External Support

IN AN EMERGENCY
In an emergency please phone 999. If you cannot speak, dial 999 55. You will then be connected to police call handlers who will try and establish if there’s an emergency by asking questions that can be answered by tapping the handset, or with verbal responses.

PORTLAND BASED SUPPORT
Portland Carers Group –  Advice and support for those in. Call Jo Pearce: 01305 826479 or email: joannapearce@mypostoffice.co.uk.

Portland Community Fridge – Food sharing to reduce waste. Pick-up and donate. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 11am-12pm at The Portland Community Venue, Three Yards Close, Three Yards Close, DT5 1JN.

Portland Foodbank – Food and other essential supplies. Referral required (can be requested via ICA). Call: 07913 170495, email: manager@portlandfoodbank.co.uk or drop-in at St John’s Church Hall, Ventnor Road, Fortuneswell, DT5 1NW (Tuesday and Friday, 9.00-11.30am).

Royal Manor Health Centre – For the latest information regarding appointments and ongoing treatment, please visit the RMHC website. Alternatively, call: 01305 820422, where one of team will be able to assess your medical needs and how they can best be managed.

Portland Hospital – Minor Injuries Unit (MIU). Castle Road, Castletown, Portland, Dorset, DT5 1AX. Call: 01305 820341 or 860111. TEMPORARILY CLOSED.

Weymouth Community Hospital – UTC (Urgent Treatment Centre). 3 Melcombe Avenue, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7TB. Call: 01305 760022 (Monday to Sunday, 8am-8pm. Open bank holidays).

For more general information visit: Dorset Health Care.

NB: Minor Injury Units (MIUs) and Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) offer treatment and advice on illnesses and injuries that need attention urgently but are not critical or life threatening. Using an MIU or UTC instead of an A&E department also helps ensure A&E staff can concentrate on people with serious, life-threatening conditions and will most probably save you a longer wait for treatment.

If you are concerned about your symptoms but not sure what support you need, call: NHS 111 (or 999 for anything life threatening). NHS 111 can now make appointments for local MIUs.

OTHER SUPPORT
Please see below for a list of other organisations offering advice and support. 

NB: Unless otherwise stated calls / messages may carry a cost. See GOV.UK for more information regarding call charges. Numbers may also show up on your bills, so please check beforehand.

GENERAL…
Hub of Hope – A useful search facility for local support listings.

Dorset Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) – Free, independent and confidential advice and information across a wide range of subjects, including: 

  • Benefits entitlement and claims
  • Debt management and budgeting
  • Employment advice
  • Legal
  • Health.

Visit: Citizens Advice Central Dorset, call: 0800 144 8848 (Dorset Advice line – Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm) or email: advice-wey@centralca.org.uk.

CAB Dorset also run outreach sessions at The Portland Community Venue, Portland Foodbank, Portland Hospital and Portland Library – please call the Dorset Advice line for details. 

Alternatively, visit: Citizens Advice England or chat to a trained adviser online:

  • Debt problems – Help usually available between 9am-8pm Monday to Friday and between 9.30am-1pm Saturday
  • Any other kind of problems – Help usually available between 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday

Dorset Council – Advice and information across a range of subjects. Visit:

CARERS…
Carer Support Dorset – A wealth of information and support for anyone in a caring role, from helpful resources to advice and signposting. Visit: Carer Support Dorset, call: 0800 368 8349 (Monday-Thursday, 9.30am-4.30pm and Friday, 9.30-4.00pm. Closed bank holidays) or email: admin@carersupportdorset.co.uk.

The site also features details about the Dorset Carer’s Card, which gives carers access to discounts across Dorset including at cafes, shops, attractions and with professional services.

CHILDREN…
Childline – Help and advice for those aged 18 or under. Visit: Childline (operated by the NSPCC) or cal FREE on: 0800 1111 (Monday-Sunday, 24/7).

YOUNG PEOPLE…
The Mix – Essential support for under 25s – from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Visit: The Mix, call FREE on: 0808 808 4994 (Monday-Saturday, 4-11pm). You can also use the FREE Crisis Messenger by texting THEMIX to: 85258 (Monday-Sunday, 24/7).

OLDER PEOPLE…
Age UK – Advice and information across a range of subjects for older people. Visit Age UK or call FREE on: 0800 055 6112 (Monday-Sunday, 8am-7pm).

The Silver Line – FREE and confidential telephone service for older people, aged 55+. Provides information, conversation and support. Visit: The Silver Line or call: 0800 4 70 80 90 (Monday-Sunday, 24/7).

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE…
Paragon – Part of The You Trust, Paragon provides local support for victims of domestic violence. Visit: Paragon Dorset, call the FREE Domestic Abuse Helpline for Dorset on: 0800 032 5204 or email: paragondorset@theyoutrust.org.uk.

Refuge – Additional support for anyone experiencing domestic violence. Visit: Refuge (includes access to Refuge’s live chat facility Monday-Friday, 3-10pm) or call the FREE National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (24/7).

MENTAL HEALTH…
Dorset Connection – FREE 24/7 phone helpline for people of all ages in Dorset who are experiencing mental health issues and need support. Visit: Connection, call: 0800 652 0190 or 111 and select ‘mental health’ to access support as part of the Dorset Crisis Response Service.

Dorset Mind – For advice and information about all aspects of mental health, from where to get help to treatment options. Visit: Mind Dorset. Alternatively, visit: Mind, call: 0300 123 3393 (Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm. Closed bank holidays) or email: info@mind.org.uk.

The Lantern Trust – A Weymouth based charity set up to help vulnerable and marginalised people across Weymouth and Portland. The Lantern offers support for those who have a varied range of personal concerns, including mental health problems, offending behaviour, addiction, homelessness and all personal crises. Visit: The Lantern Trust, call: 01305 787940 or email: info@lanterntrust.org.uk (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. Closed bank holidays).

Papyrus – National charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide (under 35 years) and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.. Papyrus operates HOPELINE UK, a FREE and confidential support and advice service for those experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide. Visit: Papyrus, call FREE on: 0800 068 4141 or text: 07860 039967 (Monday-Sunday, 9am-midnight). Also email: pat@papyrus-uk.org.

The Samaritans – Support for those in distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide. Visit: Samaritans, call FREE on: 116 123 (Monday-Sunday, 24/7) or email: jo@samaritans.org (24 hrs response time).

Shout – A FREE, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for people in need of immediate support. Visit Give Us A Shout or text Shout to 85258 anytime.

Suicide Prevention UK – SPUK operate the National Suicide Prevention Helpline, a confidential listening service for anyone aged 18+ with thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Visit: SPUK or call FREE on: 0800 689 5652 (Monday-Sunday, 6pm to midnight).

MONEY…
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) – Help with debt, budgeting and work. Open to all. Visit: CAP UK or call FREE on: 0800 328 0006 (Monday to Thursday, 9:30am-5pm / Friday 9:30am-3:30pm). Local advisor for Portland available.

Martin Lewis – Visit: Money Saving Expert for general advice and information across a wide range of subjects related to money.