A to Z of Services


There is a lot of help and information available and many places you can go to for advice

There is a lot of help and information available to people, and knowing where to look can be difficult. The following pages contain an A to Z of services that have already been mentioned in this leaflet, and further agencies you can contact. The list is not exhaustive and there may be many more places you can go to for advice, it is just a guide to some of the places you can approach for assistance.


Age Concern IW

Provides information and advice on a wide range of issues affecting people aged 50 or over. Our Welfare Benefits Service can check if there are any benefits to which you are entitled and help you to claim them.
Although unable to provide debt advice, our Advocacy Service will support individuals to contact the companies owed to try to negotiate repayment plans which are acceptable to both parties. The service will also signpost to other relevant organisations able to offer further assistance. Confidential advice can be provided by home visit if you are unable to get to our office in Newport.


Anchor

Recruitment agency based in Newport.

  • 18a St James Street, Newport PO30 5HB
  • Tel: 01983 822772

Anchor Staying Put

A not for profit home improvement agency that assists older and disabled people with repairing, improving or adapting their home.


Business Rates

(Isle of Wight Council Revenue Services)


Child Support Agency


Citizens’ Advice Bureau

The CAB offers free, confidential, impartial and independent advice. It helps solve problems and provides advice on issues such as debt, consumer issues, legal matters, benefits, employment, immigration and family matters. It also has outreach surgeries across the Island.

Advisers can help fill out forms, write letters, negotiate with creditors and represent clients at court or tribunal. When you call into a CAB please bring all relevant paperwork with you and allow time to discuss your case fully.


Connexions

Information, advice, guidance and support for young people aged 13 to 19 (and up to 25 for those with learning difficulties and disabilities) on a range of issues including careers, health, housing, leisure interests, alcohol and drugs.


Consumer Credit Counselling Service

For debt problems, timely, effective and appropriate advice is a must. The Consumer Credit Counselling Service is one of a number of charities that will give you sound advice without charging you a single penny. CCCS can also offer a free debt management plan and their online service CCCS Debt Remedy provides instant, anonymous help and guidance.


Council Tax

(Isle of Wight Council Revenue Services)


Department for Work and Pensions


DirectGov

This service can be accessed via digital tv on Sky interactive and Freeview channel 106.


Disability and Carers’ Service

Assists with benefits and advice to those with disabilities and the people that care for them.

  • Tel: 0800 88 22 00

Eduwight

A website for education on the Isle of Wight.


Family Information Zone (FIZ)

The Family Information Zone was set up to provide independent information and guidance about issues relating to Island families, children and young people under the age of 16. We provide information on local childcare provision, support groups, leisure activities, teen issues, and lots more.

  • 11 Orchard Street, Newport PO30 1JZ
  • Tel: 01983 821999

Footprint Trust

Footprint Trust is a charity working with Island communities to promote the benefits of sustainable living.


Foyer

The Foyer is a supported housing project for young people aged 16 to 25, providing 45 one-person units of accommodation. Anyone applying to live at the Foyer must be in need of housing and prepared to undertake a training or employment programme, and have a local connection.


Frontline Advice Centre

Frontline provides assistance to those who are in debt and independent, expert benefit advice.


HM Revenue and Customs

Collects the bulk of UK tax revenue and also helps support families and workers through the benefits and credits they administer. It is responsible for paying Child Benefit, Child Trust Fund payments, and tax credits.


Home-Start

Home-Start promotes the welfare of families with children under five years. Volunteers and groups offer regular support, friendship and practical help to families experiencing difficulties, helping to prevent family crisis and breakdown.

  • 10 Union Street, Newport PO30 1QB
  • Tel: 01983 533357

Homes in Hants

Homes in Hants help make home ownership in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight affordable through the HomeBuy schemes and Intermediate Rent scheme.


HomeSwapper

HomeSwapper is for social tenants (in rented property) who want a house swap (or flat swap). This is also called mutual exchange.


Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

(Isle of Wight Council Revenue Services)
Advice on how to claim Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit, benefit claim enquiries, notifying a change in circumstance and assistance.


Housing Services

IDAS – Island Drug and Alcohol Service

Provides advice, information, support, counselling and treatment for people with drug and alcohol related problems, their partners, family and friends.

