Working alongside voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations and in partnership with Sefton Council we have established a network of Warm Spaces across Sefton this winter. These include libraries, community centres, community hubs and other places offering a warm welcome and free to use for anyone struggling to heat their home.

To find your nearest Warm Space in Sefton click here.

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During Christmas and New Year, Sefton Council Adult Social Care will provide a reduced service. Council buildings will be closed to the general public from Friday 22nd December at 4pm until 9am Wednesday 3rd January 2024. Residents of Sefton can still access a range of information and transactions via the council website – sefton.gov.uk.

If you want to make a Safeguarding referral can do so by calling;

• Adult Social Care – 0151 934 4600
• Children’s Social Care – 0151 934 4600
• Emergency Duty Team (Out of Hours) – 0151 934 3555. Emergency Team will be available from 22nd December until 3rd January 2024 when normal services will resume. 
• Sefton Adult Social Care Professional Portal remains open for Referrals, Professionals can make Safeguarding Referrals here.

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If you require information or advice regarding Cost of Living Support you can visit Sefton Council’s online information page here

You can also click here to visit Sefton Council’s Sefton Support Hub, a digital One Stop Shop for residents to find help, advice and guidance, as well as financial and social support.

Services that will continue to operate include critical social care services for adults and children.

If you are experiencing a crisis or severe financial hardship and need emergency support with food, gas or electricity you may be eligible for help. You must live in Sefton, be aged 16 or over and you will be required to provide a contact telephone number so that support can be arranged. If you are eligible please call 0151 934 3663, between 10am until 12 noon on, December 29th and 30th. This is for emergencies only.

For anyone requiring an emergency source of heating, Sefton’s Affordable Warmth Team can be contacted on 0151 934 4088.

Support can also be accessed from the Family Wellbeing Centres in Sefton. There will be 3 operating across North, Central and South Sefton.

North Locality	Talbot Street Family Well Being Centre St Andrew Place PR8 1HR	01704 534975
Central Locality	Netherton Family Well Being Centre Magdalen Square, Bootle L30 5QH	0151 282 1405
South Locality	Marie Clark Family Well Being Centre Linacre Lane Bootle L20 5A	0151 330 5260

Winter Wellbeing

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, in partnership with Sefton Partnership have produced a handy online winter resource. The Winter Wellbeing page provides advice and signposting to various support services, including GPs & Out-of-hours health care services, as well as COVID-19 Boosters and Flu vaccinations.

www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/your-health/winter-wellbeing

Click here to search for information on other NHS services across Sefton.

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South Sefton Foodbank
St Leonards Youth & Community Centre
60 Peel Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 4RW
0151 933 1300  //  info@southsefton.foodbank.org.uk   //  website
Click here for South Sefton Foodbank Opening Times over Christmas 2022

Southport Foodbank
Compassion Acts
Compassion Acts, 197a Sussex Road, PR8 6DG
01704 264 505 // foodbank@compassionacts.uk // website

There is an emergency foodbank on Wednesday 27 December, 1pm-3pm at the Victoria Centre on Sussex Road. No foodbank voucher is required.

Usual services resume on Tuesday 2 January with St Peter’s Church, 10am-12pm.

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For people who become homeless during the Christmas period , Sefton Council’s Health and Social Care Emergency Duty Team will provide support across the Christmas period. 

The service is for emergencies only and can give you general advice and will be able to assist you to find temporary emergency accommodation.

You can contact the Out of Hours service on 0151 934 3555
Monday to Thursday after 5.00pm
Friday after 4.15pm and any time at weekends and public holidays

Light for Life will be open over the Christmas period and you can 01704 501256 for more on their rough sleeper services.

Light for Life Christmas Shelter: Shelter opening times from 9am – 2pm on Friday 22 to Tuesday 26 December 2023. For more information call 01704 501256.

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Click here to access Urgent Mental Health Support from Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, including details of 24/7 support and Crisis Cafes in Southport and Liverpool.

Many people will be feeling lonely, vulnerable and anxious this Christmas. Stay Connected to people around you and ask for help when needed. If you know of a friend, neighbour or family member that is going to be alone this Christmas, then check if they are ok and offer to help.

• If you are feeling lonely and need someone to talk to, you can contact the NHS Volunteer Responders, even on Christmas Day, to reach out for someone to talk to. Contact 0808 196 3646 – lines open 8am to 8pm every day throughout Christmas and New Year
• The Samaritans offer a friendly listening ear on the end of a phone 24/7. The service for the Liverpool City Region has been modernised and offers support and helps people with problems including isolation, loneliness, anxiety, depression, concerns of life situations or just the need to talk to someone. The phone line is open 24/7 on Freephone 116 123
• Mersey Care NHS Mental Health Support provides support for adults in a crisis. For urgent help 24/7 call 0151 296 7200 or Freephone 0800 145 6570
• Alder Hey NHS Crisis Care Line provides support for children, young people, parents/carers 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0151 293 3577 (or freephone 0808 196 3550) or email crisiscare@alderhey.nhs.uk

Sefton Crisis Café Christmas Opening Hours
Our Crisis Cafe’s in both Southport and Crosby are open over Christmas to provide out of hours mental health support.

Southport Crisis Cafe

• Friday 22nd December, 5-11pm
• Saturday 23th December, 5-11pm
• Sunday 24th December, 5-9pm
• Friday 29th December, 5-11pm
• Saturday 30th December, 5-11pm
• Sunday 31st January, 5-9pm

Crosby Crisis Cafe

• Friday 22nd December, 5-11pm (appointment only)
• Saturday 23rd December, 5-11pm
• Sunday 25th December, 5-9pm
• Friday 29th December, 5-11pm (appointment only)
• Saturday 30th December, 5-9pm
• Sunday 31st January, 5-9pm

We operate a drop-in for anyone struggling with their mental health, but we advise people to call us first on 0300 323 0197 to check availability. For more information please click here.

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The Sefton Domestic Abuse Service Helpline 0151 394 1400 will be available as follows over the Christmas period - Friday 22 December, Wednesday 27 December, Thursday 28 December, Friday 29 December and Tuesday 2 January between the hours of 8am and 6pm. 

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Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We're here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - call 116 123.

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Shout is a free and confidential service that offers help and advice to anyone in crisis, no matter what the cause. Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 any time, day or night, and get support. 

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 Free and confidence, 24 hours a day - Call 0808 2000 247.

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0800 138 1625 - Available 24 hours a day. If you experience or witness Hate Crime call Stop Hate UK helpline today to access free confidential support.