BwD Help Hub for residents

As we continue our response to coronavirus, partners in the BwD Help Hub are working together to support local residents to move forward with their lives in a variety of ways.

The local partnerships set up to support people during the coronavirus crises can help people with:

  • finance, benefits and debt management
  • mental health support
  • wellbeing and loneliness
  • learning, training and employment
  • getting online and using technology
  • access to food and essentials.

You may be eligible for the Household Support Scheme, further information can be found on the Household Support Scheme webpage.

Contacting the Help Hub

You can also call us on 01254 588111 Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 17:00

Ask for help online
 

The Help Hub is a partnership between the Council and local organisations to support residents with:

  • finance, benefits and debt management
  • mental health support
  • wellbeing and loneliness
  • learning, training and employment
  • getting online and using technology
  • access to food and essentials.

Please don’t hesitate to ask for help using the online form.

Step up Youth Hub

Help is available to young people who have lost jobs and training placements as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. The Step Up Youth Hub is a partnership between the Council, the Department for Work & Pensions and Blackburn Youth Zone. Step Up gives 16 to 24 year olds living in Blackburn with Darwen the support of skilled Youth Employability Work Coaches from the Jobcentre.

Through Step Up, young people can get help with:

Careers advice and guidance

  • CVs, job applications and interview skills
  • Digital upskilling
  • Job matching service
  • Mentoring
  • Work readiness support
  • Bespoke support to overcome personal barriers to work.

To get help from the Step Up team, 16 to 24 year olds can call 01254 588111.

Our partners

We are working with a range of local organisations who can also offer support.

Whether you need a prescription picking up, some shopping delivered, or a warm meal, there’s someone in Blackburn with Darwen who can help.

  • Age UK: Wide range of support services, information, advice and guidance for people over 55. Contact: 01254 266620
  • Blackburn Food Bank: Food supplies to people in need. Contact: 01254 672756
  • Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service: Support, information advice and guidance for people who care for friends and family. Contact: 01254 688440
  • Care Network: Information, advice and guidance on a wide range of community services including the Safe Trader scheme. Contact: 01254 507255
  • Child Action North West: Range of services to support children, young people and their families. Contact: 01254 244700
  • Health and wellbeing advice: Range of services to support people to improve their health and wellbeing. Visit the BwD re:fresh website. Contact: 01254 682037
  • Lancashire Women: Range of support services for women designed around individual needs. Contact: 0300 3301354
  • Prescription medication: If you need prescription medication, we advise you to contact your GP surgery or local pharmacy.
  • Shelter: For other financial, welfare or housing advice. Contact telephone 0344 515 1831. Contact email: lancashire@shelter.org.uk

Shielding

The government has announced an official end of its shielding programme, established in March 2020 to protect Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) people during the Covid pandemic.

The government’s decision follows the relaxation of Covid guidance and legislation during summer 2021, and the government’s announcement of its Winter Plan in September 2021.

The guidance for people previously advised to ‘shield’ by staying at home and limiting contact with others changed in April 2021, as they were told to take the same precautions as the general population.

All 3,642 CEV people in Blackburn with Darwen who were previously on the NHS’s Shielded Patient List will receive a letter/email from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, advising them of this latest policy change.