Where to get other free help

These trusted UK organisations provide free advice and support — separate from HelpNeeded's own services. Many have helplines and local offices. If one can't help, ask them who can — they are used to signposting.

🪜 Who watches over whom — where to escalate

If an institution ignores your complaint, there is almost always someone above it. Finish their own complaints procedure first, then go up:

Council (local authority)
Complain to the council first → then the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (lgo.org.uk) — free.
NHS (GP, hospital)
PALS / practice manager → then the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (ombudsman.org.uk) — free.
Police
The force's Professional Standards → then a review, overseen by the IOPC (policeconduct.gov.uk).
School
Teacher → headteacher → governing body → for academies: the trust, then the Department for Education; safeguarding concerns can also go to the council.
DWP (benefits)
Mandatory Reconsideration → independent tribunal (free). Most represented appeals succeed.
Bank / lender / insurer
Written complaint to the firm → after the final response (or 8 weeks) the Financial Ombudsman (financial-ombudsman.org.uk) — free and binding.
Landlord
Written complaint → council (Environmental Health / tenancy relations) → deposit scheme's free dispute service for deposits.
Employer
Grievance in writing → ACAS early conciliation → employment tribunal (currently no fee).
Any organisation about your data
Subject Access Request → if ignored, complain to the ICO (ico.org.uk) — free.