People come to us with all sorts of issues.

You may have money, benefit, housing or employment problems. You may be thinking about legal advice, need help with health problems or have been misled by a dodgy advert.

You may be facing a crisis or just considering your options.

Our Goal is to help everyone find a way forward…

No matter who you are, what your situation is, and whatever problems you may face.

We help thousands of people each year across Wales who are affected by the housing emergency by offering free, confidential and independent advice. When necessary we constructively challenge on behalf of people to ensure they are properly assisted and to improve practice and learning. We work with people who use our services as equals. We provide information, advice and support to help people identify the best options to prevent homelessness, to find and keep a home and to help them take control of their own lives. We exist to defend the right to a safe home and fight the devastating impact the housing emergency has on people and society. We do this with campaigns, advice and support – and we never give up. We believe that home is everything.

As your regional Member of the Senedd, I am keen to help in whatever way I can. My team can provide advice or advocacy on a range of issues, including health and social services, environment, education, community safety, housing, local government and more.

Swansea Law Clinic benefits the local community by offering free initial advice about legal problems while giving our students the chance to work alongside practising lawyers to advise real clients.

Gomer Williams & Co Solicitors offer legal services in a range of areas, including Debt, Domestic Abuse, Family, Housing, Lasting Power of Attorney, and Legal matters.

They also offer legal services in Criminal Defence, Commercial Leases; Commercial/Property Development; Conveyancing; Court of Protection; Wills, Trusts and Probate; and Mediation.

Gomer Williams & Co Solicitors hold Legal Aid contacts for some of these areas, and also acts for Clients on a private basis, and offer a number of fixed fee packages on our website.

Qualia Law CIC provides free legal advice and support services, specifically dealing with:

-Mental Capacity
-Financial Safeguarding
-Court of Protection / Deputyship
-Lasting Power of Attorney

Qualia Law CIC is a certified member of AdviceUK and is funded by the national lottery, the charities aid foundation and UnLtd. Qualia Law receives referrals form Local Authorities across Wales, as well as organisations such as Citizens Advice, Age Cymru and Mencap.  However, advice and support can be accessed directly by individuals, families, carers or professionals (via direct or self-referrals).

Peter Lynn and Partners were formed in 1999 and are now one of the largest law firms in South Wales with offices throughout the Swansea Bay City Region and beyond. We provide legal services in a variety of different areas such as Divorce, Residential Conveyancing, Family Law, Personal Injury, Wills, Probate and Trusts, LPAs, Litigation, Employment, Sport, Company and Commercial. 

Our foodbank is a project founded by local churches and community groups, working together towards stopping hunger in our local area. We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. That’s why we provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in crisis. We are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

Matthew’s House exists to provide a warm and welcoming building in the heart of Swansea, with the expressed intention of being accessible for the homeless and most vulnerable in Swansea. We aim for it to have the feel of a home where hospitality is experienced by all who enter the doors, regardless of their background, beliefs or circumstances.

We have 7 expressions of giving Hope and these can be found on our website. We are “walk in” only and self referral only. Supporting around 300 individuals a week.

Our aim at the Old Mill is to provide physical and emotional support for people living with cancer.  We offer a range of complementary therapies free of charge to people living with cancer, although donations are always welcome. We also organise events, courses and coffee mornings for people affected by cancer in our centres across South & West Wales.

We provide free support services to people in Wales whose lives have been affected by cancer. Our benefits advice team provide complete benefits case work- from a check to relevant entitlements, to completing forms, making calls, and getting you the right benefits in place. We can apply for one off grants for clients and disabled parking badges. We can help challenge benefits decisions that may have been made incorrectly.

Me, Myself & I was formed in 2013 to provide emotional support, reassurance and opportunities for the person and/or their family living with dementia to socialise in a relaxed and friendly setting.

Services include day breaks, friendship circles, support and advice. 

Cancer Information and Support Services(CISS) offers free information, emotional support and one to one counselling to anyone affected by cancer, whether they are a patient, family member, carer or friend. Support is available to anyone aged 3+.

For those unable to attend one of our three counselling centres across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, our unique outreach service takes our support to a convenient location such as your home, workplace, GP surgery or other location.

Independent mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

IMHA is available for:

• People detained under the Mental Health Act or subject to a Community Treatment Order or Guardianship.
• Conditionally discharged restricted patients.
• Informal inpatients being treated or assessed for a mental health condition.

