How we can support you
We want to reassure you that we are still here to provide support and advice during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
You can contact Women and Girls Network for support in the following ways:
Advice Line 0808 801 0660 - open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and from 6pm-9pm on Wednesdays. Please contact the advice line for immediate advice, information and support and for further details on all other WGN services.
Sexual Violence Helpline 0808 801 0770 - open Monday to Friday 10am-12.30pm and 2.30pm-4pm, also Wednesday evenings from 6pm-9pm. Please contact the helpline for emotional support.
London Survivors Gateway 0808 801 0860 - the hub for sexual violence support services in London. Please visit survivorsgateway.london
We are currently providing all of our services remotely, by telephone, written communication (e.g. emails), and through video calling. This is to help keep our service users, staff and volunteers safer.
If you are already receiving services with us and have any questions please contact your allocated WGN worker or our Advice Line.
How we are supporting our staff and volunteers
All Women and Girls Network staff and volunteers are currently working from home. We are carrying out individual assessments with all of our people to make sure their working space is safe, comfortable and confidential, and are providing necessary equipment.
We are continuously assessing the situation, and will keep this page updated.
Online Resources
Below you will find lists of online resources. These have been recommended to WGN on good authority, however we cannot guarantee the accuracy of all information provided, so please follow at your own discretion.
Here you can find information about Covid-19 translated into different languages, as well as information for specific user groups:
Covid-19 and lockdown information and translations
- Audio clips in different languages with information about lockdown
- Covid-19 and wellbeing information in different languages, from the Mayor of London
- Doctors of the world also have translated information
- They have also released Covid-19 advice videos in a range of languages
Covid-19 vaccine information and translations
- Here is the NHS page for information on the Covid-19 vaccines
- Here you can find information about the Covid-19 vaccines in different languages, from NHS Greater Manchester
- Here you can find information on the Covid-19 vaccines in audio and BSL from NHS Scotland (please note some information might not be relevant for people in England)
Supporting different user groups
- Here is a guide for supporting migrants during Covid-19
- Advice for UK Covid-19 Mutual Aid groups on Refugees & Asylum Seekers
- Homeless link have a page of resources about current responses and emerging practice in homelessness services.
- Young Minds have written a report on the impact of Covid-19 on young people with mental health needs.
- On this website you'll find relevant advice, guidance, support and tools for young people, youth workers, and organisations.
- NSPCC have put together a list of services and resources to help support work with children, young people and families.
- Here is the Government's guidance on Covid-19 and support for survivors of sexual violence and abuse (remember you can also call the Gateway for referral into services and our Sexual Violence Helpline for emotional support)
- Video: Our Clinical Director Akima Thomas in conversation with Women's Equality Party about the effect Coronavirus measures are having on violence against women and girls.
At WGN we know how important self-care is, here are some resources and ideas to help us stay connected and look after our mental health and well-being:
- Here is the NHS list of mental health helplines
- 10 tips from the NHS to help take care of your mental health and well-being
- This coping calendar which has 30 activities to help you look after yourself and others
- Find a guided meditation on Youtube, even a short 15 minute meditation can help calm your mind. Try this one.
- CAMH have a free online resource hub to help you manage the impact of covid-19 on your mental health
- The Woebot app allows you to have short virtual conversations which can help your well-being
- Elefriends is a supportive online community where you can be yourself. It’s a safe place to listen, share and be heard
- Big white wall is a safe online community to support your mental health
- If you are finding support online difficult or overwhelming to navigate, Soul Medicine can send you support in bite sized chunks
- Information about emotional reactions during Coronavirus, from London Trauma Specialists
- Race Reflections have written an article on the impact of Covid-19 on mental health and well-being
- Try some breathing exercises to help reduce stress and anxiety
- The Consent Collective are creating 'Together Apart' content to support survivors of sexual violence during Covid-19, including a personal preparation worksheet.
Finding fun things to do while we're at home can help with our well-being and help us feel connected. If you can, take some time for yourself to do something enjoyable, here are some ideas:
- Here is a list of activities you can do online, at home
- Take a virtual art gallery or museum tour
- Billboard are continuously updating their list of live-streamed music events (some events are ticketed, but a lot are for free)
- Ticketmaster are also keeping an updated list of live streamed concerts
- As well as the Official Charts
- Listen to an audio-book, the one month trial with Audible gives you one book for free
If you would like to learn something new at home, here are some online educational tools to help you:
- If you don't feel confident using a computer, Digital Learn can help with their easy to follow free digital literacy courses
- Open University are offering a range of free online courses, if you have some free time and would like to learn something new
- You could listen to an educational podcast. There are literally millions to choose from, so if you would like some help then check out this list