Offers free, confidential advice on benefits, housing, debt & money, health, immigration, work, family, consumer and law & courts.
Visit the council’s website for information on all local government-led support.
Welcare provides emotional and practical support for families with children up to the age of 13 who are facing challenges.
Our team of Family Support Workers is managed by professional Social Workers. We work holistically with children, young people and their carers to provide a family-focused support plan. Whilst not an exhaustive list, here are some of the types of issues our service users face:
– domestic abuse & violence
– insecure immigration status and families with no recourse to public funding
– financial difficulties
– parental physical or mental ill-health
– children at risk of school exclusion
– children with low self esteem/confidence
– children experiencing conflict between parents
– parents struggling with boundaries and routines
– children with disabilities
The service encourages and supports local Bromley residents to improve their quality of life and to build a bette future for themselves and their families.
This service is located at:
St Paul’s Cray Library
Mickleham Road
St Paul’s Cray
BR5 2RW
Monday- Wednesday 9am-4pm (closed 1-2pm)
Bromley Adult Education College offers English and maths classes online and at the college’s main centres: the Kentwood Centre in Penge (Kingsdale Road, SE20 7PR) and the Poverest Centre in Orpington (Poverest Road, BR5 2DQ).
All sessions last two and a half hours and take place in the morning, some afternoons, and evening. These classes are ideal for students who wish to improve their English and maths for study, everyday life or to help them get a job.
Any student who would like to join our classes will need to attend an initial assessment session. Please contact Pat Johnson on 020 8659 7976 or 01689 822886.
www.baec.ac.uk/index.php/information-english-maths-esol-gcse/
London South East Colleges offers free level 1,2 or 3 online courses in education and early years, health and social care and business, leadership and customer service.
Contact them for further details:
distancelearningcourses@lsec.ac.uk
020 3954 4965
Free and confidential support to help adults who have concerns about their drug and alcohol use. They will listen to your needs and your feelings and create a care package that suits you. Can also get access to a nurse, works specialising in complex needs, criminal justice and aftercare.
Tel: 020 8289 1999 Open Monday-Friday (opening hours on website)
You can turn up without booking but they only see the first four people so recommend booking in an assessment first.
Provides a friendly open door to anyone sleeping on the streets or at risk of sleeping on the streets. Provides housing and employment advice for those at risk of homelessness. Can also refer you onto other areas of support.
They have a safe space for women only at the 999 club called The Sanctuary to support and empower women facing adversity.
Open weekdays 9-3pm.
21 Deptford Broadway, London, SE8 4PA
No need to book.
Befriending offers supportive, reliable relationships through volunteer befrienders to people who would otherwise be socially isolated.
The Bromley Council Website gives details of many organisations and charities that offer such a service, either face to face or virtually (via phone of internet).
Living On helps children and families to discover ways to deal with their grief, adapt to the changes it may have brought and manage their difficult feelings. Includes group support sessions for dads, mums and children and monthly activities online.
On the last Thursday of every month a bereavement cafe is held at Orpington village hall with qualified bereavement counsellors. It’s free but worth contacting them below to check times:
www.facebook.com/bereavementcafe
The NCT offers free breastfeeding counsellors who are available on the phone and for home visits. The service is open to all babies registered with a Bromley GP. There are four local centres – Bromley and Chislehurst is the main contact for breastfeeding support but the other centres offer other group activities and events.
Bromley and Chislehurst
Crystal Palace
Beckenham and Boarders
Orpington and District
Independent, confidential, mother-centred, non-judgmental breastfeeding support and information.
ABM are a group of trained volunteers dedicated to supporting breastfeeding mums and their families.
The milk bank provides pasteurised donor breast milk for premature and sick babies.
Bromley Council information on Childcare Options and help with costs.
See a list of all primary and secondary schools in the Borough of Bromley, apply for places, apply for free school meals, etc.
This service aims to protect and develop children by offering support for them and their families, particularly those who are struggling and are in need of additional help, but don’t qualify for the support provided by children’s social care.
