Useful contacts for support in Suffolk

Better Health is a national NHS website with information to help you lose weight, get active, quit smoking, drink less and lift your mood:

Website:  https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/

Feel Good Suffolk supports people in Suffolk to improve their health and wellbeing, stop smoking, manage their weight and be more active.  There are lots of useful tips, advice and resources on the website and you can also contact their customer service advisors for more support.

Telephone: 0345 603 4060

Website: Feel Good Suffolk

Silverline is run by Age UK and is a free telephone service that offers people company, conversation and support 24 hours a day:

Telephone: 0800 470 8090

Across Suffolk and north east Essex there are a variety of roles in primary care that can offer a range of support including:

• helping people to manage their health and care needs
• helping people to identify personal goals and aspirations that are both important to them and achievable  and
• providing information and advice on local support and community opportunities.

These roles include Social Prescribers, GP Care Advisors, Community Agents and Health & Wellbeing Coaches.

If this type of support would be beneficial to you, ask at your local GP surgery. You may be given an appointment with a Social Prescriber, a GP Care Advisor, a Community Agent or a Health and Wellbeing Coach.

In addition, the following Social Prescribing Services are available:

In Ipswich and east Suffolk social prescribing is provided by Connect for Health.

There is also a bespoke Connect for Health service for people from multi-ethnic communities across Suffolk:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01473 429740

In West Suffolk, social prescribing is provided by Lifelink.

Regardless of how many hours you spend caring each week, your financial circumstances or whether the person you care for receives any other support, you can complete a Carers Self Assessment to see what you may be able to claim.  In the assessment you can identify your caring role and the impact this may have on your life.

Website: Suffolk Adult Care Portal – Suffolk County Council

Telephone: 0808 800 4005

Visit the Government’s Carers Allowance website for more information.

Website: https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

Cost of living support can be found at:

Cost of living support – Suffolk County Council

Speak to your local office as there may be help and support available for heating costs

They can also advise on benefits, finances, and legal and health issues:

Telephone: Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848

Website: Contact us – Citizens Advice

Website: Suffolk InfoLink | Foodbanks in Suffolk

Support for any household experiencing hardship and in need of support to prevent ill health and keep warm.

Website: Keeping people in Suffolk warm this winter – Suffolk County Council  

Telephone: Suffolk County Council Customer Service on 0345 606 6067

Website: Help for Households – Suffolk County Council

Information on how Social Care works and how you can ask for support can be found on the Suffolk County Council website:

 How adult social care works – Suffolk County Council

If you have a social care emergency and need urgent assistance, please call Customer First on 0800 917 1109.  Outside normal working hours this number will divert to the Emergency Duty Service which will deal with any problem that cannot wait until the next working day.

In Ipswich and east Suffolk social prescribing is provided by Connect for Health.

In West Suffolk it is provided by Lifelink.

There is also a bespoke Connect for Health service for people from multi-ethnic communities across Suffolk.

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01473 429740

Suffolk Family Carers supports family carers of all ages to maintain their own health and wellbeing, organise breaks from their caring responsibilities and access practical advice and information.

Telephone: 01473 835477

Website: www.suffolkfamilycarers.org

The Alzheimer’s Society offers support for daily living, carers, independent living, and financial and legal matters and it you can also download the ‘This is me’ passport.

Telephone: 0333 150 3456

Website: Alzheimer’s Society (alzheimers.org.uk) and This is me | Alzheimer’s Society (alzheimers.org.uk)

Dementia Connect can offer support information and signpost to relevant services.

Telephone: 0333 150 3456

Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nursing charity that supports the whole family.

Telephone: 0800 888 6678

Email:  [email protected]

Website: About us – Dementia UK

In Ipswich and east Suffolk social prescribing is provided by Connect for Health.

In West Suffolk it is provided by Lifelink.

There is also a bespoke Connect for Health service for people from multi-ethnic communities across Suffolk.

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01473 429740

For information on how to give someone Lasting Power of Attorney, visit the

Office of the Public Guardian – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Telephone: Resuscitation Council UK  020 7388 4678

Website: ReSPECT | Resuscitation Council UK

For more information visit: End of life, palliative care and bereavement services – NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB

St Elizabeth Hospice    stelizabethhospice.org.uk

St Nicholas Hospice     stnicholashospice.org.uk

Suffolk Infolink details all the support in your community which is local to you and through various national charities and organisations.  It also links to national and local websites providing advice and tips which you may find useful.

Website: Suffolk Infolink