Useful contacts

Qwell

Qwell is one of the mental health services put in place by the County Council originally in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Anyone over 18 in Gloucestershire can now access free anonymous counselling from qualified counsellors via an online chat based platform at www.qwell.io.

Chats can be accessed through a drop-in service or booked sessions; there is no referral needed from a health professional, no waiting lists, and no criteria to meet to get support.

Gloucestershire Carers Hub

Gloucestershire Carers Hub are commissioned by Gloucestershire County Council and NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group. We opened our service in April 2019 and have been supporting Carers, ever since.​  Services are free to access and registration is simple.

Gloucestershire Carers Hub, Conway House, 31 Worcester Street, Gloucester, GL1 3AJ

Tel:  0300 111 9000
Email: carers@peopleplus.co.uk
www.gloucestershirecarershub.co.uk

Blind Veterans

Blind Veterans UK offer lifelong support to Armed Forces and National Service veterans – no matter what the cause of their sight loss, and regardless of how long they served.

Tel: 0800 389 7979
Email:  info@blindveterans.org.uk
www.blindveterans.org.uk

Age UK Gloucestershire

Age UK Gloucestershire’s ambition is to make Gloucestershire the best county in which to grow older, regardless of their background or circumstances.  The office is open Monday to Friday, 10.00am – 3.00pm

Address: Henley House, Barnett Way, Barnwood, Gloucester GL4 3RT

Tel: 01452 422660
Email: Helpteam@ageukgloucestershire.org.uk
www.ageuk.org.uk/gloucestershire

Charles Bonnet Support

Esme’s Umbrella is a support and information service for people living with Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS), their friends and families and professionals involved in caring for people with CBS who wish to know more.

Tel:  020 7391 3299
Email: esmesumbrella@gmail.com
www.charlesbonnetsyndrome.uk

GRCC: Community Connectors

Gloucestershire Rural Community Council is an independent charity that works in and within Gloucestershire’s communities to inspire, enable and deliver community action. They work countywide to strengthen and develop communities to create thriving, sustainable places for local people to live and work in.

Address: Gloucestershire Rural Community Council, Community House, 15 College Green, Gloucester GL1 2LZTel: 01452 528491
Email: info@grcc.org.uk
www.grcc.org.uk

Talking newspapers and magazines can be a vital way for blind and sight-impaired people to stay in touch with the world. In Gloucestershire, there are 6 different organisations that produce talking news for all areas of the county.

These recordings are delivered on either USB memory stick or a CD. Insight’s resource centre in Cheltenham stocks various different players to play these recordings on and can also give advice and details on which talking newspaper is suitable for you. Follow the links below to discover talking newspapers from your area.

Also available are national talking newspapers and magazines, there are over 230 titles available including most of the daily tabloids and magazines such as Readers Digest and many more. For more information please call the Insight office 01242 22 11 70.

Talking News Federation

The Talking News Federation exists to support and assist over 300 local Talking Newspapers to deliver local news and information in audio to blind, partially sighted and print disabled people.

You can search for a local Talking Newspaper on the Talking News Federation website on their ‘Find a talking newspaper’ web page.

Tel: 01793 497555
www.tnf.org.uk