HELP AND ADVICE Richmond upon Thames

Richmond lending library is holding an advice drop in session for parents and carers of children and young people with dyslexia.

The session runs 10.30am-1pm on Saturday April 5th, in the library at Little Green.

Representatives from Richmond Dyslexia Association will be on hand with information and advice. There will also be an opportunity to speak in confidence. Refreshments will be provided.

There are collections of advice, information and books aimed at dyslexic young people at Richmond lending, East Sheen, Twickenham and Teddington libraries. The Richmond Dyslexia Association supports these sections.

For further information contact Joss Green, Young People's Library Services Manager 8940 0590.

Hydrotherapy sessions

Anyone who suffers with back pain can benefit from hydrotherapy sessions with a qualified physiotherapist at Teddington and Strathmore School Pools.

Find out more from Richmond Back Pain Group: Ruth Elliott 8892 8961 or Yvonne Nairn 8979 7626.

Hydrotherapy Sessions with a qualified physiotherapist at Teddington and Strathmore School Pools. Details from Richmond Back Pain Group, Ruth Elliott 8892 8961 or Yvonne Nairn 8979 7626.

Healthy Bladder Campaign More than six million people suffer from bladder problems. Free information pack from 0870 770 3246 or http://www.incontact.org.

Special needs website: For all parents or carers of children with special educational needs: http://www.vips-in-sen.co.uk where the following information can be found: legal rights; SEN Tribunals; dispute resolution service; reference sources for further information; Richmond LEA SEN policy; special schools and units; legal and professional organisations and a wide range of organisations that can offer help, advice and support. For those without internet access, call SOS SEN on 8979 8853.

Depression The Manic Depression Fellowship meets on the first Thursday of every month in St Mary's Church Hall, Twickenham. Friendly chat and a cup of tea guaranteed for all sufferers and carers. 8948 0307.

Disability Richmond Learning Disability Forum meets on ///11am-3pm at Whitton Community Centre, Percy Road. Mike Crowe for details, 8549 9900, Mike.crowe@mencap.org.uk

Richmond Advice and Information on Disability (Richmond Aid) Free confidential advice service for all enquiries relating to disability. Helplines 11am-4pm Monday-Friday, staffed by experienced volunteers. 8831 6070, or drop in to the accessible Disability Action and Advice Centre, 4 Waldegrave Road, Teddington.

The Thames Valley Group meets last Saturdays of month at the Avenue Centre, Normansfield Avenue, Teddington and welcomes anyone with mobility difficulties, whether a driver or passenger or just interested in the needs of disabled people and would like to help. Secretary Anne Crowcroft, 35 Kent House, Devonshire Road, Chiswick. W4 2JS.

The Thames Valley Disabled Drivers' Association has an accessible mobile home for hire at the Sussex coast. Hire from £115 a week. Arthur Agar 8572 8224.

Barnes Disabled Group Margaret Sharp 8748 0049.

Companion Cycling Companion Cycling now run Saturday sessions in Bushy Park as well as on Sunday mornings. Anyone, child or adult, who can't ride a conventional two-wheeler can enjoy a partnered ride on one of CC's side by side bikes. Booking essential, 8979 2003 or leave a message on the Voicemail 07961 344 545 and Companion Cycling will ring you back.

Companion Cycling offers partnered cycling in Bushy Park for people of all ages unable to ride solo for whatever reason. Admission is free. 8979 2003 or leave a message on the voicemail 0961 344 545. Support group for the unhappy meets most weekdays at 10am in the Belmont Cafe, Heath Road, Twickenham. Details from Nick 8941 4309.

Children React (Rapid effective assistance for Children with potentially terminal illness), St Luke's House, 270 Sandycombe Road, Kew. TW9 3NP. Rev Christopher Pulford, director.

Hearing difficulties West Middlesex Tinnitus Group. Meetings on the third Saturday in January, March, May, July, September and November, at Hounslow Voluntary Centre, 12 School Road, Hounslow. Mrs Jo Hazelby 01784 255485.

Eating disorders A therapy group for women with eating problems, which meets weekly on Tuesday evenings has places available. The group is led by a psychotherapist who specialises in the treatment of bulimia and other eating disorders and is UKCP registered. For further information or to contact for an initial consultation call Anne Cussins on 8898 1366.

Addictions New group where anyone with an addiction, be it food, drink or anything else, can exchange ideas with like minded people who can offer mutual support. Kim for details 8943 3404.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meets at the ETNA Centre, 13 Rosslyn Road, East Twickenham. Mondays 8pm. Big Book Study Group 8pm Tuesdays, Al-Anon 10am Wednesdays. 8892 3676.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) 8pm Wednesdays. ETNA Centre, 13 Rosslyn Road, East Twickenham. 8892 3676.

