PMA appreciate that there will be times when learners, their family, friends or employers may be looking for extra help or support in their personal or professional lives.

We signpost to a range of professional services that you may find beneficial to contact.

The PMA is continuing to support our learners to complete their apprenticeships during the pandemic. 

Use the link below to find out more about:

  • the temporary flexibilities which have been applied during the coronavirus (COVD-19) outbreak.

  • how and when apprentices can safely train and undertake an assessment in the workplace and educational and assessment settings.

Mental Health Support

Remploy can help to support Apprentices with mental health conditions who are finding it difficult to attend work or concentrate on that or their Apprenticeship.

Remploy could provide personal, emotional and wellbeing support for 6 months and help the employer to understand how they can provide support or adjustments.

Contact Details: 

0300 456 8210
www.remploy.co.uk
apprentices@remploy.co.uk

Rethink Mental Illness, the mental health charity – Help & support for people affected by mental illness.

No one should face mental illness alone. Did you know you can become a member for as little as £6 a year? Membership is a great way to support our work and become part of our movement. Together we can challenge attitudes and change lives for everyone affected by mental illness.

Contact Details: 

0121 522 7007
www.rethink.org

MIND are also a mental health charity who can provide information and advice to help people make choices about treatment, understand their rights and reach out to sources of support.

Contact Details: 

0300 123 3393
Text: 86463
www.mind.org.uk

Samaritans offer a safe place for anyone to call for a chat, at any time about whatever’s getting you down. People don’t need to feel suicidal to call – Samaritans are there to listen.

Find out why our service works and what you can expect when contacting us.

If you have any concerns about our service before you try it, hear from others about how we’ve helped them. Please don’t suffer alone.

Contact Details: 

Whatever you’re going through, call us free any time, from any phone on 116 123.
www.samaritans.org
supportercare@samaritans.org

Find out how Able Futures mental health specialists can help you cope with any difficulties that are affecting your focus
and time at work. Able Futures could help you to have more good days and tackle issues such as stress, depression and anxiety.

You can find out more here.

Contact Details: 

Call free on 0800 321 3137.

Lines are open 8am to 10.30pm, Monday to Friday or contact us online https://able-futures.co.uk/contact-us

Losing track of the world around you when you gamble?

When playing online gambling games, it’s easy to lose track of time and money and get lost in the game.

Check out our advice and support to stay in control of your gambling.

Contact Details: 

Freephone 24-7 National Gambling Helpline :0808 8020 133

Find out more at: www.begambleaware.org/

Addiction Support

Gamblers Anonymous offers various help for compulsive gamblers including a forum, chat room, literature, meetings, advice, guidance and friendship to help solve the problems they have in common.

Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to do the same.

Contact Details: 

www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk

Drinkaware is an independent charity working to reduce alcohol misuse and harm in the UK – they provide help and information to enable people to make better choices about their drinking habits.

Drinkaware is an independent charity working to reduce alcohol misuse and harm in the UK. We’re here to help people make better choices about drinking.

Contact Details: 

020 7766 9900
Drinkline – 0300 123 1110 (confidential)
www.drinkaware.co.uk
contact@drinkaware.co.uk

Confidential, honest information and advice site for everything drugs related – the highs, the lows and everything in between, including guidance on the drug, the effects, the risks and the law as well as what to do in an emergency.

Find out everything you need to know about drugs, their effects and the law. Talk to Frank for facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol today.

Contact Details: 

0300 123 6600
Text: 82111
www.talktofrank.com

Abuse & Victim Support

Childline is aimed at children and young people and provide support and guidance to those facing predominantly bullying or abuse.

Advice is also given on a range of other areas such as friends, relationships, sex, sexting, home and families, school, college and work. Get help and advice about a wide range of issues, call us on 0800 1111, talk to a counsellor online, send Childline an email or post on the message boards.

Contact Details: 

0800 1111
www.childline.org.uk

Victim Support help people to feel safer and find the strength to move beyond crime, which includes domestic abuse and victims of crime. The support is free, confidential and tailored to the needs of the victim.

Contact Details: 

0808 1689 111
www.victimsupport.org.uk
Online form is also available

Eating Disorder Support

The National Centre for Eating Disorders (NCFED) provide guidance and advice on everything people need to know about eating disorders, as well as treatment and recovery, help for carers, personal assessments (which can be face-to-face, by phone or skype) and an information service on areas such as body image, about eating disorders and topical issues for sufferers and carers.

Contact Details: 

0845 838 2040
www.eating-disorders.org.uk

Employment Support

The National Careers Service provide information, advice and guidance to help people make decisions on their learning, training and work. Online tools are available to help create a CV, undertake a Skills Health Check and action plan future careers.

