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Free Food without a Referral

(Please note: If you are seeking information about regular food supplies, please see our Foodbank+ page for more information.)

 

We have gathered a list of local drop-in services for people who are in crisis. Edinburgh churches are hearing the call to mission, to open their doors and get involved in outreach, which is impacting our city.

Dashed Line (Pink Alt)

Care Van

A partnership between Bethany Christian Trust and Edinburgh City Mission, serving soup and Sandwiches.

Lunchtimes: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays.

  • 12:30pm – Market Street
  • 1:00pm – King’s Stables Road
  • 1.20pm – Grassmarket
  • 2:00pm – Tesco, Easter Road, leaving no earlier than 2:15pm

Evenings: Every night except New Year’s Eve.

  • 9:00pm – Waverley Bridge
  • 9:50pm-10:30pm – King’s Stables Road, Grassmarket, North Bridge

Telephone: 0131 225 9445

Free Food without a Referral Feature Image
Free Food without a Referral Feature Image

Soul Food

Offering a free meal, a safe space & a warm welcome.

Central Church, Central Hall, West Tollcross

  • Sundays 2pm

Oxgangs Community Church, Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre

  • Sundays 5pm

Life Church, 2 Davie Street

  • Sundays 5:30pm

City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, Nicolson Square, Newington

  • Mondays 5:30pm

Walpole Hall, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Palmerston Place

  • Tuesdays 12:30pm (for over 60s)

Carrubbers Christian Centre, High Street

  • Tuesdays 5:30pm

Mustard Seed Edinburgh, St Margaret’s, 170 Easter Road

  • Thursdays 5:30pm

Mustard Seed Edinburgh, St Margaret’s, 170 Easter Road

  • Fridays 10am-11am (breakfast)

Mustard Seed Edinburgh, St Margaret’s, 170 Easter Road

  • Saturdays 4:30pm (for families)

Ps and Gs Church, York Place

  • Saturdays 5pm-6pm (The Saturday Meal)

Social Bite

Vesta Bar & Kitchen
7-8 Queensferry Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4PA

Mondays 3pm-5pm

Two course meal for people experiencing homelessness and food poverty.

Telephone: 0131 220 0773

Email: info@vestaedinburgh.co.uk

Free Food without a Referral Feature Image
Free Food without a Referral Feature Image

The Breakfast Bothy (a Carlowrie Castle project)

The Breakfast Bothy is from 9am-11am, Monday-Friday at 100 Melville Drive, Edinburgh, EH9 9EX.

In true Carlowrie Castle style, the converted police box has been restored, transformed, and repainted in dayglo yellow and orange by volunteers.

The Breakfast Bothy is a meeting place where people experiencing financial hardship or homelessness can visit to get a warm breakfast, coffee, tea and good chat.

The team aim to facilitate connections and services for our guests on an as-needed and request basis, such as counseling, haircuts, legal advice, etc.

Find other crisis support

> Housing and Homelessness Support
> Help with Emergency Money or Debt
> Help with Addiction
> Help for Women in Sex Work
> Support and Advice

 

If you know of a community outreach activity that isn’t on our list, please contact us with details so that we can add it.

Please note that this information was correct before the Covid-19 pandemic, please check with the service provider to see if their services have now been cancelled or changed.

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An Open Hand Referral Application

This form may be used by support workers and other professionals to apply for gifts for families in Edinburgh from An Open Hand (we cannot accept self-referrals).

Our aim is to help the families that need it most. We would be grateful if you could ensure that families fall into an area of need listed below before applying. We won’t be able to accept applications out with the below criteria.

Criteria for application:

  • Families (both parents/carers) who are facing severe hardship because of job loss or benefit delays/interruptions and have no other means (e.g. savings) of helping their child celebrate their birthday
  • Families who have no recourse to public funds
  • Families facing unexpected bills/costs/debt repayments around the time of their child’s birthday which prevent them from buying their child a present.

We are keen to help as many families as we can through this project, whilst still ensuring that each individual child feels treasured and receives a gift they will delight in. We will evaluate the funding for each gift on a case by case basis according to the financial needs of the family, the age of the child and the funding available. A general rule of thumb is that we anticipate most gifts along with the family bag to be in the region of up to £45.

