Out of Hours Support

Cumbria Youth Alliance will close on December 23rd for Christmas and New Year and reopen on January 2nd. We have put together this page to ensure young people know who to contact if they need help. The pressure of the holiday period can be tough, but it’s important to know there are people who can help.

Mental Health Support

Is your life at risk right now?

 If you feel like you might attempt suicide or may have seriously harmed yourself, you need urgent medical help. Please: 

 If you can keep yourself safe for a short while, but you still need urgent advice: 

  • Contact NHS 111 England. If you call 111, select option 2 to access a 24/7 helpline offering urgent mental health support.
  • Contact your GP surgery and ask for an emergency appointment. Many GPs are now offering these remotely (GP’s are not open 24 hours, and may not be open on Christmas, Boxing, or New Years Day)

If you need to talk right now

 Whatever you’re going through, there are people you can talk to any time. You can: 

Samaritans (24/7)

CALM (5 PM-Midnight)

Papyrus (24/7)

Shout (24/7)

  • Text: ‘Shout’ to 85258

MIND’s (9 AM-6 PM, Monday-Friday)

 These services are for anyone who’s struggling. They won’t judge you. They’re free, they’re anonymous, and they’re always open.

Local Authority Safeguarding Hubs

Cumberland

Young Person

Cumberland

Adult

Westmorland & Furness

Young Person

Westmorland & Furness

Adult

Emergency Housing

Who can get emergency housing?

 The council must give you emergency housing if they think you might: 

  • be legally homeless – Homeless now, at risk of being homeless in the next 8 weeks, unsafe because of domestic abuse or other violence and/or living in very bad housing conditions include overcrowding, serious damp or disrepair.
  • meet immigration conditions
  • have a priority need – You could have a priority need because you have children, are pregnant, are at risk of domestic abuse, or vulnerable for other reasons.

Emergency housing is short term accommodation. You can stay there while the council look into your situation and decide if they must help you with longer term housing.

How to get emergency housing

You should ask for help before you need emergency housing if you can. The council could help you stay in your home or find you somewhere else to live so you do not become homeless. Every council should have a daytime number and an emergency out of hours number.

Westmorland and Furness Council

 If you are threatened with homelessness within 56 days the Council will have a duty to try and prevent this to try and enable you to stay in your home or to help you find alternative accommodation. If you are likely to lose your home in the next 56 days you should contact the Council’s Homelessness & Advice Service on 01229 876599. 

Cumbria Choice & Preventing Homelessness

 If you find yourself facing homelessness, you should make an appointment to see one of our Senior Homeless Assessment Officers – ring 01229 876599 – they will assess your situation and establish whether it is necessary to link in with Cumbria Choice and award you some additional priority in the bidding process to improve your chances of securing accommodation through the scheme to prevent you becoming homeless. This assessment is made on a case-by-case basis and not all those seeking advice will be eligible for a banding upgrade. 

Cold Weather Provision for Rough Sleepers

 We can provide services to rough sleepers to prevent serious harm as a result of cold weather conditions, when the temperature is forecast to drop to zero degrees or less for three consecutive days. People found sleeping rough can be directed to the Homeless Advice Team: 

For more information check out the Westmorland and Furness Council Website

Cumberland Council

Allerdale

 If you are homeless now, or in danger of losing your accommodation, contact the Housing Options team on: 

Carlisle

You can contact their services directly using the following link which will give you access to a form to fill out. https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/notify-us-of-homelessness 

If you are unable to complete the online referral link you can email us via homelessness@carlisle.gov.uk.

You can contact them during normal office hours by calling 01228 817200. Their out of hours contact numbers are 01228 817386 (single women and families) and 01228 817373 (single men).

Copeland

If you need assistance from Cumberland Council, you should contact their team as early as possible, if you are homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days. You can contact their team by email at housing.options@copeland.gov.uk (link sends e-mail) or by telephone on 01946 598300, or by completing the online self-referral form.

https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/notify-us-of-homelessness