{
  "$schema": "https://sorteduk.uk/data/schema/uk-helplines.json",
  "name": "SortedUK UK Helplines Directory",
  "description": "Verified UK helplines for crisis, money, housing, energy, health, family, disability, legal, work, scams, older people, and abuse. Updated monthly. Sourced to published charity records, FCA registers and GOV.UK.",
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "attribution": "Data: SortedUK (https://sorteduk.uk)",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-04",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "source_url": "https://sorteduk.uk/get-help",
  "count": 30,
  "helplines": [
    {
      "id": "samaritans",
      "name": "Samaritans",
      "category": "crisis",
      "phone": "116 123",
      "phone_e164": "+44116123",
      "hours": "24/7",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free emotional support for anyone in distress. Anonymous.",
      "url": "https://www.samaritans.org",
      "charity_number": "219432",
      "country": "UK",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "stepchange",
      "name": "StepChange Debt Charity",
      "category": "money-debt",
      "phone": "0800 138 1111",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-4pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "UK's largest free FCA-authorised debt charity. Debt Management Plans, Debt Relief Orders, budgeting.",
      "url": "https://www.stepchange.org",
      "charity_number": "1016630",
      "fca_number": "729731",
      "country": "UK",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "citizens-advice",
      "name": "Citizens Advice",
      "category": "money-debt",
      "phone": "0800 144 8848",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 8am-7pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free, confidential advice on benefits, debt, housing, employment, consumer rights.",
      "url": "https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk",
      "charity_number": "279057",
      "country": "England, Wales, NI",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "shelter",
      "name": "Shelter",
      "category": "housing",
      "phone": "0808 800 4444",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, weekends 9am-5pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free housing advice — eviction, repairs, homelessness, deposits.",
      "url": "https://www.shelter.org.uk",
      "charity_number": "263710",
      "country": "England, Scotland",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "nhs-111",
      "name": "NHS 111",
      "category": "health",
      "phone": "111",
      "hours": "24/7",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Urgent NHS medical help when it's not 999.",
      "url": "https://111.nhs.uk",
      "country": "England, Scotland, Wales",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "refuge",
      "name": "Refuge — National Domestic Abuse Helpline",
      "category": "abuse-safety",
      "phone": "0808 2000 247",
      "hours": "24/7",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free, confidential support for women experiencing domestic abuse.",
      "url": "https://www.refuge.org.uk",
      "charity_number": "277424",
      "country": "UK",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "respect-men",
      "name": "Respect Men's Advice Line",
      "category": "abuse-safety",
      "phone": "0808 8010327",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, weekends 9am-5pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Support for men experiencing domestic abuse.",
      "url": "https://mensadviceline.org.uk",
      "charity_number": "1141636",
      "country": "UK",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "national-debtline",
      "name": "National Debtline",
      "category": "money-debt",
      "phone": "0808 808 4000",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9:30am-1pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free, confidential debt advice. Run by the Money Advice Trust.",
      "url": "https://nationaldebtline.org",
      "charity_number": "1099506",
      "fca_number": "606903",
      "country": "England, Wales, Scotland (Business Debtline)",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "moneyhelper",
      "name": "MoneyHelper",
      "category": "money-debt",
      "phone": "0800 138 7777",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 8am-6pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "UK government-backed money + pensions guidance. Free, impartial.",
      "url": "https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk",
      "country": "UK",
      "operator": "Money and Pensions Service (MaPS)",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "turn2us",
      "name": "Turn2us",
      "category": "money-debt",
      "phone": "0808 802 2000",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 9am-5pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Benefits and charity grants finder for UK households in financial need.",
      "url": "https://www.turn2us.org.uk",
      "charity_number": "207766",
      "country": "UK",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "age-uk",
      "name": "Age UK Advice Line",
      "category": "older-people",
      "phone": "0800 678 1602",
      "hours": "8am-7pm daily",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free national advice for older people — benefits, care, health, money.",
      "url": "https://www.ageuk.org.uk",
      "charity_number": "1128267",
      "country": "England",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "carers-uk",
      "name": "Carers UK Helpline",
      "category": "family",
      "phone": "0808 808 7777",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 9am-6pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free advice for unpaid carers — Carer's Allowance, benefits, rights.",
      "url": "https://www.carersuk.org",
      "charity_number": "246329",
      "country": "UK",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "action-fraud",
      "name": "Action Fraud",
      "category": "scams-fraud",
      "phone": "0300 123 2040",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 8am-8pm",
      "free": false,
      "description": "UK national reporting centre for fraud + cyber crime. Run by City of London Police.",
      "url": "https://www.actionfraud.police.uk",
      "country": "England, Wales, NI",
      "operator": "City of London Police",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "fca-scamsmart",
      "name": "FCA ScamSmart",
      "category": "scams-fraud",
      "phone": "0800 111 6768",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-1pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "FCA-run consumer helpline for financial scam concerns.",
      "url": "https://www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart",
      "country": "UK",
      "operator": "Financial Conduct Authority",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "energy-ombudsman",
