Setting up a helpline?

At THA, we hear from around one organisation each week that is considering setting up a helpline. We have followed the fortunes of more than 500 helplines over 15 years. We are all too familiar with what drives helplines to succeed and what makes them fail. These critical factors are even more important in today’s squeezed economic climate.

Whether you are intending to deliver a new service directly or are funding or commissioning an external organisation to do it on your behalf THA offers a range of services to help you get it right first time.
 
Start-up support

To help you make the right decisions as early as possible, we have put together a 'start-up' support package. This is available to anyone who is intending to deliver or fund / commission a helpline.

We will gather information from you about your plans for the helpline – the need that it fulfils, the nature of the service proposed, the costs and funding sources, key policies and critical risks. This process will increase your awareness of the full range of implications of delivering a helpline service.

We will then discuss these issues with you in a two-hour telephone consultation, focusing on the areas in which you require the most support.

Our advice will also help you work towards the criteria for full THA membership and may also provide a basis for evidence that you can use if you subsequently work towards The Helplines Standard.
 
All our consultants have a strong background in managing, setting up and working on helplines. One of our experienced consultants will work on your project for a total of two days. The fee for this is £990 + VAT, irrespective of your sector or membership category.
  
Here’s what previous clients have said:

The support we received from all at THA has been invaluable to the success of our service. From initial information and advice to in-depth guidance in how best to set up the helpline, THA has been a huge help.
Gavin Thomas, ProMo-Cymru, for Meic helpline
 
To sign up for this, please click here.

Become a THA member

THA membership brings many benefits:

  • Discounts on our training, masterclasses, consultancy and assessment services
  • Access to downloads on helpline best practice
  • Opportunities to meet and collaborate with others who have already set up helplines at regular local meetings around the UK and Ireland.

Associate membership starts at only £50 + VAT (or Euro equivalent) and is open to start-ups - so don't be put off if you haven't yet set up your helpline - this is the best time to contact us.
 
Join our forum

There are more than 1,000 helplines in the UK and Ireland. Connect with others in the helpline sector who have experience of setting up and managing helplines. The forum is free to join and is open to anyone with an interest in helplines - THA member or not, so join now and start connecting.

 If you  do nothing else, please tell us about the new helpline

Whether you become a THA member or not, we would like to include the helpline in our directory. Please contact us at info@helplines.org.uk to find out how to be included in the directory.