local wellbeing services

Do you need a hand managing your benefits? The Benefits Advice service can help. It offers advice on applying for housing or Council Tax benefits, reporting a change in circumstances, making an appeal, overpayments, benefit visits, reporting fraud, welfare advice, under-occupancy charges and more.

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With bureaus in Winsford, Northwich and Ellesmere Port, Citizens Advice can help you sort out your money and legal issues, plus a huge variety of other challenges. Offering free, independent and confidential advice, four in ten people will use Citizens Advice at some point in their lives.

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Struggling with debt? While you should always explain your situation to your creditors, there’s no need to use a debt management company.

Free, confidential and impartial advice is available throughout Cheshire West and Chester, including online self-help and budgeting tools and budgeting. Tenants can also seek advice from their housing providers.

There’s a variety of funding on offer, from the Northern Marches LEADER programme supporting rural economic regeneration in South Cheshire and North Shropshire, to the Rural Support Programme, helping charities and organisations improve local communities. You can also seek government funding and financial help through gov.uk.

Universal Credit is a new benefit for working aged people. It replaces six different benefits with one monthly payment, with all claims made online. If you don’t have a computer, visit a Cheshire West and Chester library (1 hour a day free for members), or get free access at any Customer Service Centre.

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Whether you need to report a concern about an adult or report someone as missing, the Advice and Contact team are here to help.

You can use the online contact form or interactive assessment to help them understand what support you need. Or you can find out more about the service here.

If you feel a child is suffering from harm, neglect or abuse, Child Protection services can investigate. In fact, your call could mean getting the right help to a family, or even saving a child’s life.

The service also supports families under stress and seriously ill or disabled children.

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Living with a violent partner isn’t easy. The Women’s Aid website has lots of advice on safety planning, children, friends and family, male victims and perpetrators, with pages in foreign languages.

Plus, there are many Cheshire organisations that can help in a non-judgmental, confidential and safe way, with interpreters provided.

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Whether you’re a teenage parent, an older person, homeless, a refugee, at risk of domestic abuse, coping with mental health issues or a physical or learning disability, you could benefit from housing support.

The service includes the home assistance hub, domestic abuse refuges, homeless services, sheltered housing, community alarms and floating support services.

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Mental health problems can be caused by all kinds of physical, mental, social or life-related issues. You can access all the diagnosis, treatment and support you need from a community mental health team. These teams are experts who work with people and their GPs to plan their recovery.

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These services help people and their carers manage complex needs at home, from adaptation and equipment, to moving and handling, reablement and support. They’re open to anyone with a physical and/or sensory problem from birth, illness, accident or ageing. Costs depend on individual needs, but grants are available for major adaptations.

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