Helpful organisations
Useful links & further reading…
There are plenty of places where you can get additional support. We have compiled this list of all the useful organisations we use and regularly pass onto our clients
General help & advice
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Hertfordshire County Council offer a range of support and advice for Adult social services.
This includes:
Social care help
Equipment, homecare, and housing
Arranging and paying for care
Support for unpaid carers
Dementia, autism, and mental health support
Blue Badge applications
hertfordshire.gov.uk/adult-social-service
Factsheets are available on the website covering a range of topics such as Advocacy, Financial support and advice, Assistive Technology and Tips for unpaid carers.
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Herts Help is a countywide service that offers advice and practical support to people across Hertfordshire. They can listen and help you find independent support, guidance and information to help you get the most out of life, including:
Support in a crisis (help with finding specialist services)
Help to manage at home
Finding the right care and support
Advice on funding your care
Advocacy to help you explain a problem/ have your say
Help finding community support to maintain independence
Winter Health
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Information and advice services for older people.
Telephone (Herts): 0300 345 3446
General advice line: 0800 678 1602
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Provides clear, free and impartial advice on issues that matter, care and support, money and benefits, health and mobility.
Carer support groups
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Carers in Hertfordshire provides information, advice, workshops and support free to carers on a range of matters related to their caring role and wellbeing, including finances, legal planning, the Mental Capacity Act and making or altering a Lasting Power of Attorney.
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We’re here for unpaid carers with expert information, advice and support, and also campaign to make life better for carers. Alongside this there are opportunities to connect with other unpaid Carers through online forums and training for unpaid carers.
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A weekly drop-in session for anyone living with Dementia or who is worried about their memory to come along with a family member or their carer in a safe and relaxed environment.
Runs every Thursday from 10:00 – 12:00
Ernest Gardiner Treatment Centre, Pearsall Close, Letchworth, SG6 1QZ
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Facilitated by Garden House Hospice, Wellbeing Hubs offer opportunities for people to come together for information, to socialise and promote wellbeing and engage in activities.
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Memory support groups are facilitated by Memory Support Hertfordshire and Alzheimer’s Society. Chat to people with dementia, their carers, family and friends at our friendly and relaxed dementia café. At each session you can ask questions, share your experiences and get the help, advice and information you need in an informal and sociable setting. Groups are available across Hertfordshire.
Befriending & socialising groups
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A free telephone friendship service run by Age UK for the over 60s.
Please include as much detail as possible and ensure you have permission to refer from the service user.
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National, free, and completely confidential helpline available for older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the week. It offers much-needed friendship, engaging conversation, and compassionate support whenever it is needed.
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Re-engage provides vital, life-enhancing social connections for older people at a time in their lives when their social circles are diminishing., including tea parties, call companions and activity groups.
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Providing support to community members experiencing loneliness or social isolation.
Compassionate Neighbours are local volunteers who provide support to members of our community who may be experiencing loneliness or social isolation. The effects of social isolation and loneliness in people of all ages can be as detrimental to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and, with around 200,000 older people in the UK not having had a conversation with a friend or relative in more than a month, Garden House Hospice Care wants to raise awareness and help people connect with their community.
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Happy & Healthy Men - Connection, conversation and creation – that’s what joining a Men’s Shed is all about.
Men’s Sheds encourage people to come together to make, repair and repurpose, supporting projects in their local communities.
Improving wellbeing, reducing loneliness and combating social isolation.
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Visiting scheme and Telephone club.
Please call the number for the area that you live in:
East Herts & Broxbourne: 07772 173659
North Herts & Stevenage: 07538 954189
St Albans & Hertsmere: 07772 173822
Welwyn & Hatfield: 07527 660988
Watford & Three Rivers: 07976 207619
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/hertfordshire/our-services/befriending-service/
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Providing garden activities and experiences to benefit people living with Dementia, their carers and families.
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Open to anyone including those living with Dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Sing popular songs in a relaxed environment, followed by some refreshments and a chit chat!!
No need to book just turn up and sing.
Meets every Thursday from 11.00 at Fairlands Activity Centre, Stevenage
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Delivers vibrant singing sessions for people living with dementia and their carers. Attending a singing session is a fun and stimulating activity, providing health benefits for both those living with dementia and their carers.
