Support

Help for black minority ethnic (BME) women, children and young people who are experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse.

ELREC exists to promote equality and to fight all forms of prejudice. They believe that no one can claim to live in a fair and just society whilst prejudice and inequalities exist.

Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children.

Fast Forward provide high quality health education and prevention interventions and projects to enable young people to make informed choices about their wellbeing and to live healthier lifestyles.

Who Cares? Scotland is a national voluntary organisation, working with care experienced young people and care leavers across Scotland.

Edinburgh Carers Council is an independent Edinburgh charity that is carer-led in its developments. They provide information to carers about all aspects of mental health care and services; individual advocacy services for carers and named persons; and training opportunities so carers can be empowered.

The Junction is a safe, friendly, confidential centre which offers lots of health-related services, education and support for young people in Leith and North East Edinburgh aged 12-21.

Citizens Advice Scotland, the Extra Help Unit and the 59 member bureaux together form Scotland’s largest independent advice network. They officer a free advice service that is independent, confidential and impartial.

NHS Inform is Scotland's national health information service. They aim to provide people in Scotland with accurate and relevant information to help them make informed decisions about their own health and the health of the people they care for.

NHS 24 is a free phone service to provide urgent health advice out of hours, when your GP Practice or Dentist is closed.

Artlink is an arts and disability organisation with the aim of increasing opportunities to take part in the arts for those who experience disadvantage or disability in the East of Scotland.

Trussell Trust support a nationwide network of food banks and together they provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.

TOTUM is a UK-based student discount card and app. TOTUM membership opens up a world of brilliant student discounts, offers and vouchers on your everyday essentials, must-have gear and luxury items.

CycleStreets provides a free-to-use national cycle journey planner for the United Kingdom. Input your start and end postcodes to be supplied with route options for your journey.

Edinburgh's tramline runs from the city centre west-ward to the airport. Get off at Bankhead for our Sigththill campus. Visit their website to view their timetable, route map, ticket pricing, and to plan your journey.

Lothian Buses have over 70 services that run across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Visit their website to view timetables, route maps, ticket pricing, and to plan your journey.

Three of our campuses are near to train stations: Sighthill (Edinburgh Park), Milton Road (Brunstane), and Midlothian (Eskbank). Visit the ScotRail website to plan your train journey and book tickets.

Traveline Scotland provides public transport information between any two locations in Scotland. To plan your journey, view timetables or find next departures for any bus, train, coach, ferry, tram or Glasgow Subway service in Scotland, go to their website.

The Rock Trust works with young people between the ages of 16- 25 who are affected by homelessness.

Shelter Scotland is a charity that works to alleviate the distress caused by homelessness and bad housing. They do this by giving advice, information and advocacy to people in housing need, and by campaigning for lasting political change to end the housing crisis for good.

Crisis provides direct support for homeless people and influences policy to help end homelessness in Scotland.

Local authority support for those facing homelessness or at risk of being made homeless

Homelss Action Scotland exists to improve the conditions of homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless; working with people across the country and further afield.

Living Rent is Scotland’s tenants’ union. They fight for safe, secure and affordable housing for everyone, with better protections against rent increases, evictions and poor-quality housing.

The Hub of Hope is the world’s first of its kind mental health database bringing grassroots and national mental health services together in one place for the first time ever. Using the location of web browser or mobile devices, the cloud-based web application allows anyone, anywhere to find the nearest source of support for any mental health issue, from depression and anxiety to PTSD and suicidal thoughts, as well as providing a ‘talk now’ button connecting users directly to the Samaritans.

Saheliya supports and promotes the positive mental health and well-being of black, minority ethnic, asylum seeker, refugee and migrant women and girls (12+) in the Edinburgh and Glasgow area.

AMIS supports men across Scotland who have or are experiencing domestic abuse. They do not judge, but they do offer practical information, guidance and casework.

Samaritans is a unique charity dedicated to reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection that can lead to suicide.

The Crisis Centre is open 24 hours a day 365 days of the year and provides community based, emotional and practical support at times of crisis. It is a service for people who are aged 16 and over who are using or have used mental health services and are resident in the City of Edinburgh when they are facing a crisis.

