Student Support Services over Christmas

Please find below details of some support services which may be useful over the Christmas period, but can be called upon at any time of the year.  These relate to Counselling Support, Housing Support and Foodbanks.  

COUNSELLING SUPPORT

Inspire Students 0800 3895 362
Inspire Students is an independent source of support and counselling for all students/trainees. They can be contacted for free, confidential and immediate support on the above number which is available 24/7, including Christmas. If necessary, they can call you back.  

Lifeline 0808 808 8000
Lifeline is the Northern Ireland crisis response helpline service for people who are experiencing distress or despair. If you or someone you know is in distress or despair, Lifeline is here to help. Calls to Lifeline are free and Lifeline counsellors are available 24/7 to listen and help in confidence.  Deaf and hard of hearing Textphone users can call Lifeline on 18001 0808 808 8000.  

HOUSING SUPPORT  

MACS provides a range of services for young people, including for those experiencing homelessness issues. They can be contacted on 028 4461 6551 (Downpatrick) or 028 9264 6329 (Lisburn), or click here to visit their website.  

Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) provides information and advice on homelessness and can be contacted on 03448 920 90 (during office hours) or 03448 920 908 (Out of hours service Mon-Fri after 5.00pm and weekends), or click here to visit their website.  In an emergency the Housing Executive can provide temporary emergency accommodation for young people at risk of exploitation or who are vulnerable in some way by contacting them on 03448 920 908. For further information, click here.      

Simon Community NI is a homeless charity, working to support people who have no home and can be contacted on 0800 1712222 or click here to visit their website.  

House Rights NI can provide mediation services with landlords and tenants, support through disputes and support tenants with cases.  They can be contacted on 028 9024 5640 or click here to visit their webpage  

Emergency accommodation For a full list of emergency shelters and beds if someone has nowhere to stay, please click here.

Women’s Aid provide support and information in relation to domestic abuse. Full contact details can be found here.

FOODBANKS

SERC students and staff have been generously supporting local Food Banks which have been making a real difference to people’s lives. If you need to contact one of the Food Banks in your area, please email them on the details below and they will be in touch:  

Bangor: info@bangorni.foodbank.org.uk  
Ards: info@newtownards.foodbank.org.uk
Lisburn:  team@lisburnfoodbank.org     
Downpatrick: fountainfoodbank@gmail.com     

For a further list of Food Banks operating throughout Northern Ireland please click here.      

PSNI
If you need to report anything to the PSNI, their non-emergency number is 101, or if it is an emergency, then use the 999 service as normal.