The office will be monitoring and replying to correspondence throughout the holiday period, and we will respond as soon as we can. The team will be available to reply to urgent casework on all working days over Christmas and New Year.
Please be mindful that our telephone line will be closed from 24 December and will resume normal hours on 5 January. Do continue to contact Daisy and our office via email on daisy.cooper.mp@parliament.uk.
If you do not use email, you can alternatively send a letter to Daisy Cooper MP, Houses of Parliament, Westminster, SW1A 0AA.
Should you need urgent assistance over the Christmas period, please note the following contacts:
St Albans District Council:
- The Council Offices will be open until 4.45pm on Wednesday, 24 December and then closed until Friday, 2 January when doors reopen at 9am.
- Over Christmas and New Year, the Council’s out of hours telephone number is 01727 866100 and they have arrangements in place for critical services including homelessness and domestic abuse.
St Albans Food Bank:
- All St Albans Food Bank sessions will run as normal on 22, 23 and 24 December.
- You can check through this link which centres are open during the Christmas and New Year weeks.
Safeguarding concerns:
- If you have concerns for the welfare of a child, please contact Children’s Service at Hertfordshire County Council on 0300 123 4043 or online via this link: Report concerns about a child or request support | Hertfordshire County Council
- If you have safeguarding concerns about an adult, please contact Hertfordshire County Council on 0300 123 4042 or online via this link: Report a concern about an adult | Hertfordshire County Council
Mental Health Support:
Christmas can be difficult for anyone, at any point in their life. You might be struggling this year for the first time. Or you may have found Christmas difficult in the past, and it continues to be a difficult time of year. You may also enjoy Christmas but not be able to celebrate it how you’d like to. Or you might find some parts enjoyable, but other parts stressful.
Please do reach out to support services if you are struggling with your mental health this Christmas:
- You can call 111 for mental health support line (available 24/7 in England and Wales).
- Call Single Point of Access on 0800 6444 101 (available 24/7 for Herts Residents only)
- Call Samaritans on 116 123 (available 24/7)
- If you’re under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline.
For emergencies of a medical or criminal nature: always call the emergency services on 999.
Other support contacts:
- For those seeking help for abuse, contact National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (available 24/7)
- For help coping with loss, contact Cruse Bereavement Support: 0808 8081677 (opening hours)
- For older people feeling lonely or needing some practical help and support contact Age UK: 0800 678 1602 (open 8am-7pm)