Living and working in Basingstoke and Deane 1 What’s in this guide? Welcome and first priorities 2 Staying safe 41 Information and help 3 Emergencies 45 Entering and staying in the UK 6 Business development and Working in the UK 8 enterprise agencies 45 Important paperwork 11 Getting involved 47 Money and banking 15 Ethnic minority community groups 49 Setting up home 19 Faith groups 51 Driving 23 Ethnic food stores 52 Schools and learning 25 Useful numbers in Basingstoke and Deane 53 Travelling in Basingstoke 33 Other useful numbers (not 24 hours) 53 Health services 36 Welcome to Basingstoke and Deane This guide has been produced by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in partnership with other organisations that provide local services. We hope it helps you find out more about Basingstoke and where you can get practical help and advice about any aspect of living and working here. Basingstoke is a town in north Hampshire, England. Nearby is Winchester, Reading and Southampton (London is within easy reach by rail or road). It is part of the borough of Basingstoke and Deane and part of the parliamentary constituency of Basingstoke. There are libraries and a Discovery Centre with excellent information services and free computer access. The Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Civic Offices are in Basingstoke town centre and there are Citizens Advice offices in both Basingstoke and Tadley. Disclaimer: We offer all information in good faith but cannot endorse or take responsibility for individual organisations and the quality of their service. 2 Information and help Using this guide This guide will help you when you arrive in Basingstoke and Deane. The services we describe are often free and confidential and have been found to be useful and important by other newcomers. Please be aware that although this guide is as accurate as possible, some information may change. To find important and up-to-date information often in a range of languages, please use the website addresses in each section. If you do not have internet access at home, the Discovery Centre and local libraries provide a free internet service. Your local council In Basingstoke and Deane, local government is organised into a two-tier system; a county council and a district council. County councils cover large areas and provide most public services, including schools, social services and public transportation. Each county is divided into several districts. Each district council covers a smaller area within Hampshire and provides more local services, including recycling and rubbish collection, local planning, housing, council tax and leisure facilities. District councils with borough status may be called borough councils, hence the name Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, but the role is exactly the same. How to contact your local council Website: www.basingstoke.gov.uk Tel: 01256 844844 (lines are open from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 5pm Friday, closed bank holidays) BT Text Relay: 1800101256844844 Post: Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, RG21 4AH Visit (appointment only): Parklands Building, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, RG21 4AH 3 Islam Jalaita - Diversity and Inclusion Islam’s role involves making contact with individuals, groups, and organisations from diverse communities in the borough, providing support and understanding in relation to the challenges different communities face. He also supports a range of community groups and representatives from forums such as Basingstoke Multicultural, Disability, Over 55s, Interfaith, LGBTQ+ Forums and Basingstoke Access 4 All Working Group to respond to accessible requirements and the needs of diverse communities. For more information please contact: Islam Jalaita, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, RG21 7AH Tel 01256 845325 Email [email protected] Libraries Basingstoke Discovery Centre, 19/20 Westminster House, Festival Place, Basingstoke, RG21 7LS Opening times: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 9.30am-5.00pm Tuesdays 9.30am – 1.30pm Tel: 0300 555 1387 Website: www.hants.gov.uk/library-basingstoke There is a full range of library services available: • Books and audiobooks for loan in a • Clubs such as “knit and natter” variety of formats, such as large print and colouring and Playaways • Events programme including author • eBooks, eAudiobooks and talks and activities for learners eMagazines to download • Volunteering opportunities including • Magazines for loan Summer Reading Challenge and • Free public IT, including internet Home Library Service ready computers, and free Wi-Fi • Snacks, hot and cold beverages are • Activities for children and families available to purchase throughout such as rhyme time and board the day games • Rooms for hire There are also libraries in Chineham, Tadley, Overton and Whitchurch and Kingsclere. For addresses and opening times please see www.hants.gov.uk/library/libraryfinder 4 Citizens Advice Citizens Advice offer free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone, regardless of their circumstances or who