Get in Touch
I always welcome communications from constituents, so please do get in touch with me by emailing kerry.mccarthy.mp@parliament.uk.
You can find my privacy policy here, and for more information on my Code of Conduct, please click here.
Get in touch: If you would like to book a surgery appointment please click here.
To find out who your MP is click here – please keep in mind I can only do casework for my constituents in Bristol East
Other Support
A collection of useful information from a range of organisations. To help more people find the right help, we’ve put together this collection of trusted resources and tools from other organisations. These links can guide you through common issues around debt, benefits, money management and more.
If you are in an emergency and require immediate assistance, please call 999 for the police, fire department or an ambulance. For medical support call 111 and for non-emergency reports to the police call 101.
If my team or I have serious safeguarding concerns during any correspondence or communication, we will notify the relevant authorities and services.
Housing
Important Notice
If you have received an eviction notice, Bristol City Council’s Homelessness Prevention Team offers services to assist individuals at risk of homelessness or those already experiencing homelessness. They can also assist those in need of emergency housing, especially in cases of domestic abuse or other violence. For more information, go to their website here or contact them on 0117 352 6800.
For free and independent housing advice, you can reach out to one of the below organisations:
Shelter Bristol
Free legal advice and help for those in Bristol facing housing and homelessness problems.
Housing Matters
Advice, support and advocacy for those who are trying to avoid or escape homelessness.
Immigration
Bristol Law Centre
Free legal advice for issues including housing, welfare benefits, and tribunal appeals.
St Paul’s Advice Centre
Provides free, professional debt, immigration, and welfare rights advice to people living in St Paul’s, Ashley, and East Bristol.
Citizens Advice
Supports with immigration matters such as visas and citizenship.
Bristol Refugee Rights
Bristol Refugee Rights works primarily with asylum seekers and new refugees in the Bristol area. Their Advice Team works with people who have not yet been granted Refugee Status or Humanitarian Protection.
Migrant Help
Advice and guidance to assist people seeking asylum in the UK.
GOV.UK Find an Immigration Adviser
You can get immigration advice from an immigration adviser if you need help with getting permission to stay in the UK.
Benefits
Bristol Law Centre
Free legal advice for issues including housing, welfare benefits, and tribunal appeals. This can include representing you at hearings if you live in Bristol or South Gloucestershire.
Talking Money
Talking Money is an independent charity that provides free, confidential money advice, information, and support to people with money and debt problems.
West of England Centre for Inclusive Living (WECIL)
WECIL is an award-winning, user-led organisation supporting disabled people to live the life they choose. They provide support on benefits decisions and applications, getting help through social care services and securing disabled adaptations.
St Paul’s Advice Centre
Provides free, professional debt, immigration, and welfare rights advice to people living in St Paul’s, Ashley, and East Bristol (BS2 and BS5).
GOV.UK Benefits Overview
Official Government site for all benefit-related information, eligibility and applications.
Energy
Ofgem Energy Advice
Ofgem, the energy regulator for Great Britain, has created a series of articles to help you with your energy bills and suppliers, including understanding your bills and your rights.
Energy Ombudsman Services
The Energy Ombudsman exists to resolve disputes with energy suppliers. Their website has information about how they can help, their process, and what to expect.
Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE)
CSE supports people and organisations across the UK to tackle the climate emergency and end the suffering caused by cold homes.
Food and Emergency Support
Local Crisis and Prevention Fund
See the Bristol City Council website for more information on how to get support for basics like food, gas, and electricity, if you have a one-off financial crisis.
Feeding Bristol Support List
If you need to access food in your local area, Feeding Bristol has created a list of the food support available.
Trussell Trust – Find a Food Bank
Locate your nearest food bank if you urgently need support with food.
Education and SEND
Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA)
A leading SEND law charity that provides free and independent legal advice and support to families of children and young people. They also provide training on the SEND legal framework, and advise on SEND policy.
SEND & You
SEND and You is the SENDIASS – Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice, and Support Service – covering Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. They can advise on the EHCP process, mediation and navigating Bristol City Council’s services.
Bristol Parent Carers
A non-profit organisation and forum based in Bristol, consisting of volunteer parent carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They provide information and support to all families, regardless of their child’s type of need or diagnosis status.
