News

The Access to Industry offices will close on Tuesday 23 December 2025 (5pm) and re-open on Monday 5 January 2026 (9am). If you require specific help or support during that time, here’s our list…

BASIC HEALTH:
A&E – get urgent help by presenting at A&E, or calling 999 (ambulance emergency)
NHS 111 – call 111 for out-of-hours GP services and over-the-phone medical advice
Local Community Pharmacy – for repeat prescriptions and general advice

MENTAL HEALTH – 24HR SUPPORT:
Samaritans – 24hr emotional support for those at risk: 116 123
Edinburgh Crisis Centre – 24hr crisis support: 0808 801 0414; text 07974429075
Shout – 24hr mental health support: text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258

MENTAL HEALTH – DAILY SERVICES:
Breathing Space – advice for depression and anxiety: 0800 83 85 87
Campaign Against Living Miserably – 365 days (5pm-midnight): 0800 58 58 58
Mental Health Assessment Service – 24hr emergency assessment: 0131 286 8137

FAMILIES:
Children First – support for people caring for children: 08000 28 22 33
NSPCC – concerns about a child: 0808 800 5000 / under 18s: 0800 1111
Lone Parent Helpline – support for single parents: 0800 801 0323

HOUSING:
Emergency Housing – out-of-hours (City of Edinburgh Council): 0800 032 5968
Shelter Scotland – housing issues/homelessness: 0800 800 4444

SUBSTANCE USE:
WithYou – drug, alcohol and mental health: wearewithyou.org.uk (live chat)
Know The Score – drugs information and advice: 0800 587 5879
Frank – 24hr drug information helpline: 0300 123 6600; text 82111
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs – 08080 10 10 11 (live/callback)

FOOD:
Edinburgh Food Project – (referral needed) edinburghfoodproject.org/locations/
Trussell Trust – (referral needed) trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/
Community Pantries – (by membership) cyrenians.scot/how-we-help/140-community-pantries

NON-REFERRAL FOOD SUPPORT:
Holy Trinity Church – crisis food bank on Tuesdays, 1-2 Hailesland Place (2pm-3pm)
Score Scotland Community Fridge – food redistribution on Mondays, Whale Arts (12pm-1pm) and Thursdays, St Nicolas Church (10:30am-11:30am)
Bethany Trust Care Van – free lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at Market Street (12:30pm), King’s Stables Road (1pm), Tesco, Easter Road (2pm). Dinner run Waverley Bridge (9pm), King’s Stables Road (9:50pm)
Social Bite: regular free meals, including the annual ‘Festival of Kindness’ on 24 December and 25 December (Rose Street, 12pm-4pm)
Soul Food: regular free meals in churches, including 18 December (Grace Church Leith, 5:30pm), 21 December (Central Church, 1pm), 28 December (Central Church, 1pm), 4 January (Life Church, 5:30pm) and 8 January (Grace Church Leith, 5:30pm)
Hibernian Community Foundation: free lunch on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, seasonal dates: 16, 17 and 19 December, Easter Road Stadium (12pm-2pm). Reopen 6 January.
Big Hearts:  free lunch on Wednesdays, seasonal date: 17 December, Eighteen74 Bar (noon-2pm). Reopen 7 January.
Steps to Hope: Christmas dinner and clothes bank, 22 December, St Cuthbert’s Church (5pm)
Southside Community Centre: Christmas Day breakfast and four dinner sittings, 25 December, Nicholson Street (9am-6pm)

And here’s the Edinburgh Food Bank opening times 2025.