Useful Links

The following is an alphabetical list of various web sites that may be useful. If you know the name of the organisation you are looking for just click on the letter below that is the first letter of that organisation's name - this will take you to the relevant section. Then click on the name or the Web site address to go to directly to that Web site:

A

Alcoholics Anonymous - the Alcoholics Anonymous portal.
Web site address: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/

ACAS - employment advice.
Web site address: www.acas.org.uk

Adjudicators Office - acts as a fair and unbiased referee looking into complaints about HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Web site address: www.adjudicatorsoffice.gov.uk

Adviceguide - CAB information on-line.
Web site address: www.adviceguide.org.uk

Advice Services Alliance - the umbrella body for independent advice services in the UK
Web site address: www.asauk.org.uk

Anglian Ruskin University - the two main campuses are in Chelmsford and Cambridge.
Web site address: www.anglia.ac.uk

The Advertising Standards Agency - ensuring advertising, wherever it appears, meets the high standards laid down in the advertising codes.
Web site address: www.asa.org.uk

B

British Banking Association - the voice of the banking industry within the UK.
Web site address: www.bbc.co.uk/essex

BBC Essex - for local and national news.
Web site address: www.bbc.co.uk/essex

British Medical Association - voluntary association for doctors and medical students.
Web site address: www.bma.org.uk

British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association - information and publications about the industry.
Web site address: www.bvrla.co.uk

C

Canvey Island Youth Project - lots of help on lots of subjects.
Web site address: www.canveyislandyouthproject.org.uk

Castle Point Association of Voluntary Services (CAVS) - umbrella organisation for all voluntary groups and services in Castle Point.
Web site address: www.cavscastlepoint.org.uk

Castle Point Borough Council - information about Council departments and the services available.
Web site address: www.castlepoint.gov.uk

Child Support Agency - the role of the CSA is to make sure that parents who live apart from their children contribute financially to their upkeep by paying child maintenance.
Web site address: www.csa.gov.uk

Citizens Advice - the national charity
Web site address: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Civil Aviation Authority - the UK's specialist aviation regulator.
Web site address: www.caa.co.uk

CLS Direct - provides free legal information, help and advice direct to the public.
Web site address: www.clsdirect.org.uk

Consumer Direct - provides consumers with the knowledge, tools and confidence to resolve consumer problems themselves.
Web site address: www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

Communities & Local Government Web site - promoting community cohesion and equality. Responsibility for housing, urban regeneration, planning and local government. (Replaced the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister ODPM).
Web site address: www.communities.gov.uk

Connexions - confidential advice, support and information for 13-19 year olds
Web site address: www.connexions.gov.uk

Corporate Accountability - confidential advice, support and information for 13-19 year olds
Web site address: www.corporateaccountability.org

Court Service - covers policy, legislation and the Magistrates' courts, including court locations and forms.
Web site address: www.courtservice.gov.uk

Criminal Case Review Commission - the independent public body set up to investigate possible miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Web site address: www.ccrc.gov.uk

D

Defra - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Web site address: www.defra.gov.uk

Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform - helps people and companies become successful in business by providing information and a wide range of practical assistance.
Web site address: www.berr.gov.uk

Department of Children, Schools and Families - making England the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up
Web site address: www.dcsf.gov.uk

Department of Health - providing health and social care policy, guidance and publications for NHS and social care professionals.
Web site address: www.dh.gov.uk

Directgov - easy access to the public services you use and the information you need, delivered by the UK government
Web site address: www.direct.gov.uk

DWP - Department for Works and Pensions
Web site address: www.dwp.gov.uk

E

Employment Tribunals - provides information about the tribunal's procedures and gives guidance on how you make or respond to a claim.
Web site address: www.employmenttribunals.gov.uk

Equalities Office - a new self-standing Department, whose mission is to put equality at the heart of Government.
Web site address: www.equalities.gov.uk

Equality and Human Rights Commission - champions equality and human rights for all, working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society.
Web site address: www.equalityhumanrights.com

Essex County Council - information about Council departments and the services available.
Web site address: www.essexcc.gov.uk

Essex Online - Information about Council departments and the services available.
Web site address: www.essexonline.gov.uk

Euroconsumer - advice & information on your rights as a consumer in the European Union.
Web site address: www.euroconsumer.org.uk

Experian - online credit report
Web site address: www.experian.co.uk

F

Financial Ombudsman - the independent service for settling disputes between consumers and businesses providing financial services.
Web site address: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

Financial Services Authority - the independent body that regulates the financial services industry in the UK.
Web site address: www.fsa.gov.uk

