Help over Christmas
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Our projects and services
- the last drop-in session at Battersea Library will be on Wednesday 24 December and will close at 12.
- the last drop-in session at our Roehampton office will be on Tuesday 23 December, 10am to 3pm.
- our Adviceline will be open until xxx on Wednesday 24 December
On Monday 22, Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 December our teams will be focussing on helping people facing immediate hardship or crisis. Our main webform will be closed on these days and our services may only have capacity to help with food vouchers, fuel vouchers and advice about preventing homelessness before the new year.
All of our projects and services reopen at 10am on Monday 5 January 2026.
Other services
Advice and guidance is available 24 hours a day on the national Citizens Advice website and we keep our local website updated with information about services open over Christmas.
If you need help with food
You may be able to get a crisis grant from Wandsworth Council. You can apply for crisis assistance online or read about how the council can help you apply for support.
Our Cost of Living checklist has information about other services that provide food and essentials, some of which are open over Christmas.
If you’re homeless or might become homelessness soon
If you’re homeless or could become homeless over the weekend you can ask Wandsworth Council for help. You can do this by completing their housing options assessment form online. If you’re under 18 you should contact Children Services on 020 8871 7899.
If you’re at immediate risk of domestic violence or abuse and don’t have a safe place to stay tonight you don’t have to complete the form above, you can use the alternative contact details on the page.
If you’re worried about someone you’ve seen sleeping rough, you can contact StreetLink to connect them with local services that can support them. They may be able to get a place to stay in a hostel, night shelter, refuge or bed and breakfast.
The Shelter emergency helpline (0808 800 4444, freephone, weekdays 8am to 6pm except bank holidays) can give you information about night shelters and urgent housing issues.
If you need support with your mental health or wellbeing
If you just want to speak to someone, the Samaritans (116 123, freephone) are open 24 hours a day. Read more about what happens when you call the Samaritans here.
If you’re an older person, The Silver Line (0800 470 8090, freephone, 24/7) is a helpline that can offer friendship, conversation and support.
The Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline is a listening service for LGBTQIA+ people and their friends and family (0800 011 9100, freephone, 10am to 10pm).
If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call the South West London and St George’s mental health crisis line (0800 028 8000, freephone, 24/7).
You can also speak to your GP or call NHS 111 if you need help coping with anxiety, depression or thoughts of self-harm.
If you’re experiencing domestic violence or abuse
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 200 0247, freephone) is open 24 hours a day and offers advice for women experiencing domestic violence.
The Respect helpline (0808 801 0327, freephone, weekdays 10am to 5pm) offers support for men who have experienced or are experiencing domestic violence.
The National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline (0800 999 5428, freephone, weekdays) offers support to LGBTQIA+ people who have or are experiencing domestic violence.
You should call 999 if you feel unsafe or at risk of immediate harm.
If you’re concerned about the safety of a child or vulnerable adult
You can report your concerns to Wandsworth Social Services:
- for children, through the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub
- for adults, by contacting the Access Team at social services.
If you’re concerned about a child but not sure about speaking to social services, you can call the NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000, freephone, weekdays 10am to 4pm).
You should call 999 if you feel someone is at risk of immediate harm.
