Find support in South East

Access Data (Access to Industry)

Support for unemployed and low-income Edinburgh parents to gain and/or improve their knowledge and skills related to the world of data and preparing them for the demands of the contemporary job market.

Active 50+ (Feniks)

A social group for older people from the Polish community in Edinburgh.

Active Birth Workshop (Pregnancy and Parents Centre)

Active birth workshops for pregnant people and their birthing partners.

Advice Shop (City of Edinburgh Council)

A professional information, advice and advocacy service helping you access the right benefits and support with money worries.

Ageing Well Edinburgh (Edinburgh Leisure in partnership with NHS Lothian)

The Ageing Well project promotes healthy lifestyles for people over 50 in Edinburgh. The Ageing Well project aims to maintain and promote physical and mental health, wellbeing and quality of life for people over 50 in Edinburgh through a list of activities.

Al-Anon Family Groups

A fellowship of relatives and friends of people with a drink problem.

Alcoholics Anonymous

A fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

Anxiety and Depression Support Groups (Health in Mind)

A friendly peer-led support group open to any adults living with depression, low mood, stress or anxiety.

Anxiety Management Course – online, January 2024 (Health in Mind)

Arkordia

A group of experienced and fully qualified therapists providing low-cost psychotherapy and counselling services.

Art at Contact Point (Wheatley Care)

Be creative in an informal, social atmosphere with opportunities to exhibit your work. No artistic experience is necessary.

Arts Psychotherapies (NHS Lothian)

A form of therapy for those affected by mental health and wellbeing difficulties.

Baby loss counselling (Held in Our Hearts)

Counselling service for bereaved parents.

Befriending for carers (The Eric Liddell Community)

A befriending service for unpaid carers.

Bereavement Support (Scottish Cot Death Trust)

Support services for families who are directly affected by the sudden or unexpected loss of a baby or child.

Birthlink

Support for adults affected by Adoption with a Scottish connection.

Boxercise at Gracemount Primary School (Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust – ELGT)

Bridgend Farmhouse

A diverse community project with activities related to healthy eating, environmental skills and physical health.

Cairn Service (6VT Edinburgh City Youth Cafe)

Support for young victims and witnesses of crime.

Carer training and leisure events (Voice Of Carers Across Lothian)

Training session and leisure events for unpaid carers.

Carers Programme (The Eric Liddell Community)

Carers Programme offers meaningful support, educational and fun activities, wellbeing classes, event and talks for unpaid and informal carers.

Children and young people’s service (Salvesen Mindroom Centre)

Advocacy and support for children and young people with learning difficulties.

CoCo Counselling in Communities

A community counselling service offering one-to-one counselling and psychotherapy for adults and young people.

Collective Advocacy for people from ethnic minority backgrounds (CAPS Independent Advocacy)

A collective advocacy project for people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Community Meals and Group Activities – Dementia Support (The Eric Liddell Community)

Our dementia inclusive activities aim to connect carers and people living with dementia with others in a similar situation to provide a sense of community.

Community Support Team (Waverley Care)

Community support for people living with or affected by HIV, hepatitis C or poor sexual health.

Community Taskforce Volunteers (Volunteer Edinburgh)

A team of volunteers to support communities during COVID-19.

Confidential Conversations (CrossReach)

Confidential Conversation is a counselling and wellbeing support provider, offering bespoke mental health solutions for organisations

Contact Point (Wheatley Care)

A mental health resource centre that provides a range of meaningful group activities.

Counselling (Feniks)

Counselling service for adults in Edinburgh.

Counselling Service (Crew)

Counselling sessions for people concerned about their stimulant and other drug use

Counselling Service for Carers (Voice Of Carers Across Lothian)

Counselling service supporting unpaid carers who require emotional support linked to their caring role.

Creative Express (The Junction)

Using creativity to support the health and wellbeing of local young people.

