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First contact

First Contact is the first point of contact at Alone in London for young people in need of information and advice. Trained staff and volunteers deal with over 2,000 enquires each year and provide telephone or face to face support.

First Contact 300First Contact can provide support and advice on a range of issues including: what to do if you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, where to go for practical help, and what your rights are under current legislation.

First Contact can provide expert sign-posting to the most relevant services for young people, and / or refer young people into one of Alone in London’s services.

First Contact is committed to providing a sensitive, non-judgemental and supportive response to young people who need to talk about their issues.

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Alone In London Map 400To get in touch with First Contact, call us on:

020 7278 4224

9am - 1pm or 2pm - 4pm Monday to Friday

Or pop into our Advice Centre for an initial chat. Please note that we advise calling before travelling to the Advice Centre, in case you are able to get the support you need over the phone, or our workers have appointments and are unable to see you at that time.

Young Person’s Experience

Mandy called First Contact from a public payphone, distressed, disorientated and scared. She had just £1 and a plastic bag with a few clothes. She had not eaten or drunk anything all day. It was hard for her to focus with her head so fuzzy from the cocaine abuse of the previous night. There were long silences. She said she has no family – her father is in jail for abusing her and her Mum is in a mental health hospital. She has no friends she can trust.

She said she was in fear of her pimp finding her. She is seventeen and trying to escape two years sexual exploitation, Mandy said: "That's all I know... I have to take drugs now ...He gives them to me and it's the only way I can get through it... I've got nowhere else to live... Can you help me?"

First Contact’s response was to seek support for her at a local level – she was ringing from outer London. With the help of several agencies – Domestic Violence Unit, Victim Support, Social Services, NHS and Sapphire (support and care for victims of sexual assault), Mandy got the crisis support she needed and has been provided with safe accommodation. She is making good progress in resolving her difficulties and beginning a new life.

Last modified 14/01/11