To help us think about how we could improve our wellbeing the Make Time campaign asks us to consider and respond to the five questions below:

• When was the last time you laughed until you cried?
• When was the last time you got up and out?
• When was the last time you noticed things around you?
• When was the last time you tried something new?
• When was the last time you made someone smile?

You can join the Make Time discussion on Facebook or Twitter by posting your responses to the questions above and tagging your posts with #maketimewarrington.

Make Time is based on the Five Ways to Wellbeing, simple actions that can help us to feel good about ourselves. Research has shown that people who regularly include the Five Ways to Wellbeing in their daily lives are more likely to feel positive. The Five Ways to Wellbeing, which underpin Make Time, are:

• Connect: spend time with people who are important to you.
• Be active: at a level that suits your mobility and fitness.
• Take notice: be more aware of the world around you. Be curious.
• Keep learning: try something new or different, start a new hobby.
• Give: do something thoughtful for someone else, or volunteer your time.

YouTube has a short animation, produced by Rochdale Borough Council, explaining the Five Ways to Wellbeing.

The Make Time campaign prompts us all to think about what we currently do that makes us feel good and how we might fit more of the Five Ways to Wellbeing into our daily lives and so maintain or improve our mental wellbeing.

Make Time resources 
If you live or work in Warrington, then you can order free copies of the Make Time postcards, bookmarks and A4 sheets from Warrington Health Promotion Resource Centre, by completing this PDF order form.

Alternatively you can download a PDF of the Make Time prompt sheet and print it yourself. The sheet is designed to help guide discussions about mental wellbeing; or for people to use as a self-management tool, to reflect on their own mental wellbeing.

Hard copies of a colourful A4 sheet, which explains each of the Make Time questions, are also available from the Resource Centre. Or, if you prefer, you can download a PDF of the Make Time 5 image sheet.

Pull up banners promoting the Make Time campaign can also be borrowed, for free, from the Resource Centre.

This arts and wellbeing service offers a range of activities to help Warrington residents to improve their health and wellbeing. The activities offered include drama, drawing, media, music, sports, painting, photography, Read to Relax and walking groups. You can refer yourself into the groups, or can be referred by a health or social care worker.

Visit Creative Remedies' webpage

The “podcasts for your wellbeing” page on this site offers a variety of free podcasts focusing on different aspects of wellbeing. The areas covered include wellbeing and sleep, relaxation, nutrition, exercise and positive thinking. 

Visit the Mental Health Foundation's website

This page includes a five minute video on relaxation for mental wellbeing. 

Visit Mind's website

Mind's site also has a range of PDF booklets which you can download free, these include:

• A booklet on "How to improve your mental wellbeing"
  
  
• A booklet on "Relaxation"
  
  

This page offers a range of short audio relaxation exercises (each around 8 minutes) in either male or female voices. The exercises focus on wellbeing through breathing, visualisation, progressive muscle relaxation and candle gazing.

Visit Northumberland NHS Trust's website

Activity scheduling is a basic CBT technique, which can help you make your week more structured and satisfying. The aim of activity scheduling is not to fill every day, but to get a balance of different activities throughout the week, including pleasurable, social, physical and necessary activities. Activity scheduling can be particularly useful for people experiencing depression, or anxiety. You can download a PDF of the BBC's activity scheduling sheet here.

This website offers a range of CBT self-help resources, which can be downloaded free. The resources include worksheets, information sheets and MP3 files.

Visit Get.gg’s website

This site offers free online CBT-based, life-skills courses to help you to work out why you feel as you do; to tackle your problems; to build confidence; and to feel happier. You can also download free worksheets from the site, including planning sheets, worry strips and an anxiety diary sheet.

Visit Living Life to the Full’s website 

This site has a range of clear, easy to read, self-help booklets which are based on CBT. The booklets cover different aspects of mental wellbeing and mental health problems; they are available in a variety of formats; and can be downloaded free. There is also a free app for iPhone, iPad and Android, which allows you to access the full range of self-help booklets.

Visit Northumberland NHS Trust's website

The Mental Health Foundation has a number of podcasts focusing on mindfulness including:

• A 10 minute podcast with a mindfulness exercise 
  
  
• A 13 minute podcast explaining mindfulness and its benefits 

This site, which was developed by the Mental Health Foundation, has information on:

• What mindfulness is 
• Finding a mindfulness teacher 
• Learning mindfulness online 
• Mindfulness training for health care and work places 
• Evidence and research 

Be Mindful’s online mindfulness course costs £30, but you can try the first session for free, to see if it’s something you’d like to learn more about.

The site also has:

• a three minute mindfulness breathing exercise
  
  
• a PDF booklet "How to look after your mental health using mindfulness"

Visit Be Mindful's website

This site has short podcasts, with suggestions for practicing mindfulness when doing the routine activities of brushing your teeth, eating a satsuma, standing in a queue and walking.

This charity has a number of pages focusing on mindfulness. These include a free PDF booklet on how to practice mindfulness; how mindfulness can help with mental health problems; and tips for taking a mindful walk for relaxation.

The information about mindfulness on this site covers:

• What mindfulness is 
• How mindfulness helps with mental wellbeing 
• How to be more mindful 
• Different mindfulness practices 
• Tips on wellbeing

Visit the NHS website

This site has a podcast with a short exercise on mindful breathing. 

Visit Northumberland NHS Trust's website

These free weekly reading groups aim to improve wellbeing and reduce isolation. The Read to Relax groups bring people together to read, have a cup of tea and a chat. Group members are read to, so they can just sit back and listen. There are currently four Read to Relax Groups running in LiveWire's libraries:

Visit the Read to Relax webpage

Creative Remedies also offers a Read to Relax Group. For more information call 01925 443555 or email creativeremedies@warrington.gov.uk.

The Reader
The Reader is a national charity which aims to promote wellbeing and reduce social isolation through shared reading. The Reader offers free training and ongoing support to help volunteers set up and run shared reading groups, to promote wellbeing in their community or workplace. Shared Reading Information Workshops offer the opportunity to find out more about the Reader's North West volunteering opportunities. Details of the workshops are listed on the website.

Visit the Reader’s volunteering webpages

This scheme encourages people to read recommended self-help books for issues such as depression, anxiety and sleep problems. All the books are endorsed by health care professionals and can be borrowed free from your local LiveWire Library. GPs and other health professionals can recommend the self-help books as part of your treatment. For details about the Warrington Books on Prescription Scheme and to see the range of recommended books visit the LiveWire Libraries page. More information about the national scheme can be found on the link below.