Crew Drop-in

A drop-in service for anyone looking for information and services related to drug safety, sexual health and employability

CrossReach Counselling and Recovery (CrossReach)

A counselling service for anyone 16+ affected by their own or someone else’s past or present drug use

CSA (Counselling for Survivors of Sexual Abuse) (Health in Mind)

Counselling service for people who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Dads to be Course (Pregnancy and Parents Centre)

Class for expectant dads about the birthing process, baby care and emotional difficulties.

Dads WhatsApp Group (Dads Rock)

A WhatsApp group for Dads to share hints and tips on parenting and support one another.

Debt help central (Christians Against Poverty – CAP)

Free, professional debt advice to help those struggling with unmanageable debt.

Dial-A-Ride and Dial-A-Bus (Handicabs Lothian Limited – HcL Transport)

Supported community transport services in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Domestic Abuse – Phone Support (Edinburgh Women’s Aid)

A drop-in and phone service for women.

Early Years Service (Multi-Cultural Family Base)

Support for Black and Minority Ethnic families with children pre-birth to 3 years old.

Edinburgh and Lothian Council on Alcohol

Specialist advice, information, one-to-one counselling and support to anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s alcohol use.

Edinburgh Crisis Centre (Penumbra)

Community based, emotional and practical support for those experiencing a mental health crisis.

Edinburgh Headway Group

Edinburgh Headway group is a rehabilitation day service for members who have an acquired brain injury.

Edinburgh Leisure

A charity dedicated to making a positive difference by creating opportunities for everyone to get active, stay active and achieve more.

Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre

Confidential information and support for those who have experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in their lives.

Edinburgh Self-Harm Support Service (Penumbra)

A support service for people who self-harm.

Edinburgh Southside Sporting Memories Club (Sporting Memories)

Love to talk about sport? Sporting Memories clubs are for older people to come together to talk and reminisce about sport. As well as a friendly welcome their volunteers provide fun and inclusive social and physical activities on a weekly basis.

Edinburgh Support Services (Scottish Association for Mental Health)

The SAMH housing support service can provide you with practical, emotional and social support.

Education as Advocacy (CAPS Independent Advocacy)

Experience led learning opportunities about mental health.

Employability and Wellbeing Service (Canongate Youth)

Employability and wellbeing support for young people.

Employability Fund (Enable Scotland)

A programme for people with learning disabilities and/or learning difficulties to develop employability skills and experience.

Employability Service (Volunteer Edinburgh)

Volunteering opportunities for job seekers.

Ending Violence Against Women Programme (Amina-the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre)

A prevention programme which aims to challenge sexist and misogynistic attitudes and behaviours amongst the Muslim and Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities.

Enterprise (Prince’s Trust)

Support and resources for young people to start a business.

Equality and Rights Network (EaRN) (Volunteer Edinburgh)

Support for groups, forums, organisations and individuals to work in partnership with public services.

EU Settlement Scheme support service (Citizens Rights Project)

Support for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, and their family members, who need support with their EU Settlement Scheme applications and their rights after Brexit.

Experiences of Psychosis (CAPS Independent Advocacy)

A collective advocacy group for people with experience of psychosis.

Family Advice Information Resource (FAIR)

A specialist charity that provides an information and advice service for people with learning disabilities, parents, carers and people who work with them

Family Wellbeing Service (Sight Scotland)

Support for people and their families affected by sight loss.

Fast Forward

Fast Forward provides educational workshops and early intervention sessions to young people, addressing a range of risk-taking behaviours.

Fresh Rooms (Fresh Start)

Help to decorate a new home.

Future Pathways

Support for people who were abused or neglected as children while they were living in care in Scotland.

Games Night at Contact Point (Wheatley Care)

Join us for a game – from quizzes and board games to bingo!

Gilmerton Community Gardening, Gilmerton (Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust – ELGT)

Come along to plant some beautiful plants in the evolving Gilmerton Garden, or just to have a cup of tea and meet some more people. All equipment and gloves are provided.

Grassmarket Community Project

A community project for the people of Edinburgh looking for creative and fulfilling activities.

