Support available this festive period 2024

Stockport Council and its services will be closing as part of the Christmas Bank Holiday period, and as a result there will be some changes to opening and closing times for some of its services. However, there is still plenty of support available for Stockport residents over the festive period.

The closures will not affect essential council services. These will continue to operate over the festive period. If you need to contact the council as a matter of emergency whilst council buildings are closed to the public, you can:

• visit our emergency contact page
• call 0161 474 5555 for emergencies with roads, lighting, environmental health
• call 0161 718 2118 if you need social care support

Cost of living support and helpline

Our Resident Advice and Support team will be able to provide residents with expert guidance and support on 0161 474 2140. Lines are open:

• Tuesday 24 December: 9:30am to midday
• Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 December: closed
• Friday 27 December: 9:30am to 4pm
• Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 December: closed
• Monday 30 December: 9:30am to 4pm
• Tuesday 31 December: 9:30am to 4pm
• Wednesday 1 January: closed
• Thursday 2 and Friday 3 January: 9:30am to 4pm
• Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 January: closed

For advice on benefits and debt, support with food and energy bills, Council Tax payment assistance, pension credit information, and more, you can also visit our cost of living pages.

Council contact centre and reception opening and closing times

Stopford House Reception

• Tuesday 24 December: 9am to midday
• Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 December: closed
• Friday 27 December: closed
• Saturday 28, Sunday 29 December: closed
• Monday 30 December: 9am to 5pm
• Tuesday 31 December: 9am to 5pm
• Wednesday 1 January: closed
• Thursday 2 January: 9am to 5pm
• Friday 3 January: 9am to 4:30pm
• Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 January: closed

Stockport Town Hall Reception

• Tuesday 24 December: 9am to midday
• Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 December: closed
• Friday 27 December: 9am to 5pm
• Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 December: closed
• Monday 30 December: 9am to 5pm
• Tuesday 31 December: 9am to 5pm
• Wednesday 1 January: closed
• Thursday 2: 9am to 5pm
• Friday 3 January: open 9am to 5pm
• Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 January: closed

Our contact centre (phone and email) opening times

• Tuesday 24 December: 8:30am to midday
• Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 December: closed
• Friday 27 December: 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 December: closed
• Monday 30 December: 8:30am to 5pm
• Tuesday 31 December: 8:30am to 4pm
• Wednesday 1 January: closed
• Thursday 2: 8:30am to 5pm
• Friday 3 January: 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 January: closed

Registration services

• Monday 23 December: 8:30am to 2pm
• Tuesday 24 December: 8:30am to midday
• Wednesday 25 December: closed
• Thursday 26 December: on call 10am to midday
• Friday 27 December: 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Saturday 28 December: 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Sunday 29 December: on call 10am to midday
• Monday 30 December: 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Tuesday 31 December: 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Wednesday 1 January: closed
• Thursday 2 January: 8.30am to 4:30pm
• Friday 3 January: 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Saturday 4 January: 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Sunday 5 January: on call 10am to midday

Coroner’s service

• Monday 23 December: 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Tuesday 24 December: 8:30am to midday (phone lines will close at 11:45am)
• Wednesday 25 December: closed (staff on call for statutory cases only)
• Thursday 26 December: closed (staff on call 10am to 2pm)
• Friday 27 December: 8:30am to 4pm
• Saturday 28 December: closed (staff on call 10am to 2pm)
• Sunday 29 December: closed (staff on call 10am to 2pm)
• Monday 30 December: 8:30am to 4:30pm (phone lines close at 4pm)
• Tuesday 31 December: 8:30am to 2pm
• Wednesday 1 January: closed (staff on call 10am to 2pm)
• Thursday 2 January: 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Friday 3 January: 8:30am to 4pm
• Saturday 4 January: closed (staff on call 10am to 2pm)
• Sunday 5 January: closed (staff on call 10am to 2pm)

Stockport libraries opening and closing times

All libraries will close at midday on 24 December and will re-open as normal on Monday 30 December.

They will then close at 3:30pm on 31 December and will re-open as normal on Thursday 2 January 2025.

There'll be no access to Open+ during these closures.

Outside of these times, libraries will operate their normal staffing hours, except for Heatons and High Lane. For more information, visit their directory pages:

• Heatons Library
• High Lane Library

All of our eBooks and eAudiobooks will be available during the holiday period. You can find out more on our eBooks and audiobooks webpage.

To find opening times for your local library, visit our libraries directory.

Pharmacy opening times

Stockport pharmacies will be operating usual opening hours except on the Bank Holidays over Christmas and New Year.

The most up-to-date information on pharmacies open during the holiday period is on the Greater Manchester Community Pharmacy website.

Make sure to stock up your medicine cabinet with essentials like painkillers. Things to help with minor ailments such as antiseptics can help you avoid a trip to the doctor's. Always think 111 before heading to A&E, as the NHS 111 service is there to make it easier and quicker for patients to get the right advice or treatment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Find the right service for your needs by visiting NHS Greater Manchester's 'get to know where to go'.