An NA women's group has started at ETNA community Centre, 13 Rosslyn Road, East Twickenham. Tuesdays 7.30pm.

Nicotine Anonymous monthly on Fridays 8pm. ETNA Centre, 13 Rosslyn Road, East Twickenham. 8892 3676.

Alcohol Services Kingston & Richmond 233 Lower Mortlake Road. 8940 1160, fax 8940 7204.

Co-dependents Anonymous at the ETNA Centre, 13 Rosslyn Road, East Twickenham. Thursdays. Jacquelyn 8898 6318 for details.

Ageing: Age Concern Richmond upon Thames, ARC Centre, Meadows Hall, Church Road, Richmond. 8940 8066, fax 5744, acrichmond@hotmail.com. Advocacy, information and two social centres, the Activities Resource Centre, Richmond and Whitton Social Club.

Richmond upon Thames Forum for Older People Morris Shaer 8979 6651.

Age Concern advocacy A Citizen Advocacy Project has been launched by Age Concern Richmond upon Thames. The aims are to support older people living in care homes and those living in the community with dementia. Project co-ordinator is Margaret Reynolds. 8940 8066.

Arthritis Arthritis Care The Richmond upon Thames branch meets regularly in York House, Richmond Road, Twickenham. Secretary Mrs C Robinson 8876 0076. clubs meetings on the last Wednesday of the month, except August, 2pm-4pm.

Back Pain Richmond upon Thames branch of the National Back Pain Association. Regular meetings with speakers and organises social activities. Chairman Geoff Hyde 8940 8757, secretaries Alan and Myrna Thomas 8940 2486. For details of hydrotherapy classes contact Ruth Elliott 8892 8961 or Yvonne Nairn 8979 7626.

Bereavement Cruse Bereavement Care Richmond upon Thames branch of national charity Cruse Bereavement Care, 8332 7100. The charity was founded in Richmond and has a national helpline 0845 7585 565. Help line for children who have lost a parent or relative to talk to a trained counsellor. 8940 3131 Fridays 5pm-9pm, Saturdays 11am-6pm.

Child Death Helpline is for parents and others affected by the death of a child. Freephone 0800 282986, 7pm-10pm nightly and 10am-1pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Widowed and Young is a national charity providing support and social network for men and women widowed under the age of 50. West London Way branch meets once a month in the Richmond and Twickenham area. 8894 5228.

Breathing difficulties Exercises on Thursdays 10.30am-12 noon at the Health Gym in the Clifden Centre, Richmond Adult & Community College, Clifden Road, Twickenham. 8891 5907.

National Asthma Campaign The Thameside (Richmond, Hounslow & Spelthorne) branch. Janet Nunn. 8979 6325.

Cancer support Cancer Care The Mulberry Centre at West Middlesex Hospital, cancer support and information centre for cancer sufferers, friends and family, is open to anyone touched by cancer, regardless of where the illness is being treated. The charitably funded centre welcomes visitors Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm and on the second Saturday of every month, 10am-1pm. In addition, the centre is staying open until 8pm on alternate Thursday evenings. 8321 6300. http://www.themulberrycentre.org.uk

A small upbeat group with a positive approach to cancer and its care meets first Tuesdays at the Postgraduate Medical Centre, Kingston Hospital at 7pm. 8546 7711 ext 3069 or 2558 and 8789 6611 ext 2392 or 2094.

Macmillan Cancer Relief. Information line 0845 601 6161. Secretary Eleanor Russell, 8876 1364.

Carers Richmond Carers Centre, part of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers network of centres. Advice and support to carers is provided by staff and volunteers at 88 Queens Road, Twickenham. TW1 4FR. 8744 3900. Email: richmond.carers@btopenworld.com Manager Melissa Wilks. Website at http://www.carers.org . There are all sorts of advice and help online as well as a chat room where you can talk to other carers.

Caring cafe for dementia sufferers and their carers is open on the first and third Saturday of each month, 10am-4pm at Meadows Hall, Church Road, Richmond. Details from the Alzheimer's group 8892 7792.

Hampton & Hampton Hill Voluntary Care Group The Greenwood Centre, School Road, Hampton Hill. Co-ordinator Deirdre Curran 8979 9662, fax 8941 1348, email: vcg@greenwoodcentre.co.uk.

Careline (Richmond upon Thames Social Services) 8891 7413 also Richmond upon Thames Social Services emergency out of hours number 8744 2442.

Carers UK, Richmond Branch, 7 Carlton Road, East Sheen. SW14 7RJ. Jean Middleton 8876 8830 chairman, Jean Lewis secretary 8876 4133. The Relatives and Residents Association is group for carers with a relative in long term care. Meetings are arranged at CVS, 1 Princes Street, Richmond. Branch AGM is 7.30pm at the Vestry Hall, 21 Paradise Road, Richmond at 7.30pm.

