Her Way Forward
Find help in Wandsworth
Start with whatever is loudest today. Every place on this list is somewhere we know something about, and each one says plainly what kind of knowing that is.
What do you need help with?
- I need help now Free phone lines, open any hour. Abuse, safety, someone to talk to. Opens a page with a quick way out →
- Money is tight Universal Credit, benefits you may not be claiming, debt, the cost of things.
- I’ve got a problem with housing Rent arrears, eviction, disrepair, nowhere to stay tonight.
- I need childcare Free nursery hours, help with costs, what you are entitled to.
- I’m doing this on my own Raising them alone, and what exists for you specifically.
- I look after someone Looking after a parent, a partner or a child, paid or not.
- Something’s not right with my health Screening and menopause, blood pressure, and the checks nobody offers you.
- I want to meet people Company and conversation, and a reason to get out of the house.
- I want to move my body Women-only movement, at whatever pace suits you today.
Money is tight
-
Help to Claim, for Universal Credit
Free, independent help with a Universal Credit claim, from the application through to your first payment.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Anyone making a new Universal Credit claim, or moving onto it from another benefit.
- When
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- How
- Call or use the webchat. Independent of the DWP and confidential.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
-
South West London Law Centres
Free, independent legal advice on debt, benefits and housing, including help with tribunal appeals.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Anyone with a social welfare legal problem. Actual solicitors, at no cost.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
-
Citizens Advice
Free, independent advice on benefits, debt, housing and work. They will check what you are entitled to.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Anyone. You do not need to be in crisis to ask.
- How
- Go directly. No referral needed.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
-
Citizens Advice Wandsworth
The local branch. Free, independent and confidential advice on almost anything, from a charity based in the borough.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Anyone who lives or works in Wandsworth.
- Address
- Battersea Library, 265 Lavender Hill, London, SW11 1JB
- How
- If you cannot hear or speak on the phone, call 18001 then the number. There is also a BSL interpreter service through SignVideo.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
-
Wandsworth Foodbank
Emergency food, plus advice, at welcome centres open every day except Sunday.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Anyone facing hardship. You need a referral, and many local organisations can make one, including us.
- When
- Helpline Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Welcome centres every day except Sunday.
- How
- Many local organisations can refer you. Or call the Trussell free helpline and a trained adviser will refer you to your nearest food bank.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
-
Healthy Start vouchers
Money for milk, fruit, vegetables and vitamins if you are pregnant or have a child under four and on a qualifying benefit.
- Cost
- Free to apply
- Who
- You are at least 10 weeks pregnant, or have a child under four, and you or your family get Income Support or Universal Credit.
- How
- Apply on the NHS Healthy Start website. No referral needed.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
-
Sure Start Maternity Grant
A one-off £500 towards the cost of a first baby. You do not pay it back.
- Cost
- Free to apply. The grant is £500.
- Who
- Usually expecting your first child, and on certain benefits. There are exceptions, including for multiple births.
- How
- Claim on GOV.UK. There is a time limit around the birth, so it is worth checking early.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
Also worth knowing about
I’ve got a problem with housing
-
Shelter housing helpline
Free housing advice if you are behind on rent, facing eviction, in disrepair, or have nowhere to stay tonight.
- Cost
- Free to call
- Who
- Anyone with a housing problem. You do not have to be homeless already.
- When
- Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, weekends 9am to 5pm
- How
- Call or use the webchat on their site. No referral needed.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
-
Wandsworth Council housing team
Council advice if you are homeless or at risk of losing your home. You do not need to have left already.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Anyone in Wandsworth at risk of homelessness, including if you are staying with family who have asked you to leave.
- How
- Call, or request a callback on their website. They may then ask you to come to an appointment.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
Also worth knowing about
I need childcare
-
Free childcare hours and help with costs
Government-funded hours for children from nine months to four years, plus Tax-Free Childcare and the Universal Credit childcare element.
- Cost
- Free hours. The schemes themselves cost nothing to apply for.
- Who
- Parents in England. Eligibility depends on your working hours and income, and some hours are available regardless.
- How
- Check and apply on GOV.UK. You must use an approved provider such as a registered childminder or nursery.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
-
Funded childcare, and the 31 August deadline
Up to 30 hours a week of funded childcare for children aged nine months to four years, but you need your eligibility code by 31 August to start in September.
- Cost
- Free to apply. The hours themselves are funded.
- Who
- Working parents of a child aged 9 months to 4 years, earning at least £203 a week. Other schemes exist if you do not meet that.
- When
- Apply and receive your code by 31 August for the autumn term
- How
- Use the Government’s childcare checker. Wandsworth Parental Support can help you fill it in.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
-
Little Village
Free clothes, equipment and toys for children under five. Like a food bank, but for baby things.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Families with children under five.
- How
- You need a referral from a professional. We can make one, and so can a health visitor, midwife, GP or support worker.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
-
Balham Children and Baby Bank
Free clothes, toys, books and essentials for children up to five. No referral, just turn up.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Families with children aged 0 to 5.
