Advice during the festive period
Christmas means lots of bank holidays which means different opening times for things. But there’s still support available. Our in…
Read articleAdvice during the festive period
10th
Dec
Dec
December 10, 2024
Christmas means lots of bank holidays which means different opening times for things. But there’s still support available.
Our in person advice sessions will not operate over the festive period.
| Location | Last Session | Reopen |
| Barnard Castle | 18th December | 8th January |
| Bishop Auckland Town Council Offices | 16th December | 6th January |
| Angel Trust (Bishop Auckland) | 20th December | 10th January |
| Woodhouse Close Community Centre | 17th December | 7th January |
| Chester Le Street | 23rd December | 6th January |
| Cockfield YMCA | 18th December | 8th January |
| Glenroyd House (Consett) | 19th December | 9th January |
| Crook Civic Centre | 19th December | 7th January |
| Newton Aycliffe Library | 16th December | 6th January |
| The Pavilion (Peterlee) | 16th December | 6th January |
| Shildon Town Council Offices | 12th December | 9th January |
| Trimdon Village Hall | 18th December | 15th January |
| UTASS | 16th December | 6th January |
| Wingate Community Centre | 10th December | 7th January |
| Regional Advice Centres | Last Drop in | Reopen |
| Durham | 24th December* | 7th January |
| Seaham | 16th December | 6th January |
| Spennymoor | 23rd December* | 6th January |
| Stanley | 17th December | 7th January |
*Opening times 10am to 12pm
Getting in touch with Citizens Advice
Our services are closed on weekends and bank holidays and our Help to Claim service has different opening times over Christmas. If you need advice, check before you call.
Our local generalist adviceline will closed at 12 noon on 24th December, reopening on the 2nd January 10am.
For debt advice call; 0800 240 4420
| Christmas Eve | 9am to 5pm |
| Christmas Day | Closed |
| Boxing Day | Closed |
| 27th December | 9am to 5pm |
| 28th December | Closed |
| 29th December | Closed |
| 30th December | 9am to 5pm |
| New Years’ Eve | 9am to 5pm |
| New Years’ Day | Closed |
For help applying for your first Universal Credit claim call: 0800 144 8444
| Christmas Eve | 8am to 5pm |
| Christmas Day | Closed |
| Boxing Day | Closed |
| 27th December | Closed |
| 28th December | Closed |
| 29th December | Closed |
| 30th December | 8am to 6pm |
| New Years’ Eve | 8am to 5pm |
| New Years’ Day | Closed |
For goods and services purchased including energy advice call; 0808 233 1133
| Christmas Eve | 9am to 1pm |
| Christmas Day | Closed |
| Boxing Day | Closed |
| 27th December | 9am to 5pm |
| 28th December | Closed |
| 29th December | Closed |
| 30th December | 9am to 5pm |
| New Years’ Eve | 9am to 1pm |
| New Years’ Day | Closed |
Access information 24 hours a day though our website
If you’re worried about food
If you are in need of emergency food assistance during the festive period you maybe able to visit your local Foodbank
Bowburn – 26th December 5:30pm to 6:45pm
Chilton – 23rd December 10am to 12pm
Consett – 23rd, 24th & 31st Decmeber 10am to 2pm
Durham Elvet – 24th December 1:30pm to 3pm
Murton 28th December 10am to 12pm
Peterlee – 24th & 27th December 10:30am to 1:30pm
Shildon – 23rd December 12pm to 2pm
Spennymoor – 27th December 10am to 12pm
If you’re a victim of domestic violence
The National Domestic Abuse helpline is open 24 hours a day and can be contacted on 0808 2000 247. If you’re in an emergency situation you should call 999.
If you or someone you know needs emergency housing
If you’re worried about someone you’ve seen sleeping rough, you can connect them with local services that can support them through StreetLink. If you’re at risk of sleeping rough, you could get a place to stay in a hostel, night shelter, refuge or bed and breakfast if you’re homeless.
You can also get help from Shelter if you’re worried about housing.
If you or someone you know are finding things tough
This time of year can be hard. But there’s support available if you need it.
The Samaritans is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can be contacted on 116 123 or by email.
Switchboard is a helpline for LGBT+ people and is open 10am until 10pm everyday. You can call them on 0800 0119 100 or use their online chat.
Shout 85258 is a 24 hours a day text service which offers mental health support. You can contact them by texting SHOUT to 85258.
Other useful numbers
You might also find the following contact numbers useful.
The Silver Line — a helpline for older people ran by Age UK.
- Call 0800 4 70 80 90
- Open 24 hours a day
NSPCC Helpline — if you’re worried about a child.
- Call 0808 800 5000
- Open Mon — Fri 10am to 8pm
Power cut 105 — if you have a power cut
- Call 105
- Open 24 hours a day
- Call 0808 8020 133
- Open 24 hours a day
