From the Stroke Association
Helpline
Our Helpline offers information and support for anyone affected by stroke, including family, friends and carers.
Call us on 0303 3033 100,from a textphone 18001 0303 3033 100
Email helpline@stroke.org.uk
Read our information
Log onto stroke.org.uk where you can find easy-to-understand information, videos and an online community to support you. You can also call the Helpline to ask for printed copies of our guides.
Talk to others affected by stroke
There may be a stroke group in your local area where you can meet other stroke survivors. Call our Helpline or visit stroke.org.uk/support for more information on stroke groups, online discussion forums and other support. You can also see our Facebook page at Facebook.com/TheStrokeAssociation
Rights, legal help and benefits
Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)
Website: acas.org.uk
Helpline: 0300 123 1100
Acas provides free and impartial information and advice to employers and employees on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law. If things go wrong, they help by providing conciliation to resolve workplace problems.
Acas operates in England, Wales and Scotland.
Disability Law Service
Website: dls.org.uk
Tel: 020 7791 9800
Provides access to free advice on legal topics, including employment, for people with disabilities and their carers.
Disability Confident
Website: gov.uk/disability-confident
This replaced the Two Ticks scheme. Employers can sign up to be Disability Confident. They take part in training and activities to improve their recruitment and retention of people with disabilities. Resources and advice about disability and employment are available on the website.
Disability Rights UK
Website: disabilityrightsuk.org
Tel: 0330 995 0400
Information and individual advice about benefits and government schemes that are available. It also provides disability confidence training for employers.
Labour Relations Agency (Northern Ireland)
Website: www.lra.org.uk
Tel: 03300 555 300
Provides free, impartial advice and help to resolve employment disputes in Northern Ireland.
Support with job-seeking and in the workplace
Ability Net
Website: abilitynet.org.uk
Helpline: 0800 048 7642
Ability Net provides information and advice on how people can use technology to achieve their goals in work or education. They have developed Clear Talents, a free tool to help you and your employer identify reasonable adjustments.
Access to Work
This scheme provides practical advice and funding for disabled people to allow them to find or stay in work. It offers an initial assessment of the workplace and the employee’s tasks. The advisor makes recommendations for additional support such as adapted equipment, one-to-one coaching, or a support worker. The scheme can also help with transport to work.
You get a grant to pay for the support you need. The money doesn’t have to be paid back and will not affect your other benefits.
Access to Work in England, Wales and Scotland:
Website: gov.uk/access-to-work
Tel: 0800 121 7479, textphone: 0800 121 7579
Access to Work (NI) in Northern Ireland:
Website: nidirect.gov.uk/articles/access-work-practical-help-work
Jobcentre Plus
Website: jobcentreguide.org
The online careers and job seeking guide from Jobcentre Plus. Offers advice on looking for work and applying for jobs online, plus a postcode search tool to find your nearest centre.
National Careers Service (England)
Website: nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
This site has a free skills assessment tool plus tips on career changing, training and access to individual careers advice.
Maximus
Website: maximusuk.co.uk
Tel: 0300 456 8110
Maximus supports people to find sustainable employment in a wide range of roles with many of the UK’s top employers. Maximus operates in England, Wales and Scotland.
NI Direct
Website: nidirect.gov.uk
Northern Ireland government website with information on jobs, training and careers.
Volunteering
Volunteering at the Stroke Association
Website: stroke.org.uk/volunteering
Email: volunteering@stroke.org.uk
Our volunteer roles provide opportunities to make a difference and do something you enjoy. By choosing to donate your time to us, you’ll become an essential part of a team committed to preventing strokes and reducing their effect. You can change the lives of those affected by stroke, and it could change your life too.
Volunteer opportunities across the UK can be found on our website. If you can’t find anything that fits your skills and interests, please email volunteering@stroke.org.uk and we can talk about what options might be available for you.
Do-it Trust
Website: doit.life
Their website lists hundreds of volunteer opportunities and is easy to search.
Other organisations and guidance for employers
Different Strokes
Website: differentstrokes.co.uk
Tel: 0345 103 7172
Different Strokes supports younger stroke survivors with information, support groups and fitness activities, including for people of working age.
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
Website:equalityhumanrights.com and equalityhumanrights.com/en/commission-scotland
Information for employers about their duties under the law and making reasonable adjustments.
About our information
We want to provide the best information for people affected by stroke. That’s why we ask stroke survivors and their families, as well as medical experts, to help us put our publications together.
How did we do?
To tell us what you think of this guide, or to request a list of the sources we used to create it, email us at feedback@stroke.org.uk.
Accessible formats
Visit our website if you need this information in audio, large print or braille.
Always get individual advice
This guide contains general information about stroke. But if you have a problem, you should get individual advice from a professional such as a GP or pharmacist. Our Helpline can also help you find support. We work very hard to give you the latest facts, but some things change. We don’t control the information provided by other organisations or websites.
Every five minutes, stroke destroys lives. We need your support to help rebuild them. Donate or find out more at stroke.org.uk.
The Stroke Association is registered as a charity in England and Wales (No 211015) and in Scotland (SC037789).
Also registered in the Isle of Man (No. 945) and Jersey (No. 221), and operating as a charity in Northern Ireland.