Chippenham Community Hub - advice on fraud and information about local community groups and all things Chippenham. Advice on identifying and reporting scams can be found here.

One Chippenham - local website for information about community groups and related events. It hosts the Chippenham Activity Finder.

Wiltshire Together - for information on volunteer opportunities and more.

Clic - an online community providing mutual support for adults experiencing mental health difficulties. Content is moderated, so safer than most similar sites.

Hub of Hope - the UK’s leading mental health support database. It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place for the first time.

Mental Health and Money Advice - practical advice and support for people experiencing issues with mental health and money.

Money and debt advice for all - Christians against Poverty (you don't have to be a Christian to get their help).

Economic abuse - if someone else is controlling your money in a way that disadvantages you, for example, they might be running up debts in your name or leaving you without enough money to eat, you can find help on the Surviving Economic Abuse website.

Managing water bills - Wessex Water have lots of schemes to help people with this. For example, flexible payment plans, payment breaks or paying directly from your benefits. Ask the Collective for more info or look at Wessex Water's website.

Health passports (also known as hospital or wellbeing passports) - if communication isn't your strong point, especially when you are ill, consider completing a health passport to give to healthcare professionals when you are unable to explain your needs. Templates are available from organisations like the National Autistic Society or Mencap.

Tony Attwood -  a leading international expert on autism who provides lots of insight and practical advice in books and online. For example, he has posted an article on autistic burnout on Linked In.

How to get an autism or ADHD assessment - before you start, read what the National Autism Society says about deciding whether or not to have an assessment. Similar considerations apply for those looking for an ADHD assessment. If you decide to go ahead, diagnostic assessments are available on the NHS so ask your GP in the first instance. However, there is often a long wait. If you are lucky enough to be in a postion to pay approx. £1,500-£2,000,  you can be privately assessed more quickly. We suggest you find a reputable assessment service by looking on the Care Quality Commission website. It is not very easy to navigate, but we can help you. Be wary of a service that offers to assess you without meeting you in person.

Medicines and therapies for mental health issues - Mind provide lots of accessible information to help people understand and get the best out of any medicine or therapy likely to be prescribed for a mental health condition.

Responding to unusual behaviour (linked to mental illness) - Rethink Mental Illness have a useful fact sheet.

Mental health crisis line (Wiltshire) -  people who are experiencing a mental health crisis or supporting someone in crisis, can call the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust crisis line: 0800 953 1919. In an emergency, when someone is at immediate risk of harm, dial 999.

Access Community Mental Health (Wiltshire) - a recovery and peer support service for adults in need of support (but not in a crisis). (2025 please note that a new provider is taking over this service this year so details may change).

Wiltshire Mental Health Inclusion Service - find more information about them here. (This service is not taking new referrals, pending the arrival of a new provider in June 2025).

Talking Therapies in Wiltshire -  a new website has been set up to support those experiencing stress, anxiety, low mood or depression. It will be the central hub for wellbeing resources, including self-help guides and advice and support. You can also self-refer to the free confidential NHS Talking Therapies service through the new site - Wiltshire residents should ring 01380 731335. (NB Talking Therapies used to be known as IAPT services.)

Autism and mental health resource - published November 2024 by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. In their words: 'This resource looks at autism and mental health. It explains what autism is, how it’s diagnosed and what support is available for autistic people. It also looks at the kind of care autistic people with mental health problems are entitled to. This resource is aimed at autistic adults and their families and carers, but might also be helpful for younger people.'

ADHD in adults - published June 2023 by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. In their words: 'This information is for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), adults who think they might have ADHD and the people who know and support them.'

Apps - NHS Dorset has a useful list of recommended apps to support the mental health and wellbeing of (mainly) teenagers. Our local Integrated Care Board also has an app library, covering a range of conditions, such as mental health, cancer and diabetes. These apps have been subjected to testing by the NHS, some apps on sites like Google Play may contain risky information or hidden costs.

Tiimo app - an app designed to help neurodivergent people manage their time 'in a way that suits them', according to their website.

Apps for young people - the Youth Adventure Trust has recommended the following apps to us:

• Clear Fear - a free app to help children and young people manage the symptoms of anxiety
• Kooth  - an online mental wellbeing community
• Move Mood - a free app to help teenagers manage low mood and depression 
• Tellmi - a free app where young people can share their worries and support each other (moderated bby professionals)

Beat - the website for support for people with eating disorders. The Orri website is also helpful. Peace Pathway is especially for autistic people.

Mental Health and welfare benefits - CPAG have produced a comprehensive handbook. We can help you find the bits relevant to you if need be.

Claiming PIP (Personal Independence Payment) - the National Austistic Society has information on this for autistic people. It may also be helpful for anyone who is not making a claim solely for a physical disability.

