Sources of help

• Basic Bank Accounts - click to read more...

  For a simple jargon free guide to Basic Bank Accounts produced by the Financial Service Authority go to:
  
  www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdf

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• Benefit Entitlements for Older People - click to read more...

  Not sure what benefits you are entitled to and need advice?
  
  Your local Age Concern
  Website: www.ageconcern.org.uk

  Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)
  Website: www.dwp.gov.uk

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• Bereavement Counselling - click to read more...

  Cruse Bereavement offers help in understanding grief and loss.
  
  Contact: Tel no: 0844 477 9400
  Email: helpline@cruse.org.uk
  Website:www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk

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• Carers - click to read more...

  Carers Helpline: 0808 808 7777
  For advice on caring:
  Website: www.direct.gov.uk, then see ‘Caring for someone’

  See also The Princess Royal Trust for Carers:
  Website: www.carers.org and www.counselandcare.org.uk

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• Debt- click to read more...

  Information available at Seafarers' Advice and Information Line (SAIL)
  Tel no: 0845 741 3318
  Website at: www.sailine.org.uk
  
  Visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau
  Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
  Contact the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) for free confidential advice on debt problems.
  Tel no: 0800 138 1111
  Website: www.cccs.co.uk
  

  Visit Payplan
  Website: www.payplan.com

  Problems with paying energy bills?
  British Gas and Scottish Gas energy users who are having difficulty paying their bills may be able to get help from British Gas Energy Trust and the Scottish Gas Energy Trust.
  Contact Charis Grants on 01733 421021.
  
  Alternatively: By post: FREEPOST, BRITISH GAS ENERGY TRUST (no stamp required)
  Email: bget@charisgrants.com
  Website: www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk

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• Energy Saving Trust - click to read more...

  People aged 70 or over and who are owner-occupiers or living in privately rented accommodation could be eligible for free cavity wall and loft insulation which could significantly reduce their heating bills. This is a Government sponsored scheme which the power companies are required to operate and pay for to meet carbon emission reduction targets.
  
  To find out who is operating the scheme in your area contact the Energy Saving Trust:
  Tel no: 0800 512 012
  Website: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
  Or ring your local power company direct.

  For loft insulation there may be a charge if your existing insulation is over a certain depth (cost of its removal) but cavity wall insulation is free. An initial free survey will determine what needs to be done and confirm entitlement.

  For financial help to make your house warmer by insulation and/or heating improvements contact Warm Front. This is a Government funded scheme for those in receipt of certain benefits, to provide grants to make your home warmer and more energy efficient.
  To find out whether you qualify call:
  Tel no: 0800 072 9006

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• Funeral Costs - click to read more...

  The Seamen's Hospital Society may be able to help towards the cost of a funeral.
  
  Tel no: 020 8858 3696
  Email: admin@seahospital.org.uk
  Website:www.seahospital.org.uk

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• Holidays - click to read more...

  For holidays for older people on low incomes contact:
  
  National Benevolent Fund for the Aged (NBFA)
  Address: NBFA, 32 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0RE
  Tel no: 020 7828 0200
  Email: info@nbfa.org.uk
  Website: www.nbfa.org.uk

  Respite holidays
  The Merchant Seamen's War Memorial Society, "Springbok" in Surrey.
  Tel no: 01403 752555
  Website: www.mswmsociety.org.uk

  Mariners Park Care Home Wallasey, Cheshire, provides respite care for former seafarers of any rank and their dependants. It also enables those responsible for the delivery of their care on a daily basis to have a holiday/break from caring, or those who might need a period of recovery following a hospital admission. Care provided can be either residential or nursing.
  Contact the Care Home Manager (Sue Vick) on:
  Tel no: 01513 468888
  Email: svick@nautilusuk.org

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• Home Repairs and Adaptations - click to read more...

  Care & Repair England is a housing charity which provides advice for older and disabled people about organising home repairs and adaptations:
  Website: www.careandrepair-england.org.uk

  Home Improvement Agencies are locally based, not-for-profit organisations. They help older, disabled and vulnerable homeowners or private tenants to repair, improve, maintain or adapt their homes. Their primary purpose is to help people continue to live in their own homes in comfort, safety, security and independence. They are sometimes referred to as 'Care & Repair' agencies or 'Staying Put' schemes.
  To find out where your local Home Improvement Agency is or to locate a reliable handyman to carry out repairs contact:
  Tel. 01457 891909
  Website: www.foundations.uk.com

  For the free installation of security devices, door and window locks, carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms by reliable fitters, try the Help the Aged Handy Van scheme. This scheme has, as yet only limited geographical cover.
  Tel no: 01255 473999
  Website: www.helptheaged.org.uk
  
  Ask your Local Authority about Disabled Facilities Grants.