Young People and Work
Free Courses in England
Gain lifelong skills and nationally recognised, accredited qualifications via government-funded free online courses for adults in England.
Youth Guarantee – Growth Hub
Gain lifelong skills and nationally recognised, accredited qualifications via government-funded free online courses for adults in England.
Job Service GOV.UK
Boost your job search by accessing government resources for CV tips, interview advice, and the latest job vacancies across the UK.
National Careers Service
The National Careers Service provides careers information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions at all stages in your career.
Sector-based Work Academy Programme GOV .UK
A sector-based work academy programme (SWAP) gives jobseekers who are 16 and over, and claiming benefits, the opportunity to apply for jobs.
Kings Trust
If you are aged 11 – 30 you can get free support to develop the skills and confidence you need to find a job or start a business.
Work Well West
Work Well is a friendly, free and local support service for anyone with a disability or health condition who is struggling to stay in work, return to a job, or trying to find new employment.
Babbasa Launch Academy
Young people aged 18 – 25 from ethnic minority and low-income backgrounds can gain real skills, and access real time opportunities.
WE WORK for Everyone
Helping people with a learning disability, learning difficulty or autism spectrum disorder move towards proper employment.
Bristol WORKS
Bristol Works brings employers and secondary schools together to provide meaningful experiences of work for young people aged 11–16.
Skills Connect
Free support to residents of Bristol to enter training, gain employment, progress within their current career or change into a new career.
SMART WORKS Bristol
Smart Works helps disadvantaged, unemployed women in Bristol get the coaching, clothing & confidence they need to secure employment and change the course of their lives.
Can Do Bristol
Find volunteering opportunities and support community action by connecting people across Bristol.
Bristol Adult Learning
Offers hundreds of leisure learning courses including arts, crafts, languages, cookery, wellbeing, gardening, computing, and more.
Move In, Move On, Move Up
Move In, Move On, Move Up is a dedicated employability programme supporting individuals with a history of rough sleeping or those currently living in temporary or unstable accommodation.
Bristol Community Learning
Offers courses and activities to help you build skills and gain confidence. Our courses are aimed at people with few or no qualifications and people looking to get a job.
Bristol Post 16
Support for young people & their families to find post 16 learning & employment in Bristol.
On Site Bristol
On Site Bristol have been supporting the construction industry in Bristol with their apprenticeship needs since 1996. They offer construction apprenticeship training programmes in 7 key ‘On Site’ trades.
Other Advice
Bristol Somali Rescue Centre
An organisation providing free and impartial information, advice and guidance on a range of issues including welfare, housing, schools and employment.
Resolve West
If you’re having problems with a neighbour, someone in your community or at work. Or you’ve been affected by crime, hate crime or discrimination, we’re here to offer you fair and friendly help and support.
Borderlands
charity based in Bristol that exists to work with refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants to help them from exclusion to belonging.
Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI)
SARI provides free and confidential support to anyone who is targeted by hate for their race, faith, disability, sexual orientation, transgender identity, age, gender, or sex.
North Bristol Advice Centre
Free and independent welfare benefits and debt advice for North Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
South Bristol Advice Services
Free, professional, confidential information and advice to the South Bristol Community in welfare benefits and debt.
Energy Savings Trust
The Energy Savings Trust has written a series of articles about saving energy at home, which cover everything from reducing heat loss to buying energy-efficient products.
Welfare Rights and Money Advice Service (WRAMAS) Bristol City Council
Benefits advice for vulnerable people on low incomes, particularly disabled people, full-time carers and people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness due to a problem with their benefits.
Constituency Surgery Booking Form
For Bristol East constituents who need help or advice, please use this form to make an appointment for a constituency surgery.
My team are using this form to help better monitor demand across the constituency – ensuring that we are holding surgeries at times and locations which best serve you. Upon completing this form, you will be added to the waiting list and a member of my team will get in touch to arrange an appointment as soon as possible.
IMPORTANT: If your issue is urgent or time-sensitive, please get in touch with my constituency office directly by emailing kerry.mccarthy.mp@parliament.uk or by calling 0117 939 9901 so we can handle your case as a priority.
Due to strict parliamentary protocol, I am only able to intervene and assist constituents who live in the Bristol East constituency. Non-constituents must contact their own Member of Parliament for support. Please check that I am your Member of Parliament here before requesting an appointment.