Merry Christmas from all of us at EC Students' Association!

The Christmas break is fast approaching, and College campuses will closed for the Christmas break on Tuesday the 20th of December at 6pm and will reopen on Wednesday the 4th January 2023. Our offices are closing on the 19th of December. We will be back open in January at the same time as the rest of the College. 

Remember to still follow the latest Scottish Government Guidance if you are planning to travel this Christmas break or visit vulnerable family members. For those who plan to travel overseas remember to check guidance on the Scottish Government website regarding any rules which may apply in the country that you are travelling to. 

If you are not planning to travel and if you need some support through the festive period when College and our offices are closed, below is a list of organisations that you can contact. 

Remember to keep an eye on the Edinburgh College website, email and MyEC app for any urgent updates, particularly before we return on the 4th of January. 

We hope that you've had a good first semester and we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We'll see you in 2023. 

External Support Organisations over the Christmas & New Year Break

You can browse our full list of support organisations here. 

For specific support over the festive period:

Homelessness

City of Edinburgh Council Homelessness Services:

East Lothian Council Homelessness Services:

Midlothian Council Homelessness Services:

 

Foodbanks

 

Emergency Services

  • 999
  • 111 NHS 24
  • Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

 

Wellbeing and health support service Self-Harm

 

Eating Disorders

 

OCD

 

Mental Health

  • Breathing Space - 0800 838 587
  • Samaritans - 0131 221 999
  • Emergency number for Edinburgh Mental Health Assessment Centre (MHAS) - 0131 537 6000
  • Edinburgh Crisis Centre - 0808 801 0414
  • SAHELIYA (specialist mental health and wellbeing support organisation for black, minority ethnic, asylum seekers, refugees and migrant women and girls (12+) in the Edinburgh and Glasgow area. For more info, visit www.saheliya.co.uk
  • https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/ Gender-based violence
  • Rape Crisis Scotland Helpline - 0808 801 0302 or text 07537410027
  • Rape Crisis East Lothian - 07800604164 or elsas@ercc.scot
  • Rape Crisis Midlothian - 07860774503 or msas@ercc.scot
  • Rape Crisis Edinburgh - 0131 557 6737 or infor@ercc.scot
  • West Lothian Council Domestic and Sexual Assault Team - 01506 281 055, 07818421480/ 07919571531 or dasat@westlothian.gov.uk
  • Women's Aid Edinburgh - 0131 315 8110 or duty@edinwomensaid.co.uk
  • Women's Aid Midlothian - 0131 663 9827 or info@womensaideml.org
  • Shakti Women's Aid - 0131 475 2399 or info@shakiedinburgh.co.uk
  • West Lothian Women's Sid - 01506 413 721
  • Scotland Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage helpline - 08000271234
  • Men's Advice line - 08088010327
  • Abused Men in Scotland Helpline - 0808 800 0024
  • LGBT+ - 0800 801 0301

 

Hate Crime

 

Safety on Nights Out in Edinburgh