Green Wellies (The Green Team Edinburgh & Lothians Ltd)

A project making improvements to Edinburgh’s greenspaces while supporting people’s wellbeing.

Guided Self-help (Health in Mind)

One-to-one support to access self-help materials.

Health and Welfare Support (Networking Key Services Ltd.)

Support for South Asian and other ethnic minority women and their families.

Health and Wellbeing (Rock Trust)

Wellbeing support for young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Health and Wellbeing Team (Volunteer Edinburgh)

Information, guidance and support to get involved in volunteering.

Healthy Active Minds (Edinburgh Leisure)

A physical activity referral project for adults affected by mild to moderate mental health conditions.

Helper Service (Marie Curie)

Helper service for people with a terminal condition, and their families and carers.

Helpline for care experienced people (Who Cares? Scotland)

A helpline for care experience people

Historic Adoption Peer Support Service (Health in Mind)

A dedicated helpline in collaboration with The Scottish Government for people affected by former forced adoption policies

Holistic Health Project (Planetary Healing Centre)

Holistic therapies support for people on a low income who are struggling with their physical, mental, emotional or spiritual health.

Holyrood Hub (Streetwork, Simon Community Scotland)

Access to practical support for people who are sleeping rough.

Home Birth Support Group (Pregnancy and Parents Centre)

A workshop for expectant parents to learn more about home births.

Home Support (Positive Help)

Home support for people affected by HIV and/or Hepatitis C

Hope Park Counselling Centre (The University of Edinburgh)

Donation-based counselling service.

Independent Advocacy (Partners in Advocacy)

Independent advocacy for adults with a learning and/or physical disability.

Independent Advocacy (Who Cares? Scotland)

Independent advocacy for care experienced young people.

Independent Advocacy for Stroke Survivors (EARS Independent Advocacy Service (SCIO))

Independent advocacy for anyone who has had a stroke within the last 2 years.

Individual Advocacy – Eating Disorders (Edinburgh Carers Council)

Independent and confidential advocacy for unpaid carers/family and relatives supporting someone who is in a hospital or who uses services in Edinburgh and who has dementia, an acquired brain injury, learning disability, or mental health difficulties.

Jobcentre Plus (Department of Work and Pensions)

Support and information to help people return to or move closer to work.

Juno Perinatal Mental Health Support Groups

Perinatal Mental Health Support groups for mums and mums-to-be who are struggling emotionally.

Karaoke Night at Contact Point (Wheatley Care)

Unwind and relax at our casual karaoke where you can sing along or enjoy watching others sing!

Leith Conversation Cafe (Feniks)

A social gathering for people to come together to take part in inspiring conversation.

LGBTIQ+ inclusive sports clubs (LEAP Sports Scotland)

LEAP Sports oversee a network of LGBTIQ sports clubs across Edinburgh

LGBTQIA+ Collective Advocacy (CAPS Independent Advocacy)

A collective advocacy for people who identify as LGBTQ+

Lothian Bipolar Carers Support Group

Information, peer support and self-management guidance to carers, partners, family members or friends of people living with bipolar.

Lothian Deaf Counselling Service (Health in Mind)

A counselling service for adults who are Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or deafblind.

LOVE Gorgie Farm

A friendly urban farm that offers hands-on education and learning opportunities for its visitors.

Marriage Counselling (The Spark Counselling Edinburgh)

Marriage counselling to help you deal with relationship breakdown, anxiety, stress and/or depression.

Mental Health Advocacy Service (Advocard)

Advocacy service for people who are currently in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital either on a voluntary or compulsory basis.

Mental Health Information Station (NHS Lothian)

A drop-in for support, information and signposting for people affected by mental health and wellbeing difficulties.

Mentoring (Linknet Mentoring Limited)

Mentoring service for people from Black and minority ethnic communities

Milestone Residential Support Service (Waverley Care)

Intensive support for people living with HIV and hepatitis C.

Mindfulness at Contact Point (Wheatley Care)

For beginners. Learn to relax and reduce stress and anxiety.