Constipation - this condition can be a killer if not addressed. It is particularly a risk for people with learning disabilities who go to the toilet independently and may not report any changes in their toilet habits. Some mental health and other medicines increase the risk of constipation. Here is a fun educational video on a subject that is not frequently discussed by most people!

Just can't wait card - a widely recognised card and/or app to help you discreetly ask for help to access a toilet in an emergency. For anyone with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or any other problem which means they don't get much warning before a trip to the loo is needed. There is a small fee for the card but the app is free.

Nature and mental health - a guide from Mind.

Campaign against living miserably or CALM - offer information and support to help prevent suicide. This includes a helpline on 0800 58 58 58 from 5pm to midnight 365 days a year and a web chat (there is a link from their website's home page).

Samaritans - if you are feeling hopeless and helpless, please contact the Samaritans by phone on 116 123 for the quickest response - 24 hours a day. They also offer other contact options if you are not in crisis.

Gambling addiction - If you, or someone you care about, are affected by gambling and registered with a GP in south-west England, visit Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust's webpage to find out more, or to complete the self-referral form. Alternatively you can refer yourself by calling 0330 022 3175.

The National Centre for Gaming Disorders (NHS) - provides treatment for people in England, aged 13 years and over, who have severe difficulty controlling their video game use and the impact it has on their lives. The centre is experiencing overwhelming demand, so its referral routes have been reduced, but you can ask your GP to consider referring you.

Help with reading - Read Easy North and West Wiltshire  teL: 07367 100 936

Help to get online in Wiltshire can be found here - don't get left behind!

Cinema tickets - if you have a disability and get certain benefits as a result of this, you can apply for a CEA card. This enables you to get a free ticket for the carer / friend / relation who accompanies you - two for the price of one! There is a small admin charge when you first apply for the card. It is valid at the Reel cinema in Chippenham and many other cinemas.

Essential companions pass for National Trust properties - if you can show proof of disability (like a PIP award letter) when you buy a NT entrance ticket, you can bring a companion in for free. The essential companions pass makes it even easier - just show the card instead. There are several NT properties near Chippenham, such as Laycock Abbey.

Making phone calls if you have hearing or speech difficulties - sometimes, you cannot avoid making a phone call, e.g. to your bank. If you are able to read and type using an app, Relay UK offer a free text relay service to help with this and they are committed to confidentiality. You can also use it to contact a person who is hearing or speech impaired, so long as they have the app. It is free, apart from normal phone charges.

NHS dentists - access to NHS dental services is extremely limited. Click here to check if there are any local dentists that will accept adult NHS patients in the Chippenham area (some offer NHS appointments to children). At the time of uploading this information, none were providing an NHS service for new adult patients. If you have severe learning disabilities or a few other conditions, you may be able to use the NHS's community dental services, but you usually need to be referred by your own dentist. You can check this with NHS England on 0300 311 2233 if need be.

Contact your MP - Chippenham's MP can be contacted by email: sarah.gibson.mp@parliament.uk 

Video game - if you like a complex sci-fi video game, Warframe is available on multiple platforms. It has a particularly welcoming online community and one of the heros in the game is autistic.

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) - an aspect of some people's autism (although the debate around this is ongoing). Alternative names are emerging too, e.g. Extreme Demand Avoidance Syndrome (EDA) and Pervasive or Persistent Drive for Autonomy. Find out more from the PDA Society which also suggests some helpful approaches and self-help.

Preventing exhaustion and burnout - if you are prone to extreme fatigue, you may want to explore the concept of energy accounting which can help to reduce the risk. Developed for autistic people but may be useful to others too.

Free courses for carers - online courses and resources for carers provided by the NHS via MindEd. Free education and support is also available for carers of autistic people via the South West Autism Hub.

Widgit - free access to some basic signs and symbols to support those with communication difficulties. There is a fee to access their other resources.

Bereavement - a good source of information is The Good Grief Trust, which pulls together info from a wide range of organisations involved in supporting and advising bereaved people. The government provides guidance on all the admin associated with a death here.

Podcast - Richard Keagan-Bull is a researcher at Kingston University and a man with a learning disability. In the Cuppa Tea with Richard podcast he talks about things that matter with a variety of guests.

Your coaching partner - Morwenna Stewart is someone we know who is very genuine and ethical. She happens to be autistic and has other neurodiverse conditions. She provides a number of paid services, but also offers free weekly online neuro meditation sessions on the Linked In platform. 

Books Beyond Words - well researched picture books to help people anticipate or understand what might happen if they attend court, go to hospital, have a relationship etc. An app is also available.

Understanding ADHD - the Open University offers a free short course on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). More info here.

Mental Health Top Tips - a short video from the Mental Health Foundation. Evidence-based.

Panic attacks - see the Mental Health Foundation guide to understanding and managing them.

