An entry for the mindguide
Advice on debt, benefits and housing issues. It is provided on a drop-in basis for people in the Rose Hill and Donnington area. Does not deal with immigration issues.
Benefits:
We tell you your entitlements.
We help you make applications.
We help you appeal.
We represent you at hearings.
Debt:
We help you draw up a budget.
We help with repayment schedules.
We help with Debt Relief Orders.
We help with bankruptcy.
Housing:
Rent arrears.
Evictions.
Mortgage repossessions.
Oxfordshire Specialist Advice Service (OSAS) provides a dedicated telephone advice line and email service, which aims to answer all your queries around benefits, money advice, budgeting and other welfare issues and link you into services that can provide further support. This is backed up by a team of specialist advisers, who are able to meet face to face with people unable to access advice by telephone, email or in their local community.
The service also supports professionals who may be working with you, through the provision of comprehensive and responsive training opportunities and a consultancy line for specialist case support.
The service is free for people to use. It is jointly funded by Adult Social Care and Children, Education and Families, so it is focused on meeting the needs of people living in Oxfordshire who are struggling with their day-to-day lives due to disability or ill heath. However, you do not have to have a carer or anyone looking after you.
The Kidlington and District Information Centre provides advice and information on local services, employment, consumer rights, benefits, legal, housing, social services, health and sickness. Provides assistance with form filling and directing people to third party sources of advice – no appointment needed. Self-referral or Red Cross and Social Services referral.
The Good Neighbour Scheme-
This scheme has been operating since June 2010, is open to anybody over 60 or disabled. We have volunteers that have all been DBS checked and are ready to help.
Assistance can be arranged with gardening, small household tasks, dog walking, prescription collection, etc.
Befriending services can also be organised.
Banburyshire Advice Centre is an independent charity that provides advice on benefits (including benefit form filling), general financial and legal advice, education course information and career advice, housing advice, bereavement advice, and advice for carers. They do not give debt advice but can issue Foodbank vouchers to those in need.
Wantage Independent Advice Centre is a free advice service which covers a range of topics, including debt counselling, employment rights, benefit entitlement checks. It is for people in Wantage, Grove and Vale of White Horse. There is also a volunteer transport scheme; good neighbour scheme; food bank referral and donation point; free solicitor surgery; free business surgery.
The Citizens Advice West Northants and Cherwell offer free, private, and unbiased advice on many different issues, including benefits, consumer issues, debt & money, employment, family, health, housing, immigration, law & courts
As well as the helpline, they also offer in-person support where you can drop-in to a Community Help Information Point (CHIP).
For in-person support in Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington, please visit their website to confirm current locations, date and times: www.cawnac.org.uk/access-our-services
A full advice service for people living in the Barton area in receipt of benefits, and organisations working with clients in receipt of benefits, including debt advice and representation at appeal tribunal hearings. Also provides advice, support and training in social welfare law.
Benefits for Better Mental Health (BBMH) works alongside the Oxfordshire Mind Information Line to provide advice on benefit entitlement and help people gain and maintain the support they need. The service is open to anyone living in Oxfordshire who is claiming benefits (or wants to find out about their entitlement) because of a mental health problem.
The Agnes Smith Advice Centre offer free expert advice on money and debt, welfare benefits, housing, and employment for people living in Blackbird Leys. They also offer outreach services in other parts of the community to reach more people.
They have a legal advice clinic, one to one appointments, and a drop in service, and they take GP referrals from the Leys Health Centre.
FLAG DV are a free legal advice group for victims of domestic violence.
They offer free family law legal advice appointments to enable people who have experienced domestic abuse to make informed decisions that empowers them to safely leave the abuse behind.
As well as providing legal advice appointments, they also act as a bridge of support by providing a clear pathway into other support organisations. This ensures a more holistic network is established to enable a better outcome for clients.
