Please email us or call us on 0300 303 6666 if you need any help and advice.
Read more about the national lockdown and the specific restrictions on the Central Bedfordshire Council website.
We are here to help you during these difficult times.
For information and guidelines from the NHS please visit the UK government website www.gov.uk/coronavirus
See our useful links page for up to date coronavirus information and support to help you with claiming benefits, paying utility bills, overdrafts, mortgages, info for tenants and landlords plus some coronavirus emergency funds for organisations.
Your Open Door to Advice
in Central Bedfordshire
Call us on 0300 303 6666
We are open from from 10am to 3pm (Monday to Friday). Our team is trained to help guide you quickly to the help and advice you need.
We Are Ready to Help You
People living in Central Bedfordshire now have a single source of information on a vast range of topics including:
BENEFITS, DEBT,
DISABILITIES,
EDUCATION, HEALTH,
HOUSING,
IMMIGRATION,
EMPLOYMENT,
LEGAL & more
Click Here to Make an Enquiry
If you need more detailed information or advice, we will arrange, with your permission, for one of our partner organisations to contact you.
News and updates
Have your say on the budget for the Central Bedfordshire Council.
To see more about the proposed budget and to understand what this means for you, take a look our page for full details.
Free online exercise sessions for Bedfordshire
We showcase two new and free online exercise programmes.
The first is from The Disability Resource Centre where they provide free live or recorded exercise and Yoga classes. These classes are ideal for people wishing to gently increase their fitness activities. They will even provide a tablet computer and exercise equipment for free hire if you need it.
The second programme from Central Bedfordshire Council’s Active Lifestyle team is available on Facebook and has a wide variety of free exercise sessions.
PPE for unpaid carers in Central Bedfordshire
Find out about the PPE programme provided by Central Bedfordshire Council for unpaid carers.
Help the NHS this winter by choosing the right service
An unprecedented number of COVID-19 cases in Central Bedfordshire, along with the winter illnesses is putting incredible pressure on the hospitals and emergency services.
Choosing the right NHS service will help get you the best advice. It will reduce the pressure on the most critical healthcare services, freeing them up to help those who need it most.
If you become unwell or are injured, there are a number of NHS services available to you to provide the best health care for your needs:
Pharmacies
Your local pharmacy can provide treatments and advice for a wide range of complaints. They can also advise you on what to stock in your medicine cabinet. Find your nearest pharmacy on the NHS website.
Your GP
Your GP Surgery is still there to help you. You may have a telephone or online consultation before a face to face appointment but they will do everything they can to help you.
NHS 111
111 is the free NHS service which you should use if you need medical help or advice that isn’t an emergency. You can contact NHS 111 by using the free online service or by calling 111 from any telephone. 111 is available 24 hours a day, all year round and is staffed by trained advisors that will get you the help you need.
999
999 is for serious and life-threatening emergencies only. Life threatening conditions include things such as severe chest pains, breathing difficulties, choking, and serious bleeding injuries. At the A&E, the most seriously ill patients will be seen before those with less urgent conditions.
If you need any additional advice regarding what support is available for your health needs, please contact the team here at Advice Central.
The Veteran’s Gateway puts veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need – from healthcare and housing to employability, finances, personal relationships and more.
Most Popular
Benefits
Benefits Calculator – Find out what benefits you are entitled to.
Benefits over 50 – Find out about benefits in older age.
Benefits for those with disabilities – Info from the GOV.UK website about benefits if you have a disability.
Advice Guide Benefits Info – Compiled by the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Emergency Help
Dunstable Food Bank – Distribution food centres are held at four different churches in Dunstable.
Bedfordshire Food Aid Network – Helping by providing packs including basic foods.
The Need Project Central Bedfordshire – Provides food packages and support to Central Bedfordshire residents.
How We Help
Every week we help people in Central Bedfordshire to get the advice they need:
“I have been turned down for Attendance Allowance…”
JUNE’S HUSBAND MIKE HAS DEMENTIA AND SHE IS HIS MAIN CARER. MIKE HAD BEEN TURNED DOWN FOR ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE. THEY WERE REFERRED TO CITIZENS ADVICE FOR HELP WITH A MANDATORY RECONSIDERATION. MIKE HAS NOW BEEN AWARDED AA IN THE AMOUNT OF £55.10PW.
“My father needs a mobile dentist…”
IRAM’S FATHER FAISAL NEEDED SOME URGENT DENTAL TREATMENT BUT IS HOUSEBOUND. IRAM WAS GIVEN THE CONTACT DETAILS OF LOCAL MOBILE DENTISTS AND SO FAISAL HAS HAD HIS TEETH FIXED AND IS NO LONGER IN PAIN.
“What are my rights regarding maternity entitlement?”
JANE WANTED TO KNOW HER RIGHTS IN RELATION TO MATERNITY ENTITLEMENT. ADVICECENTRAL GAVE JANE INFORMATION TO ASSIST HER. JANE SAID “IT WAS AMAZING TO HAVE SUCH A PLEASANT SERVICE WITH SUCH HELPFUL STAFF WITHIN THE AREA!”
All names have been changed for privacy
Read More Case Studies
Call us on 0300 303 6666
We are open from from 10am to 3pm (Monday to Friday). Our team is trained to help guide you quickly to the help and advice you need.
Click Here to Make an Online Enquiry
If you need more detailed information or advice, we will arrange, with your permission, for one of our partner organisations to contact you.
Can You Help by Becoming a Volunteer?
We are looking for people to help us help residents of Central Bedfordshire get fast access to advice in many ways. If you have some time to spare and would like to help others then please do email us for more information.
Email us >>
This service is funded by Central Bedfordshire Council
Join us on Twitter, and Facebook
We’re busy posting the best links, videos, stories, photos and more for people across Central Bedfordshire.
Call us on 0300 303 6666
We Are Open During Office Hours (Monday to Friday). Our team is based in Dunstable and trained to help you quickly get the help and advice you need.
Click Here to Make an Enquiry
If you need more detailed information or advice, we will arrange, with your permission, for one of our partner organisations to contact you.