Walk-in Advice Centres
We run a number of free walk-in advice centres nationally and spread across the month during school term times. Come and talk to one of our experienced volunteers who can help answer questions about your case. In addition, we run Virtual Advice Centres for families living in Coventry and Kent.
- Aldershot, Hampshire
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Coventry – Virtual
- Gravesend, Kent
- Hampton
- Hatfield, Hertfordshire
- Kent – Virtual
- Peckham
- Thornton Heath
- Waterloo, London
- Worcester Park
Before you attend
Here’s a few helpful tips to consider before you arrive:
- Do check on the website for any last minute changes to times.
- We don’t book appointments in advance for our walk-in centres, just turn up.
- Remember to bring your security ID – use the link above if you need to register.
- We suggest you arrive during the first hour of the walk-in advice centre opening. Be be prepared to wait your turn.
- Bring all of your relevant paperwork, ideally keep this in date order as this will help us to work more quickly.
- If possible, please avoid bringing children. If this isn’t possible, please ensure another adult is available to supervise the child whilst you are seeing the adviser.
During your visit
Here’s a few ways to ensure your time with an adviser is as productive as possible:
- Please sign in and have your security ID ready; this will help us direct you to the right adviser.
- If the Advice Centre is busy, consultations may be limited to 20 minutes.
- We cannot guarantee to see anyone arriving after the designated ‘door closing’ time.
- Unfortunately, time does not enable us to carry out a review of a draft EHCP or help create appeal grounds. This requires a review of all paperwork so as to produce a robust response.
- All our volunteers are trained; we cannot guarantee that any specific volunteer or member of SOS!SEN will be at any given Advice Centre.**
**If you need to see a specific person, please book a 1:1 session.
Find a Walk-in Advice Centre near you
Usually 2nd Tuesday of the month.
From 10.15 to 12.15 at The Games Shop (opposite Costa Coffee), 6 Wellington Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1DZ.
Please pre-register before arrival if possible and have your security ID ready for the volunteer you speak with.
Doors close at 11.55am.
Confirmed dates
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Tuesday 14th January 2025
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Tuesday 11th February 2025
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Tuesday 11th March 2025
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Closed in April – Easter
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Tuesday 13th May 2025
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Tuesday 10th June 2025
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Tuesday 8th July 2025
Usually 2nd Tuesday of the month.
From 10.30 to 12.30 at Birmingham Friends of the Earth, The Warehouse, 54-57 Allison Street, Digbeth B5 5TH.
Directions from New St Station: Follow signs to Moor St Station. When you get to Moor St, go down the hill to the side of the station towards the multi-storey car park. At the car park, go left under the railway bridge. Immediately after the railway bridge turn right onto Shaws Passage, which is quite short. We’re on the corner at the end of Shaws Passage – walk round the corner onto Allison Street and along past the Cafe to the full glass door with the Birmingham Friends of the Earth hanging sign – through this door and up the stairs/lift. If locked, please use the intercom to call us at reception (553 and then the large blue-lit button).
Please pre-register before arrival if possible and have your security ID ready for the volunteer you speak with.
Doors close at 12pm.
Confirmed dates
- Tuesday 14th January 2025
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Tuesday 11th February 2025
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Tuesday 11th March 2025
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Tuesday 8th April 2025
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Tuesday 13th May 2025
From 10 am to 12 pm at The Vassall centre, Gill Avenue, Bristol BS16 2QQ.
Parking available. Please check-in with our meeter greeter in the cafe area. The Advice Centre will take place in different meeting rooms across the centre so it is important to check-in with the meeter greeter first.
Please pre-register before arrival if possible and have your security ID ready for the volunteer you speak with.
Doors close at 11.30am.
Confirmed dates
- Tuesday 21st January 2025
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Tuesday 25th February 2025
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Tuesday 18th March 2025
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Closed in April – Easter
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Tuesday 20th May 2025
- Tuesday 17th June 2025
- Tuesday 15th July 2025
Usually 2nd Thursday of the month.
From 10.30am to 12.30pm. Held online via Microsoft Teams, there is no physical venue. You must book a session in advance.
This virtual advice centre is for families who live in Coventry only. If you don’t live in Coventry, please check the locations of our walk-in advice centres.
Using this service:
- First, pre-register for this virtual advice centre. Ensure that you select the Advice Centre service on the form and select the correct location.
- Once registered, you will receive a security ID by email.
- You will receive a separate email from our admin team with a link for booking the date and time of your Virtual Advice Centre appointment.
- Follow the booking link to make your appointment. You will need to enter your security ID when booking your time slot.
- You will receive a confirmation email of your appointment with a link to the Microsoft Teams meeting.
- Please test your Microsoft Teams link in advance and contact us before the day if it isn’t working.
- Click the ‘Join your appointment’ link in the confirmation email to join the meeting on the day – please join 5 minutes before the start time to ensure your connection is working before the call starts.
- Cancelling or Rearranging – if you no longer require the appointment or need to rearrange it, you can click ‘Reschedule’ within your confirmation email.
We will be running a waiting list. If you are unable to make your appointment, please let us know in advance.
