Please refer to the information and leaflets below which provide details of financial support and advice available to families in Edinburgh. There is also a new link on the CEC website Cost of living – The City of Edinburgh Council and if families need urgent help the Advice Shop run a drop in service Benefits and debt advice – The City of Edinburgh Council
Support for Parents and Carers
If you are supporting a parent who has a child going through a difficult phase in their development and you feel they may benefit from another service, the Parent and Carer Support Team are holding two drop-in sessions in November. Parents and carers with children of all ages can come along and find out more about our parenting courses delivered in various locations across Edinburgh. It can sometimes be daunting for parents and carers to seek out support, so it can be helpful for someone to support them to make that first step. Please feel free to come along too.
Whether you are coming along with a parent or carer or you would just like to find out more information about the courses on offer for parents and carers, you will be welcomed there by our friendly Parent and Carer Support Team who can answer any questions you have. The team also have information on a wide range of other supports for Parents and Carers.
Drop-in sessions are taking place at:
Craigmillar Library Friday 14th November 2025 10am-11am
McDonald Road Library 21st November 2025 10am-11am
Support With Travel
Families can now apply for free bus travel for Children and young people. Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme | How to apply | Transport Scotland. If you need help to apply, you can drop into your local library who always have staff there trained to support this process.
Support with Period Poverty
Please remember that free period products are available in school. They are also available to pick up, no questions asked, in Libraries and Community Centres across the city. Re-usable pants, pads and cups are also available in Libraries. The City of Edinburgh Council website provides information where to access products: Free period products – The City of Edinburgh Council.
Support with Food At Home
If your family needs urgent help with accessing food, you can drop in anytime 11am-6pm from Tuesday to Saturday – SHRUB Coop | Vegan Cafe, Swapshop, Food Sharing Hub, Events space.
Support with Housing
Crisis offers support and advocacy to families and individuals who are currently homeless or at risk of homelessness in Edinburgh and the surrounding area. Crisis can help with finding housing that is appropriate to your needs, keeping your current home and preventing eviction. They also offer support to sustain your housing and resolve homelessness permanently. They can be contacted either by email; edinburgh@crisis.org.uk, Phone 0131 209 7700, or by completing the form on their website at https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-help/edinburgh/.
The Support for Families CEC webpages are a comprehensive one stop shop to explore services and supports available for families. It includes sections on financial support, ASN support, parenting support and much more: Support for families – The City of Edinburgh Council
Please also follow this link to the CEC Family Holiday Activities page, dedicated to providing a list of free and low-cost activities to do in the run up to and during school holidays: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/family-activities/whats-families-holidays
Drummond Community High School 