Signposting

We partner with the following community organisations who have supplies of good-as-new school uniform and/or coats for families to take what they need for free. We cannot guarantee availability of any particular items – if in doubt, please contact the organisation directly.

• The Leith Collective at Ocean Terminal and Fort Kinnaird currently have “sharing rails” at the front of their stores. During the summer they have preloved school uniform available.
• The Crannie. Families are welcome to pop in at 9 Cranston Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BE during their opening hours.
• Drumbrae Library Hub at 81 Drum Brae Drive, Edinburgh, EH4 7FE.
• Corstorphine Community Centre at 5 Kirk Loan, EH12 7HD

• The Edinburgh Clothing Store is a charity offering adult and children’s clothing, shoes, bedding, etc.
• Kids Love Clothes provide pre-loved clothing to children throughout the Lothians.
• Smart Works give unemployed women clothes, coaching and confidence to secure employment and change their lives.
• Grassroots Clothing Edinburgh offer free interview clothing to men in need.

• School Clothing Grant. City of Edinburgh Council have a joint application for Clothing Grant and Free School Meals. The means tested eligibility criteria are the same for both.
• Edinburgh Police Fund for Children give grants for coats and school shoes.
• ELTF gives grants to individuals and families in need.
• Turn2us give direct financial support to people experiencing financial insecurity in Edinburgh. This includes grants for clothing.  
• The Scottish Welfare Fund provides crisis grants for living expenses in the event of an emergency or disaster
• Aberlour provide financial support to families with children who are suffering extreme hardship. 
• Best Start Grant. A means tested grant can be received for a child starting school.
• Education Maintenance Allowance is a means tested allowance for young people (16-19 years old still in full time education) which can be used to buy uniform and other necessary items for school.
• Scottish Child Payment. Many families can get help towards the costs of supporting their children aged under 16.
• BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme supports children and young people who are facing exceptionally difficult circumstances. The programme provides items that meet a child’s most basic needs such as a bed to sleep in, a cooker to provide a hot meal and other items or services critical to a child’s wellbeing.

• CHAI helps and empowers people through high-quality, impartial advice on welfare benefits, housing and debt.
• The Advice Shop offer help with welfare rights including income maximisation, through welfare benefits, tax credits and grants. 
• mygov.scot signposts you to benefit calculators and information regarding benefits and grants offered by the government that you may be entitled to.  
• Lightning Reach allows you to find and apply for support from multiple providers, quickly and easily. If you’re struggling financially and need help with money, you may be eligible to apply for support such as grants, benefits, help with bills and local schemes.

Edinburgh Fire Fund can help residents in Edinburgh recover from the impact of a house fire.

City of Edinburgh Councilsignposts contact details of foodbanks local to you within Edinburgh to support individuals with the cost of living. 

• The Hygiene Bank provides hygiene products for those who need them. They also partner up with organisations such as schools to provide support.  

• City of Edinburgh Council offer free period products at various locations.

• Fresh Start help people who have been homeless get established in their new home. 
• Bethany Christian Trust provide tenancies for those in need of a home and provide support for individuals to maintain their tenancies.  
• Rock Trust support young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness through their Youth Housing Hub.  
• Shelter Scotland provide housing advice. 
• Crisis provide information, advice, advocacy and more.

• Fuel Bank Foundation provides support in paying energy bills.  
• Home Heating Advice allows individuals and organisations to apply for the Scottish Government’s Home Heating Fund.  
• Ofcomoffers a tool to check if you are eligible for social tariff broadband which available to individuals claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. 

• Health In Mind provide a range of mental health support services for adults
• Edinburgh Crisis Centre support adults facing a mental health crisis  
• Place2beprovide support and resources to schools, parents and carers to support young people’s mental health.  
• Penumbraprovide mental health support in Edinburgh.  

• Kindred Scotland offer a range of financial and emotional support to families with children who have additional support needs.  
• The Yard supports families with children who have disabilities through support and activities for the whole family.  
• Cash for Kids provide several grants for children from disadvantaged backgrounds or those with illnesses or disabilities.  

• Edinburgh Women’s Aid offers support to women and children experiencing domestic abuse 
• Shakti Women’s Aid supports BME women and children experiencing domestic abuse. 

• One Parent Families Scotland provide advice and support for single parents and carers.

• Re-Act: Refugee Action Scotland support refugee families upon their arrival and while adjusting to life in Scotland.

• The Kinship Care Advice Service for Scotland (KCASS) provides confidential, impartial advice to kinship families and professionals working with them.  

• Edinburgh Young Carers provides respite and support to young people, between the ages of 5 and 25, who care for somebody at home. 

• Families Outside provide support to families affected by imprisonment as well as information and training for professionals.
• HMP Edinburgh Prison Visitor Centre support parents, carers and families with guidance and activities, as well as supporting contact between children of prisoners and their families to strengthen family relationships.
• Edinburgh Positive Wellbeing Service provides a whole-family approach to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people and families impacted by the imprisonment of a family member.

• City of Edinburgh Council have an extensive list of support for families .
• Citizens Advice Edinburgh specialise in welfare rights, debt, budgeting, employment, housing, energy, immigration, consumer rights and health. 
• EVOC Red Book is an online directory of community and voluntary sector organisations and services across Edinburgh.
• iThrive Edinburgh is a comprehensive directory of support services. 
• Forth 1 Cost of Living Grant is a fund to support struggling families by providing emergency essentials that support the physical and mental well-being of children.