Christmas and New Year - council services and support
Wirral Council has confirmed details of festive opening hours for key services.
Some council areas will shut down, with others offering limited opening hours, over the festive period meaning that some services will be unavailable at that time.
Many services can still be requested through the council website, but may not receive attention until Thursday 2 January 2025.
You can find the full details of opening hours for various services, attractions and more on Wirral View . We’ve included information on key services for families below, and we’ve also included some details on how to access further support over the festive period:
Adult social services
Adult Social Care operates through the Christmas period. If you require support or have an urgent need relating to Adult Social Care in Wirral between 9am and 5pm on 27, 30 or 31 December, please contact the Central Advice and Duty Team on 0151 514 2222 and press option 3. If you are calling after 5pm, or on any of the days not listed above, and if your enquiry is urgent, please contact the Emergency Duty Team on 0151 677 6557.
Carers' support
This time of year can bring up a lot of emotions and stresses. Mobilise has issued some advice for carers over Christmas - Support for carers this Christmas. For Carers in Wirral there is also support provided in the Hub - and people can still book 1-2-1 calls in the lead up to Christmas and after it is over if they might need it.
Children Centres / Family Hubs
Seacombe Family Hub – open 9am-5pm, 27, 30 and 31 December
Equilibrium: Closed week beginning 23 December, Open 10am-2pm on 30 and 31 December.
Brassey and Bromborough and St James: Closed from 24 December until 2 January 2025
Koala Northwest: Closed from 23 December until 2 January 2025.
All school-based hubs will be closed for the school holidays.
Children's Services
If you’re worried about a child over Christmas and New Year, call the Integrated Front Door on 0151 606 2008 and select option 2, open 9am to 5pm excluding weekends and bank holidays. Out of hours, you can call the Emergency Duty Team on 0151 677 6557. If a child, or anyone else, is at risk of immediate harm, dial 999.
Domestic abuse and family support
Help is available for anyone experiencing domestic abuse or family issues over Christmas and New Year.
Details of the support on offer locally can be found at the #ItsNeverOK website
Homeless and Housing
The Housing Options Team will be operating an emergency-only triage service on 27, 30 and 31 December. This service will operate from 9am to 5pm.
Outside of these times/dates and during weekends and public holidays, in an emergency situation, where a household has nowhere safe to stay that night, they should contact the Emergency Duty Team on 0151 677 6557.
If you need housing advice and it isn’t urgent you can make a self-referral to the Housing Options Team via the Wirral Council website.
If you, or anyone you know, sees someone who is sleeping rough then time is of the essence. Please make a referral via rsiteam@birkenheadymca.co.uk or 07821 125119 as soon as possible. This will ensure Wirral’s local outreach team will be able to respond and send staff to engage with the person and offer appropriate support.
Wirral Infobank
The Wirral Infobank website contains lots of information about the support available in communities across Wirral.
My Mind
To access wellbeing support for children and young people over the holidays visit My Mind :: Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The number for crisis support for My Mind is 0800 145 6485.
Samaritans
If you are feeling lonely, isolated or overwhelmed contact the Samaritans. You can call day or night on 116 123.