You Don’t Have to Face Difficult Times Alone
The recent sunshine may have lifted our spirits, but the pressures of everyday life can quickly bring us crashing back down.
Money worries, family difficulties, poor health, loneliness, work and housing problems can leave any of us feeling anxious, stressed, depressed, frightened, suspicious of what is happening around us or simply overwhelmed and blue.
If that is how you are feeling, please remember: you do not have to face it alone.
At Helping Hearts Fylde, our varied and compassionate team of volunteers is always ready to welcome you without judgement. We can offer a listening ear, practical assistance and help you find specialist support.
Our volunteers are not mental-health or financial advisers, but they can listen and help signpost you towards appropriate professional services.
You also do not need to wait until our Thursday sessions. Across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, there is a wide network of NHS services, charities, community organisations and qualified advisers ready to help.
If you need urgent help
If you or somebody else is in immediate danger, call 999 or attend the nearest Accident and Emergency department.
NHS urgent mental-health support
Call 111 and select the mental-health option. It is available 24 hours a day.
Fylde Coast Initial Response Service
For people experiencing mental-health distress across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.
Telephone: 0800 0130 709, available 24 hours a day.
🔗 Urgent mental-health support
Samaritans
Confidential emotional support at any time of the day or night.
Telephone: 116 123, free from any phone.
🔗 Samaritans
Shout
Free, confidential support by text message, available 24 hours a day.
Text SHOUT to 85258.
🔗 Shout
CALM
Support for anyone struggling with life or experiencing suicidal thoughts. Open daily from 5pm until midnight.
Telephone: 0800 58 58 58.
🔗 CALM
PAPYRUS HOPELINE247
Suicide-prevention support for young people and anyone worried about a young person, available around the clock.
Telephone: 0300 102 2470
Text HOPE to 88247
🔗 HOPELINE247
Local mental-health support
NHS Talking Therapies – Fylde and Wyre
Free support for people aged 16 and over experiencing anxiety, depression, panic, stress and related difficulties. You can self-refer without seeing your GP first.
Telephone: 01253 955943
🔗 NHS Talking Therapies
Counselling in the Community
A self-referral mental-health charity providing affordable counselling for adults, children and young people across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.
Its counsellors offer a safe, confidential and non-judgemental place to talk about mental-health difficulties or challenging life events, including bereavement, separation, stress, anxiety and low mood. Sessions currently start from £5, helping make counselling accessible regardless of someone’s financial circumstances.
Telephone: 0808 196 3483
Email: contact@citc.team
🔗 Counselling in the Community
Blackpool Talking Therapies
Free psychological therapies for people aged 16 and over who are registered with a GP in Blackpool, Bispham or Cleveleys. Self-referrals are accepted.
🔗 Blackpool Talking Therapies
Empowerment Charity
Local peer support, advocacy, information and practical guidance for people affected by mental-health challenges, domestic abuse and bereavement through suicide.
Telephone: 0300 323 2100
🔗 Empowerment Charity
Solace
Part of Empowerment Charity, supporting people, families and communities affected by suicide and mental-health challenges.
🔗 Solace and Empowerment
The Light Lounge, Blackpool
A welcoming, non-clinical environment for adults who feel overwhelmed or need support with their mental health.
Telephone: 01253 477745
🔗 Information about the Light Lounge
Lancashire Mind
Wellbeing information, coaching, peer support and programmes for individuals, schools and workplaces.
🔗 Lancashire Mind
Your GP can also listen, discuss treatment and refer you to an appropriate NHS or specialist service.
Children and young people
Fylde Coast Children and Young People’s Psychological Services
Specialist assessment and therapeutic support for children and young people experiencing moderate to severe difficulties.
Telephone: 01253 957166
Email: camhscps.f&w@lscft.nhs.uk
🔗 Children and young people’s services
YoutherapY
Assessment and talking therapies for young people aged 11–25 across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.
🔗 Young people’s local mental-health support
SHINE Fylde Coast
Early mental-health and emotional-wellbeing support for pupils aged 11–18 in participating schools, colleges and alternative provision across the Fylde Coast. Speak to the child’s school or college about accessing support.
🔗 SHINE Mental Health Support Team
The Den
Specialist emotional and practical support for children and young people affected by domestic abuse across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.
Telephone: 0300 323 2100 – option 1
Email: the_den@empowermentcharity.org.uk
🔗 The Den
Healthy Young Minds
Advice and guidance for children, young people, parents, carers and professionals.
🔗 Healthy Young Minds
Money, benefits and debt support
Please seek free, regulated advice before borrowing more money or paying a commercial debt-management company.
Blackpool
Citizens Advice Blackpool
Free, independent and confidential help with debt, benefits, housing, employment, energy and other difficulties.
Advice line: 0808 278 7818
Debt and energy support: 01253 308401
Email: advice@blackpoolcab.org.uk
🔗 Citizens Advice Blackpool
Blackpool Council Cost of Living Support
Information about benefits, energy bills, food, housing costs, grants and other assistance.
Telephone: 01253 477477
🔗 Blackpool cost-of-living help
Blackpool Discretionary Support Scheme
Emergency assistance for vulnerable residents unable to meet immediate essential needs. Eligibility conditions apply.
🔗 Discretionary Support Scheme
Fylde
Citizens Advice Fylde
Free advice about debt, benefits, housing, employment, energy and related problems.
Telephone: 0808 175 5550
Email: advice@fylde.cabnet.org.uk
🔗 Fylde cost-of-living support
Fylde Council Cost of Living Support
Local information about financial assistance, food support, housing, energy and mental health.
🔗 Fylde cost-of-living support
Fylde benefits and Council Tax support
Information about Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and other available help.
🔗 Fylde benefits support
Wyre
Citizens Advice Lancashire West – Wyre
Free help with debt, benefits, housing, work and other financial problems.
Telephone: 0808 278 7880
🔗 Citizens Advice Wyre
Wyre Council Cost of Living Support
Information about household finances, energy bills, housing, disability support, food banks and help for families.
🔗 Wyre cost-of-living support
Wyre Crisis and Resilience Fund
Support for residents experiencing a financial crisis or exceptional pressure. Eligibility and availability may change.
🔗 Wyre financial support
Support available throughout the UK
Citizens Advice Debt Helpline
Telephone: 0800 240 4420
🔗 Citizens Advice
StepChange Debt Charity
Free, impartial and confidential debt advice.
Telephone: 0800 138 1111
🔗 StepChange
Turn2us
Search for welfare benefits and charitable grants for which you may qualify.
🔗 Turn2us
MoneyHelper
Government-backed guidance about money, benefits, pensions, bills and debt.
🔗 MoneyHelper
Government benefits calculators
Free calculators to check possible entitlement to Universal Credit, Council Tax support and other benefits.
🔗 Benefits calculators
Helping Hearts Fylde
Our non-referral service is open every Thursday at our Community Hub, 57 Boothley Road, Blackpool:
3.30pm–5.30pm: Families with children aged 16 and under, and people aged over 60
6.15pm–8pm: Evening service
We can help with food, hot meals, clothing, baby supplies, pet food, toiletries and other essentials. Our volunteers can also listen and help signpost you towards specialist services.
Asking for help is not a weakness. It is often the first step towards making things feel manageable again.
You matter, support is available, and you do not have to go through difficult times alone.
Service information can change. Please check the linked website or contact the organisation before attending.
