LONDON HELPLINES & INFORMATION

Alcoholics Anonymous
(0171 352 3001). Open helpline 10am-10pm daily. A helpline for the London area. Operators put you in touch with a member in your area who can act as escort to your first meeting.

Capital Radio Helpline
(0171 388 7575). Open helpline 10am-10pm Mon-Fri; 8am-8pm Sat; 10am-4pm Sun. Run in conjunction with Capital Radio, this helpline tackles queries about anything.  If the staff can't answer your query themselves, they'll put you in touch with someone who can help. The line is always busy, so keep trying.

Childline
Freepost 1111, London N1 OBR (0800 1111/0171
239 1000). Open phone lines 24 hours daily. Free and confidential national helpline for children and young people in trouble or danger.

Gamblers Anonymous
(0171 384 3040). Open 24 hours daily. Advice is offered by members of the fellowship and referrals to meetings.

Healthline
(0345 678 444). Open 10am-5pm Mon-Fri. A free (except for the cost of the call) telephone information service. Ask to listen to any of the 400 health-related tapes. These give details of  symptoms and contact names of groups involved with treatment or support for sufferers. Health advice can also be gleaned from staff during office hours.

Just Ask
46 Bishopsgate, EC2 (0171 628 3380). Liverpool Street tube/rail. Open Counselling 10am-9pm Mon-Thur; 10am-5pm Fri. Helpline 10am-6pm Mon-Thur; 10am-5pm Fri (after- hours answerphone).  Counselling is targeted at people aged 35 and under who are homeless, unemployed or on a low income, but advice will be given to anyone with a personal problem. Closed for counselling in Aug.

London Rape Crisis Centre
(0171 837 1600). Open 10am-6pm Sat; 2-6pm Sun. Free, confidential rape counselling.

London Women's Aid
(0171 392 2092). Open 10am-1pm, 2-4.45pm, Mon-Fri. Refuge referral for women experiencing domestic violence. An after-hours answerphone gives alternative numbers for immediate help.

Medical Advisory Service
(0181 994 9874). Open 5-10pm Mon-Fri. Helpline for most medical problems.

MIND
(Head 0ffice) Granta House, 15-19 Broadway, E15 (0181 519 2122/info line 0181 522 1728)  Callers to the mental health charity MIND will be referred to one of 34 London groups. MIND's legal service advises on maltreatment, wrongful detention and sectioning.

Narcotics Anonymous
(0171 730 0009). Open 10am-10pm daily. Run by members of the fellowship, this helpline offers advice, and informs callers of their nearest meeting.

National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux
Greater London Office, 136-144 City Road, EC1 (0171 251 2000). Open phone enquiries 9am-5pm Mon-Fri. CABs are run by local councils, offering free advice on legal, financial and personal matters. The above office does not give advice itself but will direct callers to their nearest CAB. Alterna tively, check the phone book.

National Childbirth Trust
(0181 992 8637). Open 9.30am-4.30pm Mon-Fri. Independent charity offering information and support to women in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood.  Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (0181 239 1122). Open noon-2.30pm, 7-9.30pm, Mon-Fri; 2.30-5pm Sat, Sun. Offers support and information to those who have experienced rape or sexual abuse.

Refuge Crisis Line
(0181 995 4430). Open 24 hours daily. Refuge referral for women experiencing domestic violence.

Rights of Women
(0171 251 6577). Open noon-2pm, 7-9pm, Tue, Thur; 3-5pm, 7-9pm, Wed; noon-2pm Fri. Provides legal advice for women.

Samaritans
(0171 734 2800). Open 24 hours daily. The Samaritans will listen to anyone with emotional problems. It's a popular service and you may have to phone several times before getting through.

Victim Support
National Office, Cranmer House, 39 Brixton Road, SW9 (0171 735 9166 after-hours answerphone/fax 0171 582 5712). Oval tube. Open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri.
Victims of crime are put in touch with a volun teer who provides emotional and practical support, including information on legal procedures and advice on compensation. Interpreters can be arranged.

Legal Aid & Immigration advice
If a legal problem arises, contact your embassy, go to a Citizens' Advice Bureau (see above) or get in touch with one of the organisa tions listed below. Ask about Legal Aid eligibility. For a leaflet explaining how the system works, write to the Legal Aid Board (see below).

Amnesty International
UK Section, 99-119 Rosebery Avenue, EC1 (0171 814 6200). Angel tube or Farringdon tube/rail. Open 9am-6pm Mon-Fri. Global human rights organisation working for the release of prisoners of conscience. Staff advise those seeking asylum.

Commission for Racial Equality
Elliot House, 10-12 Allington Street, SW1 (0171 828 7022). Victoria tube/rail. Open 10am-5.45pm Mon-Thur; 9am-5.30pm Fri (callers without an appointment should arrive at least 90 mins before closing). Set up under the 1966 Race Relations Act to work towards eliminating discrimination

Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
(JCWI) 115 Old Street, EC1 (0171 251 8706). Old Street tube/rail. Open personal callers 10am-12.30pm; The JCWI provides advice on immigration, takes up cases of people subject to deportation orders and helps with legal representation. Phone for an appointment.

Law Centres Federation
Duchess House, 18-19 Warren Street, W1P 5DB (0171 387 8570). Warren Street tube. Open 10am-6pm Mon-Fri. There are about 27 Law Centres in London and this organisation will put you in touch with one of them. Centres offer free help to people who cannot afford to pay for legal advice concerning sex and race discrimination, employment discrimination, housing, welfare benefits, immigration and education. Due to funding restrictions Law Centres can only offer services to people living or working in the immediate area of the offices.

Legal Aid Board
85 Gray's Inn Road, W1 The Customer Services Department will provide names and addresses of solicitors who subscribe to the Legal Aid scheme.

Release
388 Old Street, EC1 (0171 729 9904/after hours 0171 603 8654). Old Street tube/rail. Open 10am-5pm Mon-Fri.  Release offers free legal advice to anyone who has been arrested. It's particularly helpful in cases involving illicit drugs, and provides confidential counselling and referrals.