Young Adults Employment Hub – Support Hub
Within this section
- Signposting Guide
- Information about organisations in Southampton that support young people
- Youth provision
Jump to the relevant section:
Content warning: this page contains reference to sexual and domestic violence
Signposting Guide
Access to Work
The Government’s Access to Work grant scheme provides support to enable people with disabilities or health conditions start a new job or stay in work. The support offered is based on individual needs, and could include a grant to help cover the costs of practical support in the workplace or for those working from home.
An Access to Work grant does not need to be paid back and could pay for a range of different support, including:
- Support workers
- Specialist equipment
- Help with travel costs to work and back
- Mental health support
If your health condition requires you to work from home sometimes, Access to Work could also help with adjustments needed at home to help you stay in work.
To check if you are eligible and how to apply visit jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/access-to-work where you will find further information on Access to Work.
Find out more: www.gov.uk/access-to-work
Easy-read Access to Work information
Access to Work during COVID-19
Access to Work Mental Health Support Service
This confidential service delivered by Remploy is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and is available at no charge to any employees with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues affecting their work.
If you or your colleagues would like support, you can call now on 0300 456 8114 or email a2wmhss@remploy.co.uk
Advocacy
Choices Advocacy are a local charity providing independent advocacy and person centred planning for people living in Hampshire and Southampton.
Spectrum provide help and advice to Disabled People on a wide range of issues, such as housing and debt issues.
VoiceAbility support people to be heard in decisions about their health, care and wellbeing
Benefits
Citizens Advice Bureau offer impartial advice around benefits
Understanding Universal Credit explains what Universal Credit means for you at every stage in a simple and easy to understand way
SARC offers free, impartial and confidential advice and representation around benefits, employment and discrimination for people living in Southampton (SO14-SO19)
Welfare Rights and Money Advice from Southampton City Council
Benefits Calculators
DWP Benefits Checker is a new benefits checking tool to help people who think they might be eligible for Universal Credit. It takes a few minutes, and doesn’t require any detailed information, nor does it process or store personal data. It is an easy first step for anyone who is unsure whether they want to start a claim.
EntitledTo provides an estimate of your entitlement to benefits, tax credits and Universal Credit
Turn2Us calculate entitlement to means tested benefits and carers allowance
Support for Carers
Carers in Southampton is a free service for anyone giving their time, unpaid, to look after a family member, friend or neighbour
- The Carers Card shows you are an unpaid carer and gives you discounts and will not affect your benefits. To qualify you must live at an SO14-SO19 postcode, be over 18 and caring (unpaid) for an adult. Parent carers of under 18 and young carers are also eligible but will be asked screening questions over the phone
Help and Advice from Carers UK
Convictions and Offending
Southampton Youth Offending Service
Nacro Criminal Record Support Service
Unlock Information Hub – self-help information on a range of issues that having a criminal record can affect
Unlock Disclosure Calculator – this calculator establishes when criminal convictions become “spent” under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
What’s the difference between spent and unspent convictions?
COVID-19 Support
Signposting to up to date information about benefits, employment and business support around Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do
- NHS Guidance – www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
- Coronavirus and Claiming Benefits – www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus
- Your Covid Recovery – advice from the NHS if you’ve had Covid-19 and are now recovering: www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/your-road-to-recovery/returning-to-work
- COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19 – GOV.UK
- Find a walk-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site – NHS
Local Support Services in Southampton
- SO:Linked – advice, support and signposting to local COVID-19 support services: www.solinked.org.uk
- Southampton City Council – updates on key council services: www.southampton.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid19
- Find out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus (COVID-19): www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
Debt
Money Advice Service give free and impartial money advice, set up by government. Call them on 0800 138 7777 Monday to Friday 8am-6pm
Frontline Debt Advice provide expert help to people under the burden of debt
National Debtline is a charity that gives free and independent debt advice over the phone and online. Use their online tool to get debt help, Webchat with an adviser, Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm and Saturday 9:30 am – 1pm or Email for advice.
Christians Against Poverty help anyone in debt. You can also call them on 0800 328 0006
Southampton City Council Dealing with Debt Toolkit will guide you through the steps that you can take to sort out your money problems. There is no easy answer but acting now will stop the situation from getting worse.