Contact Details: 

0800 100 900
Text: 07766 413219
www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
Online chat and email facility also available

The HSE provide advice and guidance on all things health, safety and welfare related in line with current legislation. Policies, procedures, processes, myth busters and toolkits as well as an online ‘shop’ are all available for employers and employees to access.

Contact Details: 

0300 003 1647
www.hse.gov.uk
Online forms are also available

ACAS provides a range of expert and impartial advice and guidance to both employers and employees about a range of work-related topics including employment legislation. ACAS stands for Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. Lots of guidance and resource tools are also available online.

Contact Details: 

0300 123 1100
www.acas.org.uk
Online help also available

Financial Support

The Money Advice Service provide free and impartial money advice, set up by the government, to provide support by phone or online. Other tools include an online savings calculator, budget planner, mortgage calculator, pension planner, benefits and letter templates.

Contact Details: 

0800 138 7777
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk
Webchat also available online

Independent Financial Solutions (IFS) offer unbiased advice and guidance on a range of private, professional and corporate planning to both employers and employees, i.e. pensions advice, mortgages, medical cover, investments, tax planning, employee benefits and life cover – nationally.

Contact Details: 

0800 980 4136
www.ifsnet.co.uk
Online email form is also available

Advice and Guidance

The Citizens Advice can provide independent free advice on a range of topics, including benefits, work, debt and money, consumer, family, housing, law and courts, immigration and health. Advice can be sought online, by phone or in person at a centre around the country.

Contact Details: 

03444 111 444
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
webchat is also available

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) provide information, advice and guidance on equality legislation, human rights and discrimination in employment or when using goods or services – with particular reference to the Equality Act 2010.

Contact Details: 

Advice and support via the Equality Advisory and Support Service:
0808 800 0082

The Mankind Initiative was the first charity in GB to support male victims of domestic abuse – they provide services and support for male victims and campaign to ensure that male victims receive the support they need from other organisations.

Their aim is to ensure all male victims of domestic abuse (and their children) are supported to enable them to escape from the situation they’re in. 1 in 6 men will be a victim of domestic abuse in their lifetime – you are not to blame, you are not weak, you are not alone.

Contact Details: 

01825 334244 – provides listening support as well as information and signposting.

SupportLine provides a confidential telephone helpline offering emotional support to any individual on any issue.

The Helpline is primarily a preventative service and aims to support people before they reach the point of crisis. It is particularly aimed at those who are socially isolated, vulnerable, at risk groups and victims of any form of abuse. There are numerous sources of advice and guidance on this website – including for stalking, harassment, anxiety, bereavement, bullying, child abuse, debt, finance, depression, forced marriage, hate crime, gender identity, homelessness, loneliness, offenders and rehabilitation, self-harm, terminal illness, trauma – and many others.

Contact Details: 

01708 765200
www.supportline.org.uk
info@supportline.org.uk

Housing Support

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness – they provide advice, support and legal services – particularly around homelessness, private renting, tenancy deposits, repossessions, evictions, repairs, housing benefit and council housing. Support can be provided either face-to-face, online chat or through a national helpline which is open 365 days a year.

Contact Details: 

https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help
In an emergency call 0808 1644 660

Centrepoint are an organisation that provides housing and support to homeless young people, aged 16-25, around London, Manchester, Yorkshire, the North East and through partnerships all over the UK. Recent research estimates that at least 150,000 young people across England and Wales have approached local authorities for help because they are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Contact Details: 

0808 800 0661
Centrepoint can be contacted via online form here: www.centrepoint.org.uk/youth-homelessness/get-help-now/

Emergency Housing Advice

The council must help if you’re legally homeless, but how much depends on your eligibility, your level of need and whether it is deemed that your homelessness is your fault.

Single Parent Families Support

Gingerbread is a leading charity organisation seeking to support single parent families by providing support, advice and campaigning for single mums and dads to help them meet their family’s needs. They can provide support to those experiencing separation or bereavement, or sorting out work or childcare. There are a number of ways to get in touch with Gingerbread, including an online form and forum.

Contact Details: 

Helpline: 0808 802 0925
www.gingerbread.org.uk

Stalking Support

This is a charity organisation established following the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh. They run a National Stalking Helpline available on 0808 802 0300 – calls are free from all landlines and many network providers (O2, Orange, TMobile, Three (3), Virgin and Vodafone). There is also a wealth of information on their website to support and signpost victims of stalking.

Contact Details: 

https://www.suzylamplugh.org

The NSS is a registered charity offering advice and information to people affected by stalking, enabling early recognition and the opportunity to seek help. This website does not offer 1:1 help or a helpline, but does provide case studies, guidance on staying safe and a range of useful contacts for specialist organisations and helplines covering all forms of abuse including domestic violence, rape crisis, specialist mens advice organisations and surviving child abuse.

Contact Details: 

www.scaredofsomeone.org