The Bromley Children Project is linked to Children and Family Centres who offer a range of services to meet the needs of children under five and support their families. There are six Children and Family Centres in the borough of Bromley and the services provided are designed around the needs of the surrounding area.
The centres are places where children can make friends and learn as they play. Parents and carers can access professional advice on health and family matters, learn about training and job opportunities or just socialise with other people.
Biggin Hill
Blenheim
Burnt Ash
Castlecombe
Cotmandene
Penge
BCFForum was established as an independent network of local voluntary groups working with children and young people as well as their families, offering practical information and support on improving the lives of children and families in the London Borough for Bromley.
The Bromley children and families forum runs holiday and food activities for families across Bromley for children aged 5-16 years during the school holidays. Children must be in receipt of benefit related free school meals or be in Bromley as a refugee. You can review all holiday camps and apply here:
Living Well food bank in Penge runs a clothes bank for adults on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, 10.30am – 12pm. No need for a referral, you can just pop along.
www.livingwell.life/p/food-bank
Holy Trinity Church, 66 Lennard Road, London, SE20 7LX
Bromley offers a free, non-judgmental contraception and reproductive health service for men and women of all ages (including under 16). You do not need a referral from your doctor (GP) for the drop-in clinics – simply turn up and wait to be seen.
Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents. They provide specialist help to support people to cope and recover to the point where they feel they are back on track with their lives.
Offers free, confidential advice on benefits, housing, debt & money, health, immigration, work, family, consumer and law & courts.
The hub helps Londoners access information, support and advice to help manage their household finances.
https://www.london.gov.uk/cost-living-hub
The government website can give information about benefits and offers a tax credit calculator.
Specialist telephone help offering free confidential advice and support on dealing with personal debt.
Our Money Coaches service provides one to one debt, benefits and money guidance support sessions to people in the local community.
If you’re looking for help with money, whether that’s help to get out of debt, find a job or gain vital life skills, Christians Against Poverty provides a range of free services across the UK through local churches. There is a Debt Centre in Penge – you need to call the national number to book an appointment.
This is a financial co-operative run for the benefit of people living or working in the local area and has branches in Orpington and Sydenham. The credit union encourages savings and provides lower cost loans.
Sydenham Branch (Head Office)
Bromley Branch
A free, simple, effective budgeting course. Gain the tools you need to get to grips with your finances.
In partnership with Shelter, and other UK and local charities, we’re helping people without a fixed home address to open a bank account.
Here to put you in control with impartial guidance that’s backed by government and to recommend further, trusted support if you need it. For clear money help that’s on your side and free to use, just search for MoneyHelper.
Many charitable funds will help people who have No Recourse to Public Funds – and cannot claim welfare benefits.
Fully trained advisors provide free and confidential debt advice to all members of the community who are struggling to deal with a debt problem.
Bromley and Croydon Women’s Aid aims to empower anyone suffering domestic abuse so they can make informed choices about their future. Their services are confidential, non-judgmental and respectful of diversity. BCWA puts anyone who contacts them for support at the heart of decision making, so that they can gain the confidence, strength and self-respect needed to free themselves from abusive relationships.
24-hour domestic abuse helpline (Freephone).
A training programme designed to combat domestic violence through providing information, not therapy. An online programme (costing £12) is also available through the website.
Offers a free service run by women, for women in London who have been affected by all forms of violence and abuse.
Advice helpline leaflets in different languages:
Advice (Arabic) | Advice (Polish) | Advice (French)
Sexual Violence Helpline leaflets
Arabic | Polish | French | Gujarati
This free and confidential service is for anyone who has experienced or is currently suffering from domestic abuse, who feels that they could benefit from any help or advice. No appointment necessary, and sessions normally run on a Thursday afternoon. See website for details.
A friendly group of local women who come together every month, offering support and advice for women who have suffered from domestic abuse of any kind, either past or present.
The London Fire Brigade believe that successful firefighting starts with prevention. They have a service where they can visit you, a loved one, or someone you care for at home to provide personalised advice about fire safety. It’s totally free, available 24/7, and they will even fit free smoke alarms during the visit if you need them.
