Redundancy support for individuals and businesses

People faced with redundancy may experience a variety of financial and mental health concerns.

The following list of free programmes and support services may provide useful, impartial, regulated advice, whatever your circumstances.

Financial support

Citizens Advice Swindon

Citizens Advice offer a range of support about preparing for redundancies. They offer guided support around benefit entitlements including a full benefits check. They can give support to people who are worried about paying their rent, mortgage, council tax or other bills and help people making a new claim to Universal Credit.

Citizens Advice Swindon can be contacted on 0344 4994114 or 0808 2787813. You can also get in touh via the Citizens Advice contact form.

The Help to Claim Service (support with early stages of Universal Credit) can be reached on 0800 1448 444 or by visiting the Citizens Advice website.

Support around emotional and mental health

Every Mind Matters (UK wide)

Public Health England provides practical tips and expert advice to support emotional health and wellbeing.

Books on Prescription Scheme (available at Swindon and Wiltshire Library Services)

Understand and manage your health and wellbeing using self-help reading. The books are chosen by health experts and people living with the conditions covered.

Tasting Colours

Tasting Colours is a project that support local people impacted by redundancy by working with them 1-2-1 to help them redefine their direction and take control of their futures. This is a free service to Swindon residents that are going through a redundancy process and though it is not a mental health service, Tasting Colours work closely with Swindon Mind and Ipsum to signpost people to extra support if they need it.

Tasting Colours are happy to link into businesses directly to support your staff and can be contacted by email at: takingpart@tastingcolours.com or via the Tasting Colours website.

Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind

Swindon Mind offer a range of interventions to support people in the Swindon and Shrivenham area with mental health. This includes coordinating a wellbeing programme, self help advice and guidance and support around mental ill health. Swindon Mind also runs the Swindon Mindful Employer Network (SMEN) in partnership with Business West. SMEN gives businesses across the town free events and resources to support the wellbeing of their staff.

Swindon Mind can be contacted via a self-referral form on the Swindon Mind website or by calling 01793 432031.

Ipsum

Ipsum run a range of interventions to promote good mental health including arts and music-based therapy and peer support. The service also runs low cost face-to-face counselling which is accessible to anyone living in Swindon.  

Ipsum can be contacted by calling 01793 695 405 or for more information, you can visit the Ipsum website.

LIFT Psychology

Lift Psychology, provided by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) NHS Trust, has a dedicated Employment Support Team. The Employment Advisors are trained to provide support and advice for anyone not in work, facing redundancy, trying to get back into work, or experiencing stress in the workplace.

Lift Psychology also offers a range of support for anyone experiencing a variety of issues, from stress to low self-esteem, anxiety and depression. This includes psycho-educational courses and one-to-one interventions, depending on your needs.

For more information about the types of support provided and how to access it, visit the LIFT website, email lift.psychology@nhs.net or telephone 01793 836836.

Swindon & District Samaritans

If you are having a difficult time you can get in touch about anything that's troubling you, no matter how large or small the issue feels. We’re here to listen, no judgement, no pressure and can help you work through what’s on your mind. We’ll never tell you what to do. Struggling to cope with everyday life doesn’t look or feel the same in everyone – we can’t generalise about how you may feel or act but you know if you’re not feeling okay.

You don’t have to be suicidal to get in touch. Only 1 person in 5 who calls Samaritans says they feel suicidal.

You can call us on 116 123 which is free to call from landlines and mobiles, including pay-as-you-go. You don’t need to have any credit or call allowance. You can also email us at: jo@samaritans.org as this can be a calm and safe way to talk through what’s on your mind.

We also have practical ways to help you cope and we have a self-help app to help keep track of how you’re feeling. There are also recommendations to help on the Samaritans website.

We are always here to listen when you need us – you don’t need to be alone.

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

National support for men, advice and support as well as a free phone service 0800 58 58 58.

Shout

This is a 24/7 UK text service available for times when people feel they need immediate support. By texting ‘SHOUT’ to ‘85258’  you can speak to a trained volunteer.

Young Minds

Young Minds is a charity to support young people and their parents. The Young Minds website has various useful articles for young people, and a text crisis messenger and a parents hotline to support parents. Call 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.00pm, free for mobiles and landlines).

STEP Swindon - children and young people

STEP deliver tailor-made therapeutic sessions, enabling children to work through issues that are negatively affecting their lives and the lives of those around them. They also provide support and life-skills development and learning opportunities. For further information, see the Step Swindon Facebook page.

Swindon Carers Centre

For those with caring responsibilities, loss of income can cause extra challenges. Swindon Carers Centre (SCC) offers a range of services to help carers living in Swindon. Depending on need, this includes: support around welfare and benefits, funding for respite opportunities, emotional support and practical support. SCC also works with employers to make workplaces more carer-friendly to support unpaid carers to continue in employment where possible. 

To find out more please contact 01793 531133 or visit the Swindon Carers website.

We know that sometimes organisations do not have the financial resources to support this transition, so a very simple step all employers can do is signpost their staff to the services above and encourage them to access support early on into any redundancy process. Another important aspect is ensuring the staff member is given the correct ending to their employment. Some employees would value recognition for their contribution to the organisation and it is important to have closure as this supports good mental health.

There is a range of other support for emotional and mental health in Swindon including green space therapy run by Twigs and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. We have general advice and support sites for adults, children and general information on mental health.

Other services

Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Services

They support victims of domestic violence and abuse who are over 16 years old. For further information, see the Swindon Womens Aid website.

Turning Point - Swindon and Wiltshire

This is the local integrated drug and alcohol service. It offers a range of treatments to support health and wellbeing. For further information, see the Wellbeing Turning Point website.

Swindon Borough Council housing team

They can offer support with housing-related queries and issues. For further information, email: housingoptions@swindon.gov.uk.

Swindon Advocacy Movement (SAM)

SAM offers a number of services: our advocates enable those who are vulnerable or need help to make informed decisions and secure the rights and services they are entitled to.  Advocates will work in partnership with the people they support and take their side.

SAM’s support around mental health is twofold; provides an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) for any child, young person or adult who have been detained under the Mental Health Act.  We can ensure these individuals understand their rights, support them to have their opinions heard in meetings or to appeal their section.  

SAM also offers a community based mental health service for adults (18+); where they would like support with making a transition from inpatient mental health services to living independently in the community or are already living in the community and would like independent support to explore options regarding their mental health support or would like independent support with an issue affecting their mental health.