3. Family support and key services
Safeguarding
Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub
To report concerns about abuse or neglect, please see below.
Children’s and Adult’s safeguarding
Our safeguarding services will be closed from 5pm on 24 December and re-open on 29 December 2025.
Open hours during the Christmas period:
- 29 December: 8.40am– 5pm
- 30 December: 8.40am– 5pm
- 31 December: 8.40am– 5pm
- 02 January: 8.40am– 5pm
For assistance during these open times, please call 0161 770 7777.
For urgent assistance outside of these hours and throughout the Christmas period, please contact the Emergency Duty Team on 0161 770 6936, available 24 hours a day.
Council Early Help Team
Our Early Help Service will be closed from 5pm on 24 December and re-open on 29 December 2025.
Open hours during the Christmas period:
- 29 December: 8.40am– 5pm
- 30 December: 8.40am– 5pm
- 31 December: 8.40am– 5pm
- 02 January: 8.40am– 5pm
Domestic violence
If you need to seek support for domestic abuse, please call the police on 101 or in an emergency call 999.
Advice and support is also available 24 hours a day from the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (calls are free from landlines and major mobile phone networks).
Oldham Independent Domestic Violence Adviser
Available 29 December, 30 December, 31 December and 02 January, 9am–4.30pm
- T: 0161 770 1572
Family Hubs Christmas opening hours
Family Hubs will be open on the following dates and times:
- 29 December: 9am–4pm
- 30 December: 9am–4pm
- 31 December: 9am–4pm
- 2 January: Open as normal
Social Prescribing
The Social Prescribing service will remain open for referrals throughout the Christmas period via our online referral form. Any new referrals received during this time will be processed from 5 January onwards:
Our Social Prescribing duty phone line (0161 339 2345) will be available at the following times:
- 24 December: 9.00am – 12.00pm
- 27–31 December: 9.00am – 4.00pm
- 2 January: 9.00am – 4.00pm
The phone line will be closed on 25 and 26 December, and on 1 January.
Pharmacies
If you need to find a pharmacy, the NHS website might be able to help.
Other useful numbers
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline
- T: 0800 999 5428
Men’s Advice Line:
- T: 0808 801 0327
Respect helpline (for anyone worried about their own behaviour)
- T: 0808 802 4040 (available Monday to Friday, 9am–8pm)