Warm spaces

Warm spaces, available across the borough, invite individuals to drop in and relax. These spaces will remain open throughout the winter offer free wifi, hot meals and drinks. They also function as central hubs, providing information and guidance to signpost residents to further support.

All of Stockport’s libraries act as warm spaces too.

Find a full list and view our warm spaces on our handy interactive map.

There is lots of other support available over to residents over the winter period. The council and its partners have put in place a wide range of initiatives to help residents stay warm and well through the winter, including cost of living support.

Food support this Christmas

Many organisations are open for residents struggling with accessing food this Christmas.

Saturday 21 December

• Stockport Foodbank (Reddish): 10:30am to 12:30pm
• Gatley Foodbank (Bethany Church): 9:30am to 11am
• Marple Pantry Foodbank (Connect building): 10am to midday
• Wellspring: 8am to 2:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Sunday 22 December

• Wellspring: 8am to 2:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Monday 23 December

• Stockport Foodbank (Hazel Grove): 12:30pm to 2:30pm
• Stockport Foodbank (Norris Bank): 1pm to 3pm
• Chelwood Foodbank/Edgeley Community Hub: 3pm to 4pm
• Chelwood Brinnington Lighthouse Foodbank: 1pm to 3pm
• Wellspring: 8am to 4:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Tuesday 24 December

• Stockport Foodbank (Bredbury): 12:30pm to 2:30pm
• Chelwood Foodbank/Chelwood Baptist Church: 10am to midday
• Woodley Pantry: 10:30am to 1:30pm
• Wellspring: 8am to 4:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Wednesday 25 December and Thursday 26 December

• Wellspring: 8am to 2:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Friday 27 December

• Stockport Foodbank (Cheadle): 10am to midday
• Stockport Foodbank (Cheadle Heath): 2pm to 4pm
• Stockport Foodbank (Hazel Grove): 11:30am to 1:30pm
• Brinnington Pantry: 10:30am to 1:30pm
• Wellspring: 8am to 2:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Saturday 28 December

• Stockport Foodbank (Reddish): 10:30am to 12:30pm
• Marple Pantry Foodbank (Connect building): 10am to midday
• Wellspring: 8am to 2:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Sunday 29 December

• Wellspring: 8am to 2:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Monday 30 December

• Stockport Foodbank (Hazel Grove): 12:30pm to 2:30pm
• Stockport Foodbank (Norris Bank): 1pm to 3pm
• Bridgehall Pantry: 10:30am to 1:30pm
• Wellspring: 8am to 2:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Tuesday 31 December

• Stockport Foodbank (Bredbury): 12:30pm to 2:30pm
• Wellspring: 8am to 2:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Wednesday 1 January 2025

• Chelwood Brinnington Lighthouse Foodbank: 1pm to 3pm
• Wellspring: 8am to 2:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Thursday 2 January

• Cherry Tree Project, Guywood Centre: 10am to 11:30am
• Stockport Foodbank (Reddish): 10:30am to 12:30pm
• Stockport Foodbank (Offerton): 11am to 1pm
• Stockport Foodbank (Norris Bank): 1pm to 3pm
• Wellspring: 8am to 4:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Friday 3 January

• Stockport Foodbank (Cheadle Heath): 2pm to 4pm
• Stockport Foodbank (Cheadle): 10am to midday
• Stockport Foodbank (Hazel Grove): 11:30am to 1:30pm
• Wellspring: 8am to 4:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Saturday 4 January

• Stockport Foodbank (Reddish): 10:30am to 12:30pm
• Marple Pantry Foodbank (Connect building): 10am to midday
• Wellspring: 8am to 2:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Sunday 5 January

• Wellspring: 8am to 2:30pm. Breakfast: 8:30am to 9:30am. Lunch: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Mental health support over Christmas

We know that the holiday season can be a particularly challenging time for many, and that’s why we want to remind you that free help is available for anyone in Stockport who is feeling worried, stressed, or low.

• Open Door’s confidential helpline run by trained staff (for ages 18 and up): 0800 138 7276. Drop in will be open as normal: Monday to Friday 10am to 10:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 5pm, at 72 to 74 Prince’s Street, SK1 1RJ
• Kooth (for ages 10 to 25) and Qwell (for ages 26 and up), offering anonymous support
• Pennine Care’s mental health helpline, run by NHS staff (for all ages): 0800 014 9995
• The Samaritans helpline (for all ages): 116 123

Starting Point

Starting Point have provided a useful list of contacts and information for residents in Stockport.
Visit Starting point and read the Starting Point Stockport Digital Champion Update.

Healthwatch Stockport

The Healthwatch Stockport team have pulled together a super useful booklet sharing tips, tricks, advice and important information to help you and your loved ones through the winter months.

Visit the Healthwatch Stockport website to read their booklet, What to know this this winter.