      "name": "Energy Ombudsman",
      "category": "energy-bills",
      "phone": "0330 440 1624",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-1pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free, independent dispute resolution for UK energy + heat network complaints.",
      "url": "https://www.energyombudsman.org",
      "country": "UK",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "housing-ombudsman",
      "name": "Housing Ombudsman Service",
      "category": "housing",
      "phone": "0300 111 3000",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 9am-5pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Independent ombudsman for social housing complaints (council + housing association).",
      "url": "https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk",
      "country": "England",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "fos",
      "name": "Financial Ombudsman Service",
      "category": "money-debt",
      "phone": "0800 023 4567",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 9am-1pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free dispute resolution for UK financial services complaints. Awards up to £445,000.",
      "url": "https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk",
      "country": "UK",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "lgsco",
      "name": "Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman",
      "category": "council-services",
      "phone": "0300 061 0614",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 10am-4pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Independent ombudsman for council services + adult social care complaints.",
      "url": "https://www.lgo.org.uk",
      "country": "England",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "childline",
      "name": "Childline",
      "category": "family",
      "phone": "0800 1111",
      "hours": "24/7",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free, confidential support for children + young people under 19. Anonymous.",
      "url": "https://www.childline.org.uk",
      "charity_number": "216401",
      "country": "UK",
      "operator": "NSPCC",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "shout",
      "name": "Shout — UK Crisis Text Line",
      "category": "crisis",
      "phone": "Text 85258",
      "hours": "24/7",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free, confidential, 24/7 text support for anyone in crisis. Anonymous.",
      "url": "https://giveusashout.org",
      "charity_number": "1175837",
      "country": "UK",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "papyrus",
      "name": "Papyrus HOPELINE247",
      "category": "crisis",
      "phone": "0800 068 4141",
      "hours": "24/7",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free, confidential support for under-35s having thoughts of suicide.",
      "url": "https://www.papyrus-uk.org",
      "charity_number": "1070896",
      "country": "UK",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "calm",
      "name": "CALM — Campaign Against Living Miserably",
      "category": "crisis",
      "phone": "0800 58 58 58",
      "hours": "5pm-midnight daily",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free, confidential support for anyone struggling, particularly men.",
      "url": "https://www.thecalmzone.net",
      "charity_number": "1110621",
      "country": "UK",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "mind-infoline",
      "name": "Mind Infoline",
      "category": "crisis",
      "phone": "0300 123 3393",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 9am-6pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Confidential mental health information + support.",
      "url": "https://www.mind.org.uk",
      "charity_number": "219830",
      "country": "England, Wales",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "acas",
      "name": "Acas Helpline",
      "category": "work",
      "phone": "0300 123 1100",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 8am-6pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free, impartial UK employment law advice for workers + employers.",
      "url": "https://www.acas.org.uk",
      "country": "UK",
      "operator": "Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "dwp-uc",
      "name": "DWP Universal Credit Helpline",
      "category": "money-debt",
      "phone": "0800 328 5644",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 8am-6pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "UK government Universal Credit support.",
      "url": "https://www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus",
      "country": "UK",
      "operator": "Department for Work and Pensions",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "pension-credit",
      "name": "DWP Pension Credit Claim Line",
      "category": "money-debt",
      "phone": "0800 99 1234",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 8am-6pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Claim Pension Credit — average £4,200/yr top-up for low-income UK pensioners.",
      "url": "https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit",
      "country": "UK",
      "operator": "DWP",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "scope",
      "name": "Scope Disability Helpline",
      "category": "disability",
      "phone": "0808 800 3333",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 9am-5pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free disability advice + support — benefits, equipment, rights.",
      "url": "https://www.scope.org.uk",
      "charity_number": "208231",
      "country": "England, Wales",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "trussell-trust",
      "name": "Trussell Trust — Food Bank Helpline",
      "category": "food-crisis",
      "phone": "0808 208 2138",
      "hours": "Mon-Fri 9am-5pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Helpline for finding emergency food bank support across the UK.",
      "url": "https://www.trussell.org.uk",
      "charity_number": "1110522",
      "country": "UK",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "cruse",
      "name": "Cruse Bereavement Support",
      "category": "family",
      "phone": "0808 808 1677",
      "hours": "Mon, Tue, Thu 9:30am-5pm; Wed 9:30am-8pm; Fri 9:30am-5pm",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Free, confidential bereavement support.",
      "url": "https://www.cruse.org.uk",
      "charity_number": "208078",
      "country": "England, Wales, NI",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    },
    {
      "id": "999",
      "name": "Emergency Services",
      "category": "crisis",
      "phone": "999",
      "hours": "24/7",
      "free": true,
      "description": "Immediate threat to life — Police, Fire, Ambulance, Coastguard.",
      "url": "https://www.gov.uk/contact-police",
      "country": "UK",
      "verified": "2026-06-04"
    }
  ]
}