Support coping with rising living costs

Food and free sanitary products

Help is available is you're struggling to afford food. Across Midlothian local food pantries, community fridges, and food banks offer low-cost or free groceries, meals, and daily essentials to anyone who needs them.

In this section:

Urgent help with food

If you cannot afford food get in touch with your local Citizens Advice Bureau (Dalkeith or Penicuik), health visitor, or primary/secondary school contact to request a referral to your local Food Bank. 

If you still need support for food: 

  • Adult Social Care: 0131 271 3900.  

If you have a family with children 0-18 years old: 

  • Children & Families: 0131 271 3413 

If you need urgent help with money, housing or energy please go to our Urgent Help page for more information. 

Local food pantries and community fridges

Membership to your local food pantry is open to anyone living within its catchment area.

For a small weekly fee, you can shop once a week and typically receive up to £15 worth of groceries, along with free fresh fruit, vegetables, sanitary products, and bakery items when available.

Pantries also connect you to other support services, offering a dignified and empowering way to shop locally and save money.

Bonnyrigg

Bonnyrigg Pitcairn Centre Pantry

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

Dalkeith & Woodburn

Central Dalkeith and Woodburn Pantry - For residents of central Dalkeith & Woodburn.

  • The Woodburn Community Hub, 10 Woodburn Road, Dalkeith.
  • Fridays, 1.30pm – 5.30pm (closed 3pm–3.15pm to restock) 
    • Free membership (one card per household) 
    • Free fruit, veg, bakery items (subject to availability) 
    • Free pet food for 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. 

Danderhall

Danderhall Community Pantry

  • Newton Church Hall, Edmonstone Road, EH22 1QE
  • Every Tuesday 10am – 11am
    • £1 annual membership  
    • £3 weekly shop 

Gorebridge

Gorebridge Beacon Pantry

  • Hunterfield Road, Gorebridge, EH23 4TT
  • Tuesdays, 3pm - 5pm
    • £3.50 weekly shop for approximately £15 worth of groceries 

Free soup also available at the Gorebridge Beacon Community Cafe: 

  • Tuesday to Saturday, 9am – 2.30pm 
  • Just say “Robert sent you”

Midlothian Food Bank in Gorebridge Parish Church

  • 96 Hunterfield Road, Gorebridge, EH23 4TT 
  • Monday to Fridays, 10am - 2pm

Community lunch on Thursdays at 12pm. 50p donation per course.

Mayfield & Easthouses

Community Food Pantry (MAEDT) – For residents of Mayfield & Easthouses.

  • 14-15 Bogwood Road, Mayfield, EH22 5DG
  • Tuesday 10.30am-2.30pm, Wednesday 1pm-5pm and Thursday 10.30am and 2.30pm 
    • £3.50 weekly shop for approximately £15 worth of groceries 

Hawthorn Family Learning Centre

  • 2F Bogwood Road, Mayfield, Dalkeith, EH22 5DQ 
  • Range of services available throughout the week including:
    • food larder, recipes and ingredients,
    • free sanitary products,
    • community wardrobe,
    • financial advice drop-ins from Citizens Advice Bureau
  • No referrals required. 

Newtongrange

Newtongrange Development Trust.

  • 67 Gardiner Place, Newtongrange, EH22 4RT 
  • Sundays 11am - 1pm.  
    • Free membership 
    • £3.50 for pantry credits. 

Rosewell

The Steading Community Fridge. 

  • The Steading, Rosewell, EH24 9AA 
  • Tuesday and Thursdays, 1pm – 5pm 
    • Open to anyone in need or affected by the cost of living 
    • Ask reception staff outside these hours if items are available 

Penicuik

Food Fact Friends

  • 42 John Street, Penicuik, EH26 8AB
    • Pantry: open to all Midlothian residents. £4 for a pantry shop, £2 per month membership: Monday to Friday 10.30am -12pm and 1pm-3pm and Saturday 11am – 1pm
    • Community Fridge: Monday to Friday, 10am - 3pm and Saturday 11am - 1pm. Bag of produce for £1.50
    • 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

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.

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.

 

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