Immediate danger
999Police, ambulance or fire when life, serious injury or a crime in progress is involved.
ARC Practical Help
Need help with something practical?
Letters, bills, housing, work, appointments, family, digital safety and verified UK routes. Start with what is in front of you.
You do not need to know the right words before you ask for help.
Local-only tools
UK-first routes
No login · nothing sent to ARC
Choose a room
What do you need help with today?
Each room offers a place to start, a simple tool, and a few verified routes. You can leave with a letter, a list, or the next honest action.
Your answers stay in this page and are not sent to ARC. These tools do not create an account, do not save to our servers, and do not watch the words you type. Sensitive notes live only in this page until you copy or clear them. Services and eligibility can change. Check the linked organisation for current details. Last verified 2026-09-10.
Flagship local tool
Plain English Builder.
Turn rough notes into a structured message you can copy, edit and send yourself. It is deterministic. There is no AI writing this for you, and nothing is stored by ARC.
It will not invent legal rights, threaten anyone, or dress a generic note up as a statutory appeal.
Your answers stay in this page and are not sent to ARC.
If this cannot wait
Urgent help, UK first.
If you are in immediate danger, call 999. The tools above can wait. Phone numbers below were checked on 10 September 2026; always confirm on the organisation’s own page.
Urgent medical help
111NHS 111 in England. Scotland: NHS 24 on 111. Wales: NHS 111 Wales. Northern Ireland: use NI Direct for current GP out-of-hours routes. 111.nhs.uk (opens in a new tab)
Mental health crisis
116 123Samaritans, 24 hours. Text SHOUT to 85258 if calling is too hard. NHS urgent mental-health routes: NHS urgent help (opens in a new tab). Call 999 if life is at immediate risk.
Domestic abuse
0808 2000 247National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge), 24 hours, for women. Men’s Advice Line 0808 801 0327. Galop 0800 999 5428 for LGBT+ people. Do not confront an abuser because a website suggested it. nationaldahelpline.org.uk (opens in a new tab)
Homelessness / unsafe housing
0808 800 4444Shelter emergency helpline (England; check current hours). Also contact your local council. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own duties. Shelter England (opens in a new tab)
Child safety
0800 1111 Childline
0808 800 5000 NSPCC for adults with a concern. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
Scam / financial fraud
England, Wales and Northern Ireland: reportfraud.police.uk (opens in a new tab) or 0300 123 2040. Scotland: Police Scotland 101. Report scam texts to 7726. If money has left the account, call the bank on a number from a statement, not from the message.
No food / essentials
Find emergency food via Trussell (opens in a new tab). Local welfare and cost-of-living help: GOV.UK cost of living (opens in a new tab). Meal planning, once you have food, is in the Eating Chamber.
A different kind of help
If you have an idea, that belongs in The Forge.
Practical Help is for ordinary problems: letters, bills, housing, work, appointments and verified UK routes.
If you are bringing a project, a website, a book, music, an event or something that does not yet have a name, The Forge is the intake.