Support coping with rising living costs

Food and free sanitary products

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 - 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.
St Mary's Church, Dalkeith Country Park, High St, Dalkeith, EH22 2NA: Pet food bank on the first Tuesday of each month, 10am - 12pm.

Gorebridge

Gorebridge Beacon
Community Pantry in Gorebridge Beacon: 3pm - 5pm on Tuesdays.
Community Fridge in Gorebridge Beacon: 9am - 4pm Monday to Saturday. Can't guarantee food always available, as it's donated from supermarkets.
Community Cafe in Gorebridge Beacon: 9am - 2.30pm Tuesday to Saturday. Cafe open, all welcome. If you would like a bowl of soup (free) please say 'Robert Sent You' when you order.
Midlothian Food Bank in Gorebridge Parish Church: Community lunch on Thursdays at 12pm. 50p donation per course.

Newtongrange

Newtongrange Development Trust.
Newtongrange Pantry, 67 Gardiner Place, Newtongrange, EH22 4RT: Sunday 11am - 1pm. Free membership and £3.50 for the credits.

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 1pm - 5pm. 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 to Friday, 10am - 3pm and Saturday 11am - 1pm. Bag of produce for £1.
Midlothian Pantry: open to all Midlothian residents. £1 to join and £3.50 for 10 tokens: Monday to Friday 10.30 – 12 and 1pm-3pm and Saturday 11am – 1pm
Community café - free tea, coffee, soup etc. Monday to Friday 10am-3pm and Saturday 11am- 1pm
Paws Pantry: Monday to Friday 10am-3pm and Saturday 11am-1pm. Free cat and dog food
Community lunch: Monday 1pm at Ladywood Leisure Centre

Free soup

Midlothian Council CLLE team has 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.

Cyrenians Food Pantries

No referrals required, and open to anyone in the community that may need to use them.

Bonnyrigg Rose Community Football Club Pantry

Poltonhall Pavilion, Polton Avenue Road, EH19 2NU
Every Monday 10am - 12pm

Danderhall Community Pantry

Newton Church Hall, Edmonstone Road, EH22 1QE
Every Tuesday 10am – 11am

Midlothian Community Hospital Gardens

70 Eskbank Road, EH22 3ND
Every Thursday 11am – 12pm

Bonnyrigg Pitcairn Centre

High Street, Bonnyrigg, EH19 2ET
Every Friday 10.30am – 11.30am

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

If you can afford food but need help to get it

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)
Twitter: @MidHelp (9am - 5pm weekdays)

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.

How to apply for free school meals and clothing grants

Free sanitary products

We have free sanitary products (tampons and sanitary towels) in toilets in various buildings across Midlothian. Take what you need as stocks are refilled regularly.