HertsHelp is a new, innovative service made up of a formalised network of over 130 voluntary and community organisations who are working together to help people find their way through to the vast range of practical support, guidance, information and advocacy they need. HertsHelp is accessed through a single
phone number: 0300 123 4044 and email address: info@hertshelp.net and is being co-ordinated by the Herts-based information, advice and advocacy charity POhWER. The service is open to the whole of our community, including professionals and is funded by Hertfordshire County Council and NHS
Hertfordshire.

Already hundreds have benefited from the HertsHelp service. The subject of calls is far-and-wide and includes a caller enquiring about support as they are finding it difficult to cope with an alcoholic partner, help for relatives who care for an elderly aunt, where to go for advice on getting an adaptation to a property for a service user and her disabled daughter, an elderly couple seeking replacement carpets, a caller reporting a street light that had gone out in an alleyway, an email from a client requesting help with mental health issues and finances, a caller asking how to find an accredited firm of removal men, looking for a befriending service, transport for disabled service user, where to find a coffee morning…

HertsHelp call handlers will always endeavour to find you the help you need as they either know where to look themselves, or link to someone who does.

Once established, HertsHelp is expected to process around 18,000 contacts per year. It is envisaged that through this early intervention approach there will be a reduction in referrals to statutory services. This will free up valuable resources to concentrate on enabling members of our community to live more independently.