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.
**CHANGE Birmingham and Gravesend will be virtual for the rest of this academic year **
- Aldershot, Hampshire
- Birmingham – Virtual
- Bristol
- Canterbury, Kent
- Chelmsford
- Coventry – Virtual
- Gravesend, Kent – Virtual
- Hampton
- Hatfield, Hertfordshire
- Kent – Virtual
- Peckham
- Thornton Heath
- Waterloo, London
- Westminster, London
- Worcester Park
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.
Before you attend
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
- Tuesday 11th March 2025
-
Closed in April – Easter
-
Tuesday 13th May 2025
-
Tuesday 10th June 2025
-
Tuesday 8th July 2025
Please note that our Birmingham Advice Centre is currently virtual.
Usually 2nd Tuesday of the month.
From 10.30 to 12.30 virtually.
Please pre-register if you have not already registered for our services and then contact us to make a virtual appointment.
Confirmed dates
-
Tuesday 13th May 2025 – Virtual
- Tuesday 10th June 2025 – Virtual
- Tuesday 8th July 2025 – Virtual
- Tuesday 9th September 2025 – Virtual
From 10.00 to 12.00 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 18th March 2025
-
Closed in April – Easter
-
Tuesday 20th May 2025
- Tuesday 17th June 2025
- Tuesday 15th July 2025
From 9.30am to 11.30am at Thanington Neighbourhood Resource Centre, Thanington Road, Canterbury,
Kent CT1 3XE
Please pre-register before arrival if possible and have your security ID ready for the volunteer you speak with.
Doors close at 11am.
Parking is available on site.
The Centre is situated on the A28 Thanington Road approximately 1 mile from Canterbury city centre. There is parking for up to 40 vehicles. Bus route numbers 1X and 1A for Ashford. Wincheap Park and Ride is just around the corner. Canterbury East and West railway stations are a short distance away.
Confirmed dates
- Tuesday 29th April 2025
- Tuesday 20th May 2025
- Tuesday 24th June 2025
- Tuesday 15th July 2025
Usually 1st Wednesday of the month.
From 10.00am to 12.00pm at Tees Law, Parkview House, Victoria Rd S, Chelmsford CM1 1BT.
We are walking distance from the train station (about 5 mins) and town.
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
- Wednesday 2nd April
- Wednesday 7th May 2025
- Wednesday 4th June 2025
- Wednesday 2nd July 2025
Supported by Tees Law
Usually 2nd Thursday of the month.
From 10.30 to 12.30. 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:
- If you have already used our services before and have a security ID – please contact us, giving your security ID, to request the link to book your appointment. Go to step 4 below.
- If you have not registered with us before, please 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 8th May
- Thursday 12th June
- Thursday 10th July
Please note that our Gravesend Advice Centre is currently virtual.
From 10.00 – 12.00 virtually.
Please pre-register if you have not already registered for our services and then contact us to make a virtual appointment.
Confirmed dates
-
Friday 23rd May 2025 – Virtual
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 18th March 2025
-
Closed in April – Easter
-
Tuesday 20th May 2025
-
Tuesday 17th June 2025
-
Tuesday 15th 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 11th March 2025
- Closed in April – Easter
- Tuesday 13th May 2025
- Tuesday 10th June 2025
- Tuesday 8th July 2025
Supported by Tees Law
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:
- If you have already used our services before and have a security ID – please contact us, giving your security ID, to request the link to book your appointment. Go to step 4 below.
- If you have not registered with us before, please 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*
- Thursday 13th March 2025
-
Closed in April – Easter
-
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 17th March 2025
- Closed in April – Easter
- Monday 19th May 2025
- Monday 16th June 2025
- Monday 14th 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 1st April 2025
- Tuesday 6th May 2025
- Tuesday 3rd June 2025
- Tuesday 1st July 2025
From 5.30pm-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 27th March 2025
- Thursday 24th April 2025
- Thursday 22nd May 2025
- Thursday 26th June 2025
- Thursday 17th July 2025
From 11am to 1pm at Fivefields, 8-10 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0DH (Victoria Station – 4 min walk away)
Please pre-register before arrival if possible and have your security ID ready for the volunteer you speak with.
Our meeter greeter will be at the venue entrance or lobby and will show you to the waiting area.
Doors close at 12.30pm.
Confirmed dates
- Wednesday 19th March 2025
- Wednesday 23rd April 2025
- Wednesday 21st May 2025
- Wednesday 18th June 2025
- Wednesday 9th 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 10th March 2025
- Monday No April date – Easter
- Monday 12th May 2025
- Monday 9th June 2025
- Monday 14th July 2025