they are. It values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. Free advice is given on many subjects including employment, discrimination, benefits, tax credits, relationships, debt and housing. There are two offices in the borough (Basingstoke and Tadley): For telephone advice please call: 0800 144 8848 or 0344 4111 306 You can also call into either office: Citizens Advice Basingstoke The Basingstoke advice office is located in Basingstoke Discovery Centre, found in the Festival Place shopping centre (19-20 Westminster House, Basingstoke, RG21 7LS) Website: www.basingstokeandtadleycab.org.uk Basingstoke opening hours: (Telephone service, drop-in and appointments) Monday, Tuesday and Friday 10am to 3.30pm Wednesday 10am to 6.30pm Thursday 10am to 3.30pm (Telephone service and pre-booked specialist appointments only). Saturday 10am to 12noon Citizens Advice Tadley Citizens Advice Tadley & District, Franklin Ave, Tadley, Hants, RG26 4ET Tel: 0118 9817567 (admin) 03444 111 306 (advice line) Tadley opening hours: Monday 10am to 3.30pm Tuesday 10am to 1pm Wednesday 10am to 1pm Thursday 10am to 3.30pm Friday 10am to 1pm Citizens Advice Website www.adviceguide.org.uk, has information in 14 languages. Translation services may also be provided by arrangement at Citizens Advice. Each advice office is an independent local charity under the national umbrella of Citizens Advice. 4 5 Entering and staying in the UK Immigration status can be complicated and you may need to talk to an immigration adviser. You can find your nearest adviser by contacting Community Legal Services Direct on 0845 345 4345 or visiting www.clsdirect.org or visit the link below : https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration Voting Who can register to vote? You can register to vote if you are: 16 years old or over and a British citizen or Irish, qualifying Commonwealth or European Union citizen who is resident in the UK. If you are 16 or 17, you can only register if you will be 18 within the lifetime of the electoral register. You cannot vote until you are 18. If you are a citizen of one of the countries listed below, and resident in the UK, you are eligible to register to vote in UK elections. To qualify, Commonwealth citizens must be resident in the UK and either have leave to enter or remain in the UK or not require a leave status. The definition of a ‘Commonwealth citizen’ includes citizens of British Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories. Citizens of the European Union (who are not Commonwealth citizens or Citizens of the Republic of Ireland) can vote in European and local elections in the UK, elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies (if they live in those areas) and some referendums (based on the rules for the particular referendum) but are not able to vote in UK Parliamentary general elections. *Although also EU member states, citizens of Cyprus and Malta are eligible to be registered to vote in respect of all elections held in the UK. European Union countries Austria Denmark Hungary Malta Slovenia Belgium Estonia Ireland Netherlands Spain Bulgaria Finland Italy Poland Sweden Cyprus France Latvia Portugal Croatia Germany Lithuania Romania Czech Republic Greece Luxembourg Slovakia *correct as of February 2021 6 Commonwealth countries Antigua and Cyprus* Malaysia Rwanda Swaziland Barbuda Dominica Maldives St Kitts and Nevis Tonga Australia The Gambia Malta* Saint Lucia, Trinidad and The Bahamas Ghana Mauritius St Vincent and Tobago The Grenadines Bangladesh Grenada Mozambique Tuvalu Samoa Barbados Guyana Namibia Uganda Seychelles Belize India Nauru United Kingdom Sierra Leone Botswana Jamaica New Zealand United Republic Singapore of Tanzania Brunei Darus- Kenya Nigeria salam Solomon Islands Vanuatu Kiribati Pakistan Cameroon South Africa Zambia Lesotho Papua New Canada Sri Lanka Malawi Guinea British Overseas Territories Anguilla Falkland Islands South Georgia and South Islands Bermuda Gibraltar Sovereign base areas on Cyprus British Antarctic Territory Montserrat Turks and Caicos Islands British Indian Ocean Territory Pitcairn Island British Virgin Islands St Helena and dependencies Cayman Islands (Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha) British Crown Dependencies Isle of Man The Channel Islands (including Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, Herm and the other inhabited Channel Islands). You can register to vote by contacting Electoral Services at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on 01256 845355. 6 7 Working in the UK National Insurance number You must be legally entitled to work in the UK and have a valid national insurance number (NINO) to start work. Most people in the UK pay national insurance. This money is paid to the government and contributes to healthcare, benefits and pensions. If you are employed, your employer will deduct the national insurance directly from your pay. If you are self-employed it is up to you to pay the national insurance directly to the government. You can apply for an NINO by telephoning the NINO Allocation Service 0345 600 0643, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.