Visit the Reading Well website

This is a national initiative which brings together 25 books on dementia, recommended by the Reading Agency. The collection was chosen by healthcare experts, people with dementia and carers’ groups. The books are for people with dementia, their carers, friends, family and anyone who wants to find out more. Each of the LiveWire Libraries has a collection of the books, which can be borrowed free. Health professionals can also prescribe books from the list to their patients.

Visit the Reading Well website

The Reading Agency has put together lists of mood-boosting books, which include novels, non-fiction, poetry and graphic novels. These books are recommended (by members of reading groups) for anyone who is feeling stressed, or wants to boost their mood. One of the lists is made up of books chosen by older people.

Many of the books can be borrowed from LiveWire Libraries. You can check which mood-boosting books LiveWire Libraries have by using the online catalogue. If you know your library number and PIN you can also reserve books online and ask for them to be delivered to your local Warrington library for free.

Visit the Reading Well website

The Warrington Wellbeing Team can help you get the information, advice and practical support you need to improve your health and wellbeing. The Team can offer free one to one support, to help you manage things like loneliness, money worries, health problems and reducing smoking. Some information and advice is provided by the Team members themselves, but if specialist advice is needed Wellbeing staff will refer you onto the appropriate service. 

For more information visit the webpage below, or drop into the Warrington Wellbeing office (at the Gateway on Sankey Street, opposite the town hall and the golden gates).

Visit Warrington Wellbeing's webpage

The Assessment Team is for adults (aged 18 and over) with moderate to severe symptoms of mental health problems. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your GP can refer you to the Assessment Team, or you can contact the Team yourself without first seeing your GP. Assessment Team staff will screen you, over the phone, to identify your needs. Then they’ll provide advice, or signpost or refer you to the most appropriate service. Support workers and anyone concerned about an adult’s mental health can also ring the team for advice about the most appropriate service to refer someone in to. (The Assessment Team, rather than A&E, is recommended for adults in crisis, unless they also need medical attention for their physical health)

CALM is for men who are down, or in crisis. CALM offers free confidential support to men, through a helpline and webchat. Support is available from 5pm to midnight every day.

Helpline: 0800 58 58 58
Visit CALM’s website

PAPYRUS’ HOPELineUK is for young people who are having thoughts of suicide and anyone who is worried about a young person who may be at risk of suicide. When you ring you don’t have to give your name, or any personal details. All calls are confidential, but if an advisor is concerned about a young person’s safety then PAPYRUS may contact emergency services to ensure the young person doesn’t come to harm.

HOPELineUK 0800 068 41 41
Text 07786 209697
pat@papyrus-uk.org 
Visit PAPYRUS' website

Samaritans offers a safe place for you to talk, at any time, day or night, about whatever is getting to you. You don’t have to be suicidal to get in touch with Samaritans. You can call, email, write, or visit Samaritans face-to-face.

116 123 this number is free to call
jo@samaritans.org
Visit Samaritans' website

This UK charity provides free, confidential text support to people in crisis. Shout's trained volunteers are available 24 hours a day, every day. If you need support text the word ‘Shout’ to 85258. A Shout volunteer will listen to your concerns and work with you to create a plan of action to help you manage your crisis, feel calmer and stay safe. The types of issues people contact Shout about include assault, abuse, bullying, relationship challenges, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

Visit Shout's website
Text the word "Shout" to 85258

This free suicide prevention app includes details of crisis support in Warrington, as well as national support services.

The Stay Alive app is for anyone who feels suicidal. It's also for people who are concerned about someone else’s suicidal thoughts. The app includes:

• a safety plan
• reasons for living (you can add your own personal reasons)
• a life box where you can store photos and memories that are important to you
• strategies for staying safe
• tips on how to stay grounded, when you're feeling overwhelmed
• a wellness plan
• details of local and national support services

You can download the Stay Alive app free from the App Store or Google Play. More details about the app can be found on the Grassroots Suicide Prevention website.

Mind’s website has information booklets and fact sheets on different aspects of mental health, many include suggestions for self-help. The booklets can be read online or bought from the site, many can also be downloaded free. Mind's Infoline provides information on a wide range of topics including different mental health problems, where to get help locally and the types of support and treatment available.

Visit Mind's website

This site has information and advice about mental health and how you can look after your mental wellbeing, or find support. It’s aimed both at people who are concerned about their own mental health and at people who are worried about someone else’s mental health.

The site includes an interactive tool Your Mind Plan, which will suggest simple actions you could take to improve your mental health. The advice the tool gives might include things such as:

• borrowing self-help books from your local library
• starting a new activity or course
  
• contacting the local talking therapy service 
  

To help you follow through the suggestions in your action plan, you can find information about activities and services in Warrington, in the following ways:

To find details of local mental health services, look under some of the drop down headings below. Alternatively if someone needs help right now click "I need urgent help" above.

My Life Warrington: has detals about a broad range of local activities and services, which could help support your mental health and wellbeing. The areas the site covers include: things to do, housing, support for carers, health and wellbeing, education and work, transport, child care, support in your home and financial and legal help.

Visit Every Mind Matters' website

This site has a wide range of free fact sheets on different mental health conditions.

Visit Rethink's website

This website has clear, non-medical information aimed at the general public. Many different aspects of mental health, mental health problems and available treatments are covered. The information can be downloaded free.

Visit the RCPsych's website

The organisation supports older people (50+) to live healthily and independently. The range of support offered by Age UK Mid Mersey includes information and advice, a befriending service, social activities, and a counselling service. An information and advice drop in service is now offered from the Warrington office in Sankey Street.

Warrington office Tel. 01925 244 645 (10.00am-3.00pm Monday, answerphone at all other times)
Email enquiries@aukmm.org.uk
Visit Age UK Mid Mersey's website

Visit Age UK's mental wellbeing webpages

This charity provides free information and advice to older people and their families. The areas covered include care and support, money and benefits and health and mobility. Independent Age also offers a free phone call and visiting service, to help reduce loneliness.

On the website you'll find a wide range of advice guides and fact sheets, which can be downloaded free. A number of these relate to mental health and wellbeing including:

• Coping with Bereavement
• If You're Feeling Lonely
• How to Stay Socially Connected
• Dealing with Depression
• Living with Depression

Visit Independent Age's website

LifeTime is a network for people in Warrington who are over 50. It offers age-relevant advice, training and social events, as well as putting people in touch with health information and support. LifeTime is based in The Gateway, Sankey Street, Warrington.

For more information contact LifeTime on 01925 246824 or mail@lifetimegateway.org.uk.