Coping with money worries and job uncertainty during COVID-19 – from Every Mind Matters
Disability Confident
The Disability Confident scheme aims to help employers attract, recruit and retain disabled workers. Many Disability Confident employers will show the Disability Confident logo on their website and job adverts to show that they are committed to equality in the workplace.
The government has produced a list of all the employers signed up to the scheme: List of Disability Confident employers
Documents, ID and Right to Work
National Insurance General Enquiries
- Telephone: 0300 200 3500
Right to Work Documents – employers will ask to see evidence of these documents to prove you have the right to live and work in the UK
Order a replacement birth certificate – Southampton Registration Services are only able to supply certificates for births, deaths, marriages or civil partnerships that took place within the Southampton City Boundary since 1 July 1837.
Apply for a CitizenCard, proof of ID endorsed by the Home Office, Police, SIA and retailers.
UK NARIC can help you to evidence the level of your overseas qualification for employment, study, professional registration or another reason
Domestic Violence
The Police: call the UK police non-emergency number, 101, if you need support or advice from the police and it’s not an emergency. If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, use our textphone service on 18001 101.
If you are in danger or have immediate fears for your safety or the safety of your loved ones, call 999
Yellow Door – 023 8063 6313 – a friendly, non-judgemental charity specialising in supporting people who have experienced, or are at risk of domestic or sexual abuse.
“At Yellow Door we are able to support young people who have experienced domestic and/or sexual abuse. If you need someone to talk to, please reach out. For information about counselling or our groups, contact 02380 636 312 / therapies@yellowdoor.org.uk“
IDASH – 0330 0165 112 – A confidential help service for women, men, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse in Hampshire.
Pippa – 02380 832329 – specialist sexual and domestic services in Southampton.
National helplines
National Centre for Domestic Violence
Specialises in assistance to get emergency injunctions from being further abused.
Phone: 0800 970 2070
Women’s Aid Domestic Violence Helpline
Free 24-hour national helpline run by Women’s Aid and Refuge.
Phone: 0808 2000 247
Men’s Advice Line
Confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse.
Phone: 0808 801 0327
National LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline
Emotional and practical support for LGBT+ people.
Phone: 0800 999 5428
National Stalking Helpline
Guidance on the law, how to report stalking, gathering evidence, staying safe and reducing the risk.
Phone: 0808 802 0300
Victim Support
Free and confidential help to victims of crime, witnesses, their family and friends.
Phone: 0808 1689 111
Housing and Homelessness
Housing
Homegroup – Free virtual support and qualified advice on benefits, housing, debts, money management, accessing community services. Call 0191 731 1958 or email SouthamptonHRS@homegroup.org.uk
Homelessness
Homelessness Advice and Housing Options
Useful contacts
- 023 8083 2327 (during office hours)
- 023 8023 3344 (out of hours)
- homelessness.advice@southampton.gov.uk
- streethomeless@southampton.gov.uk
Libraries
Southampton Library Service is more than just books. They can offer you a space to work on job applications, IT and printing facilities and much more!
- Bitterne Library
- Central Library
- Lordshill Library
- Portswood Library
- Shirley Library
- Woolston Library
- Burgess Road Library
- Cobbett Hub and Library
- Millbrook Community Library
- Thornhill Community Library
- YMCA Weston Library
Join a library – Membership of Southampton City Libraries is free and open to all. You can join the library online or at any branch by presenting proof of your name and current address.
Learn online – the digital library can help you to access language courses, driving test practice, online training and research
Computers, Wi-Fi and Printing – You can use one of the library computers free for 4 hours per day. Printing, photocopying and scanning (charges apply) facilities are available at most libraries. All of Southampton’s libraries have free Wi-Fi.
Library of Sanctuary – Southampton City Libraries are only the third library service in the country to be awarded the prestigious Library of Sanctuary, recognising Southampton’s libraries as places that provide a safe and welcoming space for people seeking sanctuary.
Parenting
Southampton Information Directory – information on Family Support and Parenting
SureStart Children’s Centres – find out about the support and training on offer from SureStart centres in the city on their Facebook pages
- East Locality (Bitterne, Thornhill, Harefield, Weston, Woolston)
- Central Locality (City Centre, Northam, St. Mary’s, Golden Grove)
- West Locality (Millbrook, Redbridge, Shirley, Lordshill)
Southampton Family Trust seeks to provide a focus for relationship building and support in the local area
NCT Southampton welcomes every new parent. They offer parents and parents-to-be support, services and put on great events. Southampton NCT covers the postcodes SO14-SO19, SO30 & SO31.