Crossroads Care Caring for carers, 4 Waldegrave Road, Teddington. TW11 8HT. Telephone 8831 6088, fax 8831 6087.

Carers development worker, Richmond upon Thames Katy Wing, Richmond CVS, 1 Princes Street, Richmond. TW9 1ED. 8255 8500, will take calls from carers 9am-12 noon Mondays.

Neighbours Richmond Good Neighbours 1 Princes Street, Richmond. Organiser Hilary O'Brien 8332 9741.

Barnes and Sheen FISH 8741-2823; Ham & Petersham SOS 8948 1090; Hampton & Hampton Hill Voluntary Care 8979 9662; Kew Neighbourhood Care 8948 8054; Richmond Neighbourhood Care 8332 9741; Teddington & Hampton Wick 8943 3112; Twickenham Hands 8891 3346; Whitton Network 8755 1336.

Handy for elderly A scheme has been launched for residents of Richmond upon Thames who are over 60 or have a disability. Repair jobs around the house or garden are carried out for those who can no longer do for themselves. Only charge is cost of materials plus a possible donation to the scheme. Run by Age Concern in conjunction with Richmond Parish Lands Charity, Help the Aged and Richmond upon Thames Council. 8943 3265, email: handyperson@richmond.gov.uk or write to Richmond Handy Person Service, Harlequin House, 7 High Street, Teddington. TW11 8EE.

Dementia Meetings run by the South West London Branch of the Alzheimer's Society in association with Richmond upon Thames Crossroads are held at the Vestry Hall, 21 Paradise Road, Richmond. There are refreshments, various activities and an opportunity to meet other carers and chat. Anyone who is caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease who would like to attend can ring Donna or Lynne for information on 8876 1177.

The society is now based at 88 Queens Road, Twickenham. 8892 7799, email: alzswldn@aol.com

The branch support group embraces Richmond. Meetings 8pm on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 3 Malbrook Road, Putney. SW15 6UH. 8785 4350.

Support groups for carers meet in Whitton Day Centre on the first Wednesday of each month 10.30am, 8255 3576 and in Twickenham on the second Tuesday morning of each month, 8891 2564. Branch outreach worker Clare Dunnell.

Dentists Residents looking to register with an NHS denitst should initially contact NHS Direct on 0845 4 47 for up to date information about which dentists are accepting NHS patients. Failing that, patients in the Richmond and Twickenham area should contact the Primary Care Trust PALS manager Kay Williams on 8814 225 who may be able to help them register with a dentist.

Dyslexia Richmond Dyslexia Association, contact 8241 1111, 8878 2434 or 8332 2881.

Families WelCare offers a weekly drop-in session for lone parents with at least one child under the age of eight, 10.30am-12.30pm on Thursdays. WelCare is based at 26 The Green, Twickenham. 8893 9123.

Home-Start Richmond works to support young families in their own homes who are going through a bad patch. Anthea and Sue, Home-Start co-ordinators for details on 8948 8370. email address:

homestartrichmond@ukgateway.net

Gingerbread Lone parents are invited to join their local Gingerbread group for friendship, advice and support. A group meets every Saturday 2.30pm-4.30pm at the Brunswick Club, Clarendon Crescent, Twickenham.

Richmond and Twickenham Gingerbread, 8569 7878 or 8715 0026. For more information visit the Gingerbread website at http://www.gingerbread.org.uk

Gingerbread groups. Freephone 0800 018 4318, email: ddhyde@btinternet.com.

Healing National Federation of Spiritual Healers Healing 7pm-9pm on Wednesdays, 7.30pm-9.30pm in the Quakers Meeting House, Retreat Road, Richmond. 01932 783 164/5.

Health helpline West London NHS Direct 24 hour health helpline 0845 46 47.

Heart British Heart Foundation Richmond branch. Chairman Ray Perrin 8878 6569.

Incontinence A leaflet, published by The Kingston, Richmond and Putney Continence Support Group, is entitled, It's Time to Take Control offers practical self-help instruction and advice to sufferers. Free copies are available from GPs or by sending a stamped addressed envelope to Sarah Murdoch, Physiotherapy Department, Kingston Hospital, Galsworthy Road, KT2 7QB.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome There is an IBS self help group for people in Surrey and Middlesex. Sufferers can share their experiences and any treatments they have tried. 8626 9089 or send a large sae to the IBS Self Help Group, 10 Cottimore Avenue, Walton on Thames. KT12 2AD. (r fretwell 01932 885378)

Learning difficulties Richmond Mencap office, 40b Cambridge Park, East Twickenham. TW1 2JU. 8744 1923, fax 8891 1921. User Groups meet four times a year on Wednesday afternoons.