Visit LifeTime's website

This site has information about the range of advice, support and activities available in Warrington. Areas covered include childcare, things to do, money advice, getting around, health and wellbeing, housing needs, education and work, care and support, Count Me In and Ask Ollie. 

Count Me In is a campaign which encourages us all to be active citizens and to help make Warrington a better place for everyone who lives, works, visits or does business in the Borough. 

Ask Ollie, also known as “The Local Offer”, is Warrington's online directory of services and support for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Visit the website of My Life Warrington

This team is the first point of contact in Warrington Borough Council for Adult Social Care services. The team works with people over the age of 18 who have care and support needs. (This might include the need for things such as home care workers, equipment, or respite breaks).

When someone contacts the Team a social care assessment will be carried out using the Care Act (2014) eligibility criteria. This is to identify whether the individual has eligible needs. If they do, then the team will work with the individual to identify how their needs can best be met. If an individual’s needs don’t meet the Care Act eligibility criteria, then the team will signpost the person to community support services.

The First Response Team also deals with issues relating to adult safeguarding In Warrington.

If you’re not able to contact the First Response Team yourself, then someone else can make contact on your behalf, as long as you’ve given them your permission. To help make sure that you get the right support, the First Response Team will pass your details on to other teams if necessary.

Visit the First Response Team’s webpage

The WAND website aims to help local people find the advice they need. It’s straightforward to use and has sections on where people in Warrington can get advice about many different issues including: housing, debt and money, consumer issues, benefits, employment, health, discrimination, education and relationships. The WAND site was set up by a partnership of organisations in Warrington, led by Warrington CAB.

Visit WAND's website

The Warrington Wellbeing Team helps people get the information, advice and practical support they need to improve their health and wellbeing. The Team can offer free one to one support, to help people manage things like loneliness, money worries, health problems and reducing smoking. Some information and advice is provided by the Team members themselves, but when specialist advice is needed Wellbeing staff will refer people onto the appropriate service. 

For more information visit the webpage below, or drop into the Warrington Wellbeing office (at the Gateway on Sankey Street, opposite the town hall and the golden gates).

Visit Warrington Wellbeing's webpage

This site provides easy to read information on a range of different mental and physical health problems. It also has information and practical ideas to help you look after yourself.

Visit the NHS website

This site includes clear information leaflets on both physical and mental health conditions. It also has details of support groups.

Visit Patient UK website

WHiA is an advisory service for older, disabled or vulnerable people and for families on low incomes who own their homes or who live in private rented accommodation and who wish to repair, improve or adapt their homes. Some of WHiA’s services are free; some home improvement work may be eligible for grant funding; and for some services there’s a charge, this is explained to individuals when they contact WHiA.

WHiA also runs Warrington Healthy Homes, a home visiting service, which provides advice and practical support to help people over 60 and younger vulnerable people, to stay safe and well in their homes. The service can help with issues such as: home security, repairs and home improvements, home adaptations to improve mobility, a handyman service, advice on funding and benefits.

Visit WHiA’s website

This site, run by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, enables you to locate therapists in your local area. The site also covers: what therapy is; what therapists should do; different types of therapy; the cost of therapy; and questions it’s useful to ask before you choose a therapist.

Visit the It's Good to Talk website

If you’re looking for talking therapy, or counselling in Warrington, you might want to ask your GP whether you could be referred for free therapy via the NHS. You might also like to visit the sites listed below, these organisations all offer free, or low cost counselling or talking therapy in Warrington.

Age UK Mid-Mersey
Pathway Community Counselling
St Joseph’s Family Centre  
Talking Matters Warrington (Previously known as Warrington Primary Care Psychological Service)

Making Space offers a range of free, computerised cognitive behaviour therapy (cCBT) programmes. The programmes are confidential and you can refer yourself. For you to get the most out of the programmes, basic computer skills are desirable. You need to be registered with a GP in Warrington to use this service.

cCBT can be an effective treatment for mild to moderate conditions such as low mood, worry, panic, agoraphobia, sleep problems and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The computerised programmes aim to help people recognise and challenge negative thinking and behaviour within themselves, and develop coping skills. Each person receives four to nine, weekly treatment sessions with one to one support. It's also possible to work through these programmes at home with weekly telephone support sessions.

Visit Making Space's website

This website provides clear information for older people and their families. The site covers mental wellbeing; concerns older people might have; and mental health problems that can affect older people. 

Visit MindEd for Families' website

This trust provides treatment, support and guidance for people in Warrington affected by mental health problems or learning disabilities. To receive most of the services you need to be referred in by your GP, or another health professional. The website explains the range of services and support available; gives details about mental health problems; has information on how to look after your mental health; and explains how service users and carers can get more involved.

Visit the website of NW Boroughs Trust

This Orford based service offers counselling for a wide range of different issues. After an initial assessment you may be offered 6 weekly sessions of 50 minutes.

Visit Pathway's website

This scheme encourages people to read recommended self-help books for issues such as depression, anxiety and sleep problems. All the books are endorsed by health care professionals and can be borrowed free from your local LiveWire Library. GPs and other health professionals can recommend the self-help books as part of your treatment. For details about the Warrington Books on Prescription Scheme and to see the range of recommended books visit the LiveWire Libraries page. For more information about the national scheme visit the Reading Well webpages. 

If you like reading you might also be interested in the Read to Relax groups in Warrington and the Reading Agency's Mood-boosting books. Click here for the Mood-Boosting books' webpage. Click here for the Mood-Boosting book list chosen by older people.

These free weekly reading groups aim to improve wellbeing and reduce isolation. The Read to Relax groups bring people together to read, have a cup of tea and a chat. Group members are read to, so they can just sit back and listen. There are currently four Read to Relax Groups running in LiveWire's libraries:

Visit the Read to Relax webpage

Creative Remedies also offers a Read to Relax Group.

If you like reading you might also be interested in the Reading Agency's Mood-Boosting books. Click here for the Mood-Boosting books' webpage. Click here for the Mood-Boosting book list chosen by older people.

Samaritans offers a safe place for you to talk, at any time, day or night, about whatever is getting to you. You don’t have to be suicidal to get in touch with Samaritans. You can call, email, write, or visit Samaritans face-to-face.

116 123 this number is free to call
jo@samaritans.org
Visit Samaritans' website

The Silver Line is a free confidential helpline, which provides information, friendship and advice to older people. It's open 24 hours a day, every day, tel. 0800 4 70 80 90

Visit the Silver Line's website 

This Warrington based charity provides a range of support services including: counselling for children (from 6 years of age) and for adults; family contact services (so children of separated families can enjoy contact with their parents); and provision of food, furniture, bedding and essential household items for people and families in crisis. Short courses on parenting and anger management are also offered.

