The Suffolk Information Partnership has a growing number of partners from the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors in Suffolk. Find out more about these organisations by clicking on the links below.
Access Community Trust works in disadvantaged communities in Suffolk and Norfolk providing support with housing, health, wellbeing, education and employment. We promote social inclusion, relieving the needs that create social exclusion and assisting people to integrate into society.
Age UK Suffolk is a countywide, independent charity offering support to older people to give them more choice and control over their lives. We give information and benefits advice through our County Information and Advice Line. We have a wide range of information for people 60+ at our fingertips and if we can't help, we often know of someone who can. We also offer befriending, a Home Help service and advocacy. Our Chilton Day Club in Sudbury and our Forget Me Not groups in the community support people with memory loss, and their carers.
Citizens Advice Ipswich offers free, confidential, impartial, quality assured advice and support to all those in Ipswich who need it. We help people find a way forward with their problems and campaign on big issues when their voices need to be heard. We support income maximisation through reviewing benefit entitlements, saving money on energy costs and accessing grants when needed. We are an open gateway for food parcels and welfare assistance. Our Money team can negotiate with debtors, enabling clients to manage their daily lives more effectively. We are open nday to Friday from Tower Street, with outreach drop in sessions at Hawthorn Drive GP surgery, Gainsborough Library and Whitton Clinic.
Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk Our Vision is that everyone will be able to access free advice to find a way forward. Our Mission is to provide free, confidential, impartial advice to help people overcome their problems and campaign on big issues when their voices need to be heard. We offer information and advice through face-to-face, phone and email and online
Citizens Advice North East Suffolk provides free, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. In addition to delivering the quality assured advice that provides our clients with the best opportunity to make informed decisions, we also campaign effectively for positive change and provide rewarding volunteering opportunities. We have office locations in Lowestoft, Beccles, Bungay and Halesworth and can also be found at number of outreach locations including Community Centres and Doctors' Surgeries around Waveney.
Customer First is the first point of contact for social services in Suffolk. We deal with enquiries and referrals for adults, children, and for mental health assessments. You can contact our team via phone, email, online referral and Web Chat. Our lines are open Monday to Thursday 8am to 5:20pm, Fridays 8am to 4:20pm (excluding bank holidays) The Emergency Duty Service is available out of these hours.
Disability Advice Service East Suffolk (DAS) is a small independent voluntary organisation offering advice to disabled people and carers living in the Suffolk Coastal area of East Suffolk. We specialise in welfare benefits and housing rights.
Lofty Heights CIC is a small non profit organisation. From decluttering the homes of hoarders to tidying the mildly muddled – we can help to regain control of your home. We also enable hospital discharges to be speeded up by moving/rearranging of furniture to create space for hospital equipment. We carry out cleaning and deep cleaning within the home, empty lofts, and cut back overgrown gardens. By using our services you enable us to provide more opportunities for real work and training for young people.
Orbit provides practical advice and support to homeowners and private tenants who need help to repair, improve or adapt their homes so that they can continue to live comfortably, independently and safely at home. From the Occupational Therapist assessment to practical completion of the work Orbit will support the customer to apply for funding and organise the adaptation, which could be a level access shower, stair-lifts, ramps, etc.
Sue Ryder supports those with complex neurological conditions with residential and community based support, including The Chantry nursing home and The Stables Day Service. They provide a welcoming, safe environment for people living with, or recovering from, a neurological condition including dementia to maintain their independence, skills and self confidence. Dementia Together provides practical information and support for people who are concerned about or living with dementia, their carers and healthcare professionals in Suffolk excluding Waveney. This service can be accessed via the free telephone service: 0808 168 8000.
Suffolk Carers Matter support people across the whole of Suffolk who are caring for family members and friends. This support is open to all ages: Adult Carers, Parent Carers, Young Carers and Young Adult Carers.
Our Advice Line is available 7 days a week (Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am – 2pm) providing emotional support, information, advice and guidance. This support can be accessed by phone: 01284 333035 or via our Live Chat facility on www.SuffolkCarersMatter.org.uk.
Suffolk Community Services provides a comprehensive range of NHS services closer to home. It is run by East and West alliances of local healthcare providers including Suffolk GP Federation, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust and West Suffolk NHS Hospital.
Suffolk Family Carers provides a countywide unhurried information, advice and guidance service (either telephone or face to face) to family carers of all ages; caring for someone with a physical disability, mental health condition, autism and substance misuse. We run free of charge sessions to help family carers cope with their situation and training sessions, including a moving and handling advice service. Suffolk Family Carers also have a presence in hospitals in Suffolk and East Norfolk, GP Surgeries and visits to schools. We are involved with Social Prescribing projects and a carer's information bus that pops up in various locations!
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service Prevention Team deliver Safe and Well visits to vulnerable people in their homes. Advice is given regarding home fire safety, night time routine and escape plans. Fire related risks including smoking cessation, warmer homes and isolation issues are also discussed and referrals made where appropriate. Free smoke alarms are fitted if required and sensory alarm equipment is available for residents with hearing issues.
Suffolk Libraries delivers a free library service across Suffolk. We have 44 libraries, a mobile service, a Mental Health and Wellbeing service, an information and digital service and a Home Library Service for customers who are unable to access our libraries. We offer advice and assistance to the public on a variety of topics, including books, and provide community activities and a general enquiry service. Our libraries also offer courses and events throughout the year for all ages.
Suffolk Mind is a mental health charity whose aim is to make Suffolk the best place in the world for talking about and taking care of mental wellbeing. All of us have mental health, just as we have physical health, and it is important to meet our emotional needs as well as our physical needs. At Suffolk Mind we have information and services that are easy to access and can help people to take care of their emotional needs, to secure their own mental wellbeing, and enable them to be more supportive of others.
Suffolk Trading Standards supports and assists both consumers and businesses. They advise on and enforce laws that govern the way we buy, sell, rent and hire goods and services. Trading Standards are part of Suffolk County Council and are a county-wide service advising on consumer law, investigating complaints and, if all else fails, prosecuting traders who break the law.
Survivors in Transition provides support for adults who have experienced any form of sexual abuse in childhood.
Total Voice Suffolk is a partnership of organisations working together to provide advocacy in Suffolk. We provide free, independent and confidential advocacy services.
Advocacy is about helping people speak up for themselves, and making sure that their views, thoughts and opinions are heard and understood.
Our multi-skilled advocates carry out all elements of statutory advocacy (IMCA, IMHA, Care Act and NHS Complaints) and professional and community advocacy. We work with adults who may have mental health issues, learning disabilities, dementia, acquired brain injury or other disability. We also work in some cases with children and with family carers.
Warm Homes, Healthy People is a Suffolk multi agency partnership. The project aims to assist vulnerable people living in fuel poverty to have adequate access to heat. The project may be able to assist low income, vulnerable households with free home energy surveys, insulation, fuel payments, heating repairs and replacements (subject to eligibility criteria).