  • 102 Carisbrooke Road, Newport PO30 1DB
  • Tel: 01983 526654

Information Prescription

The Information Prescription pilot is a project being run in conjunction with, and supported by the Department of Health. The aim is to provide timely information for patients, carers, friends and professionals that can help a person manage their own condition. For our pilot we are looking at older persons’ mental health, and concentrating (at this stage) on the two conditions dementia and depression.


Isle of Wight College


Isle of Wight Council


Isle of Wight Credit Union Ltd

The Isle of Wight Credit Union is a non-profit ethical savings and loans company; using the savings of its members to make loans to other members. All members must live, work or have a holiday home on the Island. The union aims to pay an annual dividend on savings and offers reasonable interest rate on loans.
Money saved on the Island is spent on the Island. The union is regulated by the Financial Services Authority the same as any high street bank or building society. All trained officers are volunteers and are elected at the AGM. We are here to help if we can, please phone for more details.

The Isle of Wight Food Bank

Provide emergency food and support to local people in crisis.


Isle of Wight Older Voices

Older Voices circles help to ensure quality of life for older people within their locality. They may identify individuals in need and, through an older persons’ champion, may help to get more difficult issues resolved.


Isle of Wight Youth and Community Service


JobCentre Plus

Part of the Department for Work and Pensions, can apply to claim certain benefits and search for jobs through them.

Law Centre

The Law Centre is a specialist legal advice centre that provides help and assistance with housing, debt, employment and welfare benefit problems. It provides free, impartial and confidential advice, assistance and advocacy services to people on low incomes or benefits, voluntary organisations and statutory agencies.
In addition to the service delivered from its Newport office, it has an outreach surgery at the Park Centre in Ryde, behind St John’s Church. Please ring to make an appointment.

  • Exchange House, St Cross Lane, Newport PO30 5BZ
  • Tel: 01983 524715

Local Pension Service

The Isle of Wight Council and the Local Pension Service are now working in partnership to ensure that older people on the Isle of Wight are aware of all their benefit entitlements. If you need assistance on completing an application form or information on any benefits relating to people over 60 years or if you require a home visit please phone.


Medina Housing Association


National Debtline

National debt advice service.


New To You

Good quality children’s clothes to buy exchange or donate.

  • Mondays (10am to 12pm) Sandown Methodist Church.
  • Contact: Anne 07854 905091 or Frances 01983 404804.

NHS Choices

Information and contact details for all NHS services in the UK.


Pertemps

Recruitment agency based in Newport.


Prime Location

Property Finder


Rightmove


Rural Community Council

The Rural Community Council is the Island’s Council for Voluntary Service.


Samaritans

To provide emotional support to those in crisis.


Shelter

UK Housing and homelessness charity that gives advice to people and also undertakes campaigning on housing issues.


SSAFA

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association provides help and support to those who serve in our armed forces and those who used to serve, even if it was only for a single day. We also care for the families of both.


Southern Housing Group


Storeroom

The Storeroom Project, an initiative of the Real World Trust, recycles furniture within the community to help vulnerable people.


Supporting People

Supporting People funds housing-related support services to help you live independently within your communities. Funding is provided to support services on the Island including hostels, supported housing and a domestic abuse refuge, as well as services to you in your own home. If you think you need housing-related support, you should talk to your care manager, social worker, mental health worker, probation officer or housing officer and they will carry out an assessment to see if you can have support.


Sure Start

Sure Start is a government programme to support children, parents and communities through the integration of early education, childcare and health and family support services.


TaxHelp for Older People (T.O.P.)

TOP specialises in the provision of independent FREE personal tax advice to pensioners where the annual household income after deduction of tax is about £17000 or less.
Advice is provided by way of Helplines and if necessary by FACE-TO-FACE meetings with members of its volunteers' team of tax professionals in the client's local community or home.


Vectis Housing Association


Wight Agents

Local house rental agencies website.


Wight CHYPS

A directory of services on the Isle of Wight for children, young people and their families.


Women’s Refuge

Information, advice, support and refuge for women and their children who have suffered emotional, physical or sexual abuse.

  • PO Box 5, Sandown
  • Tel: 01983 825981

WP Recruitment

Recruitment agency based in Newport.


Youth Trust

Provides immediacy of access to a confidential, independent counselling service for young people up to the age of 25.