Money Advice Service (Edinburgh Food Project)

Advice and support from fully trained debt and welfare rights advisers.

Morningside Health Walks ( Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust – ELGT)

Gentle walks around the Morningside area to get moving and meet people

Motherspace (Pregnancy and Parents Centre)

A workshop for expectant parents to learn more about breastfeeding.

Much More Than A label (CAPS Independent Advocacy)

A collective advocacy project for people with experience of a personality disorder.

Music Therapy (Nordoff Robbins)

Music therapy for those in need.

Number 6 One Stop Shop (Autism Initiatives UK)

social opportunities and one-to-one advice and support on a range of issues for adults with autism.

Oor Mad History (CAPS Independent Advocacy)

Collective advocacy project on community history and the arts.

Open Day at Contact Point (Wheatley Care)

An open day for people to come and check-out the service and what Contact Point has on offer.

Orcharding and Conservation Group (Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust – ELGT)

Help us maintain an ancient orchard, look after greenspaces and learn about biodiversity in a relaxed and welcoming setting. There will be plenty of opportunity for meeting new people and cups of tea and coffee.

Out and About in Edinburgh (The Royal Voluntary Service)

A social group for older people to go on outings in Edinburgh.

Out Of Sight Out Of Mind (CAPS Independent Advocacy)

An annual exhibition of artwork by people with experience of mental health difficulties.

Outdoor Therapy Service (Venture Trust)

Benefit from time in nature and the outdoors with professional therapy to improve mental health and wellbeing

Outdoor Wellbeing Project (Planetary Healing Centre)

Nature Connection Training. This is a training programme for people who would like to learn and deepen their Nature Connection, create Nature Connected Communities and support cultural repair.

Parenting Matters course (Parent Network Scotland)

Online course tailored to meet the needs of today’s parents.

PASDA

Pasda aims to improve the health and wellbeing of family carers of autistic adults in Edinburgh and the Lothians through peer support, information and activities.

Patient Support Service at the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion (Visibility Scotland)

Support for individuals affected by sight loss.

Peer Connecting Service – South East (Health in Mind)

This service is for people over 18 who want to improve or manage their mental health and wellbeing by spending time with a peer volunteer that has their own experiences of mental health recovery.

Peer Mentoring (Voice Of Carers Across Lothian)

Peer mentoring service for carers.

Peer Support Service (Edinburgh Carers Council)

A one-to-one volunteer peer support service for carers of people with mental health difficulties.

Peer Support Service (Held in Our Hearts)

A befriending service for bereaved parents and grandparents, who have experience the death of a baby or infant.

Perinatal Services (CrossReach)

Support services for people affected by anxiety and/or depression before or after having a baby.

Personal and Social Development (Prince’s Trust)

Support and resources to support young people’s learning and employability.

PF Counselling Service

For anyone facing difficulties in everyday life.

PF Young Adults Counselling Service (PFYA)

For anyone facing difficulties in everyday life.

Phonelink (Caring in Craigmillar)

Telephone phone check-in service for older people.

Polish Toddler Group (Feniks)

A social group for older people from the Polish community in Edinburgh.

Positive Mental Health Training (Foundation for Positive Mental Health)

Mental health training for NHS service providers, carers and workplaces.

Pregnancy Counselling & Care Scotland

Counselling for those who are urgently needing support due experiencing mental health difficulties close to giving birth or shortly after finding out they are pregnant.

Preparing for Breastfeeding Workshop (Pregnancy and Parents Centre)

A workshop for expectant parents to learn more about breastfeeding.

Prescribe Culture (University of Edinburgh Museums)

A heritage-based, non-clinical initiative developed to support those needing help with mental wellbeing.

Prison Advocacy (Advocard)

Advocacy service for prisoners in HMP Edinburgh.

Problematic Substance Use Advocacy Service (Advocard)

Advocacy service for people with problematic substance use.

Progress for Parents (Enable Scotland)

An employability support project for parents and guardians of people with a disability.