PATH provides information and support to parents and parents-to-be affected by Perinatal Mental Health. Over the next 2 years, they will be developing an online hub of resources around parenting, mental health and employment
No Limits are offering employability support for young lone parents in Southampton. This will be achieved through one-to-one case held support. We will be offering support to young lone parents who are economically inactive or unemployed to help them into employment, education or training. Helping them to increase confidence and remove barriers, including helping them to access childcare.
If you would like to refer someone please use this link Refer a young person – No Limits (nolimitshelp.org.uk)
Sexuality and Gender
Breakout Youth provide safe, confidential advice and support to LGBTQ+ young people in Southampton, Basingstoke, Romsey, Andover, New Forest, Isle of Wight and East Hampshire.
FFLAG are a national voluntary organisation and charity dedicated to supporting families and their LGBT+ loved ones.
Chrysalis are a charity supporting transgender and questioning people, their families and close friends.
LGBT Foundation have a helpline staffed by a team of dedicated staff and volunteer operators all of whom receive extensive training and support.
Call on 0345 3 30 30 30 or email helpline@lgbt.foundation
Stonewall provide information and support for LGBT communities and their allies. Contact Stonewall’s Information Service: FREEPHONE 0800 0502020
MindOut is a mental health service run by and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people.
Support for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
CLEAR seeks to improve the quality of life of refugees and asylum seekers by providing free advice and supporting people to access local services.
Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group are a group of volunteers who
befriend and support asylum seekers and refugees in the Southampton area.
City of Sanctuary Southampton is a group of professionals and volunteers who work together to make Southampton a warm and welcome place for refugees and asylum seekers.
EU Welcome exists to provide help and support to migrants in the Southampton area from EU and other European countries.
Things to do
Holiday, Activities & Food Programme (Southampton HAF)
The Department for Education (DfE) has provided funding to local authorities to coordinate a programme that is designed to provide healthy food and enriching activities during the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays to children who receive benefits-related free school meals.
The programme offers valuable support to families on lower incomes, giving them the opportunity to access rewarding and active activities alongside healthy meals over the school holidays.
Following the success for the programme in Southampton in 2021 we are delighted to have been awarded funding to run the programme for the next three years in the city.
The video below celebrates the great work of Southampton City Council and its partners in delivering the HAF project over the summer of 2021, showcasing the wealth of provision, partnership working and commitment to supporting our city’s children. The project supported eligible children receiving free school meals in Southampton, offering families a safe environment to be active, educated, entertained through enrichment activities and the added provision of health meals.
To find out more and register for activities, please visit
HAF Holiday Activity and Food Scheme (southampton.gov.uk)
Travel and Journey Planning
My Journey Southampton Travel Planning Toolkits
Southampton Travel and Transport Updates
Solent Go is a handy travelcard you top up as you go, making travel all over South Hampshire – including Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester, Havant and more – easier than ever before.
Check the Solent travel map to see where you could visit today.
Bus Travel
SmartCities Card – Southampton residents over 5 years of age who have a long-term eligible disability can apply for an off-peak travel concessionary bus pass.
Train Travel
16-17 Saver – All 16-17 years olds can now benefit from a 50% discount on rail travel with the new railcard for just £30
Cycling
Cheap and Discounted Bikes
Ferry Travel
Red Funnel operate 2 services to the Isle of Wight. High Speed (foot passengers) to West Cowes takes 25 minutes and the Vehicle Ferry to East Cowes takes 55-60 minutes
Hythe Ferry operate a 10-15 minute journey between Town Quay and Hythe Pier for foot passengers and cyclists
Organisations that support young people in Southampton
Employment Support Team
Email: employment.support.team@southampton.gov.uk
Phone: 023 8091 7585
Website: Access Southampton
No Limits
Email: enquiries@nolimitshelp.org.uk
Phone: 02380 224 224
Website: No Limits
Prince’s Trust
Email: SouthEast@princes-trust.org.uk
Phone: 0800 842 842
Website: Prince’s Trust – Opportunities Near Me
Yellow Door
Email: info@yellowdoor.org.uk
Phone: 023 8063 6312
Website: Yellow Door
