My office is now closed for the festive season and my team and I would like to wish you a very restful holiday. We will be out of the office until 06 January 2025. My inbox will be monitored for urgent correspondence over this period.
If you need help and support over the holidays, you are not alone. Below you can access a full list of organisations available to support you, your friends, and family.
For access to emergency food provision in the form of a food parcel, please contact the food bank in your area:
Sheerness (Family Food Bank)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01795 889233
Closed from 13:00 on Dec 24th until 27th, and from 13:00 on Dec 31st until Jan 2nd.
Sittingbourne (Swale Food Bank)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07486 370709
Diversity House
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01795 420455
Find an Urgent Treatment Centre | Use the Right Service
Bell Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 4DT
Phone: 01795 418300
Open every day: 08:00 – 20:00
Plover Road, Minster On Sea, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 3LT
Phone: 01795 879100
Open every day: 08:00 – 18:00,
Both are minor injuries units which offer a walk-in service. However, we advise you to call NHS 111 before you travel to make sure you are directed to the most appropriate service for you. They may direct you to another service if are unable to treat you at this centre.
Refuse and food waste collections will be rescheduled over Christmas and the New Year. For more information, please see the Swale Borough Council website.
Citizens Advice
Phone: 0808 278 7979
Universal Credit
Phone: 0800 328 5644
RSPCA
Phone: 0300 123 4999
Drinkline – national alcohol helpline
Phone: 0300 123 1110
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0800 917 7650
Email: [email protected]
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212
FRANK Drugs Helpline
Phone: 0300 123 6600
GamCare – gambling harm support
Phone: 0808 8020 133
Providing food and company in Sheerness on Christmas day and Boxing Day. Contact 07922609908 for further information.
You can call the 24-hour national hotline on 0808 2000 247.
Sateda is a domestic abuse charity in Swale. They support women and children to escape and heal from the violence and trauma they experience from the person they should feel safest with.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01795 417251
Open Dec 23rd 10:00-14:00, then back to normal from Jan 2nd.
Contact a Swale Borough Council service – Housing
If you’re homeless tonight and need urgent help, you can call 01795 417485 between 9am and 12:30pm, Monday to Friday.
To speak to a member of the team regarding your housing options, please contact via the link above. You can also find information at swale.adviceaid.uk.
Please be aware SBC Housing offices will be closed from 12:30pm, 24th December 2024 until 9am, 2nd January 2025. During this closure, if you are homeless, please call the out of hours line on 01795 417711.
Phone: 0808 800 4444
Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm (closed bank holidays)
Phone: 01795 417555
Phone: 01795 417538
If you think someone is in immediate danger, the best thing to do is call 999 for the emergency services.
Kent Contact Centre staff are available to take emergency calls only on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 27 December and New Year’s Day. If your enquiry is not urgent you will be able to contact them from 9am on Monday 30 December and Tuesday 31 December. They return to normal hours from 2 January.
The Kent Support and Assistance Service is closed from 3pm on 24 December until 9am on 28 December. They are also unavailable on New Year’s Day and will reopen on 2 January. If you need urgent assistance during this time, contact the Social Services line on 03000 41 91 91.
Phone: 0808 800 5000
Email: [email protected]
Helpline is currently available 10am–4pm Monday to Friday. You can still email at any time for free. You don’t have to say who you are.
If you think a child is in immediate danger, please call the police on 999 straight away.
Childline
A helpline for children – call 0800 1111.
Medway Maritime Hospital, Windmill Road, Gillingham, ME7 5NY
Phone: 07850 901 151 or 07808 795 036
Email: [email protected]
Opening hours: 24 hours a day (including weekends and bank holidays).
Support for people with mental health issues
Call 116 123 for free or email [email protected] – note that email may take a little while to get a response.
Phone: 01795 508222
Smell gas? Call the emergency number provided by the National Grid: 0800 111 999.
Report a power cut by calling UK Power Networks at 0800 31 63 105.
For water leaks, contact Southern Water 0330 303 0368.
If you’re concerned about flooding, call Floodline at 0345 988 1188 or you can also report a flood online.