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• Maritime Charitable Support - click to read more...

  To find out more about the range of maritime charitable support available contact:
  
  Merchant Navy Welfare Board
  Address: 20 Palmerston Road, Southampton
  Tel no: 0238 0337799
  Email: enquiries@mnwb.org.uk
  Website: www.mnwb.org

  Seafarers' Advice & Information Line (SAIL)
  Tel no: 0845 741 3318
  Email: admin@sailine.org.uk
  Website: www.sailine.org.uk

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• Mobility - click to read more...

  The Motability scheme is a government sponsored scheme available to those who receive the Higher Rate Component of the Disability Living Allowance. Motability operates a car scheme and a wheelchair / scooter scheme.
  Website:www.motability.co.uk
  Tel no: 0845 456 4566.

  For enquiries about wheelchairs and scooters:
  Tel no: 0845 60 762 60.

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• Other sources of charitable support - click to read more...

  To find out what other occupations offer charitable support visit:
  
  Website www.turn2us.org.uk

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• Pension Credit - click to read more...

  Find out whether you are entitled to pension credit by contacting the Pension Credit application line:
  Tel no: 0800 99 1234.

  If you have speech or hearing difficulties, use the textphone no and an Advisor will help you complete the form over the phone and send you the form to sign and return.
  Textphone no: 0800 169 0133.
  
  The Pension Service website has an online calculator which enables you to work out your entitlement.
  
  Website: www.thepensionservice.gov.uk

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• Residential and Care Homes - click to read more...

  If you are looking at residential or nursing care but are not sure what is involved or how to proceed then contact:
  
  Counsel and Care, a registered charity that specialises in such advice:
  Tel no: 0845 300 7585 or 020 7241 8555
  Email: advice@counselandcare.org.uk
  Website: www.counselandcare.org.uk

  The Elderly Accommodation Counsel is a charity that offers advice and details of the location of accommodation:
  Website:www.eac.org.uk

  Mariners' Park
  Mariners’ Park is situated on the banks of the River Mersey in Wallasey, Cheshire and is run by NUMAST Welfare funds. It provides houses, bungalows and flats for nearly 140 residents living independently. Many also use the Park's own Domiciliary Care service - providing personal care and domestic help in the resident's own home. The Park also has a 32-bed Registered Care Home for those needing residential nursing or short-term/respite care.
  Tel no: 0151 639 8454
  Email: welfare@nautilus.org
  National Advice Line: 020 7820 1343
  Details of home locations available at www.housingcare.org

  The Merchant Seamen's War Memorial Society, "Springbok" in Surrey provides accommodation for retired seafarers.
  Tel no: 01403 752555
  Website: www.mswmsociety.org.uk

  The Royal Alfred Seafarers' Society, Banstead, Surrey - provides residential and accommodation including long term nursing care to ex-seafarers:
  Tel no: 01737 353763
  Website: www.royalalfredseafarers.com

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• Support for Children /Education - click to read more...

  The Sailors' Families Society provides support to single parent families with a child under 16 years, to two parent families where one parent is too ill or disabled to work and the other acts as carer.
  
  The family must be in receipt of certain means tested benefits and the parent or guardian must have served a minimum period in either the merchant or Royal Navy.
  Tel no: 01482 342331
  Email: info@sailors-families.org.uk
  Website: www.sailors-families.org.uk

  The Royal Liverpool Seamen's Orphan Institution operates throughout the UK and provides financial assistance towards the education of the children of those who served in the Merchant Navy and the Fishing Fleet and where the family has lost a parent.
  Tel no: 0151 227 3417
  Website: www.rlsoi-uk.org

  The Royal Merchant Navy School Foundation can assist with the costs of education including University.
  Tel no: 0118 978 1865
  Email: admin@merchantnavy.org.uk
  Website: www.merchantnavy.org.uk

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