Covid-19 Useful Links

Up-to date government advice

The Government has also established a Whatsapp text message service. To recieve official advice and information about coronavirus, message 'hi' to 07860 064422.

Or tap this link

Access Government Guidance with British Sign Language

Guidance in other languages - English, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Bulgarian, Czech, Dari, Estonian, Farsi, French, German. Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Kiswahili, Krio, Kurdish Sorani, Lithuanian, Oromo, Malayalam, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Sindhi, Slovak, Spanish, Somali, Tamil, Tigrinya, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese, Wolof, Yiddish.

Guidance for educational settings

Guidance for older people and vulnerable adults

Employers and Businesses

Apply for Universal Credit

HMRC guidance - If you are concerned about not being able to pay an overdue tax bill or a bill due in the near future due to COVID-19, you can contact the new dedicated helpline on 0800 0159 559. 

HMRC Personal tax account - sign in or set up

HM Land Registy

HMRC - Coronavirus helpline  number to support customers impacted by coronavirus is 0800 024 1222;  open from 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday. 

HMRC Self-employment Income Support Scheme

For businesses that want to offer their help to the Government from their Call for Action on ventilators, please email: Ventilator.support@beis.gov.uk or call 0300 456 3565.

NHS Guidance

Greater Preston Clinical Commissioning Group - links to a wide range of sources of information.

 

Autism - Help and advice from Autistica 

Asthma UK - advice for people with Asthma. Their helplines are available Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm: 0300 222 5800

British Heart Foundation (BHF) - Advise for people with a  heart or circulatory disease 

British Lung Foundation - advice for people with lung conditions, such as COPD and pulmonary fibrosis. Their helplines are available Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm: 03000 030 555

Diabetes - specialist information and advice on all aspects of living with diabetes through our Diabetes UK Helpline. We can help with answers, support or just to talk to someone who knows about diabetes - on 0345 123 2399 or helpline@diabetes.org.uk. Our helpline is open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 6pm.

Kooth - free, safe and anonymous online well being service which offers a wide range of therapeutic tools including counselling for children and young people.

General Medical Council (GMC) - advice for patients, guidance for doctors and medical students

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Trust (Mental Health)

Newly launched mental health crisis line is available 24/7 on 0800 953 0110. It is staffed by trained mental health professionals who are able to provide assessment and referrals to appropriate services – ring it if you need to access services or for advice about someone who needs treatment/support.

The mental health and wellbeing helpline, staffed by volunteers and those with lived experience, offers emotional support for people who want to chat about mental health or are lonely etc. It can be contacted on 0800 915 4640 or by texting ‘Hello’ to 07860 022846.

Mental Health Helpline (Lancashire) - Confidential, free listening service,  out of hours phone numbers and text service for people in Lancashire.

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman - information about how NHS complaints will be dealt during Coronavirus

RCOG Advice for Pregnant Women - Health and occupational advice

Royal College of Nursing - advice for nurses returning to work or working extra hours

 

Co-op Bank - support for customers

Barclays - customers, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

HSBC - support for business and personal customers. Telephone contact centre (0345 740 4404) is open from 08:00 to 20:00. HSBC Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Lloyds Banking - help and support for customers

NatWest - updates for customers

Santander - advice and help for customers

TSB - help or customers and businesses

The Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator urge you to ‘give safely’ as people continue to respond with generosity in the current crisis.

National Emergencies Trust (NET) Coronavirus Appeal 

FAQs and guidance for the Charity Sector 

Action for Children - advice for parents

Age UK - Age UK Guide

Age UK - Lancashire Contact details

Cancer Help - local charity in Preston, donate here.

Cancer Research UK

Cats Protection

Macmillan Cancer Support - help and advice

Marie Curie - Check in and chat - support for people with a terminal illness

Money Advice Service - Money Navigator Tool -  gives you action plans based on your own situation:

• the money issues you need to tackle first
• how to stay on top of bills and payments
• What extra help and support you’re entitled to
• Where you can get free advice for debt, housing or redundancy
•  

Royal British Legion - The Legion’s contact centre remains fully operational to support the Armed Forces community and can be reached on 0808 802 8080 (8am-8pm, seven days a week) or at info@britishlegion.org.uk.

 

Preston City Council - Covid-19 advice

Preston Together - If you're isolated by coronavirus and need help ring 01772 906777 or email support@preston.gov.uk, Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

Lancashire County Council - Care homes, Libraries, archives and museums, Public transport, Marriage Registration service, Schools

Reporting Form to report unfair business practices to the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA)

OFGEM - Advice for Energy Consumers

Which? Consumer Rights Hub - information and advice on protecting your finances during Coronavirus outbreak

House of Commons Lockdown Restrictions Map (UK)  

A helpful resource produced by the House of Commons library indicating local lockdowns & Covid19 restrictions across the country, including in Preston. The map is regularly updated and contains a summary of restrictions with links to further detail on government guidance.

 

 

Crossgate Church, Preston - streaming live Sunday morning services at 10am

Humanist UK - information and advice including humanist funeral advice

Preston Muslim Burial Society - contacts and advice

BBC Live Sunday Worship  - BBC local radio stations will be broadcasting worships led by different Christian denominations on their Sunday breakfast programmes. Features and programmes from other faith groups will also appear on air at other times.

Electricity North West -Live power cuts information, Priority Service Register Register (PSR)

E-on - information for customers

OFCOM  - How broadband and mobile firms are serving customers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Scottish Power - information for customers, SP Energy information for vulnerable customers

Utilita - Phone number for Vulnerable Customers without internet or smartphone access

United Utilities - Update for customers

Luv Preston

Noor Foodbank

Preston's Promise - Apply for a food parcel.  Follow them Instagram, Facebook or donate to their cause.

Salvation Army Preston

Progress Housing - information for tenants

Shelter - help and advice for people facing eviction, rent problems, mortgage arrears and reposession

Avanti West Coast - travel information

National Rail Enquiries - travel advice

Network Rail

Transpennine Express - up to date information for passengers

Preston Bus - Timetable Changes

Stagecoach - temporary timetables

 

Foreign and Commonwealth Office:

• Australia
• India - Consular FAQs for British Nationals in India
• Pakistan
• Poland

Acas - Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service - public body.  Helpline 0330 123 1100 can provide help and advice to employees and employers. 

Usdaw - Advice for members and recruitment opportunities for all

Maternity Action - Rights and benefits during pregnancy and maternity leave

NHS staff, health and social care workers and NHS volunteers (critical care workers) can use this service to find free parking locations