If you’re pregnant (10+ weeks) or have a child under 4 and get Child Tax Credit with a household income of £16,190 or less, you are eligible for Healthy Start Vouchers. You’ll also be eligible if you’re pregnant and under 18, even if you do not receive any benefits. The vouchers can be used to help buy healthy food and milk (including formula). Apply here: https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/apply-for-healthy-start/
Free school meals are available to all children in KS1 (reception, Yr 1 and Yr 2). The London mayor has extended this to all primary children (up to Yr 6) but it is the schools’ decision whether they participate. Even if your school participates and your child gets free school meals, there is a pupil premium payment available to the school to help fund education if you complete the form because you meet the qualifying benefits.
The application form is on the Bromley council website: https://www.bromley.gov.uk/FreeSchoolMeals
Olio
Join the free sharing app where you will find people in your local area giving away food and other household items to neighbours, all for free.
https://olioapp.com/en/
Too Good To Go
Rescues unwanted food from restaurants and shops so it doesn’t go to waste. You won’t know exactly what’s in your order until you pick it up but it is a great way to get amazing value food.
Community fridge and cafe at Unity church (Orpington)
Gives out fresh food every Wednesday and Saturday from 9.15am on first come first served basis.
Focus is on families from Ramsden estate but they help families across Orpington.
Neil@unitychurch.uk
Unity church, Rye crescent, BR5 4NH
You do not need a referral or a voucher. It is open to anyone with a postcode of: SE19, SE20, SE26 and BR3. You need to bring proof of address the first time you come. If you are outside of these postcodes they may still be able to help with debt, housing and benefit advice.
Times are:
Tues: 2-3.30pm
Fridays: 1-2.30pm
Saturdays: 10.30-12.00
Holy Trinity Church, 66 Leonard church, SE20 7LX.
www.livingwell.life/p/foodbank
Food, clothing and household items
Serves SE, Bromley and Croydon postcodes. You don’t need a referral but you do need a free support ticket which is available on their website at 9am. Maximum visit of once a week for food and once every 4 weeks for general items/clothes.
Up to date times for different items are available on their website.
Lewisham Donation Hub
Unit D, Place Ladywell, 261 Lewisham High Street, London, SE13 6AY
https://lewishamdonationhub.org/
Tues & Fri (10-11 am) and Sun (4.30-5 pm)
• www.ccorpington.org/open-kitchen
• 07511 876928
• Charterhouse Road, Orpington, BR6 9EP
Every Tuesday 11.30am • Larder@st-nicholas.church • St Nicolas Church, Leamington Ave, BR6 9QB
Open on Wed and Sat from 9:30 am (first come first served basis) • www.unitychurch.uk • neil@unitychurch.uk • Unity Church, Rye Crescent, BR5 4NH
Thursday evening from 7pm to 8.30pm. • www.facebook.com/wdcfplus • info@wdcfplus.org.uk • 020 8698 7945 or 07745 258 841 • Hope Church Downham, 480 Whitefoot Lane, Downham, BR1 5SF
Open from 10am to 12noon on Wednesdays • 020 8778 7014 • Christ Church Anerley, 197 Anerley Road, London, SE20 8ER
Mon, Thurs, Fri & Sat (9.30- 1pm) & Wed ( 6-7pm) • 07395 565984 • 35 St Keverne Road, SE9 4AQ
Monday and Tuesday afternoons. Email to fill in form at: • hayescommunityfoodbank@gmail.com • 020 8462 1373
You can request specific items from the Bromley Freecycle Network if you are a member of the group. Membership is free, but you will usually have to be able to collect items from the person ‘freecycling’ them. Visit the website for more details.
A locally run charity that offer pre-loved furniture at a fair price. Delivery for just £35 for all Bromley Postcodes. There are three furniture shops in the borough:
The Housing Options team provide advice and general assistance to anyone with a query or problem regarding housing issues or homelessness. They offer immediate advice and can help you keep your current home or find you somewhere to stay as quickly as possible, including emergency housing.
