What is the helpline?
The Learning Disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. Helpline is Mencap’s free help and advice line. It is for people with a learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. , their family and carers.
For all other enquiries, please visit our contact page
Our Helplines are a vital lifeline for many
In this article Rachel tells us more about the Learning Disability Helpline, why it's so important and how you can help keep our lines open.
Cost of living advice
Are you worried or concerned about the cost of living crisis and how it may affect you or someone you love? We have expanded our helpline and now have specialist cost of living experts to help advise you.
Help and advice if you’re in England
Phone us on 0808 808 1111. Our advisers are available from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday.
Fill out our online form
Email us at helpline@mencap.org.uk
Help and advice if you’re in Wales
Phone: 0808 8000 300
Email: helpline.wales@mencap.org.uk
Help and advice in Northern Ireland
Help and advice if you’re in Northern Ireland
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Option 2)
Email: helpline.ni@mencap.org.uk
Find a local group
Mencap have a local network of more than 340 affiliated groups across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are individual charities who work to ensure people with a learning disability and their families have support locally.
Help in a crisis
The Learning Disability Helpline is a very busy service, and we help as many people as we can. If you send an email or use our online form, we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
However, we are not a crisis service and we cannot always respond straight away to urgent issues.
Crisis AdviceGot a question?
Complete the contact form and one of our advisors will get in touch with you shortly.
What can the Learning Disability Helpline help you with?
We can talk to you about anything to do with learning disability. This could be help and advice, issues or available services in your area.
These are the Helplines focus areas of information and advice:
- Social Care including Mental Capacity
- Health and Wellbeing
- Covid-19
- Safeguarding
- Transition to adulthood
- Benefits
- Mental Capacity
- Homes not Hospitals including Behaviour that challenges
We will also offer information and advice in the following areas:
We can offer information only (not advice) on these subjects
Read our helpline privacy noticeIf you have a question that you would like us to answer, complete the contact form and one of our advisors will get in touch with you shortly.
Join Mencap's online community
Mencap’s online community A community is the people and places in an area. is a safe and supportive place to meet others, ask questions about learning disability, share experiences and offer support.
Help us step in when most needed
Our Helplines are a lifeline to so many people, we simply must be there to help.
Your donations keep this essential service A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support. running.
We hold the Advice Quality Standard so you can be sure about the quality of the advice we provide.