Condition Specific Support
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A care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers.
01707 378 365 or 01279 508 448 (Herts)
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Memory Support Hertfordshire offers a gateway to manage all memory and dementia related enquiries from the community – to give you the right information, at the right time and in the right way
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A charity that supports people affected by strokes and provides information about stroke or sources of support available after a stroke:
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Offering information, friendship and support to local people with Parkinson's, their families and carers.
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Arts opportunities to empower people affected by dementia in the community.
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Supporting people affected by Brain Injury, along with their families and carers.
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Support, advice and signposting available through Carers in Hertfordshire.
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Autism Herts – for carers of people with autism, delivered by Autism Bedfordshire.
National Autistic Society – Advice, support and guidance for individuals with Autism including advice about diagnosis, communication, mental health and education.
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Supporting people with cancer. Here to help everyone affected by cancer to live life as fully as they can, by providing physical, financial and emotional support.
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Working with communities and partners across health, employment, research, government and more to change life for the better.
Online chat or BSL video call options available: Contact RNID - RNID
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Guideposts Trust – for carers of people with learning disabilities
guideposts.org.uk/hertfordshire-services
Mencap – Support and advice for individuals with a learning disability and their carers.
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Advice and support for individuals living with Asthma and Lung conditions.
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Providing help and support for people with ME/CFS and Long Covid.
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Support and advice on Multiple Sclerosis, from research, to community, information, services and support.
Website link for local support: mssociety.org.uk/support-and-community/local-support
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Offering advice, support including practical and emotional support, understanding your diagnosis and support for family members.
Or say: "Alexa, call RNIB Helpline"
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Action on Addiction – support and advice on a range of addictions, to support individuals with their recovery.
takingactiononaddiction@forwardtrust.org.uk
takingactiononaddiction.org.uk
Resolve - Resolve’s purpose is to meet the needs of local people who need substance misuse treatment, are homeless or are experiencing poverty. We help people move to manageable, positive lifestyles where they can contribute and enhance their local community.
North Herts: 01462 684978
Mid Herts: 01707 690739
The Living Room – The Living Room provides free, open-ended group therapy for any adult in Hertfordshire affected by addiction, as well as for family members and carers supporting a loved one on their recovery journey.
Change Grow Live (CGL) – for carers of people with drug and alcohol issues
Mental health support
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Hertfordshire Mind Network: 1:1 Peer Support scheme for adults who need support with their mental health. The service is staffed by a team of Peer Support Workers who have lived experience of mental ill health and who have overcome similar challenges.
teamadmin@hertsmindnetwork.org
Mind in Mid Herts: support positive mental health working across three themes; prevention, social support and recovery. We understand everyone’s needs are different and work in a person-centred way to ensure the people of Hertfordshire’s mental health is supported and respected so that nobody has to face a mental health problem alone.
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A GP can refer you, or you can refer yourself directly for talking therapies, such as counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (CBT), and guided self-help.
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The Samaritans
The Samaritans is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for anyone who needs someone to talk to, with no judgement or pressure.
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Rethink Companions Carers Services: If you’re severely affected by mental illness, through direct experience or as a carer, family member or loved one, we can help you. Supporting people to get through crises, live independently and feel that they do not have to face mental illness alone.
Wellbeing
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Offering free information, advice and support to help you stay healthy and well. Includes services to become more active, support mental health, join community groups and activities, and get support as a carer.
Local Healthy Hubs
Broxbourne Borough
Community Skills Hub (CVSBEH), 59 Pavilions Shopping Centre, High Street, Waltham Cross, EN8 7JU
Dacorum Borough
South Hill Centre, Cemetery Hill, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1JF
East Herts District
Contact to find out which venues they are visiting.
North Herts District
Wellbeing mornings in Royston, Hitchin and Letchworth Garden City, check for details.
St Albans District
The Hub, St Albans City and District Council, Civic Centre, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3JE
Stevenage Borough
Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre, Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ
enquiries.healthyhub@sll.co.uk
Welwyn Hatfield Borough
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Step2Skills Adult learning and employment support runs a wide range of quality and approved courses for adults aged 19+, aimed to help improve people’s lives.
step2skills@hertfordshire.gov.uk
hertfordshire.gov.uk/microsites/adult-learning/adult-learning.aspx
Support at home
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Reach Out supports older people who have recently been discharged from hospital or are at risk of hospital admission due to health problems, by providing companionship and practical support through local volunteers. It is managed by North Herts CVS.