Visit St Joseph's website

This service offers a range of talking treatments to people experiencing issues such as stress, low mood, panic, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The treatments include disorder specific workshops, guided self-help and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). To use the service people need to be aged 16 or over and registered with a GP in Warrington. People can be referred into the service by a GP, or can refer themselves by ringing 01925 401720, using the form on the website, or attending the drop-in, which is every Monday, 1.00pm to 4.00pm, at 51 Bewsey Street, Warrington.  

Visit Talking Matters' website

WBC provides a range of support for people with mental health problems. This includes the following groups and courses, which are all for people aged 18 or over:

Star Support Service
Star Support is a structured one-to-one support package to help people with mental health problems achieve small goals that will make a big difference to their lives. The support is tailored to individuals' needs and can help build confidence, reduce anxiety and enable people to access mainstream community activities.

To receive the Star Support Service you need to be referred by one of the following services:

• North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: inpatient wards at Hollins Park Hospital, the Assessment Team, Home Treatment Team, Early Intervention Team and Recovery Team can all refer into Star Support. 
• Lea Court 
• The Psychiatric Liaison Team 
• Warrington and Halton NHS Foundation Trust’s Discharge Team
• Warrington Borough Council’s Neighbourhoods’ Complex Stream and First Response Team 
• CGL Pathways to Recovery 

Group Therapies

• Positive Thoughts: This seven week group therapy course is based on how our thoughts influence the way we feel; and ways of promoting more helpful thinking.
• Anxiety Management: These group sessions cover different ways to manage the pressures of life. The group therapies run over several weeks and are based in community venues. Both the Positive Thoughts and Anxiety Management groups are structured courses.
  
  All referrals for group therapies go through Warrington Wellbeing. You can contact Warrington Wellbeing and refer yourself, or you can contact the Mental Health Outreach Team (details are below) and they can contact Warrington Wellbeing and refer you into group therapies. 

Visit Warrington Wellbeing's webpage

For more details about Group Therapies contact Donna Holman, Mental Health Outreach Team:
Tel. 01925 444233
Email dholman@warrington.gov.uk

Creative Remedies
This arts and wellbeing service for Warrington residents aged 18 and over, offers a range of courses to improve health and wellbeing. Courses include drama, drawing, media, music, sports, painting, photography, Read to Relax and walking groups. You can refer yourself, by just turning up, or a health or social care worker can refer you.

Visit Creative Remedies' webpage

This service provides support to people over 18 who experience mental health problems. The range of support includes advice, education, skills development, work experience, peer support and a range of activities. One-to-one support is offered to everyone who uses the service, at the centre and in the community. The support can cover the self-management of mental health problems, personal development, goal setting and help to access other agencies. 

Visit Making Space's website

This national charity provides information and support to people experiencing anxiety. The helpline is staffed by volunteers with personal experience of anxiety. Areas covered on the site include what anxiety is, treatments and self-help. For a membership fee people can access additional services such as reduced cost therapies and specialist email and phone support.

Visit Anxiety UK's website

Change, Grow, Live offers confidential information, advice and support to anyone affected by drug or alcohol use. The service can provide assessment, referral and a range of different medical and psychological treatments.

 Visit CGL's webpage

This is a Warrington based service to help people cope with a family member's drug or alcohol misuse. The support Footsteps can offer includes information, telephone help, drop–in sessions, one to one appointments, home visits, courses for family members and a parent support group.

Footsteps also offers up to eight sessions of counselling to anyone over the age of 11 who has a family member with a drug or alcohol issue; or who has been bereaved through drug or alcohol misuse.

Visit Footsteps website

The HVN is a collection of support groups across the country for people who hear voices, see visions or have other unusual perceptions. The groups provide an opportunity for people with shared experiences to come together, support each other and feel valued and understood.

Visit the Hearing Voices Network's website

This charity offers information, advice and support to anyone who is concerned about a parent's drinking. There are different pages for children, young people and other people who are concerned. The charity runs a free, confidential helpline and also offers support via email.

Visit NACA's website  

This site has a range of clear, easy to read, self-help booklets that are based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The booklets cover different aspects of mental wellbeing and mental health problems; they are available in a variety of formats; and can be downloaded free. There is also a free app for iPhone, iPad and Android, which allows you to access the full range of self-help booklets.

Visit NTW's self-help booklet webpage

This charity offers support to young people who are having thoughts of suicide and to anyone worried about a young person who may be at risk of suicide. Callers don’t have to give their name, or any personal details. All calls are confidential, but if an advisor is concerned about a caller's safety then PAPYRUS may contact emergency services to ensure they don’t come to harm.

Visit PAPYRUS' website

This UK charity runs a network of peer support groups, for people 18 and over, who are experiencing depression. The groups are facilitated by volunteers. The Warrington group meets on Mondays, 7.00pm-8.30pm at the Gateway, 89 Sankey Street. You don’t need to register in advance, or to make an appointment, you can just turn up on the night.

Visit PeerTalk’s website 

This charity provides information, advice and support to people who have been affected by rape or sexual abuse. The services offered in Warrington include counselling, a monthly survivors’ support group, advice and support if you choose to report the crime to the police, as well as emergency contraception and sexual health information. You can refer yourself to the Centre either by phoning, or through the website's contact page.

Tel. Warrington 01925 221546
Visit RSASC's website

This charity provides counselling focussing on a range of issues including: relationship counselling, sex therapy, family counselling and young people’s counselling. In addition to this Relate offers workshops and courses for members of the public, professionals and businesses. You can also talk for free to counsellors on Relate's national site using live chat.

Visit Relate Cheshire and Merseyside’s website

The Advocacy Hub, which is based in The Gateway on Sankey Street, offers free, confidential, independent advocacy to any Warrington resident over the age of 18 and to disabled young people over the age of 16.

Advocacy services support people by making sure they have their voice heard on issues that are important to them. The Advocacy Hub brings together a range of advocacy services, to make it easier for people to get the advocacy support which is right for them.

Visit Speak Up Advocacy Hub's webpage

The network provides free, practical and emotional support to anyone in the UK who’s been affected by a terrorist incident, either at home or overseas. This includes people who've sustained injuries, witnesses and people who’ve lost a loved one.

Support is available via phone, email, social media and in person. The support offered includes tailored assistance plans; supportive group activities; remembrance events; and linking people with other services, such as Victim Support. The network is part of the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace.

Visit SAN’s website 

WDP offers free information and advice to disabled people, their families and carers about services and equipment that can help with independence and improve quality of life.