Flood risk - this map shows where there are flood risks. If you live in a risky area you can sign up for flood warnings from the Environment Agency here. Wiltshire Council provides a list of who to contact in a flood emergency and some advice for anyone whose home is flooded. If you need sandbags, you will need to buy them - Travis Perkins and Jewsons are listed as suppliers for Chippenham.

Voting in local and national elections - it is a myth that you cannot vote if you are detained under the Mental Health Act or because you lack capacity to make your own decisions. Every UK citizen has the right to vote, so make sure you do not miss out - see the Electoral Commission's website to check your eligibility. Don't forget that you will need photo ID on the day too.

Scams - we should all be worried about this (we have just heard of someone who has worked in fraud for 40 years being scammed). To keep up to date with the various scams doing the rounds, subscribe to Which? magazine's scam alerts. The same link includes information about how to report scams.

Domestic violence - ring 999 in an emergency, otherwise contact the police on 111 if you want to report domestic violence. If you are not sure about reporting it or you have reported it and need support, consider calling Fear Free which operates in Wiltshire. They do not require you to report abuse to work with you. NB Men - you can also be victims of domestic abuse, don't let your gender put you off seeking help.

Coercive control - not all domestic abuse involves physical violence. Inform yourself about coercive control by watching this short film from Scotland.

Sensory differences - an often overlooked feature of autism. Each person has different experiences, so ask, don't assume and work with the person to make reasonable adjustments where you can. Listen to this podcast to hear how some autistic people are impacted.

Genius Finder is a well regarded online assessment tool designed to support individuals to explore their work-related strengths and challenges. It also provides some strategies for addressing the most common issues.  Currently it costs £42 a year.

DNACPR or Do not attempt cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. If you have a life-limiting illness doctors should discuss your wishes for resuscitation (or not) with you and your next of kin. Covid highlighted the fact that a few medics discriminated against people with learning disabilities when deciding on resuscitation. If you or a relative could be impacted by these outdated views, please access the information pack on this topic.

Pre-diabetes - if you have been warned you need to change your habits or you will get diabetes, you might need some accessible information. See the prediabetes guide for people with learning disabilities; it may be helpful for others too.

What3words - a useful location app which has saved lives.  It can now be used to help locate people who don't have the app, but have a smart phone with them. Just send them this link: https://locate.what3words.com/ and ask them to tell you the 3 words that come up. You can then pass the 3 words on to the emergency services or find them yourself.

Time management - if you feel overwhelmed by work, tend to procrastinate, struggle with concentration or have problems meeting deadlines, you may want to look at the Pomodoro Technique and download the associated timer (for a small fee).

Insomnia - if you regularly find it hard to sleep, there is information about insomnia and some top tips on this NHS website. This newspaper article also contains suggestions about sleep aids that some people have found helpful, just don't try them all at once.

Free tandem bike hire - Charlotte's tandems lend, throughout the UK and at no cost, tandems and tag-alongs to (and only to) people with disabilities or additional needs, who are unable to ride a bike safely on their own, so that they can enjoy the wonders of cycling.

Menopause and mental health - top tips from Mind.

Hoarding UK - is a national charity helping those affected by hoarding. Hoarding behaviour stems from a range of issues some psychological, behavioural, practical, etc.  Not everyone who is living amongst an abundance of items would be given the diagnosis of ‘hoarding disorder’. What one person calls clutter may not be how another person views it. Their website includes a tool to help people decide if they need support - check out 'clutter index ratings' under the 'about hoarding' tab.

Drink spiking - inform yourself of the risks, check out the Stamp Out Spiking website. Wiltshire police are distributing bottle stoppers and glass caps to lots of venues, so try asking for one if you think you are at risk.

Gardening when you have chronic pain - a guide from Thrive.

Cuckooing - the government has announced that stronger laws are being brought in to protect people from cuckooing (2025). Cuckooing is a practice where people take over a person’s home and exploit them. It takes the name from cuckoos who take over the nests of other birds.

People with mental health difficulties, autistic people and people with learning disabilities are particularly vulnerable to cuckooing and may see their abuser as their friend.

What you can do to help (NEST):

• Notice the signs - Look out for your neighbours especially if there has been a change in their behaviour.
• Evidence your concerns - Make a note of your concerns, times, dates, what has happened and identity or names of people coming in and out.  
• Stay Safe - do not approach any of the people you believe may be cuckooing your neighbour or take photographs.
• Tell the Council and the Police - contact Wiltshire Council and ring the police on 101 (999 if there is a risk of immediate harm).

Friend or fake? - there is a helpful easy-read booklet detailing some of the warning signs that your 'mate' might not have your best interests at heart here (plus other useful resources).

Noisy neighbours - if you have persistently noisy neighbours Wiltshire Council may be able to help. There is information on their website here.

Sexuality and relationships - The Supported Loving Network, backed by Choice Support, has produced a series of guides to help support people with learning disabilities and autistic people with their sexuality and relationships.