General enquiries - 01462 689 403
North Herts or Stevenage - 07780 304 068
East Herts or Broxbourne - 07435 549 130
Welwyn, Hatfield, St Albans - 07917 978 728
Dacorum - 07780 313 651
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Offering a range of services in your own home including Home Help, cleaning, handyman services, gardening, footcare and transport
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At home eye testing service funded by the NHS for housebound people.
Financial support
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To support with the cost of living, Hertfordshire County Council has been provided with funding from the Government’s Household Support Fund (HSF). This funding will be used to help people in need with things like the cost of energy and food.
Hertfordshire County Council is working with a range of partners across the county to make sure they can get the right help to those who need it, at the right time.
Residents are not able to apply directly for the Household Support Fund, however, if you need help or support you can call Herts Help on 0300 123 4044 who may be able to help. If support is available, it will be based on your current situation, and you may be asked about your finances.
hertfordshire.gov.uk/household-support-fund-in-hertfordshire
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Provides free confidential and independent advice, including finances and benefits.
0800 144 8848 (Freephone)
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Age UK Hertfordshire gives information, guidance and emotional support for carers living in Hertfordshire where they or the person they care for is over age 50.
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Age UK Hertfordshire gives information, guidance and emotional support for carers
living in Hertfordshire where they or the person they care for is over age 50.
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Hertfordshire County Council’s Money Advice Unit provides factsheets on benefits and extra money for carers.
hertfordshire.gov.uk/moneytool
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Advocacy is a way you can have help to be heard if you feel that you or the person you are caring for are not getting the support they need or should have. POhWER are the county-wide advocacy service that can help.
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Hertfordshire Macmillan Benefits Advice Service a specialist benefits advice service for people affected by cancer and their carers.
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Free and impartial advice set up by government, including advice, guides, financial calculators, and support online and on the phone.
Equipment adaptations
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Mobility and disability equipment specialists. Mobility equipment available to buy and servicing and repairs service
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Wheelchair rental service. Wheelchairs can be rented, and a delivery service can be provided
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Collects and recycles unwanted medical care supplies. The Pad Project support with repurposing unwanted medical equipment such as wheelchairs, hoists, walking frames. Personal care equipment such as continence pads, catheters and other medical supplies are also repurposed. Contact for donations and to request products.
Transport
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Community Transport Hertfordshire’s objective is to support people to live independently and access services with community transport.
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A charity helping older and disabled people live independently, including support with driving assessments, vehicle adaptations and mobility aids.
The Weltech Centre, Ridgeway, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL7 2AA
Food and meals
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HILS provides a hot meal delivery service, food and grocery packs, nutrition advice and more.
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A group of volunteers who rescue food from supermarkets to share with the community, so food that is perfectly edible doesn't end up in the bin. Minimum donation is £2 for a bag of groceries, fruit and vegetables. Bags of bread are free.
Shop Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 11.30am to 1.30pm and Tuesday evening from 4.45pm to 5.30pm.
Thursday take-away service runs from 11.30am to 1.30pm.
Best Before Café, Garden Square Shopping Centre, Letchworth, SG6 3DN
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A free service for older people in Herts, to provide information and support to maintain a nutritious diet, avoid dehydration and maintain a healthy weight.
0300 123 7571 - select option 5 followed by option 3 and ask to speak to a member of the Age UK Hertfordshire team
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The Trussell Trust – Find a foodbank
russelltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank
Broxbourne Borough - 07943 986 261
infobroxbourne.foodbank@gmail.com
Dacorum Borough - 01442 250 969
East Herts District - 07851 708 470
info@hertforddistrict.foodbank.org.uk
North Herts District - 07825 300 437
info@letchworth.foodbank.org.uk
St Albans District - 01727 613 019
info@stalbansdistrict.foodbank.org.uk
Stevenage and Baldock - Kaotic Angels - Organises our regular Food Station projects
kaoticangelfoundation@gmail.com
Full listings of Food Banks in Hertfordshire are available on Herts County Council Website:
directory.hertfordshire.gov.uk/Search?Keywords=Food%20support