Practical support: food, money, housing and work
Some of us are experiencing worries about money, work, accessing food and housing which can impact our mental health and wellbeing.
We have collected information, tools and links to local organisations that can give you practical support during this time.
Food
Here’s a range of information and support available to help you access food when you need it, make healthy and affordable meals, and understand the connection between food and our mental health and wellbeing.
Local organisations
Edinburgh Community Food aims to help people enjoy delicious, fresh, healthy food and making sure Edinburgh’s citizens have access to an affordable and healthy diet.
Bridgend Farmhouse Community is a diverse community of people from all walks of life.
Edinburgh Food Project provides emergency food and support to Edinburgh’s citizens.
The Edinburgh City Mission‘s Care van provides food, hot drinks and advice for homeless and vulnerable people.
Food Train Meal Makers provides older people (55 years old and over) with home-cooked meals and some company once a week.
Find your local food bank on the Trussell Trust website – www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank
Guides and information
Volunteer Edinburgh has created a guide on Google Maps that marks out organisations providing food support and deliveries.
Access the map here – Food deliveries and support map
Eat Well Age Well aims to tackle malnutrition in older people. It has a range of resources on how to keep healthy and well.
Change 4 Life has lots of recipes and ideas to help parents and guardians so you can make healthier choices for your families.
Parent Club has a wide range of recipes, food planners and healthy tips.
Cooking on a bootstrap is a blog from Jack Monroe and has lots of ideas and recipes to help you eat well on a low income.
The mental health charity Mind has a guide on ‘Food and mood‘ which looks at the connection between food and our wellbeing. It also includes information on how you can eat more healthily.
Housing
Shelter has a dedicated Covid-19 section on its website which includes information about:
- eviction
- moving and leaving home
- paying rent
- claiming benefits
- domestic abuse
- repairs and landlord access
- mortgage arrears
- gas and electricity bills
- land and Buildings Transaction Tax
Learn more here – www.scotland.shelter.org.uk
Money
This section has information that can help you manage your finances and understand what support you are entitled to.
Citizens Advice Scotland’s Money Map will help you find sources of online support to:
- Increase your income
- Reduce your bills
- Ease the costs of daily living
This includes information on benefits, council tax, grants, budgeting, utilities, food, clothing and enegry costs.
Learn more here – moneymap.scot
Mental Health and Money Toolkit will help you understand, manage and improve your mental and financial health.
You can use it to help guide conversations with your relevant healthcare worker about your mental health and money. You can also take it with you to any money or debt advice appointments you might attend.
Local organisations
The ‘Worrying about Money?’ Guide for Edinburgh is designed to help frontline staff and volunteers, and those experiencing financial insecurity, to more easily identify and access appropriate financial support and advice.
The Turn2us Edinburgh Trust provides grants to people struggling financially living in the City of Edinburgh. In response to Covid-19, it launched the Edinburgh Trust Response Fund. This fund provides financial support for people living in Edinburgh who have lost their income as a result of the pandemic.
The Advice Shop provides information, advice and advocacy for welfare benefits and personal debt. The team can also help you with benefits.
CHAI (Community Health and Advice Initiative) support people and communities throughout Edinburgh with housing, money difficulties, employability and benefits.
CAP (Christians Against Poverty) provides free support to help you get out of debt. You can book an appointment with a local advisor by calling 0800 328 0006.
Granton Information Centre (GIC) provides free, impartial and confidential advice, and information on topics such as benefits, housing, rent arrears and debt.
Work
Here you can find local projects in Edinburgh to help you find work that works for you as well as information and tips to help you understand what causes stress in a workplace, how to recognise it and find ways to manage it so you can thrive in all areas of your life.
Local organisations
All in Edinburgh supports people with disabilities and long term health conditions, to find and sustain meaningful work.
Next Step provides employment support and advice for people in work or looking for work in Edinburgh.
The Employability Fund from Enable Scotland allows people with learning disabilities and or learning difficulties to develop the skills and experience necessary to progress through the employability pipeline.
Fair Start Scotland is an employment support service to help you get ready for work.
Access Data supports 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.
Canongate Youth provides employability and wellbeing support to young people aged 15 to 24. The team focuses on helping young people to remove their own barriers and supporting them in a holistic way to move onto further education, training and employment
Volunteer Edinburgh‘s employability service is for job seekers to move towards employment. It can help you identify skills, talents and aspirations, build transferrable skills and use volunteering as a stepping stone to paid work.
Prince’s Trust‘s Enterprise programme is designed for people who are newly self-employed or are interested in starting their own business.
Useful pages on iThrive
This page has factsheets, tips and information, activities and services available in Edinburgh to help you understand what causes stress in a workplace, how to recognise it and find ways to manage it so you can thrive in all areas of your life.