Visit WDP's website

This service provides free confidential information and support to anyone living in Warrington who is experiencing domestic violence. The service can explain to people what their options are; can help people to keep safe; and can make referrals to other support agencies.

Visit the Domestic Violence and Abuse Service's website 

Call the service above on 01925 243359 Monday to Friday 9.00am-5.00pm
(Urgent messages are picked up and responded to outside these hours.)

Or call Refuge and Women’s Aid's National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
This is a 24-Hour freephone number.

The service offers information and support to carers, as well as social events, training opportunities and stress management. Wired also produces a quarterly newsletter and runs a drop-in service for carers.

Visit Warrington Carers' Centre website

WWA provides support and safe, temporary accommodation for women and children who leave home because of domestic violence. The website includes useful phone numbers and information about help available if you're experiencing domestic abuse.

Visit WWA's website

This free app has been designed by, and for, people living with dementia and their carers. The app enables people to explore everyday objects from the past and to share memories together. The objects the app covers are linked to a number of themes including school, work, leisure and maritime. The app is available for both iOS and android devices, you can find more details about the app and how to download it on the House of Memories website.

House of Memories is a dementia awareness programme, run by National Museums Liverpool. The programme offers training, resources, and museum-based activities to both professional carers and to family and friends. The aim is to help people share memories; improve communication and focus on the person living with dementia, rather than the condition. The workshops for family members and friends are free.

Visit the House of Memories website

This site lists apps, which may help people manage, or improve their health. It includes a section on mental health apps. The NHS assesses the apps to make sure that only apps that are safe and secure are included in the digital library. The assessment covers how effective the app is, how easy it is to use, clinical safety and data protection. Many of the apps listed are free, though there's a charge for some. 

Visit the NHS Apps Library

This site has a range of clear, easy to read, self-help booklets which are based on cognitive behvaioural therapy (CBT). The booklets cover different aspects of mental wellbeing and mental health problems; they are available in a variety of formats; and can be downloaded free. There is also a free app for iPhone, iPad and Android, which allows you to access the full range of self-help booklets. For more details about the app click the link below and then click the “more options” tab at the top of the page. The information about the app is the first link under the “more options” heading.

Visit Northumberland NHS Trust's website

This organisation helps people find the best apps to improve their health. ORCHA reviews and rates health, wellbeing, fitness and medical apps against certain standards. The review process involves checking each apps' performance in relation to data and security, clinical assurance and user experience. A number of the apps on ORCHA's site relate to mental health and wellbeing, or suicide prevention. The website's design means that you can easily search for apps by topic, platform and cost.

Visit ORCHA's app finder pages

This free suicide prevention app includes details of crisis support across Cheshire and Merseyside, in addition to national services.

The Stay Alive app is for anyone who fees suicidal. It's also designed to be useful to anyone concerned about someone else’s suicidal thoughts. The app includes:

• a safety plan
• reasons for living (which can be customised)
• a life box where people can store photos and memories that are important to them
• strategies for staying safe
• tips on how people can stay grounded, when they're feeling overwhelmed
• the option to create an interactive wellness plan
• details of local and national support services

You can download the Stay Alive app free from the App Store or Google Play. More details about the app can be found on the Grassroots Suicide Prevention website.

Warrington Borough Council's Budget Boosting Clubs provide free advice and support to help local people find jobs and increase their income. Both group and one to one support is offered. The clubs run every week and are open to anyone in Warrington aged 18 or over, who is looking for work, or who needs to boost their income. Individuals and families are welcome. Details of the days, times and locations of the Budget Boosting Clubs are on the webpage below.

Visit the Budget Boosting Club’s webpage

This is a local charity providing free, confidential and impartial advice on a wide range of issues including money and debt advice. The service is quality marked and is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority for advice provision. A team of specialist advisors cover all aspects of money and debt advice. They are part of the Greater Merseyside Money Advice Partnership funded by The Money Advice Service. Details of locations and opening times are on the website below. Immediate electronic advice can be accessed through the website.

Visit the website of Citizens Advice Warrington

This national charity works with local churches to provide free support to anyone who is in debt. In Warrington the following support is available:

The CAP Money Course: a free course to help you manage your money. You can find out when courses are running in Warrington by using the postcode search on the website.

CAP Debt Help: a debt coach will visit you at home, discuss your debts with you and help you find practical solutions. To book an appointment with Debt Help, or to find out more call the New Enquiries Team on 0800 328 0006. This number is free to ring from mobiles and landlines in the UK.

Visit CAP’s website

This charity provides free, confidential debt advice online and over the phone. Information on the website covers issues such as dealing with debt; and working out your budget. Sample letters for creditors; and a range of fact sheets and guides on different aspects of debt and debt management are also available to download free from the site.

Visit the National Debtline’s website

The Money Advice Service was set up by the government to provide free, impartial money advice to the general public. The Service offers advice to help people improve their finances; tools to help people keep track of their spending; and support both over the phone and online.

One section of the Money Advice Service’s website has details of where to get free debt advice. All of these services are confidential and hold a standard accredited by the Money Advice Service. Another page of the site explains what financial abuse is (e.g. your partner controlling your money, or running up debts in your name). This section of the site also lists places you can go for advice and help if you are experiencing financial abuse.

Visit the Money Advice Service’s website

This national charity offers free debt advice online and over the phone. The website also has advice and guidance to help people keep on top of their finances. Debt Remedy is Step Change’s free online debt advice tool. Through Debt Remedy you can get anonymous online debt advice, including a personal action plan, in 20 minutes.

Step Changes’ pages on debt-related stress (developed in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation) suggest practical things you can do to tackle debt and stress at the same time.

Visit Step Change's website

This website offers free, impartial, practical information and advice. Its aim is to support people with mental health problems who are struggling with their money, as well as people whose financial problems are affecting their mental health. The site also has information and support for friends and family, carers and professionals. Areas covered include advice in plain English, free financial tools, sample letters, real life stories and where to get further information and advice.

Visit the Mental Health and Money Advice UK website

The mental health charity Mind has several pages focusing on money, debt and mental health. These pages cover the relationship between money worries and mental health problems and give practical suggestions about how you can start to address these issues.

Visit Mind's money and mental health pages

The MoneySavingExpert.com website offers free information and suggestions to help you reduce your bills and save money. The site includes a wide range of tips, tools and guides to help you budget and find the best deals.

Free Mental Health and Debt Guide
MoneySavingExpert.com has developed a free booklet for people with mental health problems, their family and friends. The booklet was written in partnership with the leading mental health and debt charities Mind, Rethink and Christians Against Poverty. The areas the booklet covers include how to handle debts when you’re unwell, how to work with banks, free debt counselling, tips for people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or depression; and whether to declare a mental health diagnosis. The booklet can be downloaded in PDF format here.