The Avenue Association, Normansfield Avenue, Teddington. TW11 9RP. Secretary Irene Lewis 8255 3278.

Legal advice Richmond Legal Advice Service is at Richmond CVS, 1st floor, 1 Princes Street, Richmond. TW9 1ED. There is no need to make an appointment. The service provides basic, free legal advice each Wednesday between 8pm and 9p. Victor Warner 8891 2105. Email: rlas@rlas.org.uk, web: http://www.rlas.org.uk

ME sufferers Network MESH is the west London ME self help group. Monthly meetings and social groups are organised, plus a quarterly newsletter. Details from Tony Golding 8400-1904 or Colin Parratt 8995 5609.

Missing people National Missing Persons Helpline 0500 700 700, Message Home 0800 700 740 - no questions asked. http://www.missing persons.org.

Multiple Sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis Society Richmond branch. 8891 5753.

Myasthenia Gravis The Myasthenia Gravis Association Richmond upon Thames branch. Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is an auto immune disease which is characterised by fluctuating, sometimes fatal, muscle weakness. It can affect any muscle and any age group. The aims of the association are to learn more about the causes of the disease, to provide improved methods of treatment and care, to find the cure and to support improved awareness campaigns. Gerrard McMahon, regional organiser, tel: 01932 493506, email:

gerrardmcmahon@thelodge86.fsnet.co.uk

Parkinson's disease Richmond & Hounslow East branch of the Parkinson's Disease Society. Meetings Whitton Social Club, 111a Kneller Road. Whitton, first Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm. For anyone connected with Parkinson's Disease. Chairman Mrs Bea Cook 8898 5430 or Mrs Ann Goold (welfare) on 8977 1846.

Personal safety Suzy Lamplugh Trust 8392 1839.

Pregnancy The Life Centre, 20 Vicarage Farm Road, Hounslow West, offers free testing as well as free non-directive' counselling. Accommodation can be arranged. 8570 7717.

Maternity Alliance, advice line is 7588 8582.

Crossway Pregnancy Crisis Centre, Crossway, next to St Stephen's Church, Richmond Road, East Twickenham, offers confidential tests, practical help and the chance to talk. The service is open to male partners. Mondays 7.30pm-9.30pm and Wednesdays 12 noon-2pm. 8892 8483.

Reconciliation The Corrymeela Group helps promote reconciliation in Northern Ireland and members in Kew support Corrymeela by fundraising. 8948 4910. All are welcome.

Relationships Relate Counselling on relationships available in Richmond, Hounslow, Barnes and Cranford by appointment 8.30am-9pm Monday-Friday. 8940 8578 Monday-Thursday 9.30am-5.30pm or 9.30am-3.30-on Friday.

Mediation in Divorce A national family mediation helpline, 7383 5993, helps divorcing couples resolve their conflicts over such arrangements as children, finance and property.

Mediation in Divorce family mediation service is at 13 Rosslyn Road, East Twickenham. TW1 2AR. 020 8891 6860, email: admin@mediationindivorce.co.uk

Samaritans 0345 909090.

Sensory impairment Sensory Service offer specialist advice for people with sensory impairment. Their duty line is open Mondays and Thursdays 9.30am-12.30pm. 8891 1411 ext 4695, minicom 8831 6258.

A British sign language interpreter will be available at Richmond Aid on a two monthly basis, to assist with disability rights. Make an appointment through Jonathan Rushforth on 8831, 6071, fax 8831 6079, minicom 8831 6078.

Stroke The Stroke Association's Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton Dysphasia Support Community Service meets weekly on Thursday mornings. Anyone interested should telephone the group organiser Gill Ritchie on 8979 5877 or email: gillritchie@aol.com.

Different Strokes charity runs exercise classes to aid recovery of younger stroke survivors at the Pools on the Park, Richmond.Emphasis on under 40s but no one turned away. Survivors of any mobility and their carers invited to weekly Sunday group meetings 2pm-3pm. Julia Jenkins on 8568 1590 (evenings).

Tax surgery Take your questions and problems 0.30am-12.30pm at Richmond Library, Little Green.

Young people Off the Record Advice, information and counselling for young people aged up to 25 at 2 Church Street, Twickenham. 8744 1644, fax 8892 7435.

Victim Support National Victim Supportline 0845 30 30 900, minicom 7896 3776, charges at local rates.

Visual impairment Middlesex Association for the Blind resource and information morning is held on the first Wednesday of every month from 10am to 12noon at 322 Northolt Road, South Harrow. Ring 8423 5141 for further details. Blind and visually impaired people can take the opportunity to find out more about the large range of specialist equipment available including talking watches, large print diaries and games. Even training to use computers is available for the blind and visually impaired of any age.