It is absolutely essential that everyone who is engaging in tackling food poverty seeks to help vulnerable individuals deal with their longer term needs. In order to do this Leeds FAN aims to value efforts that are already been made by those who are trying to tackle food poverty, to help vulnerable people move forward. Very much part of this is signposting people to initiatives that can help people tackle an addiction, deal with debt and/or unemployment, access training and education, connect to a particular community, access appropriate housing etc…
Leeds FAN aims to stimulate more effective signposting to services that can help vulnerable individuals access longer term provision. Two key parts of this are relaying information to people who are tackling food poverty, as well as providing training events where people can network and hear about initiatives that help people deal with some of the challenges that I have mentioned above.
Many of the links on this page have been moved to their own page, the links to these are below.
Volunteering opportunities which are deliberately designed to cater for vulnerable individuals
Canopy Housing – Canopy is a self-help, community housing project based in inner city Leeds. We renovate derelict houses to create decent homes for people that are homeless. Please follow the link below:
http://www.canopyhousingproject.org/
Latch – Latch stands for Leeds Action to Create Homes. We’re a unique charitable organisation that refurbishes derelict and run-down houses in the Chapeltown, Harehills and Burley areas of Leeds. Please follow link below:
Please return to the front page of the website and click the yellow bar at the top of the diagram for more information on housing, jobs and the NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group.
Doing Good Leeds – This website is run by Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) and is designed to support third sector organisations
Network Leeds – Christian Community Online. The website aims to give projects & people a voice for all that is happening across Leeds.
PATH’s aim is to enhance the life chances of disadvantaged communities by developing their potential through the provision of quality vocational training, education and career opportunities, in all areas of employment.
The Second Chance Project:
This is a project for Leeds Residents, aged 25 years and above, working in low pay, temporary paid jobs or on zero-hour contract. They provide support in skills improvement, one-to-one mentoring and work coaching, financial education, better employability skills development, confidence building, career management and entrepreneurship.
ESOL:
PATH provides free Beginners English classes for Leeds residents (men and women) aged 19 and over, not in employment, with little or low English language skills (Pre-Entry and Entry 1 ESOL) and have been living in UK for a minimum of 12 months.
Talent Match:
PATH Yorkshire is a contract Keyworker partner of the Leeds City Region Talent Match Project. The project engages with young people aged 18-24 who are long term unemployed and who require intensive support and coaching through a Key Worker approach in order to access a flexible and responsive pathway which will support them to get into, or closer to work.
Graduate Traineeship:
This project is for people who are 18+ unemployed Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME). It provides sector-focused work experience and employability support through mainstream and graduate work-based traineeship and employability support for 6 or 12-months placement.
Connecting Opportunities:
This is a project for all new migrants in West Yorkshire and some parts of North Yorkshire, age 15 and above, men and women, who have permission to work in the UK but are not in work. Connecting Opportunities works with new migrants to develop their skills and opportunities to find work and be part of the local community. This project is run in conjunction with partners.
Click on heading for website.
FareShare use their warehousing facilities to provide employment-based training in warehousing, food hygiene and fork-lift truck driving.
Phone number: 020 7394 2468
E-mail: enquiries@fareshare.org.uk
Click on the icon for the website.
St. George’s Crypt offers training and engagement opportunities, including Nurture, which is an outside catering company, offering training to those wanting to gain experience and new skills. It has seen numerous client volunteers work through the diploma system and gain full-time employment.
Phone number: 0113 245 9061
E-mail: info@stgeorgescrypt.org.uk
Click on the icon for the website.
Leeds Mind’s Employment Support Service aims to build people’s confidence and self-esteem, explore volunteering and training opportunities, and eventually help prepare them to look for and gain paid work when they are ready to do so. Their support is tailored to individual mental health and employment needs. They work with people at their own pace, to make that journey into work.
Phone number: 0113 305 5800
E-mail: info@leedsmind.org.uk
Click on the icon for the website.
The Volunteer Centre Leeds helps individuals to find suitable volunteering opportunities and provides advice and support to organisations to set up and manage a volunteering programme and to find suitable volunteers.
Click on the icon for the website.
For people aged 13-25, Leeds Pathways is a guide to discovering the range of education, career and training options available in Leeds. They can provide advice on learning, jobs, careers and apprenticeships.