Please ensure this application is submitted at least two weeks before the first child’s birthday to ensure there is sufficient time to deliver to the family.

Applicant's Details

Parent/Carer's Details

Address
Address

Children's Details

To add more children's details, please click the Add button. To remove details, please click the Remove button.
plus Add minus Remove

Details of Application

Please give details of why you are applying for this family and what impact a present from An Open Hand may make.

N.B. - The more information you can give, the greater the chance your application will be accepted

An Open Hand Disclaimer

All the gifts given to parents/carers from An Open Hand are new, and in new working order.

Once the gifts are given to the parent/carer, it is their responsibility to check the item is suitable and safe for their child, in good condition and used according to the manufacturer’s advice.

An Open Hand will keep all details of this application protected in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

An Open Hand is not a business or trader and has no ongoing responsibility for the gifts, once given, and takes no responsibility for loss, damage or injury sustained from the gifts or their use.

  • I confirm I have read the above disclaimer to this child’s parent/carer and they understand and agree to it.
  • I also confirm the parent/carer knows An Open Hand will be in contact directly with them, prior to the birthday, to discuss the gift and arrange a suitable time for delivery or collection.
  • I confirm that the parent/carer knows An Open Hand will be in contact directly with them, after the birthday, to receive feedback about the gift delivery, as well as our wider service.

Disclaimer and GDPR

Disclaimer
GDPR Compliance

Once we receive your application, we aim to be in touch with you within 5 working days to let you know if your application is successful.

Many thanks for your application!

Edinburgh City Mission Gap Year


Gap Year

Section 1 - Personal Details

Address
Are you involved in any activity that might limit your availability to work or your working hours?
Have you any convictions (other than spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974?)
Do you need a work permit to take up employment in the U.K.?

Section 2 - Education

Starting with the most recent, please list any education, qualifications and / or training.
In the format MM/YYYY.
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Section 3 - Work History

Please list your recent work history. We want to know about your work experience, paid and unpaid. Please include your current/previous employment, voluntary work, community activities and time spent caring for dependents. Starting with your current employment, please state name and address of employer(s) and/or voluntary agencies and describe main tasks, responsibilities and achievements.
In the format MM/YYYY.
Hours/week*
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Section 4 - The Gap Year Role

Please answer the following questions.

Section 5 - References

Referee 1 (Professional e.g. teacher / tutor / pastor)
Referee 2 (Other leader e.g. Church group leader)
Additional Information
Can we approach your referees before an offer is made?
Is your church supportive of your application to Edinburgh City Mission (ie would they be willing to take an active interest in our work and pray for you in your role?)

Section 6 - Declaration

I declare that the information given in this form is complete and accurate. I understand these details will be held in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. I undertake to notify the company immediately of any changes to the above details. You agree that Edinburgh City Mission may use the details provided to contact you for purposes of the job application and nothing more.
Do you agree to the above Terms?

Monthly Prayer Newsletter (click to expand)

Volunteer Now

Volunteer Application

Section 1 - Personal Details

Please note: you must currently live in or near to Edinburgh if you wish to volunteer with Edinburgh City Mission.

Address
Do you speak any languages other than English?

Section 2 - Role

In what part of the work of Edinburgh City Mission would you be interested in volunteering? (Pick up to 3)
Do you have a Full UK Driving Licence?
Have you had any accidents, regardless of fault in the last 5 years?
NB - This will help us check your details with the DVLA and reduce the number of questions we need to ask you later.
Please tick your available days.

Section 3 - Belief

For some of our volunteer roles we require the volunteer to have an active Christian faith. Please tick which of the following applies to you.
Do you currently attend a church?

Section 4 - References

We will take up references once we’ve agreed a suitable volunteering role. Please provide us with the details of someone who has known you in a professional capacity for more than a year. For example, someone you have volunteered for, an employer or a teacher.
Additional Information

Section 6 - Declaration

I declare that the information given in this form is complete and accurate. I understand that any false information or deliberate omissions will disqualify me from employment or may render me liable to summary dismissal. I understand these details will be held in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. I undertake to notify the company immediately of any changes to the above details. You agree that Edinburgh City Mission may use the details provided to contact you for purposes of the job application and nothing more.
Do you agree to the above Terms?

Monthly Prayer Newsletter (Optional - click here)

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