Visit MoneySavingExpert.com

The charity Relate aims to help people get the most out of their relationships. As money is one of the main causes of arguments between couples the site offers information and advice on talking to your partner about money.

Visit Relate's money and relationship page

This site has a section on money, benefits and employment, written especially for people with mental health problems. The information covers a wide range of issues including options for dealing with debt; cancelling contracts; managing money when going into hospital; and welfare benefits and mental health problems.

Visit Rethink’s money, benefits and employment pages

This website has clear, non-medical information aimed at the general public. The information provided includes a free, downloadable leaflet for people with mental health problems who owe money, or who are in debt; and for people whose mental health has been affected by debt.

Visit the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ website

The Warrington Foodbank can provide nutritional food for people in emergencies. To receive food from the foodbank you’ll need a voucher. Vouchers are provided by a number of referral agencies such as CABx, health visitors and Children’s Centres. To find out which local organisations can provide vouchers, phone the food bank on the number below.

When you visit a referral agency they will ask you for some details of your situation, so they can offer you practical advice; and so they can give you the number of foodbank vouchers which is right for you, or your family. Once you have a foodbank voucher, you can exchange it for a minimum of three days emergency food at your nearest foodbank centre. The locations and opening times for Warrington's foodbank centres are listed on the website below.

Call 07583 080 521
Visit Warrington Foodbank’s website

This service is for people bereaved or affected by suicide. Amparo workers meet with bereaved people to identify what support they might need, then they help people to access local support services. Amparo operates in Warrington and across most of Cheshire and Merseyside.

People can contact Amparo by calling 0330 088 9255, or emailing amparo.service@listening-ear.co.uk.
Visit Amparo's webpage

This organisation aims to provide information guidance and support to adults supporting children and young people who've been bereaved. There are sections on the website for service providers, parents and carers, and bereaved young people.

Visit the Childhood Bereavement Network's website

This charity offers a confidential listening service and advice, guidance and information when a baby or child dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement. The site has different pages for families, young people, professionals and schools.

Visit Child Bereavement UK's website 

This charity provides support to families bereaved by the death of a child. The support is offered via a helpline, online forums, gatherings and events, by people who have themselves been affected by the death of a child.

Visit Compassionate Friends' website

The charity offers confidential support to people affected by bereavement and helps them to understand their loss and cope with their grief. The service runs a telephone helpline and offers information and advice.

Visit Cruse Bereavement Care's website

This short (four page) guide is written for members of the public. It briefly explains what to expect from the Coroner's Inquest. Download a PDF of the short guide.

This easy to read information booklet was produced by and for people who've been bereaved by suicide. The booklet covers a range of areas including inquests and investigations, bereavement and how friends and colleagues can help. You can order a free hard copy of Help is at Hand by ringing 0300 123 1002, or you can download a PDF of the booklet.

This charity provides free information and advice to older people and their families. The website has a wide range of advice guides and fact sheets, which can be downloaded free. These include an advice guide on bereavement, which covers how you might be feeling and where to find support. You can download the "Coping with Bereavement" advice guide as a PDF here. Independent Age also offers a free phone call and visiting service, to help reduce loneliness.

Visit Independent Age's website

This website offers information and support to people who have been bereaved, or affected, by suicide. The site covers what you may feel; what may be happening; looking after yourself; helping someone who's been bereaved and services that can offer support.

Visit the Support After Suicide Partnership website

This national self-help organisation offers confidential support to people over 18, who have been bereaved by suicide. Support is provided by volunteers through the helpline, by email and through local groups.

Visit SOBS' website

This charity offers bereaved people the opportunity to talk to trained volunteers about their experience of loss. Volunteers visit people in their own homes and offer support through the grieving process. WBS also provides weekly drop-in support at Holy Trinity Church, Sankey Street, Warrington, where a bereavement support volunteer is present every Saturday between 10.30am and 12.00pm, except bank holiday weekends.

Visit WBS' website

Winston's Wish is a UK charity that supports bereaved children, young people and their families. Support is offered via a helpline and through group work. The website site includes a section on “bereavement by suicide". The publication “Beyond the Rough Rock, Supporting a Child who has been Bereaved through Suicide” can be bought from the site.

Visit the website of Winston's Wish

The Alzheimer’s Society provides emotional support, information, advice and guidance to people who are living with dementia and to their carers. The search tool on the Alzheimer’s Society's website enables you to see details of the range of support, in Warrington.

The local Dementia Café offers people living with dementia and their carers the opportunity to meet others in an informal and supportive environment. The Dementia Café takes place once a month at The Gateway, 85-101 Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1SR.

Email the Warrington branch of the Alzheimer’s Society warrington@alzheimers.org.uk
Visit the website of the national Alzheimer's Society

The dementia café provides the opportunity for people with dementia and their carers to socialise in a safe, comfortable and supportive environment. The café runs every Friday between 9.30am and 11.30am at St Werburgh’s Community Hub, Boswell Avenue, Warrington WA4 6DQ.

For more information please contact Warrington Borough Council's South Area Team on 01925 443187 or 01925 442565.

House of Memories is a dementia awareness programme, run by National Museums Liverpool. The programme offers training, resources, and museum-based activities to both professional carers and to family and friends. The aim is to help people share memories; improve communication and focus on the person living with dementia, rather than the condition. The workshops for family members and friends are free.

My House of Memories app
This free app has been designed by, and for, people living with dementia and their carers. The app enables people to explore everyday objects from the past and to share memories together. The objects the app covers are linked to a number of themes including school, work, leisure and maritime. The app is available for both iOS and android devices, you can find more details about the app and how to download it on the House of Memories website.

Visit the House of Memories website

The service offers assessment, diagnosis, information and support to help older people understand and cope with changes in their memory. If you feel the service might benefit you or someone you care about, then contact your GP to ask about a referral. For more details about the range of support offered contact the Service directly on 01925 664041.

Visit North West Borough's website

The website has information to help people understand this form of dementia.

Visit the Lewy Body Society's website

The cafe is a welcoming and relaxing environment for people to take part in social activities, make new friends and enjoy tea, coffee and cake. The café is open to everyone, people living with dementia, those caring for them, friends and family, and people who are interested to find out more. The Warrington Community Memory Café is held in on the last Friday of every month from 11.00am until 1.00pm at The Old School Dining Room, Fairfield and Howley Community Centre, Warrington, WA1 3AJ.