Click on the icon for the website.
The Latch refurbishment team will give volunteers on-the-job training in joinery, kitchen and bathroom fitting, insulating, plastering and more. Being a part of their friendly team of volunteers is a great way to gain work experience and confidence. Whether someone already has lots of experience or they’re just starting out, turning derelict empty houses into quality homes can give a real sense of satisfaction.
Phone number: 0113 2374482
E-mail: info@latch.org.uk
Click on the icon for the website. NB: Website Protected
Canopy volunteers become part of a team to renovate and decorate a house and make it into a new home for someone that is homeless. New volunteers do not need to have already tried DIY, as Canopy can teach them all the skills they will need.
Phone number: 0113 294 6868
E-mail: info@canopyhousing.org
Click on the icon for the website.
Opportunity Shops:
As part of the Engage Leeds service, GIPSIL runs Opportunity Shops across the city. As well as traditional work club services – such as access to IT, internet and email, and assistance with CVs and job applications – Opportunity Shops give people access to opportunities which could move them closer to employment, such as volunteering, work experience and apprenticeships.
Elevate:
Through their social enterprise, Elevate, GIPSIL can offer volunteering and training opportunities in the property maintenance and construction industry.
Phone number: 0113 248 1301
Click on the icon for the website.
RETAS offers education, training and advice to Refugees, in support of them finding work in Leeds / Yorkshire.
Phone number: 0113 380 5630
E-mail: info@retasleeds.org.uk
Click on the icon for the website.
Jobshops can help with job searching, writing a CV, filling in application forms, interview technique and general information, advice and guidance. Jobcentre Plus Outreach staff are available in some Jobshops, offering one to one support, including in-work benefit calculations, which show you how much better off you would be when working.
Phone number: 0113 247 6937
E-mail: jobshops@leeds.gov.uk
Click on the icon for the website.
Local CAP Job Clubs are a friendly place to get practical help in seeking employment. It’s a relaxed environment with the chance to meet other jobseekers, get support and gain the tools needed to find work.
Phone number: Call free on 0800 328 0006, Monday-Friday 8.30am-5.00pm.
E-mail: info@capjobclubs.org
Click on the icon for the website.
Forward LeedsForward Leeds is a confidential alcohol and drug service in Leeds for adults, young people and families. It offers a range of services including prevention, early intervention and recovery support. Available 9am – 5pm Mondays and Fridays and 9am-7pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Tel: 0113 887 2477.
Click
to email.
Click the Icon for the Website.
Addiction Connection Leeds (ACL)ACL is a network of initiatives working to tackle addiction, all of whom have a Christian ethos. All projects believe in seeking to assist vulnerable people in moving towards a state of abstinence. The projects involved include Spacious Places, Joanna Project, St George’s Crypt, The Lighthouse and Life for the World Trust. It is chaired by Unity in Poverty Action (UPA).
For any more information on ACL please email Dave Paterson by clicking on
Click
to follow ACL on Twitter.
Spacious PlacesSpacious Places provides 15 hours per week of structured day treatment to help people find recovery from addiction. It provides an abstinence-based programme based on the 12 Step teaching of organisations such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous and is based in Leeds.
Tel: 0113 247 0153
Click
to email.
Click the Icon for the Website.
The Joanna ProjectThe Joanna Project, based in Leeds, aims to journey with women, offering holistic, ongoing support in order to help them move forward towards safe, whole lives free from prostitution and drug addiction.
Evening and daytime support available.
Tel: 0113 350 8071
Click
to email.
Click the Icon for the Website.
Horizon Life TrainingHorizon Life Training aims to give former addicts an opportunity to take back responsibility for their lives, gain self-respect and support themselves financially. It is a Christian charity which guides people through their amazing journey of transformation, giving hope and purpose to those that have previously been excluded from mainstream employment, through the attainment of valuable life skills. They are based in Harrogate.
Tel: 01423 560 841. Click the Icon for the Website.
Teen Challenge Leeds – Offers mobile outreach in and around Leeds and is complemented by Christian rehab for people struggling with addiction. The Teen Challenge office is open: Mon to Fri, 9.00am – 5.00pm Telephone – 0113 2424644 – An out of hours answer phone service is available. Email – teenchallengeleeds@webip.co.uk Click the Icon for the Website. —
The Chapeltown and Harehills Area Learning and Training Project provides training and education to adult learners, particularly those who have had negative learning experiences or who left learning prematurely.