Financial Services Compensation Scheme - the UK's statutory fund of last resort for customers of authorised financial services firms. This means that FSCS can pay compensation if a firm is unable, or likely to be unable, to pay claims against it.
Web site address: www.fscs.org.uk

Funding for Care Homes - provides clear advice and information to help you afford the best quality care in relation to your personal circumstances.
Web site address: www.nhfa.co.uk

G

Government Information Services - public service information.
Web site address: www.direct.gov.uk

H

Health and Safety Executive - protects people against risks to health or safety arising out of work activities.
Web site address: www.hse.gov.uk

Her Majesty's Courts Service - an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Their remit is to deliver justice effectively and efficiently to the public.
Web site address: www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk

Home Office - works with individuals and communities to build a safe, just and tolerant society.
Web site address: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Home Study - a UK trade association dedicated to distance learning providers.
Web site address: www.homestudy.org.uk

Housing Corporation - the government agency that funds new affordable homes and regulates housing associations in England.
Web site address: www.housingcorp.gov.uk

Human Rights (Liberty) - a guide to human rights law for England and Wales.
Web site address: www.yourrights.org.uk

I

Information Commissioners Office -the UK's independent authority set up to promote access to official information and to protect personal information.
Web site address: www.ico.gov.uk

Inland Revenue -information & services including self assessment, tax credits, child benefits, tax codes, self employment and more.
Web site address: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk

Insolvency Service -administers and investigates the affairs of bankrupts, of companies and partnerships wound up by the court, and establishes why they became insolvent
Web site address: www.insolvency.gov.uk

Intellectual Property Office -the official government body responsible for granting Intellectual Property (IP) rights in the United Kingdom (UK).
Web site address: www.ipo.gov.uk

J K

No entries at present.

L

Land Registry -manages the land registry system for England and Wales.
Web site address: www.landregistry.gov.uk

The Law Society -represents solicitors in England and Wales.
Web site address: www.lawsociety.org.uk

Local Government Ombudsman -investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies.
Web site address: www.lgo.org.uk

M

Mind - responsible in government for upholding justice, rights and democracy.
Web site address: www.mind.org.uk

Ministry of Justice - responsible in government for upholding justice, rights and democracy.
Web site address: www.justice.gov.uk

Multikulti - information, advice, guidance and learning materials in community languages.
Web site address: www.multikulti.org.uk

N

National Rail - provides a Web site, digital TV and telephone service for information and advice about health, illness and health services (including locations). 24hr. Telephone Health Line if you unwell now. 08454647
Web site address: www.nationalrail.co.uk

National Health Service - provides a Web site, digital TV and telephone service for information and advice about health, illness and health services (including locations). 24hr. Telephone Health Line if you unwell now. 08454647
Web site address: www.nhs.uk

NHS Direct - provides a Web site, digital TV and telephone service for information and advice about health, illness and health services (including locations). 24hr. Telephone Health Line if you unwell now. 08454647
Web site address: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

O

Open & Distance Learning Quality Council - the UK guardian of quality in open and distance learning.
Web site address: www.odlqc.org.uk

Office of Communications - the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries.
Web site address: www.ofcom.org.uk

Office of Fair Trading - responsible for making markets work well for consumers.
Web site address: www.oft.gov.uk

Open University - providing high-quality university education to all.
Web site address: www.open.ac.uk

P

Parliament UK - for all things relating to the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Web site address: www.parliament.uk

Parliamentary & Health Services Ombudsman - independent investigations into complaints about UK government departments and their agencies, and the NHS in England.
Web site address: www.ombudsman.org.uk

Postwatch - protecting, promoting and developing the interests of all customers of postal services in the UK.
Web site address: www.postwatch.co.uk

Prisons and Probation Ombudsman - investigates complaints from prisoners, those on probation and those held in immigration removal centres.
Web site address: www.ppo.gov.uk

Q

No entries at present.

R

Rethink - working together to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life.
Web site address: www.rethink.org

Retail Motor Industry Federation - the trade association for the retail motor industry.
Web site address: www.rmif.co.uk

S

The Samaritans - provides confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.
Web site address: www.samaritans.org

The Standards Board - provides an independent, national overview of how local authorities promote and improve the ethical behaviour of their members.
Web site address: www.standardsboard.gov.uk

T

This is Essex - the gateway to local newspapers in Essex.
Web site address: www.thisisessex.co.uk

U

UK Statistics Authority - gateway to the latest National Statistics.
Web site address: www.statistics.gov.uk

V

Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association - trade association for vehicle body building and repairs.
Web site address: www.vbra.co.uk

Veterans UK - the Web site for service veterans in the UK.
Web site address: www.veterans-uk.info

W X Y Z

No entries at present.