Confirmed dates *for Coventry families only*
- Thursday 9th January 2025
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Thursday 13th February 2025
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Thursday 13th March 2025
From 10.00 – 12.00 at Eastgate, 141 Springhead Parkway, Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent DA11 8AD.
Please pre-register before arrival if possible and have your security ID ready for the volunteer you speak with.
Doors close at 11:30am.
Confirmed dates
- Friday 31st January 2025
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Friday 28th March 2025
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Friday 23rd May 2025
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Friday 11th July 2025
Usually 3rd Tuesday of the month.
From 10.15 to 12.15 at Hampton Inspired Hub (opposite Hampton Station), 3 Ashley Rd, Hampton, TW12 2JA.
Please pre-register before arrival if possible and have your security ID ready for the volunteer you speak with.
Doors close at 11.45am.
Confirmed dates
- Tuesday 21st January 2025
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Closed in February – Half-term
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Tuesday 18th March 2025
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Closed in April – Easter
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Tuesday 20th May 2025
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Tuesday 17th June 2025
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Tuesday 15th July 2025
From 10.30am to 12.30pm. Held online via Microsoft Teams, there is no physical venue. You must book a session in advance.
This virtual advice centre is for families who live in Kent only. If you don’t live in Kent, please check the locations of our walk-in advice centres.
Using this service:
- First, pre-register for this virtual advice centre. Ensure that you select the Advice Centre service on the form and select the correct location.
- Once registered, you will receive a security ID by email.
- You will receive a separate email from our admin team with a link for booking the date and time of your Virtual Advice Centre appointment.
- Follow the booking link to make your appointment. You will need to enter your security ID when booking your time slot.
- You will receive a confirmation email of your appointment with a link to the Microsoft Teams meeting.
- Please test your Microsoft Teams link in advance and contact us before the day if it isn’t working.
- Click the ‘Join your appointment’ link in the confirmation email to join the meeting on the day – please join 5 minutes before the start time to ensure your connection is working before the call starts.
- Cancelling or Rearranging – if you no longer require the appointment or need to rearrange it, you can click ‘Reschedule’ within your confirmation email.
We will be running a waiting list. If you are unable to make your appointment, please let us know in advance.
Confirmed dates *for Kent families only*
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Thursday 16th January 2025
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Thursday 13th February 2025
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Thursday 13th March 2025
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Closed in April – Easter
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Thursday 8th May 2025
- Thursday 12th June 2025
- Thursday 10th July 2025
From 10.30am to 1.30pm at St James Church Hall, 45 Elm Grove SE15 5DD
Walking access from the street is just between the church and the parish house. Direct access to the hall is from the car park. All are welcome.
Please pre-register before arrival if possible and have your security ID ready for the volunteer you speak with.
Doors close at 1pm.
Confirmed dates
- Monday 20th January 2025
- Closed in February – Half-term
- Monday 17th March 2025
- Closed in April – Easter
- Monday 19th May 2025
- Monday 16th June 2025
- Monday 14th July 2025
Usually 2nd Tuesday of the month.
From 10.30 to 12.30 at Potential Kids Training Room, Old Management Suite, The Galleria Outlet Centre, Comet Way, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 0XR.
Our meeter greeter is located next to the customer service desk at the top of the escalators on the first floor, near to Marks and Spencer and Clarks.
Please pre-register before arrival if possible and have your security ID ready for the volunteer you speak with.
Doors close at 12:00pm.
Confirmed dates
- Tuesday 14th January 2025
- Tuesday 11th February 2025
- Tuesday 11th March 2025
- Closed in April – Easter
- Tuesday 13th May 2025
- Tuesday 10th June 2025
- Tuesday 8th July 2025
Usually 1st Tuesday of the month.
From 10.00 to 12.00 at Salvation Army, 66 High Street, Thornton Heath CR7 8LF.
Please pre-register before arrival if possible and have your security ID ready for the volunteer you speak with.
Doors close at 11.30am
Confirmed dates
- Tuesday 14th January 2025 (2nd Tuesday)
- Tuesday 4th February 2025
- Tuesday 4th March 2025
- Tuesday 1st April 2025
- Tuesday 6th May 2025
- Tuesday 3rd June 2025
- Tuesday 1st July 2025
From 5.30-7.30pm at Rotunda Hall, Living Space, 1 Coral St, London SE1 7BE. Please note that the entrance is on Waterloo Road.
Please pre-register before arrival if possible and have your security ID ready for the volunteer you speak with.
Doors close at 6:45pm.
Confirmed dates
- Thursday 30th January 2025
- Thursday 27th February 2025
- Thursday 27th March 2025
- Thursday 24th April 2025
- Thursday 22nd May 2025
- Thursday 26th June 2025
- Thursday 17th July 2025
Usually 2nd Monday of the month.
From 12:00pm to 2:00pm at SOS!SEN Charity Shop, 90 Central Road, Worcester Park KT4 8HU.
Please pre-register before arrival if possible and have your security ID ready for the volunteer you speak with.
Doors close at 1:30pm.
Confirmed dates
- Monday 13th January 2025
- Monday 10th February 2025
- Monday 10th March 2025
- Monday No April date – Easter
- Monday 12th May 2025
- Monday 9th June 2025
- Monday 14th July 2025