Useful contacts

Last updated: 06/03/2025

Shelter Scotland

For information and advice on housing issues.
Helpline: 0808 800 4444 Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm
Website

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Give information and advice on a range of issues including welfare benefits, debt and local support services.
Helpline: 0800 028 1456

Visit Citizens Advice Scotland for details of your nearest bureau.

 

Local Council Welfare Rights Officers

Each local council employs officers who give benefit information, advice and support. Contact your local council for details.

 

National Debtline

0808 808 4000 Mon – Fri, 9am – 8pm and Sat, 9.30am – 1pm
Website

 

Scottish Welfare Fund

Families in need or crisis may be able to get financial or practical support from this service. Contact your local council for details of the help available and how to apply.

 

Women’s Aid

Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline Scotland: 0800 027 1234 available 24/7
Website

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Covering your tracks

You may not want other people to know that you’ve been searching for information or help from OPFS.

When browsing the internet whether on a mobile phone, tablet or computer, you leave a ‘history’ trail of pages and sites you’ve visited.

It’s impossible to completely avoid being tracked online but if you’re worried about someone knowing which sites you’ve been looking at, there are some things you can do to help cover your tracks.

If you’re using a laptop or desktop computer, try keeping another document or website open in a new tab or window while browsing. If someone comes in the room and you don’t want them to see what you’re looking at, you can quickly switch to another window or tab.

Deleting browsing history

You can delete the history of websites you’ve visited, but it’s important to know that if you delete your browsing history, someone else using the same device may notice.

If you share a tablet, mobile phone, laptop or computer with someone, they might notice that passwords or website addresses have disappeared from their history.

Find out how to remove your browsing history and other data from some of the most commonly used browsers:

Browsing in Private mode (incognito)

When browsing ‘incognito’, the internet browser won’t store cookies or record your browsing history on the computer, mobile or tablet.

This option is available on popular web browsers i.e. -

Toolbars

If you use a search toolbar in your web browser, remember that your searched items can be saved as part of your history. Find out how to delete your searched items from the following search engines: