It is important to eat a balanced diet. This means you need variation in your diet to take in all five classes of food - proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. Try to eat different foods and remember that wholefoods are better for you than processed foods.

To eat cheaply and feel satisfied after a meal increase your intake of foods like rice, beans, lentils, cereals and fresh fruit and vegetables. When you go shopping, look around and compare prices - supermarkets are often more expensive, especially for fruit and veg. Local shops will vary in price but many will be able to sell individual portions of food (for example eggs and ounces/grammes of cheese) instead of pre-packed amounts which are based on family sizes.

If you are a meat eater remember that sausages and mince contain a lot of fat and not much goodness - liver is cheaper and far more nutritious.

Finally, remember that it is cheaper to cook one meal for four than four meals for one. Communal eating is also more fun so maybe a group meal once in a while would be a good idea.

If you don't have a doctor or a dentist in the area it is important that you register as soon as possible and keep a note of the phone numbers. This will only involve having a word with the receptionist and could save you a lot of trouble later on.

It is a good idea to check out the local options with other people in you house and remember that you have a right to choose a particular doctor ( a woman perhaps) if you use a health centre. Most health centres now run well person clinics and it is worth attending these because prevention really is better than cure. These clinics however won’t check for the most common disease in this country - tooth decay - so make sure you go to your dentist regularly for checkups.

Finally, a word on sex and drugs and HIV. The Bristol Drugs Project operates a needle exchange scheme and condoms are available free from family planning clinics at your local health centre.

Telephone: 0117 907 9982

Fax: 0117 904 8280

Opening Times:
Monday - Friday: 9.30am - 5pm
Saturday, Sunday: Closed

Telephone: 0117 927 9600

Helpline: 0117 925 1119

Web Site: www.users.zetnet.co.uk/bcsw/

Offers support to women experiencing emotional problems, particularly those who self-injure, through a national helpline. Also available: Information and publications about self-injury and training for professionals on the subject. Helpline has access to interpreters and has information on self-injury in different languages.

MindLine: 0808 808 0330 (open Wednesday - Sunday 8pm -12am)

Telephone: 0117 914 1234 (office)

Fax: 0117 914 1235

Email : info@bristolmind.org.uk

Web Site: www.bristolmind.org.uk

Telephone: 0117 926 4045

Email: crusebristol@jamesb.fsnet.co.uk

Web Site:beehive.thisisbristol.com

Family mediation is used to solve various family problems, including:
· Disputes between parents and older children.
· Disagreements over care for elderly or seriously ill relatives.
· Disputes over grandparents' contact with grandchildren.
· Homelessness caused by family disputes.

The Family Mediation Helpline is operated by trained staff that are able to put couples in touch with family mediators in their local area. The Helpline is available by calling 0845 60 26 627 or visiting www.familymediationhelpline.co.uk

Telephone: 0117 950 2511

Web Site: www.help-counselling.org.uk

A not-for-profit company, providing counselling and psycotherapy for young people aged 9 - 25. There is no limit to the number of sessions and no restrictions on the issues to deal with. Clients are asked to chose a payment, to make a contribution to cover costs.

Telephone: 0117 955 6098

Fax: 0117 954 1954

Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 9am - 5pm
Friday: 9am - 4.30pm

Richmond Fellowship

5 Portland Place
Pritchard Street
Bristol
BS2 8RH

Telephone: 0117 944 2220

Fax: 0117 989 2602

E-mail: bristolshs@richmondfellowship.org.uk

Web Site: www.richmondfellowship.org.uk

Housing for young people with mental health problems

Telephone: 08457 90 90 90

Web Site: www.samaritans.org.uk

Telephone: 0845 767 8000 (charged at local rates)

Open: Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 11pm, Saturday and Sunday, 12 noon to 6pm

Web Site: www.sane.org.uk

Telephone: 0117 971 6770

Fax: 0117 971 6770

Email: amy.greenslade@ywca.org.uk

Web Page: www.ywca.org.uk

Counselling, information and advice for young women

Telephone: 0117 925 1811

Fax: 0117 929 3290

Web Site: www.missinglinkhousing.co.uk

Housing for women with mental health needs

Telephone: 0808 808 9120

Fax: 0117 922 6747

Email: sean@otrbristol.org.uk

Web Site: www.otrbristol.org.uk

Free counselling, 11-25 yr olds

Telephone: 0845 458 2914

Fax: 0117 916 6462

Email: info@womankindbristol.org.uk

Counselling, therapy groups, helpline, befriending. Helpline supports any woman who needs to talk -including those experiencing domestic violence.