Breathing Space are a free, confidential, phone service for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.

Perfect Solutions offers coaching and counselling for anxiety, emotions and trauma.

Support in Mind aims to improve the quality of life for anyone whose mental health problems or mental illness has a serious impact on their life and on the lives of others, including family members, friends and supporters.

EdSpace to signpost people to appropriate mental health services in Edinburgh, enable people to make informed choices in their treatment and care, inform people of factors influencing positive mental health and wellbeing, and enable people to access services and information which may be of benefit to them or someone they support.

SAMH is Scotland’s national mental health charity. They work in over 60 communities with adults and young people, providing mental health social care support and services.

Penumbra is one of Scotland’s largest mental health charities. They work to promote mental health and wellbeing for all, prevent mental ill health for people who are ‘at risk’, and to support people with mental health problems.

Health in Mind promote positive mental health and wellbeing, and provide a wide range of services and courses to support people and enable them to make a positive difference in their lives.  

Nightline is a student listening service which is open at night and run by students for students.

Andy's Man Club are real, non judgmental, talking groups for men. Their aim is to halve the number of suicides in men under 45.

The Scottish Government's national mental health campaign to help support people throughout the country during the pandemic. There are tips and ideas for how oyu can clear your head as well as links to places you can go to for more formal support and advice

Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland (CBCS) exists to promote the well-being of bereaved people in Scotland. They seek to help anyone experiencing bereavement to understand their grief and cope with their loss. They work primarily through volunteers, providing free care to bereaved people. 

The Crisis Centre is open 24 hours a day 365 days of the year and provides community based, emotional and practical support at times of crisis. It is a service for people who are aged 16 and over who are using or have used mental health services and are resident in the City of Edinburgh when they are facing a crisis.

The Ampersand Project is an Edinburgh-based non-profit social enterprise working on a local, national, and international level to improve the mental wellbeing of young adults, with a specific focus on university and college students.

C:card is a free condom service in Edinburgh & the Lothians. It's quick and easy to get free condoms through the c:card Network.

Students across the Edinburgh College Community who have experienced sexual violence at any time of their life will be offered long-term, trauma-informed, one-to-one support. This support will be offered in blocks of six sessions, with students having access to up to 18 individual sessions if needed.

Any students on the College support waiting list will be given the opportunity to access the normal Rape Crisis services for short-term support while they wait. This is in the form of the Here and Now service for over 18s or the STAR Project for under 18s.

If you would like to refer yourself to this service, please email studentsurvivors@ercc.scot or call 0131 556 9437, call/text 07966 067 301 and state you are an Edinburgh College student. Please note staff cannot refer students.

Healthy Respect works to improve young people's sexual health and wellbeing, and supports them to enjoy healthy and respectful relationships. It is aimed at young people aged 13-18 living in Lothian. 

Lothian Sexual and Reproductive Health Service provides a range of services at the Chalmers Centre in Edinburgh (2A Chalmers Street) and at local clinics across the Lothian area.

You're four times more likely to quit smoking with NHS help. Find your local Stop Smoking Service on the SmokeFree website.

Crew exists to reduce harm, challenge perceptions and help people make positive choices about their use of cannabis, stimulant and other drugs and sexual health by providing non-judgmental, credible and up to date information and support.

Communities for Conservation is a project run by the Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council. It aims to inspire and support Ethnic Minority (EM) communities in Edinburgh and Livingston to reduce their carbon footprint through energy saving, cycling and waste reduction activities.

Information from City of Edinburgh Council on local recycling and waste services.

Home Energy Scotland is a network of local advice centres covering all of Scotland. Their expert advisors offer free, impartial advice on energy saving, keeping warm at home, renewable energy, greener travel, cutting water waste and more. Their mission is to help people in Scotland create warmer homes, reduce their bills and help tackle climate change.

Zero Waste Scotland supports businesses, communities, and the government to manage Scotland's resources responsibly. They have lots of advice on their website that will help you reduce your waste and save money.