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Life gone sideways?

If you’re looking for an organisation to help signpost rather than work through the information provided here, The Torbay Community Helpline (“one call – that's all”) is a good source of information, further support and advice. The Helpline works closely with specialist organisations in the local community and voluntary sector to provide advice information and support through a dedicated referral pathway. Members of the public can call the Torbay Community Helpline Telephone at 01803 446022.

More information is available at Torbay Communities. 

Vibe check: are you struggling with your mental health?

Are you feeling suicidal, are you in a mental health crisis or at immediate risk of harm?

When life is getting on top if you and your feeling under pressure, it can affect your mental health. When this becomes too much, you may experience intrusive thoughts, these can be about yourself. These are upsetting, but you won’t always feel them, they will pass It is important to get helps if you are struggling or thinking about suicide. Support is available.

If you have already injured yourself and your life is at immediate risk call 999 and request an ambulance.

NHS 111 option 2: find out where to get urgent help for mental health

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Are you worried about money? 

Worry about money can come from unexpected costs such as your car or washing machine breaking down to sudden unemployment or struggling to live on the money coming in against the costs going out.

There is support available to you.

  • Visit Torbay Council's Benefits and Support pages for further information on:
    • Housing benefit,
    • Pension age council tax support or
    • Working age council tax support.
  • Did you know Torbay Council has a Welfare Support Scheme? This can help Torbay residents meet an essential need. This could be for a boiler repair or rent in advance. 
  • There is also a Household Support Fund. This can provide £100 towards the costs of fuel, water and food.
  • If you are in receipt of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit there is also a Discretionary Housing Payment available to help with deposits, rent arrears to help maintain your tenancy and shortfalls between the above benefits and your rent. Find out more about Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) and Council Tax Discretionary awards.
  • The Government provides national advice on cost of living support.
  • Food banks and Social Supermarkets in Torbay are available through the Torbay Food Alliance to support you when you don't have enough or are struggling to feed yourself or your family. 
  • Citizens Advice can offer advice in person via their drop in or by phone. Visit Citizens Advice Torbay webpage for more information. Visit the national Citizens Advice website for information and guidance on a variety of topics, including debt, money and housing.
  • The Department for Work and Pensions offer support with benefits such as universal credit and state pension.
  • If you’re struggling with payments to DWP or HMRC, MoneyHelper is available with support information.
  • If you’re worried about DWP debt management and overpayments, for example if they have overpaid benefits in the past. Step Change offers advice on DWP debt management and overpayments. 
  • Members of the farming community (active and retired farmers and their family) can get support from RABI, the farmers charity. RABI offers mental health support services, financial support, financial grant support and advice on income maximisation. Next of kin or significant others can access RABI counselling services by calling the free 24/7 helpline 0800 188 4444 or e-mailing help@rabi.org.uk.
  • Money and mental health are linked. Mental health charity MIND offer support, including a toolkit to help your money management and advice on how to talk to services.

Feeling alone? Isolated?

If you’re feeling alone or isolated it can make it feel harder to cope with the stress and difficult situations. It’s important to remember that if you’re feeling isolated because of something that has happened you can speak to organisations anonymously. This can help you work through your thoughts and feel listened to. Organisations such as The Samaritans are there to listen 24/7 and can be contacted on 116123.

Making friends as an adult can feel hard or it may be reliant on behaviours you are trying to avoid, for example going to the pub. Think about activities that you have enjoyed in the past, that you may want to give a try again or if you’re struggling with your physical health, how you can volunteer to be part of this again.

In Torbay we have social prescribers (or similar) within our GP practices. It is worth checking out your GP’s website to find out more about how you access this service and the 1:1 support they provide. They have a host of information on the different activities available in Torbay. For example, BroProject are a golf focused group.

You may also want to think about peer support. Andy’s Man Club meets weekly in Paignton and Torquay.

Are you having problems with child contact arrangements?

To check if you’re eligible for legal aid, visit the government's Civil Legal Advice (CLA) webpage.

The Epic Project has been created to offer a different, holistic approach to supporting families in Torbay. Visit What’s Your Problem? to find out more.

If you are involved in family law proceedings, the Cafcass website provides supportive information.

Torbay Family Hubs are based across Torbay and offer support and guidance to parents and carers.

Are you worried about housing?

Find out how Torbay Council can help if your situation has changed and you are at risk of homelessness.

Food banks and Social Supermarkets in Torbay are available through the Torbay Food Alliance to support you when you don’t have enough or are struggling to feed yourself or your family. 

People Assisting Torbay’s Homeless (PATH) provide support to those who are homeless and provides a food bank every evening from their base in Torquay.

Shelter is a national housing and homelessness charity. They offer a free helpline to talk to an expert housing adviser about your housing situation. Call the helpline at 0808 800 4444.

  • Shelter opening Times: Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 5pm
  • Shelter's emergency Helpline: 0808 1644 660

Are you worried about gambling problems?

Gambling support organisations recognise how addictive gambling can be and how it can devastate people’s lives – often hidden away from family and friends.

Organisations you can support for advice include:

The harm caused by gambling is also recognised by the NHS. The NHS can guide you on where to access gambling treatment centres. 

Are you struggling with alcohol or drugs?

Help is available if you want support in addressing your relationship with alcohol or managing your drug use.

Are you concerned about relationship breakdown?

The Epic Project has been created to offer a different, holistic approach to supporting families in Torbay. Visit What’s Your Problem? to find out more.

Are you hurting someone you love?

Are you worried about your behaviour - frightening yourself of others? We are all responsible for how we behave. Support is available if you need help recognising your behaviour, take responsibility for how you act and make steps to change your behaviour.

Are you a veteran?

If you have served within the armed forces there is additional support available to you.

Are you currently in the criminal justice system?

If your are on probation, a range of programmes are available both in prisons and in the community for people on probation. They include programmes to address specific offences, for example:

  • sexual offending and domestic violence,
  • general patterns of offending behaviour and
  • substance misuse  

Also in this section

Help and support for anyone in Torbay who needs protection from domestic abuse and or sexual violence.

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