For the Christmas and New Year period, some services are changing, including help around homelessness, healthcare and mental health. In this guide, we have useful information on what’s running during this time of year in Leeds.
Homelessness and housing
- St George’s Crypt run community activities and a Christmas dinner for people facing homelessness: https://www.stgeorgescrypt.org.uk/how-we-help/stories/christmas-day-lunch-service
- Every Thursday evening, Leeds Homeless Street Angels provide support for people living on the streets in Leeds City Centre: https://homelessstreetangels.co.uk/
- Leeds City Council’s Housing Options service has a helpline open most days – if you are homeless and need accommodation, call them on 0113 222 4412
- The Green Doctor are providing free packs of items worth up to £20 to help people in Leeds keep warm, including blankets and hot water bottles. To sign up for one, please refer to the service here: Groundwork Yorkshire Green Doctors
Mental health
- MindWell have put together an online festive toolkit. It lists places to get mental health support during Christmas, as well as tips on areas such as self-care, anxiety and connecting with others: https://www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk/mindwell-festive-toolkit/
- Touchstone have a Winter Wellbeing booklet, which is full of useful information about support available in Leeds: https://touchstonesupport.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Updated-2024-Leeds-Touchstone-Winter-Wellbeing-Booklet.pdf
- Our friends in the Autism AIM – Mental Health Equity Project have put together a booklet of their own about winter time wellbeing – a copy can be downloaded here: Winter Time Wellbeing booklet
Healthcare
- If you need to get in touch with any hospitals in Leeds, numbers for each one run by the NHS can be found here: https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/contact/
- The West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership have information on how ordering prescriptions early can help to reduce anxiety: https://www.wypartnership.co.uk/news-and-blog/news/prescription-stress-free-bank-holidays-plan-ahead-and-help-nhs
Cost of living
- Leeds City Council have a page on their website with useful links to services and support available to help with the cost of living here: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/campaign/cost-of-living
- For issues with benefits, Leeds City Council’s Welfare Rights Unit can be called on 0113 376 0452 or emailed at [email protected]
- The Leeds and Chapeltown branches of Citizens Advice can provide independent advice on topics like money and benefits:
- Better Leeds Communities have a referral-only service helping with debt and finances. They also have a budgeting digital park with tips, advice and engaging activities – read more here: Better Leeds Communities
- If you are struggling to keep warm, there is an interactive map of warm spaces open across Leeds here: Warm Spaces Map
National helplines
These are helplines that are run for people nationally. Please note that some of them may not be open during Christmas, bank holidays or weekends.
Samaritans
- Phone: 116 123
- Website: https://www.samaritans.org/
Scope – Disability Helpline
- Phone: 0808 800 3333
- Website: https://www.scope.org.uk/helpline/
Shelter Housing Advice Line
- Phone: 0808 800 4444
- Website: https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help
SHOUT
- Phone: Text 85258
- Website: https://giveusashout.org/
LGBT Foundation Helpline
- Phone: 0345 330 3030
- Website: https://lgbt.foundation/
Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline
- Website: https://switchboard.lgbt/
NHS non-emergency helpline
- Phone: 111
- Website: https://111.nhs.uk/
Local helplines and other services
These are helplines and services that are run for people in Leeds or throughout West Yorkshire. Please note that some of them may not be open during Christmas, bank holidays or weekends.
Dial House (Leeds Survivor-Led Crisis Service)
- Phone: 0113 260 9328
- Website: https://www.lslcs.org.uk/
Dial House at Touchstone
- Phone: 0113 249 4675
- Website: https://www.lslcs.org.uk/services/dial-house-touchstone/
Teen Connect Helpline
- Phone: 0808 800 1212
- Website: https://www.lslcs.org.uk/services/connect-helpline/teen-connect/
Deaf Connect
- Text or FaceTime: 07984 396 001
- Website: https://www.lslcs.org.uk/services/connect-helpline/deaf-connect/
St George’s Crypt
- Phone: 0113 245 9061 for emergency situations
- Website: https://www.stgeorgescrypt.org.uk/
West Yorkshire 24-hour Mental Health Helpline
- Phone: 0800 183 0558
Here for You: Out of hours support in a safe space
West Yorkshire Police – non-emergency contact
- Phone: 101
- Website: https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/
Chapeltown Citizens Advice and Leeds Citizens Advice
- Phone: 0808 278 78 78
- Websites: https://citizensadviceleeds.org.uk/ and https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/local/chapeltown/
Leeds City Council – Adult Social Care
- Phone: 0113 222 4401
- Website: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/adult-social-care
Leeds Mind
- Phone: 0113 305 5800
- Website: https://www.leedsmind.org.uk/
Carers Leeds advice line
- Phone: 0113 380 4300
- Website: https://www.carersleeds.org.uk/
Cruse Bereavement Care
- Phone: 0808 808 1677
- Website: https://www.cruse.org.uk/
Money Buddies
- Phone: 0113 235 0276
- Website: https://moneybuddies.org.uk/
Linking Leeds – social prescribing service
- Phone: 0113 336 7612
- Website: https://linkingleeds.com/