Visit the Community Memory Cafés' webpage

This is a national initiative which brings together 25 books on dementia. The collection was chosen by healthcare experts, people with dementia and carers’ groups. The books are for people with dementia, their carers, friends, family and anyone who wants to find out more. Each of the LiveWire Libraries has a collection of the books, which can be borrowed free. Health professionals can also prescribe books from the list to their patients.

Visit the Reading Well website

The service offers information and support to carers, as well as social events, training opportunities and stress management. Wired also produces a quarterly newsletter and runs a drop-in service for carers.

Visit Warrington Carers' Centre website

The Age UK website has a number of pages with information and advice for older LGBT people. The pages cover:

• meeting new people
• marriage and civil partnership
• financial rights as a same sex couple
• looking after your health
• options if you need care
• discrimination and the law
• planning for the future

Visit Age UK's website

This is a national self-help organisation run by and for the transgender community. The Beaumont Society offers support to people who identify as transgender, and to their partners and families. The Society can also provide advice and training on transgender issues.

Visit the Beaumont Society’s website

This is an independent community-led charity which provides information and support to lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people who have experienced hate crime, sexual violence or domestic abuse. The charity also offers support to LGBT+ people who have had problems with the police or who have questions about the criminal justice system. Galop runs the national LGBT domestic abuse helpline, see the entry below.

Visit Galop’s website

For more information about what hate crime is and how to report hate crime in Warrington, click on the orange drop down heading “Stigma, discrimination and mental health problems” below.

The LGBT Foundation offers advice, support and information to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or trans. Services include a national helpline and free talking therapies for LGBT people across the North West. The Foundation has produced this PDF guide on mental health and wellbeing for LGBT people.  The website also has a page on mental health for lesbian, bi-sexual and trans women. 

Visit the LGBT Foundation’s website

This Facebook page, run by the NHS for the LGBT community in Warrington, aims to cover a range of issues such as events, services and health promotion. One of the main focuses is sexual health. You can also find information about sexual health services for LGBT people in Warrington on Bridgewater's Sexual Health site.

Visit LGBT Pulse’s Facebook page

Visit the Bridgewater Sexual Health website

The Mardi Gras Foundation is a gay straight alliance, which aims to promote inclusion, equality and diversity. The Foundation offers support to the LGBT community through groups, a befriending scheme and counselling. Training for schools, colleges and business is also available on issues such as terminology, diversity, hate crime and homophobic language.

Visit the Mardi Gras Foundation’s website

Mermaids supports children and young people (up to the age of 19) who are experiencing gender identity issues. Support is also available to families and professionals involved in the care of children and young people. The organisation provides support through a helpline, email, an online parents' forum and a separate teens’ forum.

Visit Mermaids website

Mind's website has pages on LGBTQ mental health and information booklets on many different aspects of mental health. All of the booklets can be read online, some can be downloaded free, others can be bought from the site.

Mindline Trans+ is a confidential mental health helpline for people who identify as trans or non-binary, their families and friends. The helpline is staffed by trans volunteers who will listen, provide support and signpost callers to other services that can help. Mindline Trans+ is open Monday and Friday, 8.00pm to midnight.

Call Mindline Trans+ 0300 330 5468

Visit Mind’s website

Mind Out is a mental health service run by and for lesbians, gay men, bisexual, trans and queer people. Mind Out offers advice and information over the phone, by email or via online chat.

Visit Mind Out’s website

This helpline offers emotional and practical support to LGBT people experiencing domestic abuse. The webpage covers how to tell if you’re experiencing domestic abuse and what to do if you are. Domestic abuse can take many forms, including psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse.

Visit the webpage of the domestic abuse helpline

The NHS website has a range of health information for LGBT people. Links to the main pages which cover LGBT people's health are listed below:

• How to find an NHS gender identity clinic
  
• Gender dysphoria
• Mental health issues if you’re gay, lesbian or bisexual

Rethink's site has information about a wide range of issues including mental health problems, treatments and support available. Rethink's information sheets (which can be downloaded free) include a PDF fact sheet on LGBT mental health.

Visit Rethink’s website

SOBS offers peer support to people over 18, who have been bereaved by suicide. There's a page specifically about the email support that SOBS can provide when LGBTQ people have been bereaved by suicide; or when someone who is LGBTQ has died by suicide. The charity's focus is on self-help.

<a href="http://uk-sobs.org.uk/we-can-help/lgbtq-support/" target%3

CALM is for men who are down, or in crisis. CALM offers free confidential support to men, through a helpline and webchat. Support is available from 5pm to midnight every day.

Visit CALM’s website

Offload is a ten-week mental fitness programme for men (aged 18+), who live in Warrington. The programme enables men to learn from current and past professional rugby players, how to cope with stress and pressure and how to develop mental fitness. The sessions also include a range of fun activities, such as stadium tours, a chance to meet players and team competitions.

The aim of the programme is to help local men build resilience and improve their mental wellbeing, so they are able to manage difficult times and everyday challenges more easily.

For more information about Offload in Warrington contact James Howes on jameshowes@wolvesfoundation.com

Visit the Offload pages on Rugby League Cares' website

This website has clear, non-medical information on many different aspects of mental health and mental health problems. One of the pages, focuses on depression and men.

Visit the depression and men webpage

This charity provides confidential emotional support to men and young people (aged 13 and over) who have been sexually abused at any point in their lives. Support is offered via the phone and online chat. SurvivorsUK also offers information and support to families and carers of men and young people, who have been sexually abused.

Visit SurvivorsUK's website

This is a national mental health campaign for men, run by the anti-stigma project Time to Change. The aim of the campaign is to encourage men to look out for their mates; and to be more supportive of people experiencing mental health problems.

In Your Corner campaign resources are available on loan to organisations in Warrington. The resources include a pull up banner and a stool. The stool is the type used by a corner man in a boxing ring, so links to the campaign message that at times we all need a mate in our corner to support us. You can find more details of the Warrington In Your Corner campaign and resources here.

This international charity aims to help men live happier, healthier, longer lives. The charity focuses on reducing the prevalence of prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health problems and male suicides. The site has pages on men's mental health and suicide prevention.

Visit Movember’s mental health webpage

This charity uses the power of sport to promote positive mental health to men and women. State of Mind Sport delivers educational sessions to raise awareness of mental health, to challenge stigma and to prevent suicide. The charity has close links with Rugby League and encourages players, coaches and fans to talk openly about mental health problems and to ask for help or support when they need it. 

Visit State of Mind Sport's website

The website of the Men's Health Forum has PDFs of a men’s mental health leaflet and card, both of which you can download free.

