Help & Support
Getting help from BBB:
BBB operates on a referral basis, so we need a professional who is supporting you or your family in some way to complete a form on our website to tell us about you and your situation, and request the items that you need.
Here are some examples of professionals from whom we can accept referrals:
- Health visitor
- Social worker
- Midwife
- Teacher or other member of school staff
- Doctor
- Social prescriber
- Housing officer
- Support worker
- Parenting practitioner
- Citizens’ Advice
- Homestart team member
- Foodbank team member
Please note – for some items we provide (beds through a Bed for Every Child and white goods through Healthy Homes), a home visit and additional information (including photographs in some situations) is required by your referrer – full details are given on the referral form.
Once we have received a referral on your behalf, we’ll assess it, check any queries with the referrer, and once it’s been accepted, we will ask one of our Family Liaison Volunteers to take it on.
They will get in touch with you on the details provided to confirm that they will be taking on your referral, and to ask any questions they have about specific items. They’ll then source the items from our supporters, and arrange to deliver them to you at a time that suits both you and the volunteer.
Please note that the items we pass on are usually pre-loved – i.e. excellent quality second-hand items.
Please remember that all of our team are volunteers and usually juggling their work for BBB with jobs, children and other responsibilities – we try to be as responsive as possible but please do be patient and understanding when requesting items or waiting for a reply to your messages.
Once we have supported you with one or more referrals, you’ll have the chance to give us your feedback via an online survey, and also to take part in our Client Feedback Forums where we’d appreciate the chance to hear from you in more depth, to help us understand how we can best support Bromley families in the future – please email info@bromelybrighterbeginnings.org.uk if you’d like to volunteer to take part in future Forums.
Help with debt:
If you are struggling with debt, please consider getting debt advice.
There are lots of options, both locally and nationally, to get in touch and be supported by a debt adviser either face-to-face, over the phone or online.
The options we have listed are all free, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and impartial.
You won’t be judged or criticised – these services are there to help and many people feel like a weight has been lifted from their shoulders just by taking the first step and attending the first appointment.
Local:
Chislehurst Debt Advice Service – visit their website, call 0208 467 6715, or email chislehurstdebtadviceservice@gmail.com.
Bromley Well, working with Citizens Advice Bromley offer debt advice as well as support with housing / rent issues, consumer rights etc. Call Freephone 0808 278 7898 or refer online at www.bromleywell.org.uk/refer
Christians Against Poverty have branches in Bromley and Penge – visit their website, email martinpointing@capuk.org, or call 0800 328 0006 to make an enquiry.
National:
Stepchange offer a wide range of help and support with debt issues – start on their website to find out the best way to proceed.
National Debtline can be contacted online, by calling 0808 808 4000, or via webchat with an adviser
Citizens Advice have lots of useful information on dealing with debt on their website.
Mental health difficulties:
We know that worries about money, housing, children, relationships and lots of other issues can lead to stress, anxiety and negative feelings. If you are feeling low, worried, depressed or even suicidal, it’s really important that you talk to someone who can help you get the support you need. Here are some options:
MIND is a national charity with local branches, offering help to anyone struggling with their mental health, or who is supporting someone who is struggling. The Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich branch has information about their work online or you can call 01689 811222.
SHOUT is a free, confidential text support service which operates 24/7: just send a message to 85258 to get chatting with a volunteer – you can find more details about how the service operates on their website.
NHS Oxleas have an urgent advice line for anyone in mental health crisis, which operates 24 / 7 – tel. 0800 3308590. You can also find more details about their Bromley service online.
Mindful Mums runs a local project providing wellbeing groups that help women look after their mental and emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and their baby’s first year. They also offer support to fathers-to-be and new dads. Find out more on their website or call 01689 811222.
If you are worried about immediate risk of harm to yourself or others, it’s really important that you call 999 straight away to speak to Emergency Services.
Cost of Living Support
Bromley Council’s ‘Household Support Fund’ is currently open for applications – see full details, and apply online, on their website.
The government has a useful ‘help for households’ directory which details all the cost of living support currently available and who is eligible for which schemes.
If you are struggling with your energy costs, you can apply to your supplier’s hardship fund – further details of support available in this article.
The South-East London Community Energy Co-Operative (SELCE) also provides various sources of help with your energy bills, including home visits, drop in ‘cafés’, and a helpline: visit their website, call 0204 566 5764 or email energy.advice@selce.org.uk for more information.
Martin Lewis, the ‘Money Saving Expert’, has published a useful ‘survival kit’ with lots of practical tips for saving money.
Warm spaces: a list of local venues offering a space to stay warm, chat, have a coffee or do some work can be found here
Managing your money
Money Helper is an online resource with lots of simple, clear and helpful information on a wide range of money topics, as well as useful tools such as their Bill Prioritiser and Budget Planner. Visit their website here.
Money Saving Expert has a lot of free, practical and helpful resources to help you get to grips with managing your money – the Money Makeover webpage is a good place to start.
The Money Course is a free, simple budgeting course, equipping participants with practical money skills for navigating everyday life. You can take the course online at your own pace, or join a live course via weekly Zoom sessions– find out more and sign up for free here.
BBB is also planning to run the Money Course later this year (2023) for anyone local who is interested in taking part in a small group – please complete this form to express your interest.