Community Advocacy

Independent Community Mental Health Advocacy is for people who are:

• Receiving secondary mental health services – usually meaning that your care is managed via a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT)
• Psychiatric inpatients requiring advocacy for issues not related to medication or treatment.
• Wishing to be reassessed by a CMHT for secondary services where their case has been closed with the last three years.

Home from Hospital Dementia Advocacy

Available in the Swansea Bay University Health Board area, supporting inpatients with dementia in the home discharge planning process.

Settled is a charity set up in 2019 to help EU citizens living in the UK whose rights were affected by Brexit. We worked hard to ensure as many as possible secured their immigration status before the deadline in June 2021, so that their lives here could continue. We now continue to provide information, advice and support to EU citizens. We can help with late applications to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), transitioning from Pre-Settled Status to Settled Status, exploring eligibility for family members to come to the UK, if your application has been refused or if you have problems accessing your digital status. We also help with advice on accessing welfare benefits, NHS care and housing support. Since March 2022, we also provide advice on the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine Scheme. This service is for Ukrainians in the UK or overseas, and hosts. We cover immigration rights and broader rights like housing and education – we do not assist in ‘matching’ directly. Settled is registered to give immigration advice at OISC Level 3. We have a small staff team of coordinators and lawyers, and a network of 100+ dedicated volunteers based throughout the UK. We speak over 20 European languages, including Romanes and have a dedicated Roma support service. Our advice for EU and Ukrainian citizens is totally free of charge and you can access our support by email or phone, details can be found on our website. We also manage interactive Facebook groups in a range of languages.

DOVE Workshop is an organisation that is committed to the provision of learning opportunities in our communities.  We work in partnership with the Neath Port Talbot Adult Learning Network who provide experienced and qualified tutors and have an excellent reputation for quality.

DOVE Workshop provides a number of services that are associated with learning, we offer opportunities for: volunteering, work experience, IT drop-in services, employment support, CV writing. We provide support with benefits, debt, budgeting, housing advice. We offer support with health & wellbeing, addressing issues such as food and fuel poverty.

There is childcare available to learners and working parents on-site at Dovecote Nursery.

Ystalyfera Development Trust’s objects are to relieve poverty and advance education and improve the health and wellbeing of persons in South Wales, with particular reference to the community of Ystalyfera and surrounding area, and with particular regard to such persons who are unemployed or suffering the consequences of economic disadvantage, by the provision of training and resources through such charitable means as may be deemed appropriate in order to contribute to the development of the area economically, socially and in spirit.

We have various classes/clubs here during the week and a weekly Coffee Morning.  

What do we do?

Local Area Coordinators are there for the whole community.

A Local Area Coordinator walks alongside you and your community while you:

• Make new connections and  friends
• Get involved in groups and activities
• Overcome personal challenges
• Get your voice heard by people in power and being involved in  improving public services
• Make your contribution to your community
• Think about what your good  life looks like

How does it work?

Anyone can meet with a Local Area Coordinator.

You could meet them in your local area or through an introduction from someone else.

You and your Local Area Coordinator will get to know each other on your terms, exploring your idea of a good life and plans to achieve it.

The amount of times you meet really depends on what you want to achieve.

They can help you to find out about your community and introduce you to friendly, helpful people within it.

They can help you explore and build on your strengths and can support you to share your skills and gifts with others. They can help you connect with formal services if that is what you feel you need.

Do they help groups too?

Local Area Coordinators are there for the whole community.

They can help local community groups to keep going and grow by introducing more people and supporting them with things like finding opportunities for funding.

Local Area Coordinators can also support people set up groups when someone has an idea to start something new.

What do we do?

We provide free impartial support and advice on welfare rights issues and financial inclusion to the residents of Swansea. We provide support and advice through a combination of face to face, telephone and e-mail advice to clients in Swansea who are referred into our service from a variety of different organisations. Clients are referred into our service through specific channels depending on their circumstances when they require advice and support. We then do a full assessment of the client’s circumstances to determine what advice/help that they require.

What do we do?

Welfare Rights help the residents of Neath Port Talbot maximise their income with welfare benefits. We can complete benefit checks, complete benefit forms and represent at appeal tribunals. We will give advice over the phone and see people face to face to complete forms via appointments at advice surgeries, Neath Civic Centre or a home visit if the client cannot get out.

What do we do?

We offer a welfare benefit advice service for people diagnosed with cancer and support for their families and carers. We assist with means tested and non means tested benefit applications, blue badge, Macmillan grants and DWP appeal tribunal representation.

What do we do?

