This service provides support via a telephone helpline
“Sometimes our thoughts and feelings can overwhelm us. It helps to get some Breathing Space. Pick up the phone – we’re here to listen”.
Weekdays: Monday to Thursday 6 pm to 2 am.
Weekend: Friday 6 pm to Monday 6 am.
Please contact Breathing Space during the opening hours above on 0800 83 85 87.
Breathing Space offer information in BSL. How to contact the Breathing Space BSL service.
“We are a network of local advice centres covering all of Scotland. Our expert advisors offer free, impartial advice on energy saving, keeping warm at home, renewable energy, greener travel, cutting water waste and more….our mission is to help people in Scotland create warmer homes, reduce their bills and help tackle climate change.”
“As well as advice for yourself, you can get in touch with us on behalf of someone else; like a family member you’re caring for or a friend you’re helping out. We never cold call, so will only contact you if you request it.”
By phone: Free on 0808 808 2282. Our lines are open Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm, and Saturday 9am – 5pm. Please note our phone lines are often quite busy in the evenings and at weekends.
Website: Home Energy Scotland
“We provide free, practical advice and information on energy-related matters to the citizens of Scotland.
We can provide advice and information if you:
Telephone: 0808 196 8660
Lines open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
“At Gateway our goal is to support vulnerable people in our community. Our aim is to provide a range of high quality services and activities that improves the well-being of the vulnerable people we support.
We seek to provide creative and innovative solutions, develop high quality services and activities that reflect contemporary ideas which meet the needs and aspirations of the people concerned about their well-being, and work in partnership with agencies who share our vision.”
“Whilst our mainstream work has been in housing support services, we have over the past few years expanded our scope to offer holistic services to vulnerable adults with an age range of 16 in our Supported Accommodation – 102 in out Care at Home service.”
Telephone: 01463 718693
Email: office@homelesstrust.org.uk
Website: Gateway – Highland Homeless Trust
“ERIC, the Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity is the UK’s leading charity supporting all children and teenagers with a bowel or bladder problem.
For over thirty years, we have been providing information and emotional support to families about these common but often misunderstood conditions.
ERIC, the Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity is the UK’s leading charity supporting all children and teenagers with a bowel or bladder problem.
For over thirty years, we have been providing information and emotional support to families about these common but often misunderstood conditions.
Our services include:
For information, confidential advice and support, call our advisors Monday to Thursday, 10am to 2pm on FREEPHONE 0808 1699 949.
If you cannot get through to an advisor, please use the web enquiry link found at: Helpline support | ERIC
Website: ERIC
“We are funded by the Highland Council to provide an independent, rights-based, information, advice and support service for anyone involved in the care of children and young people (up to age 25).
An additional support need is anything which means a child needs more, or different, support to another child the same age to make the most of their lives. A child can need extra help for lots of reasons, including having a disability, having an illness or long-term condition, being looked after or in care, being a young carer, having a difficult family situation, being bullied or suffering a bereavement.”
“We provide information and advice to professionals so you are better able to support and signpost families to services and resources.
We deliver our virtual Pines sessions in partnership with the National Autistic Society Scotland and the Pines training team. These sessions have a neurodevelopmental focus but much of the content is relevant to a broad range of additional support needs. You can see all upcoming events on the Pines website and watch many of the recorded sessions on the Pines You Tube channel.
We are also funded by NHS Highland to provide a digital support service for adult carers of children and young people with additional support needs.”
We can be contacted by phone on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 8:30-12:30 and 13:00-14:00 on 07514 120288.
Email: info@thrivingfamilies.org.uk
Website: Thriving Families – Improving the lives of families in the Highlands
“Connecting Carers provides information and advice to Carers, to help each Carer make the best decisions about their caring role. We also directly provide services to and for Carers, on behalf of government agencies or in response to the support needs Carers have identified.”
Carer support line: 01463 723560
Connecting Carers Office 01463 723575
Email carers@connectingcarers.org.uk
Website: Connecting Carers – Connecting Carers & Connecting Young Carers
“The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause.
Many people who have suffered the loss of a child feel a bond with others in the same situation and wish to extend the hand of friendship. We offer support, both directly to bereaved families, and indirectly by fostering understanding and good practice amongst professionals concerned with child death and by increasing public awareness.
In TCF, “family” covers a broad spectrum of relationships. We aim to help any individual or family affected by the death of a child, including unmarried partners, adoptive parents, step families, same sex couples and single parent families.
TCF has no religious affiliation and offers support to bereaved families irrespective of the age of the child, cause of death, ethnic, social or political background.
We respect the privacy of all those who come to us for support and offer a confidential service.”
Helpline and online support available for all areas. Local support in Fort William and Wick available.
For bereavement support call our Helpline on: 0345 123 2304
(Open 10 am – 4 pm, 7pm – 10 pm every day of the year)
Email: helpline@tcf.org.uk
Change Mental Health is a national mental health charity providing non-clinical and person-centred support to people affected by poor mental health and mental illness. For over 50 years, Change Mental Health has delivered transformational support with a vision of creating a future where no one faces mental illness alone.
Active in Highland communities for over three decades, Change Mental Health delivers many key services across Highland:
If you want to get in touch with any of the above services, please contact Change Mental Health’s National Advice and Support Service on 0808 8010 515 or at advice@changemh.org.
The National Advice and Support Service can help people and their carers with mental health concerns and money worries. It can signpost to relevant local and national support, as well as supporting with debt, grants and benefits.
Mikeysline is an Inverness‑based mental health and suicide prevention charity, providing compassionate, confidential peer support to anyone aged 11+ throughout the Highlands, Islands and Moray.
Support is delivered via their text-based services (SMS, WhatsApp, Webchat), in person at one of their local Hives, or by booking a callback appointment.
Hours: Sun-Mon 6pm-10pm and Fri & Sat 7pm-7am
For full details of their services, visit: https://oursupport.mikeysline.co.uk/
Text: 07786 207 755 WhatsApp: 01463 729000
Email Address: enquiries@mikeysline.co.uk
Webchat, Facebook Messenger
Please note that the pop-up webchat window appears only during the hours that support is available in the evening.
Website: Home – Mikeysline
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