Public Services Team (Volunteer Edinburgh)

Volunteering opportunities for citizens of Edinburgh and support for organisations that work with volunteers.

Quit Your Way South Edinburgh (NHS Lothian)

A service to help you stop smoking.

Reconnect (People Know How)

Support for adults and families in Edinburgh and East Lothian to help them to improve wellbeing by increasing digital and social inclusion.

Redhall Walled Garden (Scottish Association for Mental Health)

A therapeutic horticultural project based in a beautiful walled garden.

Relationship Counselling (The Spark Counselling Edinburgh)

Counselling to help you deal with relationship breakdown, anxiety, stress and/or depression.

Richmond’s Hope

Richmond’s Hope provides support for children and young people aged 4-18 years who have been bereaved.

Room for Art (Art in Healthcare)

Visual Art Workshops for Health and Wellbeing

Safe Sleep Scotland (Scottish Cot Death Trust)

Safe Sleep Scotland provides education and training for parents, families, healthcare professionals and other practitioners to raise awareness of the risks surrounding cot death.

Scotland Cycle Repair Scheme

free repairs and maintenance to people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it

Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution (Cyrenians)

A national resource centre promoting and supporting best practice in mediation, family conflict resolution and early intervention work with a particular focus around young people and families.

Scottish Recovery Network

A Scottish wide network collaborating to raise awareness and promote the reality that recovery is possible.

Seen But Not Heard (CAPS Independent Advocacy)

A collective advocacy project for people with experience of eating disorders.

Self Management Support (Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living)

Self-management for citizens of Edinburgh living with long-term health conditions.

Shared Care Scotland

Assistance for unpaid carers to take regular breaks from their caring responsibilities.

SMART Recovery Group in Polish (Feniks)

A social gathering for people to come together to take part in inspiring conversation.

SoBs Edinburgh (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide)

A support group for anyone who has lost a person to suicide.

South East counselling (Health in Mind)

A counselling service offering telephone and video counselling for adults in South East Edinburgh.

Stafford Centre (Change Mental Health)

A drop-in centre that hosts supportive and social activities for adults affected by mental health and wellbeing difficulties.

Stafford Centre Carers Service (Change Mental Health)

Emotional and practical support for carers.

Starter Packs (Fresh Start)

A pack of basic essential household goods to help you to set up and sustain a new home.

Still I Am Project (Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre)

Support fro Women, all members of the trans community and non-binary people, from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities aged 16 and over, who have had any form of unwanted sexual experience.

Stills School (Stills: Centre for Photography)

Photography school for young people who face barriers to accessing the arts.

Street Soccer Scotland

Football sessions open to all abilities and gender.

Student Counselling Service (Queen Margaret University)

Counselling service for students at Queen Margaret University.

Sunflower Garden (CrossReach)

Sunflower Garden works with children and young people aged 5-18 who are affected by parental drug or alcohol use.

Support for carers (Health in Mind)

A range of courses and peer spaces to support the mental health and wellbeing of carers.

Support for Young Adults (Health in Mind)

A fortnightly drop-in peer-support space for young people who’re experiencing anxiety, depression or low-mood.

Supportive Transport (Positive Help)

Lifts to appointments, support groups and shopping for people affected by HIV and/or Hepatitis C

Swim & Gym at Contact Point (Wheatley Care)

TalkTime Scotland

Counselling service for young people with a disability and/or long-term condition.

Tea & Talk at Contact Point (Wheatley Care)

Grab a cup of tea and come join a guided conversation with staff and peers!

Telephone Advice Service (Edinburgh Rehab Centre)

A telephone advice service on treatment options for those recovering from alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction.

The Alma Project

A range of therapeutic art groups.

The Listening Space – Gilmerton (Health in Mind)

A space for positive mental health and wellbeing. You can chat individually with a peer-volunteer and/or participate in this peer-support group.

The Prince’s Trust

Support and resources to support young people’s learning and employability.