You can talk to an expert housing adviser if you’re in urgent need of housing advice. You should use this line if: you have nowhere to sleep, or might be homeless soon; you have somewhere to sleep, but nowhere to call home; or you are/could be at risk of harm
Free advice service providing advice to householders in England and Wales on their energy bills and keeping warm and safe in their home. Also help with benefits advice and income maximisation.
https://www.nea.org.uk/wash-advice/
Tel: 0800 304 7159 (Mon- Thurs 10-12 and 2-4pm)
Free advice and support if you’re struggling to pay your energy bills and advice to on how to make your home more energy efficient. May be able to help with grants. You can book a free appointment by emailing: energy.advice@selce.org.uk or call 0204 566 5764.
In Spring 2024 they’ll be running the following drop-in energy cafes (no need to book or pay):
energy.advice@selce.org.uk
0204 5605 764
Referral code: TBBromley
The RLC provides legal advice and representation for those seeking protection under international law and national asylum Human Rights. Interpretation and translation services are also available to subscribers of the RLC.
Offer support to asylum seekers and refugees in Lewisham area, as well as those from outside the area in exceptional circumstances.
Together South is one of the projects from Groundwork providing assistance to refugees and Non-European migrants.
They cover the following areas:
English classes
Employment Support
UK Cultural Insights
www.groundwork.org.uk
Friends of Refugees London is a voluntary, non-profit, community organisation based in Lewisham which exists to support refugees, asylum-seekers, and vulnerable migrants navigate life in London.
Jobcentre Plus provides a range of services to link jobseekers to employers and help with claiming benefits for those who need them. It offers practical help to those seeking jobs and administers programmes to help unemployed people back to work. It provides support for those who are long-term sick or disabled, including benefits and help in finding work.
Offer a volunteer run course to help you back into work. The course covers where to look for jobs, crating your CV and getting ready for an interview along with lots more. Initial enquiries should be made via email.
Provide online, flexible and interactive training to help mums find work, start or develop a business. Courses are free if you meet their criteria. Criteria may change so it’s worth registering your interest on the website and they will be in touch.
Smart Works gives you the clothes, coaching and confidence to succeed at your interview.
They can provide free interview coaching for women who are looking for work or coaching plus free outfit to take home for those with a confirmed interview. They have centres all over London; the nearest one to Bromley is Croydon.
The service is entirely free but women must be referred onto the service. BBB can refer onto Smart Works. Please contact your FLV if you are interested.
Find out more at www.smartworks.org.uk, check us out at www.facebook.com/smartworkscharity/ or on Instagram @smartworkscharity.
To see whether you might be eligible for legal aid visit: www.gov.uk/legal-aid.
East Greenwich Legal Advice Clinic: www.eglac.org.uk
www.lsbu.ac.uk/legaladviceclinic
www.law.ac.uk/about/legal-advice-for-the-public
https://www.advicenow.org.uk/categories
https://resolution.org.uk/find-a-law-professional
Registering with a local doctor (GP)
Contact the relevant surgery and ask to complete a registration form. You may be asked to provide proof of your identity e.g., your passport, driving license, and/or proof of your address. Your form will then be sent off and your records will be transferred from your old surgery to the new one. Occasionally surgeries are unable to take on new patients or may turn applicants down as they do not live in the area covered by the surgery – in this case, you can search on the NHS website to find an alternative surgery close to you.
If you are visiting an area for more than 24 hours but less than 3 months, you can apply to register with a GP surgery as a temporary resident. Speak to the receptionist in the surgery where you would like to be seen to do this.
You may be eligible for free prescriptions if you receive low income or meet one of the other criteria – for a full list, see
In a genuine medical emergency i.e. a life-threatening situation (such as loss of consciousness, persistent severe chest pain, breathing difficulties or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped), call 999 and ask for the ambulance service. If you do not have a genuine medical emergency, please see the ‘urgent medical care’ section below. Do not go to the A&E department of a hospital unless you have a genuine medical emergency.
In the first instance, call the NHS on 111 – this service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Advisors will be able to point you in the direction of further appropriate care.
You could also call your GP surgery – if they are closed, there will be a recorded message with details of the out-of-hours service so you can see an on-call doctor.
