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Support for residents

  • Corona Kindness

    Blackpool Council is committed to maintaining essential services and protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.

    We have established a community Corona Kindness helpline for those who want to offer help and for those that need help.

    The services that we can help with include:

    • Food shopping
    • Medical supplies
    • Social isolation and loneliness
    • Dog walking

    If you need to access any of those things or you feel you can help, please email helpneeded@blackpool.gov.uk or helpoffered@blackpool.gov.uk.

    If you need help call 0808 1963080.

    Find out more about Corona Kindness

    Corona Kindness hubs

    Twelve corona kindness hubs are now in the process of being established in Blackpool across a broad geographical spread to meet vulnerable people’s needs.

    Each hub will have a dedicated person to co-ordinate support to the people most at risk.

    Find out more about the Corona Kindness community hubs

  • Council Tax

    We would like to thank all residents who are able to continue paying, as your contribution is helping us to maintain essential services that are delivered to all in our town. It is important if your circumstances have not changed, you pay what you should, maintain your direct debit payments, or payment plan as detailed on your bill.

    If you are struggling to pay your council tax, we want to make you aware of the support available and how we can help if you have been affected.

    Council Tax reduction grants

    The chancellor announced additional hardship support for council tax payers in the recent budget.

    Local authorities have been asked to award a reduction to all Working Age Council Tax Reduction customers.

    The award will be £150 off their Council Tax bill or if less than £150 is owed in Council Tax after the award of benefit, the bill will be reduced to nil.

    Working age residents in receipt of Council Tax Reduction do not need to contact us as the awards will be made automatically and a new Council Tax bill will be issued in due course.

    If your financial circumstances have changed and you now need to claim Council Tax Reduction, please complete your application form as soon as possible

  • Financial support for those self-isolating

    This is to ensure individuals, who test positive or are identified as close contacts, self-isolate and minimise the possibility of transmitting COVID-19.

    If people do not comply you will be subject to fines of at least £1,000 and up to a maximum £10,000 for repeat or very serious offences.

    To assist people to self-isolate, the government has announced that individuals on low incomes will be entitled to a Test and Trace Support Payment of £500, if they meet certain criteria, in order to support them through their self-isolation period.

    The payments are only available to people who have been told to self-isolate on or after 28 September 2020.

    Find out if you're eligible and make an application

  • Mental health support

    What to do if you’re struggling with your mental health

    If you are concerned about your mental health, or you are worried about the mental health of a relative or someone you care for, the first thing to do is speak to your GP. Due to coronavirus, GPs are offering telephone appointments, so you will not need to attend the surgery unless the GP tells you that a face-to-face appointment is necessary.

    Urgent mental health support

    If you cannot contact your GP, and feel unable to cope or keep yourself safe, it's important to get help straight away - support is still available even if services seem busy at the moment because of coronavirus.

    If you are in Blackpool and need urgent help, you can contact the Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust mental health crisis line

    You can also find out where to get the right support in a crisis on the NHS website

    Further support

    These organisations offer signposting and ongoing support, advice and self-help tools.

    Healthier Lancs and South Cumbria A wide ranging list of mental health support services available for adults and children in Blackpool.

    Every Mind Matters Practical advice, from how to deal with anxiety, to boosting your mood and sleeping better. Information for adults, children, young people and parents. Create your own Mind Plan and learn techniques to help your mental wellbeing while staying at home.

    NHS talking therapies Find out about talking therapies available through the NHS and self-refer if you need to.

    Healthier Blackpool Get Vocal Get 5 tips for better mental health and access local support services in Blackpool.

    Free listening services

    Samaritans are available to listen 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

    Call 116 123 to talk to a trained Samaritan, or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours.

    Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text "YM" if you're under 19.

    If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.