Signposting

Please explore the information below to find support and resources for families.

Clothing
Grants for clothing
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • ELTF gives grants to individuals and families in need.
  • The Scottish Welfare Fund provides crisis grants for living expenses in the event of an emergency or disaster
  • Turn2us give direct financial support to people experiencing financial insecurity in Edinburgh. This includes grants for clothing.  
  • Aberlour provide financial support to families with children who are suffering extreme hardship. 
Income maximization
  • Maximise! provide advice to maximise income, reduce debt, resolve housing issues and gain employment.
  • 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.  
House fires

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

Food

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

Hygiene and Periods 
  • 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 as part of the Period Products Act that came into force in August 2021. They are available at various locations.
Housing
  • 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. 
Utilities
  • 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.  
  • Ofcom offers 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. 
Mental Health
  • Health In Mind provide a range of mental health support services for adults
  • Edinburgh Crisis Centre support adults facing a mental health crisis  
  • Place2be provide support and resources to schools, parents and carers to support young people’s mental health.  
  • Penumbra provide mental health support in Edinburgh.  
Additional Support Needs
  • 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.  
Domestic Abuse
Single parents/carers
Refugees
Kinship carers
Young carers
  • Edinburgh Young Carers provides respite and support to young people, between the ages of 5 and 25, who care for somebody at home. 
Families affected by imprisonment
  • 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.
Other support
  • 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. 

If you spot any broken links or have any suggestions for further signposting, please email us at info@edinburghuniform.org.