Phone number: 0113 262 7171
E-mail: mayarthurton@hotmail.com
Click the logo for the website
Swarthmore is a center for lifelong learning, community projects and family learning sessions, as well as the courses and activities advertised in their current brochure. Their main aim is to encourage people who want to learn but might not feel comfortable in more formal educational institutions. They work on a friendly, human scale, offering a confidential counselling service, on-site childcare and learning support.
Phone number: 0113 243 2210
E-mail: info@swarthmore.org.uk
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Enables speakers of different languages to learn English online, from Beginners to Advanced.
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LEL provides an accessible and comprehensive online directory of ESOL provision in Leeds: a ‘one stop shop’ for adult migrants wanting to develop their English language skills, and for advisers. LEL assists new arrivals in finding the most appropriate ESOL classes and planning their progression across provision in Leeds.
E-mail: enquiries@lel.help
Click the logo for the website
Education Achievement Academy – Adult education centre, based near Chapeltown.
Click heading for further information.
Phone number: 0113 262 7171
MindWell is the mental health website for people in Leeds. Funded by NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group, it brings together information from the NHS in Leeds, Leeds City Council and the third sector into one single ‘go to’ place.
Tel: 0113 305 5800
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The Counselling Directory website is a confidential service that encourages those in need to seek help and to connect individuals with qualified counsellors in the UK. The site contains information on the common reasons people turn to counselling, as well as articles, news, and events. All counsellors have provided qualifications and insurance cover or proof of membership with a professional body.
Phone number: 0333 325 2500
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Leeds Bereavement Forum is a small charity based in Leeds which works to develop and improve bereavement services in the city. They signpost individuals to the most appropriate bereavement service either locally or nationally; provide training, information, events and conferences to people who work in the area of bereavement and campaign to help people talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement.
For their Directory of Services click: Directory
Tel: 0113 225 3975 – E-mail: info@lbforum.org.uk –
Click the Icon for the Website.
PSI-Volition is a merger of the mental health forum Volition and PSI (Physical and Sensory Impairment) Network. There are over 130 PSI-Volition member organisations with a focus on supporting people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Links: E-mail: hello@forumcentral.org.uk.
Tel: 0113 242 1321.
Click Member’s Directory for their website.
Click the Icon for the PSI-Volition Web Page.
Leeds Mind supports people with mental health problems, providing resources and service throughout the Leeds area.
Their services include: wellbeing, 1:1 work, befriending, counselling, peer support, employment support and housing.
Opening hours: Monday – Thursday 9am – 5pm; Friday 9am – 4pm.
Links:
Tel: 0113 305 5800
Click the Icon for the Website.
Touchstone provides a range of innovative services that improve health and wellbeing. These include: Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) Carers Service, BME Dementia Services, Community Support Team, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), Personality Disorder Managed Clinical Network, Positive care Programme, Self-Directed Support & Individual Budgets, Service User Involvement, Social Prescribing, workplace wellbeing and WY-FI supporting people with multiple needs amongst many others.
Links:
Tel: 0113 271 8277 / 0113 216 4143 (Punjabi)
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Solace provides therapy, training and advocacy for refugees and asylum seekers in a number of ways including one-to-one counselling, group therapy, family therapy, anxiety and stress management and activities’ groups, as well as complementary therapies, such as massage and scaro-cranial massage to address physical pain and tension in the body.
Links:
Tel: 0113 487 8360
Click the Icon for the Website.
Community Links is an award winning, non-profit provider of mental health and wellbeing services in Yorkshire and the Humber. They offer support for people with a wide range of mental health issues including anxiety and depression, psychosis, alcohol and substance misuse, complex needs and personality disorder.
Community Links Training is their social enterprise which offers mental health awareness and personal development training, including their flagship courses; Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training and SafeTALK.
Links:
Click the Icon for their website.
Tel: 0113 273 9660
Email: info@commlinks.co.uk
The Mental Health Homeless Team (MHHT) helps anyone who is homeless with mental health needs in Leeds. They can help to find and settle people into their own tenancy in the community, and arrange pathways to other services for additional support.
