You can hire an e-scooter, e-bike or e-cargo bike across Bath, Bristol and South Gloucestershire areas: https://travelwest.info/e-scooter-e-bike-hire/

By Bus

There are two bus companies which operate in your area:

Metrobus - More information is available at https://travelwest.info/metrobus.

First bus - On First buses children under 5 travel free, children between 5-15 years get tickets half price. More information is also provided on https://www.firstbus.co.uk/bristol-bath-and-west/tickets/ticket-prices

By train

Two main railway stations are called Bristol Parkway in Filton area (north of Bristol city centre) and Bristol Temple Meads in central Bristol. More information on train travel is available at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/.

By taxi

There are a number of taxi firms operating in Bristol and South Gloucestershire which can be expensive.  Uber is one of the cheapest taxi companies in the area.

Healthcare services

Most healthcare services in the UK are free of charge. However, you must register with the NHS (National Health Service) to receive these services. Regardless of your immigration status, anyone in England can register for a GP.

Doctor

Your doctor (GP) is there to help you with physical or emotional problems. If you feel unwell and need to see a doctor, call the GP surgery. If you would like in interpreter to visit your GP appointment with you, please request this from the receptionist when you arrange your appointment. You can ring 111 if the health centre is closed.

Pharmacy

There are various pharmacies in the area, and they can give general advice on medicines.

Emergency

If you have an emergency call 999

Call 999, if you need urgent help, for example if you’ve had a serious accident, a fire, if you need the police, or if you need an ambulance to go to hospital.

You must tell them the address that you are phoning from. This service is free of charge. If you phone from a public telephone box, you do not need any money to phone 999.

Dentist

It is important to register with a dentist, particularly if you have problems with your teeth.

Optician

It is also important to register with an optician, particularly if you have problems with your eyes.

Hospital

If the problem is more serious, your GP can request an appointment with a specialist at the hospital. The hospital will send you a letter telling you the date of your appointment.

Accident and Emergency (A&E) Hospitals

You can also visit Accident and Emergency (A&E) at the hospital when you require medical attention for a genuine life-threatening emergency, such as severe bleeding that cannot be stopped or severe burns.

The closest A&E (for everyone OVER 16 years) is located at:

• Southmead Hospital (Southmead Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, BS10 5NB ) Open 24 hours. Tel: 0117 923 0000.

• Bristol Royal Infirmary (Marlborough Street, Bristol, BS2 8HW) Open 24 hours.  Tel: 0117 950 5050.

The closest A&E (for everyone UNDER 16 years) is located at:

• Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, bS2 8BJ) Open 24 hours.  Tel: 0117 342 8460.

Minor Injuries Units

• If your injury is not serious, you can get help from a minor injuries (or walk-in) unit. Minor injuries units are there to help with injuries that need attention urgently but are not critical or life-threatening, such as sprains, strains, cuts and grazes.

They treat children as well as adults and you can be seen much more quickly than at A&E. You don’t need to make an appointment for the minor injuries unit.

The closest minor injuries unit is located at:

West Walk Surgery (21 West Walk, Yate, BS37 4AX .Tel: 01454 272 200

Education

Primary and secondary education is free in the UK and all children go to school. They first go to ‘Infants School’ when they are 4, then ‘Junior/Primary School' between the ages of 7 to 11, and then 'Secondary School' between 11 and 16. They may stay on at ‘Sixth Form College’ until they are 18.

School is open Monday to Friday. The school day usually starts at about 8.45am and finishes at about 3pm: your children’s school will tell you the exact times. Parents are expected to take younger children to school and collect them themselves.  Children must attend school every day unless an absence has been authorised or it is a public holiday.

Free school meals

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 are entitled to Free School Meals under the Universal Free School Meal Initiative. For children in nursery, years 3 to 6, or secondary school, you can make an application for Free School Meals online.

School uniforms

Your child’s school will require their pupils to wear a school uniform. Every school has a different school uniform.

You can buy school uniform from school uniform shops and some supermarkets. Local charities may be able to support you with free school uniform items. You can also speak to your school’s headteacher if your child cannot wear the correct uniform, including PE kit, due to financial difficulty.

Children and Family Centres

Children’s Centres offer a variety of support for parents and children.  Children’s Centres provide information and advice. Topics covered include activities for children and young people, childcare, employment and training opportunities, housing, health promotion, parenting support, play and leisure activities.

Money

Your income

You will be entitled to claim benefits in the UK, which means that the government will give you money to help with your living costs until you are able to work. You can apply online and register with the job centre:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions

You will be put on 'Universal Credit', and you will also receive a small amount of ‘Child Benefit' money.

Currency

The UK currency is the pound sterling (£/GBP). There are 100 pence (p) to the pound (£). Notes come in denominations of £5, £10, £20 and £50. Coins come in 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2.

Community safety and the law

Police

The police in the UK are here to help all citizens. The police will treat you fairly and with respect. If you need to contact the police in an emergency, phone 999 and ask for the police. For non-emergencies, call 101. You can ask for an interpreter when you phone 999 or 101 by stating the language you speak at the beginning of the call.

Call 101 if it is not an emergency. For example:

• Your property has been damaged by a non-family member
• To give information about a crime or an offender
• You require information or advice about a policing issue

Discrimination

Discrimination is illegal in the UK - everyone must be treated the same. Men and women have equal rights and equal access to education and to work. Whatever somebody's age, race, skin colour, religion, sexual orientation, political opinion, ability or nationality, they are all treated equally.

