Support over the festive season

Christmas is a season of joy for many but it can also be a difficult time for others with feelings of loneliness and grief.

There’s a wide range of support available across Lincolnshire to help people remain safe, warm, well and connected this winter.

This information page brings together key services offering practical assistance, emotional support, information and guidance - ensuring that everyone has access to the help they need during the festive season.

Winter Warm Spaces and Support

Warm spaces are places across Lincolnshire where you can escape the cold, seek assistance and connect with others.

They allow you to come together with others to improve the lives of everyone in a safe, warm and welcoming environment.

You can find your nearest winter warm space on the H.A.Y. Lincolnshire website.

The Warm Welcome Campaign also wants everyone in the UK to find a place of belonging and connection at a Warm Welcome Space near where they live, helping people feel less isolated and lonely, and boosting wellbeing.

To find a Warm Welcome Space near you visit www.warmwelcome.uk

Night Light Cafés

Night Light Cafés are safe spaces for anyone over the age of 18 years, that offer an out-of-hours, non-clinical support service and are staffed by teams of trained volunteers who are available to listen. They can signpost you to advice and information from other organisations that may be able to help you with specific needs, such as debt advice or emergency food parcels.

Café environments have been created in church buildings and existing cafés to provide a place of safety where you will be are welcomed and cared for.

Find your local Night Light Café Christmas opening times

The Silver Line Helpline

The Silver Line Helpline is a free, confidential telephone service run by Age UK that offers friendship, conversation and support to people aged 55 and over – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Some people call to say good morning or good night to someone, or to have a chat about how their day's been. Other people call to get help with accessing support.

The Silver Line Helpline gives you the opportunity to exchange a brief, friendly word or enjoy a long, enriching conversation. The kind of call depends on what you might want or need when you pick up the phone.

Loneliness can strike at any time of day or night – that's why The Silver Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call The Silver Line Helpline free on 0800 4 70 80 90

Do you look after someone?

If you're an unpaid carer aged 16 and over and supporting someone in Lincolnshire, the Lincolnshire Carer’s Service is here to help with online help and advice, as well as 1-2-1 practical and emotional support.

You don’t have to wait until crisis point before asking for help - the earlier you ask, the bigger difference it can make.

If you would like to speak to someone about your caring role and discuss what support may be available to you, please call the Lincolnshire County Council Carer Wellbeing Hub on 01522 782224 or fill in the Request for Support form.

Stay connected with The Virtual Village Hall

The Virtual Village Hall is a free online activity hub and community. It’s designed by the charity, Royal Voluntary Service, to help people stay mentally and physically active, socially connected and having fun. It supports people to better manage their health, including long-term health conditions and healthy ageing.

It’s free to join and take part online, with no sign-in or subscription required.

Activities include gentle exercise and dance classes, with adapted, seated and chair-based sessions, yoga and meditation, crafts and cooking, creative writing, interesting talks and more.

Visit The Virtual Village Hall for more information, to feel connected and to try something new at home.

Staying Safe, Warm and Well at Home this Winter

It is important to stay safe, warm and well in winter and there are many different sources of help and support available to you within Lincolnshire.

The 'Staying Safe, Warm and Well at Home this Winter' booklet contains details of a range different organisations that provide information and advice on how you can stay safe, warm and well in your home over the winter months.

Lincolnshire Voluntary Engagement Team (LVET)

The Lincolnshire Voluntary Engagement Team (LVET) is collating information about organisations and places that are offering support, warm safe spaces or meals over the Christmas period. This information is being shared with health and care providers and community groups across Lincolnshire. To find Christmas Day lunches and provision where you live, visit the LVET website.

New providers are being added so keep checking back to see if provision in your area has been updated.

Holiday Activities and Food programme

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is government funded and provides free holiday clubs for reception to year 11 pupils in receipt of benefits-related free school meals in Lincolnshire, these can be accessed over the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays.

For more information on the HAF programme and to view the provision over the Christmas period, visit the Lincolnshire County Council website.

Pharmacy opening times over Christmas

Pharmacists are experts in medicines who can help you with minor health concerns, such as minor injuries, coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections, aches and pains without the need for a GP appointment.

Information on pharmacy opening times across Lincolnshire over the Christmas period can be found on the Lincolnshire ICB website.

National Grief Advice Service

The National Grief Advice Service (NGAS) is a Lincolnshire-based charity offering free, confidential support to anyone affected by any type of grief or loss. The service is based in Grantham and provides a safe space to talk, listen and support you to find steadier ground, without judgement, whether you prefer to be part of a group or have a confidential conversation, one-to-one.

NGAS is open over the Christmas period, ready for a chat and a brew. View the service's opening times and find more information about the help, advice and support they provide at www.nationalbereavement.com.

Drop in to The Maltings, Wharf Road, Grantham NG31 6BH, have a chat by calling 0300 13 123 53 or email admin@nationalbereavement.com.

Looking after your mental health

The festive season can be one of the hardest times of year for many people, bringing financial worries, strains on relationships, grief and loneliness. These things negatively impact our mental health and can lead to anxiety, depression, stress, eating problems and loss of sleep.

There are resources available to help support you through the festive period.

Get help now

If you need help for a mental health crisis or emergency, you should get immediate expert advice and assessment.

Get advice from 111 or ask for an urgent GP appointment if you need urgent help for your mental health.

Go to 111 online or call 111 and select the mental health option. 111 will tell you the right place to get help. You may be able to speak to a trained mental health professional over the phone.

Call 999 or go to A&E now if:

someone's life is at risk – for example, they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose
you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe

A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one. You will not be wasting anyone's time.

Keeping people safe

Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted.

Lincolnshire County Council's Customer Service Centre is the first point of contact for any member of the public concerned about any issue regarding the safeguarding of adults.

The Customer Service Centre can be contacted on 01522 782155 on Monday to Friday between 8am to 6pm.

Call 01522 782333 in an emergency outside office hours.

Lincolnshire County Council can still be contacted over the festive period. Full opening times over the festive period can be found via the Lincolnshire County Council website.