Telephone: 0117 935 1707

Web Site: www.napac.org.uk

Telephone: 01454 228080

Telephone: 0117 987 3776

Telephone: 0117 929 0090

Web Site: www.brook.org.uk

Free Pills, Tests and Contraception

Telephone: 0117 955 3355

Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Youth Group 14-25 years of age

E-mail: info@freedomyouth.co.uk

Web Site:www.freedomyouth.co.uk

Telephone: 0117 908 7712

Email: sue@kinergy.freeserve.co.uk

Kinergy offers a free and confidential service for both men and women over 16, who have been sexually abused or raped. Counselling sessions for men and women are held on different days. Aims to provide a warm and respectful atmosphere within which you can feel safe enough to express your feelings.

Telephone: 0117 9221328

The helpline is staffed from 8pm to 10pm, Mondays to Thursdays. The service offers information, advice and support to lesbians and gay men. Area covered is mainly Bristol and South West England.

Outside these hours there is a National Helpline, available 24 hours a day on 020 7837 7324.

Email: blags@netbreeze.co.uk

Telephone: 0845 300 8090

Fax: 0117 900 5661

Web Site: www.mariestopes.org.uk

0117 907 7100

Lines open Thursdays, 7pm - 9pm

National helpline offering counselling and advice for men who have been raped or sexually abused, and for their families and friends.

Web site: www.mash-online.org

Appointments: 0117 928 2580

Advice on any aspect of sexual health: 0117 928 3011

Results: 0117 928 3099
(open 9-10 and 2-3 on Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri)

Web Site: www.ubht.nhs.uk/milne

Confidential testing and treatment for STDS

Telephone: 0800 567 123

Free phone (calls may be charged if made from mobile phones)
7 Days a week, 24 hours a day.
A 24 hour, free and confidential telephone service with advice about HIV/AIDS, sexual health, STD's, local services, clinics and support services. Translation services available for speakers of UK ethnic minority languages

Telephone: 0117 927 6362

Fax :0117 927 2180

Consultation service for Bristol women with unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.

Telephone: 0117 955 1000

Fax: 0117 954 1200

Email: info.bristol@tht.org.uk

Web Site: www.tht.org.uk

Offices Open: 10am - 5pm Mon - Fri

Telephone: 0117 941 3311

Minicom: 0117 941 3311

Email: services@wellwomen.freeserve.co.uk

Web Site: www.wellwomeninformation.co.uk

Tel/fax: 0117 971 6770

Email: bristol@ywca.org.uk

Call 0117 971 6770 to make an appointment or discuss which service would be appropriate for you. You need not disclose any personal details at this stage.

Counselling, information and advice for young women

Web Site: www.ywca-gb.org.uk/bristol

Sexual Health Advice Services for Young People

As part of Bristol’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, a website, www.4YPBristol.co.uk  went live on 10 December.  The website was developed in consultation with young people.  It contains information about where they can find confidential advice and support.   All the services listed will have to meet the 4YP standard which ensures they are young people friendly.  Anne Colquhoun, Teenage Pregnancy Strategy co-ordinator for Bristol said “local research indicates that many young people in Bristol are unaware of the support that is available, and even when they know about a service they are unsure what is actually provided. This website will help both young people and those working with them access good quality confidential advice and support.”  For more information, email anne.colquhoun@bristolpct.nhs.uk

Telephone: 0117 928 4448

Web Site: www.ubht.nhs.uk/dental

Emergency treatment for those not registered with a dentist.

Telephone: 0117 924 0060

Fax: 0117 924 4622

E-mail: julie.mann@awp.nhs.uk

Opening Hours:

Monday 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Cyrenians Day Centre, New Street
Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. / 2.00 p.m.– 4.00 p.m. Jamaica Street Hostel
Wednesday 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Cyrenians Day Centre, New Street
Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. Cyrenians Day Centre, New Street

No appointment necessary. There are drop-in sessions at various venues. Please telephone the organisation for further information.

Telephone: 0845 6000 800

Nurse led helpline offering facts, information and support to people affected by meningitis and meningococeal septicaemia. Open 24 hours a day every day

Telephone: 0845 46 47

NHS Direct is the NHS's telephone service giving confidential health care advice and information 24 hours a day. All calls are charged at local rate, you will be able to speak directly to experienced nurses and professional advisors about your health problems or queries.

Bristol Central

33/34 Broad Street, Bristol

Open every day from 8am to 8pm.

South Bristol

5 Knowle West Health Park
Downton Road
Knowle.

Open every day from 9am to 9pm.

Telephone: 0117 903 0000

Telephone: 01454 615 165