Advice Services in and around Dartford

Here you can find contact details of statutory and voluntary organisations offering advice services, support and accommodation to families, single adults, young people, the elderly, people with special needs and people from black and minority ethnic groups.

This page is only a general guide and is not a full and authoritative statement of the law. We have made every effort to make sure that the information in this booklet is correct at the time of printing. If any information contained in this booklet is incorrect then please let us know. Our contact details are on the back cover.

General Advice & Support Services

ACAS

Telephone: 98457 47 47 47
Minicom: 08456 06 16 00
Website: www.acas.org.uk

Telephone advice
Mon - Fri 8:00am - 6:00pm

Provides up-to-date inforamtion, independent advice on employemnt rights. Works with employers and employees to settle disputes.

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Trinity Resource Centre, High Street, Dartford, Kent DA1 1DE
Telephone: 01322 224686
Fax: 01322 220448
Website: www.dartfordcab.org.uk

Telephone Advice:
Tues, Wed & Thurs 10:00am – 1:00pm

Open Door (no appointments necessary):
Mon 10:00am – 1:00pm
Wed 10:00am – 1:00pm
Thur 10:00am – 1:00pm

Home visits are available by appointment for clients who are housebound and
can be arranged by telephoning 01322 224686.

Free independent adivce and information on a range of issues including legal rights, housing rights, welfare benefits and debt counselling.

CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELLING SERVICE

Wade House, Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8NG
Telephone: 0800 138 1111 (Mon – Fri 8:00am – 8:00pm)
Website: www.cccs.co.uk
A charity that offers free help and advice for people with financial problems.

CRUSE BEREAVEMENT CARE

Telephone:0844 477 9400 (Mon – Fri 9:30am – 5:00pm)
E-mail: helpline@cruse.org.uk
Website: www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
A charity that offers free emotional support, help and advice to anyone affected by the death of someone close to them.

JOBCENTRE PLUS

Job Centre, 61 Lowfield Street, Dartford, Kent DA1 1JY
Telephone: 01322 484500
Textphone: 01622 403877
Practical support and financial advice about benefits, tax credits, training, work and looking for a job.

LIFE PREGNANCY CARE SERVICE

Hubert House, Community Project,Mallard Close, Temple Hill, Dartford, DA10 0AJ
Telephone: 01322 272007
Tuesday 10:00am - 12:00 noon

Appointments can be made outside these times using the helpline number.
Helpline: 0800 915 4600
Mon - Fri 9:00am - 9:00pm
Sat 9:00am - 5pm
A non-denominational registered charity that provides a care service for pregnant women and unsupported mothers; help with accommodation and post abortion counselling.

NACRO – NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR CARE AND RESETTLEMENT OF
OFFENDERS: RESETTLEMENT PLUS HELPLINE

Freephone: 0800 0181 259 (for ex-offenders, their family and friends only)
Mon – Fri 9:00am – 5:00pm
E-mail: helpline@nacro.org.uk
Website: www.nacro.org.uk
Telephone information, advice and sign posting service for prisoners, ex-offenders, families and friends of prisoners and ex-offenders and criminal justice professionals. Information on a range of issues including housing, employment, benefits and disclosing convictions.

NATIONAL DEBTLINE

Tricorn House, 51-53 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B16 8TP
Telephone: 0808 808 4000 (Mon – Fri 9:00am – 9:00pm. Sat 9:30am –1:00pm)
E-mail: advice@nationaldebtline.co.uk
Website: www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
Provides free, confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems.

NORTH WEST KENT COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICES

Enterprise House, 8 Essex Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 2AU
Telephone: 01322 291060/293484
E-mail: enquiries@northwestkentcvs.org.uk or main.nwkcvs@btinternet.com
Website: www.ktcr.org.uk
Advice and support for carers in their own homes, including welfare benefits advice.

OASIS COUNSELLING CENTRE

East Hill, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RZ
Telephone: 01322 294430
Pregnancy Crisis Centre: 07958 452294
E-mail: info@oasisdartford.org.uk
Website: www.oasisdartford.org.uk
Offers free counselling for bereavement, job seekers, domestic violence, offenders and ex-offenders, depression, phobia, relationship issues, anger problems, drug and alcohol abuse and pregnancy crisis.