Bristol and South Gloucestershire are generally very safe and very welcoming areas. However, if you experience any kind of aggression from anybody - verbal or physical - you can feel confident that it will be taken very seriously and dealt with.

You can report it to the police directly by phoning. Alternatively, you can report hate crime online at https://www.bristol.gov.uk/crime-emergencies. You can also ask various local organisations to report hate crime for you if you do not feel comfortable reporting the crime yourself. You can call the Crime Stoppers helpline on 0800 555 111 to report any crime, including hate crime, anonymously. Crime Stoppers will be able to provide you with confidential advice and support you with the physical and emotional impacts of hate crime.

There is also an organisation called Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI) who also do very useful work in supporting people who have experienced hate crime - you can contact them on 0117 942 0060.

You do not have to give your name when reporting a hate crime incident. Your report will be completely confidential. Please also remember that reporting incidents will NOT impact on your current position or application.

Marriage and relationships

Forced sex within marriage or relationships is illegal and counts as rape.  Domestic violence against women or men is illegal. This includes emotional abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse and financial abuse. For help https://nextlinkhousing.co.uk/ If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out and ask for help.

Nextlink is a national organisation that provides accessible community-based services to women and children at risk of or suffering abuse. You can call them for free on 0800 4700 280 if you require help and support.

There is also a local organisation that supports women in the Bristol area with professional counseling, befriending and helpline service. You can call them on 0345 458 2914 or 0117 916 6461.

Gay marriage is legal

You are allowed to marry at 16 (with parents' permission) or at 18 (without needing permission).

There is free access to contraception in the UK - you can talk to your GP if you would like to find out what options are available to you.

Safeguarding children AND ADULTS

Child protection is taken very seriously in the UK and it is important that you follow national guidance to keep your children safe. It is an offence to neglect children or intentionally put them at risk.

It is illegal to physically punish your child - if a parent is discovered to be smacking their child and abusing their child then they could be prosecuted for assault and, if the situation is very bad, the child could be taken into care. Also, no teacher or carer is allowed to physically punish a child. Any punishment given by a teacher must be reasonable (examples of reasonable punishment are extra work during school hours or being told off.)

Please follow this guidance to ensure your children’s safety:

• Children should not be left alone – this includes at home. There must be an adult at home with them at all times.
• When you go out you should know where your children are at all times.
• Young children (typically under the age of 12) are not allowed to walk to and from school on their own. This means that you must always go with your children to school and pick them up when school is finished.

There is legislation on safeguarding children and adults. Checks are done on professionals working with children and vulnerable adults.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-factsheet-community-volunteers-during-covid-19-outbreak/safeguarding-and-dbs-factsheet-faqs

Smoking

You must be 18 in order to buy and smoke cigarettes. Cannabis is illegal and a class B drug. You are not allowed to smoke inside any public space (buildings, buses, anywhere where there is a no smoking sign).

Guns and knives

It is illegal to carry guns and knives in public. It is also illegal to carry replicas (even if they don’t work).

Littering (dropping rubbish in public places) is against the law in the UK. This means if you are seen to litter you could be given a fine by the police. This includes cigarettes. Please use the bins on the street to dispose of any litter or cigarette ends.

Driving

You can learn to drive at 17.  You need to have a driving license and insurance, and you must pay tax on your car.  You get a license by passing two tests - a written exam (the 'theory' test) and a practical exam (the 'driving' test).

You must wear a seatbelt when in a car, and children must sit in a child seat. In the UK all children travelling in a car must use a car seat until they are 12 years old or 135cm tall (whichever happens first).   If your child is travelling in a car without a car seat then you could be stopped and fined by the police. It is illegal to put children on an adult's lap to travel in the car.

The Council

South Gloucestershire Council provides its residents with services and support, including public health, housing, adult social care, education, children’s welfare, sport and leisure, and community safety. More information at https://www.southglos.gov.uk/.

Find information for services for adults, children and families living in South Gloucestershire:https://find-information-for-adults-children-families.southglos.gov.uk/kb5/southglos/directory/home.page

Politics

Laws are made by Parliament, which is made up of 620 'Members of Parliament' or 'MPs'. Town councils look after roads, schools and social services.

Waste and recycling

Please dispose of any waste correctly. You will have the following waste bins for waste collection:

• Small grey food bin – for food waste. You can buy special biodegradable waste bags for these to keep your bin cleaner.
• Green recycling boxes (two) – for waste that can be recycled
• Black wheelie bin – for normal household waste that cannot be recycled
• Green wheelie bin – for garden waste (if paid separately)

Using computers

You can use a computer and internet for free at any of the libraries. Other places where you can use them for free include:

• Patchway One Stop Shop (Rodway Road, Patchway, BS34 5PE),
• Kingswood Jobcentre (382-386 Two Mile Hill Road, Kingswood, BS15 1BZ),
• Yate Jobcentre located at Yate Shopping Centre (4 North Parade, Yate, BS37 4AN).

We hope you find this information useful. If you have any suggestions, please contact office@southernbrooks.org.uk.

Southern Brooks is a community anchor charity building connections and providing support to help individuals and communities thrive in South Gloucestershire. We deliver high-quality community development and health and wellbeing services that support individuals and communities, helping people achieve what matters to them.