Men’s leaflet
This explains how men can look out for their friends and support them with their mental health.

Men’s top tip card: Is your mate off his game?
This card aims to help men talk to their friends about mental health.

Visit the Men's Health Forum website

The Hub provides advice, guidance and peer support to people in Cheshire who have s

Healthwatch Warrington is Warrington’s independent consumer champion that makes sure the views and experiences of local people are heard by those who run, plan and regulate local health and social care services.

The role of Healthwatch Warrington includes:

• representing the local community by influencing and challenging how health and social care services are provided in Warrington
• examining the quality of local health and social care services
• providing information and advice on people’s rights and choices in relation to health and social care services
• influencing decisions about planning and buying local health and social care services 
• signposting people to appropriate complaints, or advocacy services

When you give feedback to Healthwatch Warrington about local services, your feedback will be summarized, made anonymous and shared with services, regulators and commissioners. This helps the people running local services to understand what they’re doing well and what they might need to change. It also means that you and other people who use local services can play an important role in helping services to develop and improve.

On the Healthwatch Warrington website you can give feedback about a local health or social care service, or write a review of a service. Organisations providing services can respond to your online comments and explain how they plan to make changes or improvements to their service. You can also submit feedback about services through Healthwatch’s Facebook page, by using a freepost comment card, or by phone. Another way you can connect with Healthwatch is on Twitter.

Call 01925 246 893
Email contact@healthwatchwarrington.co.uk
Visit Healthwatch Warrington’s website

Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICA)
Healthwatch Warrington can refer you to the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICA), for support with NHS complaints or concerns. The Healthwatch Warrington website has a page on how to make complaints, which explains the ICA service and its role.  You can call the ICA advice line on 0808 801 0389.

Call the Complaints Team on 01925 664004
Call PALS on 01925 664 450
Email complaints@nwbh.nhs.uk
Visit NWB website

Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group is the organisation that funds many of the health services for Warrington residents. If you have any queries about the healthcare you receive, or about a commissioning decision, then you can contact the CCG's Patient Experience Team.

Call 01925 843743
Email complaints.nhswarringtonccg@nhs.net
Visit Warrington CCG’s website

Making a complaint about a service commissioned by Warrington CCG
If you wish to make a complaint about any service commissioned by the CCG, please contact the health provider themselves through their PALS. You can find contact details for your local PALS on the download near the top of this section, or on the NHS Choices website. 

GPs, dentists and pharmacies
If you want to make a formal complaint about a GP, dentist or pharmacy you can contact NHS England:

Call 0300 311 22 33 
Email england.contactus@nhs.uk
Visit NHS England's website

Time to Change is a social movement which encourages us all to talk more openly about mental health. The aim of the movement is to change negative attitudes and behaviours towards people experiencing mental health problems. The national Time to Change site has ideas and resources to help people, of all ages, get involved. Many of the resources are free to download.

Visit the Time to Change website

Warrington Time to Change Hub 

Warrington is working closely with Time to Change and has set up a local Time to Change Hub. The Hub recruits and supports volunteers with lived experience of mental health problems (Champions). The role of Time to Change Champions is to challenge stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems, through campaigns, events and activities across Warrington.

The local Hub is led by Warrington Speak Up, in partnership with Warrington Borough Council.

Visit the webpage of Warrington's Time to Change Hub.

The Stamp Out Stigma campaign aims to put an end to stigma relating to mental health problems and learning disabilities. The campaign’s work focuses on a number of key areas: 

• Enabling people, with lived experience of mental health stigma, to share their stories.
• Myth-busting common misconceptions about mental health conditions every month.
• Helping schools to raise awareness of mental health and learning disability stigma.

On the “schools’ resources” page you can download lesson plans for primary schools and secondary schools.

Visit Stamp Out Stigma's webpages

Hate crime is the term used when someone is the target of crime or hostility, because of prejudice based on certain personal characteristics that they have. To put it simply, hate crime is when someone bullies you, hurts you or makes you feel bad, and their action is motivated by one of the personal characteristics below:

• disability (this would include mental health problems)
• gender identity
• race
• religion or faith
• sexual orientation

There are many different forms of hate crime. Hate crime can be against a person, or against their property. It can include:

• physical attacks
• vandalism
• harassment
• threats
• swearing
• abusive remarks
• bullying
• spitting
• insulting gestures
• being ignored

Hate crime can also take place online and on social media.

Mate Crime
Mate crime can be a form of hate crime. Mate crime is when someone pretends to be your friend, but then does things to take advantage of you or hurt you. In this context a “mate” might be a friend, a family member, a supporter, a paid member staff or someone in another role. Mate crime could involve someone asking you for money frequently, making you feel uncomfortable, or making you do things you don’t want to do.

Reporting hate crime
If you have experienced or witnessed a hate crime, then it's important to report it, as it may help prevent a hate crime happening to someone else.

There are a number of ways you can report a hate crime, by phone, in person or online:

• By phone: you can call the Police on 101 (for non-emergencies), or in an emergency on 999.
  
  
• In person: you can go to a local police station to report a hate crime, or to a local community reporting centre. Community reporting centres are organisations in Warrington whose staff have agreed to listen to people's experiences of hate crime and pass the information on to the police. You can report a hate crime at these Centres anonymously if you wish.
  
  
• Online: via the True Vision website
  This site explains the different ways in which you can report hate crimes, including online reporting. It also has links to organisations that can offer support and advice to anyone who's experienced a hate crime.

The impact of hate crime
Hate crimes can cause people significantly more psychological distress, than crimes which aren’t motivated by hate or prejudice. The violence and harassment, which can be part of hate crimes, often takes place over a long period of time. This can have negative physical and psychological effects on individuals and their families. People who have been subjected to hate crime may experience depression, anxiety, or anger as a result of what they have been through.

Getting support
It's important to let someone know if you're experiencing difficulties as a result of hate crime. Talk to your GP, a friend, a member of your family, or someone else you trust. Letting someone know how you're feeling is the first step to getting the help or support you need.

Cheshire CARES (Cope and Recover Enhanced Service)
This site was set up to provide advice and support to all victims of crime in Cheshire, including bereaved relatives and carers. There's a directory on the site listing a wide range of local and national services which can support victims of crime. The crime doesn’t have to be recent, or to have been reported to the police, for you to get support. You can find Warrington based services by using the search function on the site. 

Support services on Happy? OK? Sad?
You could also click the dropdown headings above to see the range of mental health support available to people in Warrington. You might want to start by looking under the general heading “Information about local and national services and support”.

If you can’t cope and need support urgently, then click on the orange dropdown heading “If you need help right now” above.