The Sorted Project

Support and opportunities for those in active recovery from ill health due to substance use or mental health difficulties.

The Wellbeing Toolkit – Online, February 2024 (Health in Mind)

The Wellbeing Toolkit (for 18-25 year-olds) – George Square, January 2024 (Health in Mind)

The Yard

Adventure play service for disabled children and young people and their families.

Thistle Foundation

Support for people living with long term health conditions or facing challenging life situations to find ways to better manage and live well.

Thrive (Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust – ELGT)

Part of the Thrive Physical Activity & Greenspaces Collective which exists to support people experiencing mental health difficulties

Time 4 Mum (Firsthand Lothian)

A befriending service for mums who are experiencing isolation.

Together Outdoors (Cyrenians) Garden Buddying

A national resource centre promoting and supporting best practice in mediation, family conflict resolution and early intervention work with a particular focus around young people and families.

Transitions Independent Advocacy (Edinburgh Carers Council)

An advocacy service for families and carers of people within mental health settings who are in a period of transition.

Trauma Counselling Line Scotland (TCLS) (Health in Mind)

A trauma counselling service for people in Scotland who experienced abuse in childhood.

Trauma Support – Pathways Men (Health in Mind)

Practical and emotional support for men who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse or men who have experienced rape/sexual abuse or domestic violence as adults.

Trauma support – Pathways Women (Health in Mind)

Practical and emotional support for women who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Venture Scotland

A progressive outdoor-based personal development programme for young people.

Veterans First Point Lothian (NHS Lothian)

Support for veterans looking for mental health and wellbeing support.

Veterans Support (Thistle Foundation)

Support for veterans living with long term health conditions or facing challenging life situations to find ways to better manage and live well.

Victim Support Edinburgh (Victim Support Scotland)

Support for those who are victims/survivors of a crime.

Vocational Traning Services (Rural & Urban Training Scheme RUTS)

Vocational training and employability support to young people.

Volunteering Hub at Royal Edinburgh Hospital (Volunteer Edinburgh)

Volunteer placements and activities for patients in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

Volunteers Supporting Families (VSF) Edinburgh (Volunteering Matters)

Volunteer support for families facing a range of life challenges.

Walking Group at Contact Point (Wheatley Care)

Gentle health-led walks around Edinburgh. Enjoy a blether while improving your health and wellbeing. Suitable for all levels.

Welfare Reform Advocacy (Advocard)

Individual and collective advocacy support to those who are being effected by Welfare Reform and changes to the new Social Security system in Scotland.

Welfare Rights Service (Change Mental Health) Formerly Support in Mind Scotland

The Welfare Rights Service advises and supports people experiencing mental health difficulties living in Edinburgh with their benefits

Wellbeing Courses and Workshops (Health in Mind)

Workshops and courses designed to help improve your mental health and wellbeing.

Wellbeing Service (Deaf Action)

Health and wellbeing support, including hard of hearing and deaf counselling services.

Wellbeing Toolkit for Families (Parent Network Scotland)

Online programme for families to help reduce anxiety and have fun.

WISHES (Women in Self Help and Emotional Support) women’s group

User led womens group.

Witness service at Edinburgh High Court (Victim Support Scotland)

Support for those who are victims/survivors and/or witnesses of a crime.

Witness service at Edinburgh Sheriff Court (Victim Support Scotland)

Support for those who are victims/survivors and/or witnesses of a crime.

Women’s Football Session (Street Soccer Scotland)

Free football sessions for women.

Women’s Wellbeing Service – SE (Health in Mind)

One-to-one and group support for women who are looking to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

Yoga for Pregnancy (Pregnancy and Parents Centre)

Facilitator-led yoga for pregnancy sessions.

Young Dads Support (Dads Rock)

Supporting young dads practical parenting guidance and emotional support.

Young Onset Service (Alzheimer Scotland)

Support people with dementia, their families, relatives and friends at any stage of the illness.

Your Home (Right There)

Support for people transitioning from homelessness into long-term accomodation or at risk of being homeless.