Up to date contact details from your Study Guide

Since the publication of the Home Office study materials in 2007 there have been many changes in the contact details of the organisations listed. As many of these organisations are important resources for readers, we have checked and updated these contact details so you can find the advice you need.

The study materials provide very important information for anyone looking to understand life in the UK. As well as providing information on UK history, government, customs and law, the study materials feature phone numbers and websites for useful and relevant organisations.

Since 2007 there have been significant changes in some of these organisations, and with the wide-ranging austerity measures being implemented since the 2011 election there will be more to come. These changes, for instance, include the centralisation of many services into the Directgov website.

The recent global financial crisis and public spending cuts mean that the study materials have consequentially become out-of-date. It is unlikely that the Home Office will be updating them in the near future.

As such, we have compiled a complete and updated list of the out-of-date contact details given in the study materials so that you can still access the help available. We will endeavour to keep this list up-to-date, but if you find some of these details are wrong please contact us and let us know.

British Passports

You can no longer get passport forms, or use the ‘Check and Send’ service from Worldchoice travel agents. You can still use both of these services at Post Offices. The Passport Adviceline number is now 0300 222 0000: please note it is also no longer a 24-hour service. For information, and to submit your passport application online, the website is now www.passports.ips.gov.uk.

Careers Scotland

Skills Development Scotland are no longer registering new users on the Careers Scotland website. They have launched a new web service to replace it called My World of Work, which is available at http://myworldofwork.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/

Census information

The latest information about the 2011 census can be found on its dedicated website, http://2011.census.gov.uk/. Information from the previous censuses as referred to in Chapter 3 of the study materials can now be found at www.ons.gov.uk/census/index.html.

Childcare Link

Information about child care, bnefits and employment can now be found on www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Childcare. You can get information about childcare and registered childminders in you area by phoning 08002 346 346. Please ignore the details given in chapter 6 of the study materials.

Curriculum for Excellence

For further information about the new Curriculum for Excellence in place in Scotland, the website is now www.ltscotland.org.uk/understandingthecurriculum. Please ignore the address given in chapter 5 of the study materials.

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

Further information about the EMA can now be found on www.direct.gov.uk. The Department for Education and Skills is now the Department for Education and their website is www.education.gov.uk.

Electoral Office for Northern Ireland

The phone number given in chapter 4 is correct, but you can also call them on 0800 4320 712, a freephone number.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

This new Commission has replaced the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Commission and can be contacted in several ways. Their helpline numbers are as follows:

  • England: 0845 604 6610 / textphone 0845 604 6620
  • Scotland: 0845 604 5510 / textphone 0845 604 5520
  • Wales: 0845 604 8810 / textphone 0845 604 8820

There are also 4 regional offices and their addresses are as follow:

  • Cardiff: 3rd floor, 3 Callaghan Square, Cardiff, CF 10 5BT Telephone 02920 447710 (non helpline calls only)
  • Glasgow: The Optima Building, 58 Robertson Street, Glasgow, G2 8DU Telephone 0141 228 5910 (non helpline calls only)
  • London: More London, Riverside Tooley Street, London, SE1 2RG Telephone 020 3117 0235 (non helpline calls only)
  • Manchester: Arndale House, The Arndale Centre, Manchester, M4 3AQ
 Telephone 0161 829 8100 (non helpline calls only)

The contact details for the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland are still correct.

Family Planning Association (FPA)

The FPA gives advice on contraception and sexual health. The helpline number is now 0845 122 8690 in England, Scotland & Wales and 0845 122 8687 in Northern Ireland. Their web address is still www.fpa.org.uk, as given in chapter 5 of the study materials.

Home Office: Working in the UK

For information regarding entitlements to work in the UK you now need to visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk. Please ignore the website stated in chapter 6 of the study materials.

HMRC Self-assessment Helpline

The phone number for this helpline is now 0845 900 0444. Please ignore the number given in chapter 6 of the study materials.

Jobcentre Plus

Information about jobs, vacancies, training opportunities and benefits can now be found on www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm, and not the Jobcentre Plus website given in chapter 6 of the study materials. The Jobseeker Direct phone number is still correct.

JustDoSomething.net

This website no longer exists.

Learndirect

The helpline number for Learndirect is now 0800 101 901, and not the number as given in chapter 6 of the study materials.

Local Government Association (LGA) information line

The phone number for the LGA information line is now 0207 664 3000. Please ignore the number given in chapter 4 of the study materials.

National Academic Recognition Centre (NARIC)

The phone number for NARIC is now 0871 330 7033. Please ignore the number given in chapter 6 of the study materials.

National Minimum Wage Helpline

The phone number for this helpline is now 0800 917 2368. Please ignore the number given in chapter 6 of the study materials.

NHS directories

The website for finding health practitioners in Wales is now www.wales.nhs.uk/ourservices/directory. To find health practitioners in Scotland the address is now www.scots.nhs.uk. Please ignore the addresses given in chapter 5 of the study materials.

New Deal

Information about the New Deal, and the Flexible New Deal schemes can now be found at www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/index.htm

Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE)

The web address for the NIHE is www.nihe.gov.uk, and not .co.uk as stated in chapter 5 the Home Office materials.

Passports

See British Passports.

The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS)

The website for TPAS is now www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk. The helpline number given is still correct.

Shelter

The housing charity’s website is now www.shelter.org. The helpline number given in chapter 5 is still 0808 800 4444.

State Pension Scheme

Information on State Pensions can now be found on www.direct.gov.uk. The Pension Service Helpline number given is still correct.

Training for work

For further information about qualifications and training, including English language training, you now need to visit www.direct.gov.uk.

Trains, buses and coaches

For more information about local bus times you need to call 0871 200 2233. You can also visit www.traveline.org.uk. For information on coaches you can call National Express on 08717 81 81 78. For coaches in Scotland, call Scottish Citylink on 08712 66 33 33. These numbers replace the numbers given in chapter 5 of the study materials.

Transco

If you need to find out which company supplies your gas you now need to call the M Number enquiry line, part of National Grid, instead of Transco on 0870 608 1524.

TV Licensing

The TV license helpline number is now 0300 790 6131; please ignore the number given in chapter 5 of the study materials.

Welsh Assembly Booking Line

To make a booking to visit the Welsh Assembly you now need to call 0845 010 5500. Please ignore the number given in chapter 4.