Support coping with rising living costs

Food and clothes

If you can't afford food

  • Apply to the Scottish Welfare Fund or call 0131 270 5600
  • Speak to your CAB worker, health visitor, primary/secondary school contact
  • Visit your local food pantry
  • Access your community fridge
     
  • If you still need support for food please call 0131 270 7500
  • If a family with children 0-18 years old please call 0131 271 3413

Local food pantries and community fridges

Mayfield & Easthouses

  • Community Food Pantry (MAEDT) – For residents of Mayfield & Easthouses.
  • 14-15 Bogwood Road, Mayfield, EH22 5DG
  • Sign up to become a member and then shop there for £3.50 a week, getting around £15 worth of groceries – 0131 663 5317

Dalkeith & Woodburn

  • Central Dalkeith and Woodburn Pantry - For residents of central Dalkeith & Woodburn.
  • The MARC Building, 10 Woodburn Road, Dalkeith. Open Fridays 1.30pm to 5.30pm (closed for 15 minutes at 3pm to refill shelves).
  • Membership is free, one membership card per household. Receive free fruit and veg, and bakery items (when and what available), free pet food to pet owners.

Free soup

  • Midlothian Council CLLE team have free soup prepared fresh by volunteers available to collect and takeaway from:
  • Aim High, 14 Woodburn Avenue, Dalkeith EH22 2BP.
  • Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm.
  • All are frozen and ready for you to take home to reheat at your leisure. Currently in stock: lentil, tomato and basil, chicken and vegetable.

Gorebridge 

  • Gorebridge Beacon 
  • Community Fridge: 9am - 4pm Monday to Saturday. Can't guarantee food always available, as it's donated from supermarkets. 
  • Community Cafe: 9am - 2pm Tuesday to Saturday. Cafe open, all welcome. If you would like a bowl of soup (free) please say 'Robert Sent You' when you order. 
  • Warm Space: Monday 9am - 2pm; Tuesday and Wednesday 2.30 - 4.30pm; Thursday 2.30 - 9pm. WiFi, phone charge, games, connection, soup (donation or not). 
  • Community Fridge: Mon - Sat (9 - 4). Can't guarantee food always available, as it's donated from supermarkets. 

Rosewell 

  • The Steading community fridge. The food in the fridge is available to those in need or anyone struggling with the current cost of living crisis.
  • Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 pm to 5 pm. Outwith these times please ask a member of staff at reception who would be happy to help, as long as items are available.

Penicuik

  • Food Fact Friends community pantry and fridge
  • Community Fridge: Monday, 10:30 – 15:00; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday  10:00 – 15:00; Friday 10:30am – 15:00; Saturday 11:00 – 13:00
  • Pantry open to all Midlothian residents. £1.00 to join and £3.50 for 10 tokens: Tuesday 10:30 – 15:00; Thursday  1030 – 15:00; Saturday 11 – 13:00
  • Community café - free tea, coffee, soup etc. Monday 10:30 – 15:00; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10:00 – 15:00; Friday 10:30 – 15:00; Saturday 11:00 – 13:00
  • Free cat and dog food available all the time.

If you can afford food but need help to get it

  • Check if there are any online shopping slots or get someone to click and collect for you
  • Local businesses might be able to deliver
  • Call the Red Cross helpline 0808 196 3651. It's free and confidential and open 10am-6pm.
  • Food Train – (age 65+) 0800 13 88 220 (FREE) 
  • Call the council 9am and 5pm Mondays to Thursdays and 9am and 3.30pm on Fridays: 0131 270 8894 
  • If you are unable to call the council or Red Cross email CLL@midlothian.gov.uk 
  • Twitter: @MidHelp (9am-5pm weekdays)  

For help with clothing

  • Sweet Dignity is a local community recycling project providing clothing for all ages, home and baby goods.

Free school meals and clothing grants

We provide children from low income families with free school meals and money towards buying school clothes. People over 16 staying on at school and living on their own can also apply.

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