PAYPLAN

Telephone: 0800 917 7823
Website: www.payplan.com
Provides free debt management plans with online payment tracking and individual voluntary arrangements.

REFUGE

Telephone: 0808 2000 247
E-mail: info@refuge.org.uk
Website: www.refuge.org.uk
Refuge’s 24 hour national domestic violence freephone helpline provides emotional support, advice on housing, welfare rights and legal assistance, and referrals.

RELATE

Hubert House, Mallard Close, Temple Hill, Dartford, Kent DA5 1JN
Telephone: 01634 846914
E-mail: manager@relatenorthkent.org.uk
Website: www.relatenorthkent.org.uk
Offers advice, relationship counselling, sex therapy, workshops, mediation, consultation and support.

RETHINK BELXLEY CARERS SERVICE

22a Blexley High Street, Bexley, Kent DA5 1AD
Telephone: 01322 554181
Fax: 01322 559130
E-mail: bss@rethink.org
Mon - Fri 9:00am - 9:00pm

Carer support service providing one to one support; advice and advocacy; information, support to friends and family; signposting to other agencies.

SAMARITANS BEXLEY & DARTFORD

35 Glynde Road, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 4HB
Telephone: 020 8301 1010
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
24 hour confidential telephone service offering a ‘sympathetic ear’. Samaritans do not give advice or counselling, but do provide an opportunity to be listened to.

SOCIAL SERVICES COUNTY DUTY SERVICE

Write to: Kroner House, Eurogate Business Park, Ashford, Kent TN24 8XU
Telephone: 08458 247 100 – Kent County Council Contact Centre
(Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Fax: 01233 652216

Visit: Dartford District Office , St Lawrence House, 48a West Hill, Dartford, Kent DA1 2HG (includes Adult and Children’s Services)
Telephone: 01322 277744 (Mon – Fri 8:30am – 5:00pm)
Fax: 01322 289343
Website: www.kent.gov.uk
Provides services to children and their families, older people, people with a learning disability, people with a physical disability, people with a sensory impairment and people with a mental health problem.

VICTIM SUPPORT

Victim Support North Kent and Medway provide services to residents of the following towns and their surrounding villages; Chatham, Dartford, Gillingham, Gravesend, Northfleet, Rainham, Roachester and Swanscombe. The postocdes covered are: DA2, DA9, DA11, DA11, DA12 part of DA5, ME2, ME3, ME4, ME5, ME6 and ME7.

North Kent Branch: The Old Pay Office, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TE
Telephone: 01634 401733
E-mail: medway@vskent.co.uk or dartford.swanley@vskent.co.uk
Support and practical advice for anyone affected by crime.

VOLUNTEER CENTRE DARTFORD DISTRICT

33 Essex Road, Dartford, Kent Da1 2AU
Telephone: 01322 291164 or 01322 272476 (Mon - Fri 9:30am - 1:30pm)
E-mail: dartfordvb@care4free.net
Website: www.dartfordvb.org.uk
Provides a transport scheme, befriending scheme and practical services such as light gardening and simple DIY tasks, there are also opportunities to volunteer.

WALK TALL

8 The Parade, High Street, Swanscombe, Kent DA10 0AJ
Telephone: 0845 2708130
E-mail: info@walk-tall.org.uk
Confidence and assertiveness training for adult victims of domestic abuse, courses tailored to meet individual needs.

WITNESS SUPPORT

Dartford Branch:
Dartford Magistrates’ Court Witness Service, 1b Highfield Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 2JH
Telephone: Dartford 01322 292218 or enquire at the local Police Station
E-mail: dartfordmcws@vskent.org.uk
Website: www.victimsupport.org.uk
Support and practical advice for witnesses, both defence and prosecution appearing in court crime cases.

Places of interest:

Dartford webcams:

Contact:

Copyright © 2008 Dartford Borough Council If only all councils were like Dartford