Links:
Tel: 0113 378 2567
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Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, is a service for children and young people under 18 and their families and is part of the NHS. CAMHS is for when problems with mental health are stopping you getting on with daily life.
Links:
; CAHMS East
Tel: 0113 8434468; CAHMS West
Tel: 0113 843 2710;
CAHMS South
Tel: 0113 843 0804
Click the Icon for the Website.
See also Leeds and York Partnerships, which is in the next section for more on mental health.
The Leeds Money Information Centre website and publications provide details of all the organisations and charities across Leeds providing free and independent debt advice, including the Citizens Advice Bureau, StepChange and many more (see below). Depending on your preference you can either contact them by phone, online or even face-to-face. Lots of centres and organisations across the city are branded as MICs, such as the credit union branches, debt advice agencies, Council One Stop Centres and libraries.
Click the Icon for the Website.
Leeds City Credit Union
Leeds City Credit Union is a financial co-operative providing straightforward, affordable financial services to anyone who lives or works in Leeds & Wakefield or who is a resident of certain housing associations or who works for certain selected employers.
It provides:
Tel: 0113 242 3343
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Citizens Advice – Leeds
Citizens Advice Leeds provides free, confidential and impartial advice and campaigns on big issues affecting people’s lives.
The Web Chat is usually available 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. It’s not available on public holidays.
Tel: 0113 223 4400
Click the Icon for the Website.
Money Wellness
Money Wellness specialises in providing free support for; debt advice, benefits assessment, income maximisation, budgeting guidance and vulnerability support.
Click the Icon for the Website:
StepChange
StepChange help people overcome their debt problems. Through the telephone debt helpline, and online Debt Remedy tool, they provide free and effective debt advice and practical solutions, to help transform the lives of those struggling with the stress and worry of any type of problem debt.
Tel: 0800 138 1111 (Mon-Friday 8-8, Sat 8-4)
Click the Icon for the Website.
Money Helper
Money Helper offers clear, unbiased money advice and can be accessed by telephone or online. The website provides interactive tools and information on a wide range of financial issues including debt, credit and borrowing, budgeting and savings.
Click the Icon for the Website.
St Vincent Support Centre
Offers a variety of services including debt and budgeting advice and support.
Click the Icon for the Website.
Stop Loans Sharks
Loan Sharks are illegal money lenders who often charge very high interest rates.
If someone has borrowed money from one, or to check if a company is authorised to lend money, a report can be made anonymously by contacting the Illegal Money Lending Team.
To report a loan shark by telephone call the 24/7 confidential hotline on 0300 555 2222.
You can find out more and or report a loan shark online by clicking on the image below:
The National Debtline
The National Debtline provides online and telephone advice and information for individuals experiencing debt and financial difficulties. 40+ factsheets are available online, along with budgeting tools and sample letters.
Debt advice is also available by using the online webchat or emailing service,
or by calling the helpline 0808 808 4000 – Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat: 9.30am-1pm
Click the Icon for the Website.
Better Leeds Communities
Better Leeds Communities supports clients with a range of debt problems, offering advice on issues such as priority creditors, rent and mortgage arrears and credit debts. They offer free advice to anyone in Leeds.
Tel: 0113 275 3498
Click the Icon for the Website.
Christians Against Poverty (CAP)
Christians Against Poverty runs Debt Centres in different areas of Leeds.
To find the nearest centre and / or get advice on debt, click the Icon for the Website.
CAP provide home visits from a Debt Coach who can negotiate with creditors, help with drawing up a budget / payment plan and (in cases of severe debt) look at insolvency options.
Telephone 0800 328 0006
Click the Icon for the Website to find out details.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals (Includes LGI and St James’s) – To read more follow the link below:
http://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/home/
Leeds Community Healthcare Trust – We provide a range of community services for adults and children including community nursing, health visiting, physiotherapy, community dentistry, primary care mental health, smoking cessation and sexual health services. To read more follow the link below:
http://www.leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/
Bevan Healthcare, York Street Health Practice – York Street Health Practice is a GP practice, part of Bevan Healthcare CIC, offering services to those who are homeless or in unstable accommodation; those who have come to the UK as a refugee or to seek asylum.
Click the icon for more info.
Leeds and York Partnerships – We aim to provide excellent quality mental health and learning disability care that supports people to achieve the very best that they can for their health and wellbeing. See more at:
