As usual the volunteers who staff the Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty weekly support sessions will be taking a break over the winter holiday period. Our last support session of 2025 will be Tuesday 16th December and the sessions start again on Tuesday 6th January 2026, and will continue to run every Tuesday. If you need support for benefits and poverty problems please email ecapmail@gmail.com to make an appointment.
If you have an urgent situation over the break please email ecapmail@gmail.com and we will try and get back to you within two or three days, but we are a small group of volunteers so our resources are limited.
If you are in need, then official sources of support in Scotland include –
The Scottish Welfare Fund
– crisis grants, community care grants and food bank referrals – City of Edinburgh Council 0131 529 5299 https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/scottishwelfarefund Elsewhere in Scotland ring your local Council or look at their website. More info on Scottish Welfare Fund here
Emergency Social Work
In the evening and at weekends or public holidays, you can call Emergency Social Work, in Edinburgh call 0800 731 6969 (City of Edinburgh Council office hours number is 0131 200 2000)
You may be able to get some help from the local authority social work department, particularly if you have children or if you are a ‘vulnerable’ adult (for example, you have health problems). The local authority has powers under section 22 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and under section 12 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 allowing it to assist people in need. Help can be given in cash or ‘in kind’, for example, vouchers to buy food.
Also….
The voluntary group Empty Kitchens Full Hearts give food support in Edinburgh hello@emptykitchens.co.uk 07895 347157