Local ‘urgent care’ centres – for problems such as cuts, fractures, mild chest infections, minor burns, fever etc. – include:
Greenbrook Healthcare at the Princess Royal University Hospital
Beckenham Beacon
If you have a low income, you may be able to get help with NHS costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS). The scheme covers: Prescriptions, Dental Care, Eye Care, Wigs and fabric supports
The Bromley 0 to 19 Public Health Service offers tailored guidance and support to families and partner services who work with children and young people, through Health Visitors, School Nurses and the Family Nurse Partnership.
In the event of an emergency regarding mental health (your own or someone else’s), either:
Bromley Well provides help for you to stay emotionally and physically healthy and to remain independent.
Offers emotional wellbeing & mental health support for children and their families.
This is a service for adults who are experiencing mild to moderate anxiety or depression and who are registered with a GP in the London Borough of Bromley. You can contact talk Together Bromley yourself by submitting a self-referral form which is located on the top left-hand corner of the website.
Provides a range of mental health and dementia services to help people who live in Bromley look after and improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Orpington Centre & Head Office
Beckenham
Bromley
Lewisham Community Support Service
MENTALITY’S main aim is to drive down adverse mental health issues by increasing awareness through a collective of people that want to reach out and help those affected.
facebook.com/mentalitygroup.org
Low Cost Counselling
Westmeria Counselling is a valued service offering emotional support to the local community. We provide a safe, confidential space to individuals experiencing difficulties in resolving life’s issues.
Offers information, advice, guidance and support on all aspects of parenting and family life, including child development, issues with schools, family breakdown, aggression in the home and bullying. Also befriending services, parenting/relationship support groups and online courses available – nearly all are available at no charge to parents.
Offers support for parents with adolescents who live, work or have a GP within the borough of Bromley.
Cafcass works with families referred by the courts and helps them to reach agreement over arrangements for their children. The website has useful information, case studies, advice and contact links.
0300 456 4000
This service aims to protect and develop children by offering support for them and their families, particularly those who are struggling and are in need of additional help, but don’t qualify for the support provided by children’s social care.
Offers information for lone parents on such things as: maintenance, tax credits, benefits, work, education, legal rights, childcare and holidays.
Provides help for parents and their children through a team of trained volunteers who provide practical and non-judgmental support for families.
Provides advice and support to parents and other people experiencing family separation.
The group aims to provide a safe space to build friendships with others in a similar situation and to process some of the highs and lows of parenting in the early days. Monday mornings, 10-11:30 at Beckenham Place Park Mansion
https://www.happity.co.uk/beckenham-baby-talk
Tel: Mary Dew-Jones: 07882352676
Provide services that protect, care for and support the most vulnerable children and young people in the borough.
Children’s referral and assessment team
Disabled children’s social work and short break team
Out of hours emergency contact
If you are seriously concerned about a child’s immediate safety, dial 999.
Family Fund is the UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people. Their mission is to provide items and services to all low-income families in the UK raising disabled or seriously ill children, that they could not otherwise afford or access, and that help improve their quality of life, realise their rights, and remove some of the barriers they face.
See Bromley Borough’s information page regarding support for children with special educational needs, including information for parents of children with SENs or learning difficulties, and the process of assessing children with SENs.
Offering an information and signposting service to all families with children and young people (0-25) with Social Communication Difficulties (including Autism). A dedicated Autism Family Support Co-Ordinator.
• A telephone and email service to offer guidance and information for families.
• A range of information sheets which seek to improve and develop parental
knowledge and understanding of Autistic Spectrum Condition.
• A monthly newsletter highlighting items of interest to families with children and
young people with Social Communication Difficulties (including Autism).
• Regular coffee morning/afternoons to provide a network of support for families.
Eaves’ Poppy Project provides specialist support and London emergency accommodation for women who have been trafficked. Women only service.
The Beckenham & Bromley Twins Club is an all-inclusive club for families with twins, triplets or multiples. We provide a fun and supportive environment for both parents and children. We run regular playgroups, a buddy scheme to support new parents and various exciting events through the year. See website for more details.