- When
- First Sunday of the month, 12pm to 2pm
- Where
- Balham. Run by the Balham Seventh-day Adventist church.
- Address
- 83 Elmfield Road, Balham, London
- How
- No referral needed. Email them if you want to check before coming.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
Also worth knowing about
I’m doing this on my own
-
Gingerbread, for single parents
Information and local groups for single parents, covering money, work, contact arrangements and child maintenance.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Single parents in England and Wales, however you became one.
- How
- Their advice is online, and there are volunteer-led local groups and an online forum.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
-
Welcare, family support
Emotional and practical support for parents and children up to 13, when things are hard either for a while or for the long haul.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Parents with children up to 13 in Wandsworth or Richmond. They support families generally rather than single parents only.
- Address
- Castelnau Community Centre, 7 Stillingfleet Road, London, SW13 9AG
- How
- Call or email them. Their site has a form for asking for support and for referrals.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
I look after someone
-
Wandsworth Carers' Centre
A separate charity that helps unpaid carers, including with getting a carer’s assessment.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Anyone looking after somebody without being paid, whether or not you call yourself a carer.
- Address
- 46 Balham High Road, London, SW12 9AQ
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
Worth reading
-
The word applies to you
You might already be a carer without ever using the word, and two specific things attach to it that nobody will offer you unless you do.
Read this →
Also worth knowing about
Something’s not right with my health
-
Communi-TEA
Tea and honest talk, and a couple of hours where you do not have to be anything for anyone.
- Cost
- Free to sit and have tea
- Who
- Any woman. Come and say nothing at all if that is what you need.
- When
- Once a year. Dates go up ahead of time on our website and WhatsApp community
- Where
- Wandsworth. Message us for the address.
Up to date as of August 2026. We run this. Something wrong here?
Worth reading
-
The line is 23, not 25
If your family background is South Asian, Black African or African Caribbean, the point at which you should be checked for diabetes is lower, and it starts fifteen years earlier.
Read this → -
It didn’t end with the birth
If you had high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, that was information about the rest of your life.
Read this → -
You can do it yourself now
Cervical screening can be done at home with a kit posted to you, and here is what actually happens if you go in person.
Read this →
I want to meet people
-
Women’s morning at St Mark’s
Hot drinks, cake, crafts, a nail bar and a prayer corner. Thursday mornings, free, just turn up.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Women. No booking and nothing to sign.
- When
- Thursdays 10am to 12pm, term-time only
- Where
- Battersea Rise. The same hall as the Monday One Stop Shop.
- Address
- St Mark’s Church Hall, Battersea Rise, London, SW11 1EJ
- How
- Turn up. No referral, no booking.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
-
Mushkil Aasaan women’s group
A women’s group on Upper Tooting Road with lunch and art sessions. Free, every Wednesday.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Women. A long-standing local organisation working with South Asian families in Wandsworth.
- When
- Wednesdays. They also run a men’s elderly group on Saturdays.
- Address
- 220 Upper Tooting Road, London, SW17 7EW
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
-
SW15 Women’s Network
A free coffee morning in Roehampton, with signposting to other services if you want it.
- Cost
- Free, and the hot drinks are free too
- Who
- Women in and around Roehampton and Putney.
- When
- Wednesdays 10:30am to 12:30pm
- Where
- Roehampton. Wheelchair accessible, with outdoor space and toilets.
- Address
- Alton Arts Club, 6 Portswood Place, London, SW15 4ED
- How
- Email ahead if you like, or just come.
Up to date as of August 2026. Something wrong here?
Also worth knowing about
I want to move my body
-
Fitwell classes
Women-only movement classes on Monday, with every exercise offered a gentler way.
- Cost
- £5, with reduced-cost places kept for anyone who needs one
- Who
- Any woman, whatever your fitness. Most people came alone the first time.
- When
- Mondays
- Where
- Wandsworth. Message us and we will tell you exactly where and save you a spot.
Up to date as of August 2026. We run this. Something wrong here?
-
Weekly walks in Battersea Park
A free, gentle walk on Friday mornings. No pace to keep up with.
- Cost
- Free
- Who
- Any woman. Wear comfy shoes and dress for the weather.
- When
- Friday mornings
- Where
- Battersea Park. Message us and we will tell you where to meet.
Up to date as of August 2026. We run this. Something wrong here?
The evidence
What we found when we looked at the numbers for women in Wandsworth. These carry their sources, and they say where the evidence is weak as well as where it is strong.
- The Menopause Door Why menopause is the way in to everything else
- The Fifteen-Year Gap Diabetes risk starts at 25. Screening starts at 40.
- Seventeen Thousand Unasked Wandsworth's carers, and the ones the survey never reaches
- Twenty-Five Thousand Missing The borough's undetected high blood pressure
- Four in Ten Screening coverage, and a rollout window that will not stay open.
Why this list is short
Council directories carry hundreds of listings and go out of date at roughly a fifth of them every quarter. We would rather tell you about a handful honestly, and say on each one whether we have actually been.
For everything else, the council holds far more than we do.
Wandsworth Council, information and advice →