Age Cymru West Glamorgan provides a range of help and assistance including our Information and Advice Service, Dementia Services, and Warm Homes services. Our work is focused on:

– Supporting older people to be able to access their rights and entitlements,

– Ensuring that carers have access to respite and support,

– Reducing the loneliness and isolation that many older people can experience

– Enabling older people to be independent, be resilient and able to enjoy a good quality of life

What do we do?

We provide a range of advice services for older people (aged 60+) including:

Home Assessment – Healthy Home Checks can assess what changes you need for safety, warmth, and accessibility.

Home Repairs – We sort out problems like damp, water leaks, loose carpet, broken windows, cracked gutters, loose steps, and more.

Home Safety – Keeping you safe by installing handrails, stairlifts, access ramps, wet rooms, key safes, lights, smoke alarms and more

Home Warmth – We can help you with boiler and central heating repairs, draught proofing, insulation, advice on bills, saving energy and more.

Disability Support – We offer specialist support if you have sight or hearing loss, live with dementia or have had a stroke.

Hospital to Home – You can get changes to your home, so you can leave hospital quickly and safely.

Building Advice – Guidance and technical support on your building work, including funding advice and safe contractors to use.

Handyperson Service – Dedicated service for helping you with simple maintenance and repair jobs in your home.

Advice and information – Tips and ideas on how you can stay safe and warm in your home all year round.

Signposting – Connecting you to other community groups and services who can help, plus referrals to local specialist services.

What do we do?

Re-engage is a charity that is positive about older age and committed to fighting loneliness so that people can have social lives and friendship groups however old they are.  We inspire and enable meaningful connections and shared experiences within communities across the UK for people over 75 facing loneliness and social isolation. 

Our volunteers work together to create better communities and help to enrich the lives of our members by giving them something to look forward to. 

Older people who may have felt very alone, now feel valued as individuals, continue to form friendships, and have groups that give support. We make sure that people know they are important well into old age.

Respectful, determined, warm, pioneering, and local: we are Re-engage and we are bringing generations together.

What do we do?

1. Empowerment Through Employability & Entrepreneurship:
   -Tailored Support -Personalized Coaching -Work Opportunities
2. Combating Poverty:
   -Foodbank Service -Monthly Parcels
3. Holistic Support:
   -Comprehensive Assistance -Mental Wellness -Community Building
4. Championing Climate Justice & Sustainability:
   -Climate Awareness -Proactive Advocacy – Disproportionate Impact
5. Youth Empowerment:
   -Diverse Workforce -Nurturing Passion -Social Change
6. Advocacy & Influencing:
    -Systemic Change -Enduring Reforms -Transformative Vision

What do we do?

Communities For Work + can help with personalised employment action plans, training to meet your needs, CV development , help with interview skills, support with job applications, work experience, placements, apprenticeships and job opportunities.

What do we do?

Baby Basics supports vulnerable mothers and their new-born babies. We work with professional bodies to provide a Moses basket starter pack. A starter pack contains a safe bed and bedding for baby to sleep, toiletries such as nappies, wipes, maternity pads, blankets, towels, and baby clothes.

Mixtup is a youth club for 11-25 year olds with mixed abilities.

We have several youth club sessions throughout the month as well as trips and individual support.

Please note we do currently have a long waiting list to join. 

What do we do?

Interplay provides access to play, leisure and social opportunities for children and young people with additional needs aged 4-25 who find it difficult to access the same mainstream play, leisure and social activities as their peers.

What do we do?

Swansea Veterans’ Hub (SVH) is a Community Interest Company (CIC), a not-for-profit organisation and everything we do is on an unpaid voluntary basis. The Hub operates in partnership with several local organisations to provide mental health and wellbeing support and signposting for veterans and their families.

What do we do?

Cwrt Herbert Colts Inclusion are aligned with Cwrt Herbert Colts FC and provide football for anyone aged 16 or over with a diagnosed disability or Mental Health conditions.

Sessions are held by FAW Qualified Coaches and aims to provide a fun, social environment which is key to our project.

What do we do?

Swansea Carers Centre is a specialist voluntary organisation providing support to carers and former carers across Swansea. We support people who care for those with an illness or disability including learning disability, mental health problems, physical disability, dementia and other long term limiting illnesses. 

What do we do?

We are a small charity that supports unpaid carers across Neath Port Talbot. Neath Port Talbot Carers Service provides confidential advice to all unpaid carers. Some of the ways we could support you are: information, advice & assistance, carers assessment, welfare benefit advice/support, training, emotional wellbeing workshops, counselling, sitting service low & high level, breaks from caring and grants.