedford.org

The Avenue

The Avenue is a positive, friendly, organisation that understands the highs and lows of living with autism.

Telephone: 07425 551110

Website: theavenuesupport.co.uk

Email: theavenuesupport@outlook.com

CHUMS

CHUMS Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Service for Children and Young People provides therapeutic support in a variety of ways. CHUMS has developed a unique service delivery model to ensure that children and young people are able to access a service that supports their individual needs.

Website: chums.uk.com/bedfordshire-services

Childhood illness visual guide

Use this visual guide to help you identify common conditions and illnesses that may affect your child. Includes conditions such as measles, slapped cheek syndrome, chicken pox and warts.

Website: www.nhs.uk

Vaccination planner

Download a personalised vaccination calendar, which highlights the dates your child needs to have their vaccinations by.

Website: www.nhs.uk

Path 2 Recovery

Path 2 Recovery is a one-stop service providing advice, support, and treatment to those over 18 living in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire whose lives are affected by alcohol or drug use.

Telephone: 01234 263670

Website: changeyourtomorrow.co.uk

Aquarius - Bedfordshire Young People Substance Misuse Service

The Young People service supports 5 to 19 year olds impacted by substance misuse whether this be parental or own use.

Website: aquarius.org.uk

Drinkline

If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s drinking, you can call this free helpline, in complete confidence.

Telephone: 0300 123 1110

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.

Telephone: 0800 9177 650

Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Email: help@aamail.org

Talk to Frank

If you have a problem with drugs Talk to Frank for friendly, confidential drugs advice.

Telephone: 0300 123 6600

Text: 82111

Website: www.talktofrank.com

Email: frank@talktofrank.com

Mind - BLMK

Mind BLMK works across our communities to support positive mental health and wellbeing. Working closely with a range of partners, we offer a number of activities from our wellbeing centres and local venues to make a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, and our aim is to make sure that no-one has to face a mental health problem alone.

Telephone: 0300 330 0648

Website: www.mind-blmk.org.uk

Bedfordshire Wellbeing Service

The Bedfordshire Wellbeing Service offers a range of free and confidential talking therapies and specialist support to help you feel better.

Website: bedfordshirewellbeingservice.nhs.uk

Open Door

Bedford Open Door is a charity providing free and confidential counselling to young people. Counselling is provided by a team of fully trained, experienced and friendly volunteer counsellors.

Telephone: 01234 360388

Website: www.bedfordopendoor.org.uk

Email: counselling@bedfordopendoor.org.uk

HeadsUp

HeadsUp is a campaign to help men get happy and stay happy. It has been set up to help men identify and deal with issues that tend to crop up in life from time to time.

Website: thisisheads-up.uk

CALM

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK.

Telephone: 0800 58 58 58

Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Samaritans

Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way – about whatever’s getting to you. You don’t have to be suicidal. Call Samaritans free, 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

Telephone: 116 123

Website: www.samaritans.org

Email: jo@samaritans.org

Rethink

Rethink provide expert, accredited advice and information to everyone affected by mental health problems.

Telephone: 0300 5000 927

Website: www.rethink.org

Email: info@rethink.org

Tibbs Dementia Foundation

The Tibbs Dementia Foundation are a Registered Charity dedicated to providing a range of quality, accessible, creative & relevant support services, activities & opportunities for people living with all stages of dementia (or significant cognitive impairment) and their family carers & supporters within the Bedford area.

Telephone: 01234 210993

Website: www.tibbsdementia.co.uk

Email: contact@tibbsdementia.co.uk

Silver Line

Free phone support for older people, 24 hours a day.

Telephone: 0800 4 70 80 90

Website: www.thesilverline.org.uk

Dementia

Dementia UK offers specialist one-to-one support and expert advice for people living with dementia.

Telephone: 0800 888 6678

Website: www.dementiauk.org

Email: helpline@dementiauk.org

Age UK - Bedfordshire

Age UK is the country’s largest charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. We believe in a world where everyone can love later life and we work every day to achieve this.

Telephone: 01234 360510

Website: www.ageuk.org.uk

Bedford Hospital - Maternity

Are you pregnant or looking to have a baby? Our team of friendly, highly trained and approachable consultants, midwives and maternity care assistants are on hand to provide high quality levels of care in a modern, homely and relaxing environment.

Telephone: 01234 795747

Website: www.bedfordhospital.nhs.uk

Baby Buddy App

Baby Buddy is an award winning mobile phone app for new parents and parents-to-be, created by mums, doctors and midwives.

Download from: play.google.com

Download from: itunes.apple.com

Just Turn Up

The ‘Just Turn Up’ programme is a localised project to help deliver affordable community based activities in and around the most deprived wards in the Borough of Bedford.

Website: www.bedford.gov.uk

Mindful Sport

Extra activities will be featured at a popular project in Bedford designed to help the public improve their wellbeing through physical activity.

Telephone: 01234 718825

Email: robert.lindsay@bedford.gov.uk

Website: www.elft.nhs.uk

iCash

If you’re looking for contraception, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, HIV care and treatment or related advice in Bedfordshire, we can help.

Telephone: 0300 300 3030

Website: www.icash.nhs.uk

Rape Crisis UK

Rape Crisis England & Wales (RCEW) is a feminist organisation that supports the work of Rape Crisis Centres across England and Wales. They also raise awareness and understanding of sexual violence and abuse in all its forms.

Find your nearest rape crisis centre.

Website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk

Brook

Brook provides free and confidential sexual health and wellbeing services for nearly 250,000 young people UK-wide, each year.

Website: www.brook.org.uk

Family Planning Association

A sexual health charity, the Family Planning Association gives straightforward information and support on sexual health, sex and relationships to everyone in the UK.

Telephone: 020 7608 5240

Website: www.fpa.org.uk

Sexual Health Helpline

The National Sexual Health Helpline provided by Public Health England is open Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm.

Telephone: 0300 123 7123

Smokefree Bedfordshire

If you or someone you know is looking to quit smoking, Smokefree Bedfordshire are  here to help. Our friendly, specialist advisors offer free advice and support across Central Bedfordshire, Bedford Borough and Milton Keynes.

Telephone: 0800 013 0553

Website: smokefreebedfordshire.co.uk

Quit with help

Everyone has a different reason for quitting, get a personalised Quit Smoking Plan.

Website: www.quitwithhelp.co.uk

Weight Watchers

Meetings, Online or a little bit of both. We’ve got options and support, whatever your lifestyle.

Website: www.weightwatchers.com

Slimming World

You’ll find delicious recipe and menu ideas at your local group, along with all the help you need to get started and reach your target weight.

Website: www.slimmingworld.co.uk

GP Services for Young People

A useful guide to accessing GP services for young people, aged 13 – 16 years old.

• NHS Young Person Guide

Kooth

A free and anonymous online counselling and emotional wellbeing support service to every child or young person living in Luton, Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.

Website: www.kooth.com

SSAFA - Bedfordshire

SSAFA provides lifelong support to anyone who is currently serving or has ever served in the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force.

Telephone: 0800 500 3063

Email:  bedfordshire@ssafa.org.uk

Website: www.ssafa.org.uk

Hidden Wounds

A psychological well being service for veterans & families; part of help for heroes. Hidden Wounds provides free and confidential support to Ex-Service Personnel, their families and the families of those still serving, who are living with anxiety, depression, stress, anger or who wish to change their drinking habits.

Telephone: 0808 2020144

Website: www.helpforheroes.org.uk/hidden-wounds/