Support coping with rising living costs

Food and free sanitary products

Local food pantries and community fridges

Mayfield & Easthouses

  • Community Food Pantry (MAEDT) – For residents of Mayfield & Easthouses.
  • 14-15 Bogwood Road, Mayfield, EH22 5DG
  • Sign up to become a member and then shop there for £3.50 a week, getting around £15 worth of groceries – 0131 663 5317

Dalkeith & Woodburn

  • Central Dalkeith and Woodburn Pantry - For residents of central Dalkeith & Woodburn.
  • The Woodburn Community Hub, 10 Woodburn Road, Dalkeith. Open Fridays 1.30pm - 5.30pm (closed for 15 minutes at 3pm to refill shelves).
  • Membership is free, one membership card per household. Receive free fruit and veg, and bakery items (when and what available), free pet food to pet owners.
  • St Mary's Church, Dalkeith Country Park, High St, Dalkeith, EH22 2NA: Pet food bank on the first Tuesday of each month, 10am - 12pm. 

Gorebridge

  • Gorebridge Beacon 
  • Community Pantry in Gorebridge Beacon: 3pm - 5pm on Tuesdays - sign up to become a member and then shop there for £3.50 a week, getting around £15 worth of groceries – 01875 816320
  • Community Cafe in Gorebridge Beacon: 9am - 2.30pm Tuesday to Saturday. Cafe open, all welcome. If you would like a bowl of soup (free) please say 'Robert Sent You' when you order.  
  • Midlothian Food Bank in Gorebridge Parish Church: Community lunch on Thursdays at 12pm. 50p donation per course.

Newtongrange

  • Newtongrange Development Trust.
  • Newtongrange Pantry, 67 Gardiner Place, Newtongrange, EH22 4RT: Sunday 11am - 1pm. Free membership and £3.50 for the credits.

Rosewell

  • The Steading community fridge. The food in the fridge is available to those in need or anyone struggling with the current cost of living crisis.
  • Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm - 5pm. Outwith these times please ask a member of staff at reception who would be happy to help, as long as items are available.

Penicuik

  • Food Fact Friends community pantry and fridge
  • Community Fridge: Monday to Friday, 10am - 3pm and Saturday 11am - 1pm. Bag of produce for £1.
  • Midlothian Pantry: open to all Midlothian residents. £1 to join and £3.50 for 10 tokens: Monday to Friday 10.30 – 12 and 1pm-3pm and Saturday 11am – 1pm
  • Community café - free tea, coffee, soup etc. Monday to Friday 10am-3pm and Saturday 11am- 1pm
  • Paws Pantry: Monday to Friday 10am-3pm and Saturday 11am-1pm. Free cat and dog food
  • Community lunch: Monday 1pm at Ladywood Leisure Centre

Free soup

  • Midlothian Council CLLE team has free soup prepared fresh by volunteers available to collect and takeaway from:
  • Aim High, 14 Woodburn Avenue, Dalkeith EH22 2BP.
  • Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm.
  • All are frozen and ready for you to take home to reheat at your leisure. Currently in stock: lentil, tomato and basil, chicken and vegetable.

Cyrenians Food Pantries

No referrals required, and open to anyone in the community that may need to use them.

Bonnyrigg Rose Community Football Club Pantry

  • Poltonhall Pavilion, Polton Avenue Road, EH19 2NU
  • Every Monday 10am - 12pm

Danderhall Community Pantry 

  • Newton Church Hall, Edmonstone Road, EH22 1QE
  • Every Tuesday 10am – 11am

Danderhall Library Pantry

  • Danderhall Library & Leisure Centre, 59 Edmonstone, EH22 1QL
  • Every Thursday 11.30am – 12.30pm

Midlothian Community Hospital Gardens

  • 70 Eskbank Road, EH22 3ND
  • Every Thursday 11am – 12pm

Bonnyrigg Pitcairn Centre

  • High Street, Bonnyrigg, EH19 2ET
  • Every Friday 10.30am – 11.30am

If you can't afford food

  • Apply to the Scottish Welfare Fund or call 0131 270 5600
  • Speak to your CAB worker, health visitor, primary/secondary school contact
  • Visit your local food pantry
  • Access your community fridge
     
  • If you still need support for food please call 0131 270 7500
  • If a family with children 0-18 years old please call 0131 271 3413

If you can afford food but need help to get it

  • Call the Red Cross helpline 0808 196 3651. It's free and confidential and open 10am - 6pm.
  • Food Train – (age 65+) 0800 13 88 220 (FREE) 
  • Twitter: @MidHelp (9am - 5pm weekdays)  

Free school meals and clothing grants

We provide children from low income families with free school meals and money towards buying school clothes. People over 16 staying on at school and living on their own can also apply.

Free sanitary products

We have free sanitary products (tampons and sanitary towels) in toilets in various buildings across Midlothian. Take what you need as stocks are refilled regularly.

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