Christmas for Free

Crisis, Southside Commmunity Centre – Christmas Day and Boxing Day 8am – 8pm

Drop in for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. As well as good company and good food, you can also have a haircut, enjoy a massage or create a piece of art (Suitable for people 18+)

Missionaries of Charity, 18 Hopetoun Crescent0131 556 5444– Christmas Day Dinner 4pm-5pm

Will be closed from 26th December until 2nd January then will resume to free food every day at 4pm, except Wednesdays and Thursdays

Salvation Army, 431 Gorgie Road, Christmas Lunch 12:00

Book beforehand – please contact 01313462875 or let a member of staff know

Social Bite, 131 Rose Street Christmas Day Dinner, Drop in between 12pm-4pm - 0131 220 8206

After Christmas, Social Bite on Rose Street and 89 Shandwick Place are open Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm for free coffee and food, but not always guaranteed

Jericho House

53 Lothian Street, entrance on Bristo Place, 0131 225 8230, Open Christmas Day at 10am – 2pm and Free Soup, hot drinks and sandwiches every Sunday from 10pm–2pm

St Marys Cathedral, 61 York Place, 01315561798; Free sandwiches daily from 5:00 – 5:30pm

Before and after Christmas

Bethany Care Van, Evenings – Every Day at 9pm – 11pm Except Hogmany: Starting at Waverley Bridge, and then going to the Grassmarket and North Bridge: - Free Soup, rolls and tea/coffee

Bethany Care Van, Lunchtime: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday: 12.40pm from Waverley Bridge, then George Street, Lothian Road, King’s Stable’s Road, George IV Bridge, Chamber Street, North Bridge / Royal Mile Junction; reaching Leith Walk (just North of McDonald Road) at 2pm for free Soup, rolls and tea/coffee.

Bethany Christian Trust (Care Shelter) Various Churches, From 5 Nov – 1 Mar: Call: 0131 5618930 / 07919 557673, Monday–Sunday: 9:30pm–7am. Free meal and a floor to sleep on. Transport from Waterloo Place at 9.15pm and 9.30pm. Supper: 9.30pm-11pm and breakfast 6.30am.

Salvation Army, 25 Niddry Street, 01315231060 – Closed on 25th, 1st and 2nd, Open from the 3rd; Monday – Friday 9:00 – 10:00 Breakfast (£1.25) and 12:00-1:00 Lunch (£1.00)

Christmas Dinner with Salvation Army on New Year’s Day, 1 East Adam Street, – get there for 12:30

Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row 01312253626

Drop in for free Soup, Sandwiches, Biscuits and Cake from 4pm – 5:30pm on Monday 22nd and Monday 29th December

St Catharine’s Convent: 4 Lauriston Gardens. 0131 229 2659

Monday-Friday: 9am-11.30am & 5.30pm-6.30pm. Free hot meals & showers available – Open until Monday 22nd December and open for Christmas Dinner on the 29th December at 1:00pm

Serenity Café – Hogmany 7pm – 1pm: Live Music with Nobby and Friends £5 charge (kids go free)

Carrubbers Christian Centre: 65 High Street, EH1 1SR.0131 556 2626.

Free breakfast every Sunday: 8am - 9.30am (men’s clothes and blankets provided at breakfast).

Free lunch Tuesdays from 12.45pm – 1.30pm

South Leith Parish Church,6 Henderson Street:0131 554 2578

Free Takeaway breakfast onSundays from 9.30am - 10am

Souper Saturday, The Church of St John the Evangelist, Lothian Road, 07955 274058

Saturdays from 8:30am–2pm: Free breakfast, lunch, sandwiches, coffee and conversation

Advice Services at Christmas

City of Edinburgh Council – Advice Shop / 0131 200 2360 / Closed 25 and 26 December
And 1 and 2 January
Scottish Welfare Fund (crisis grants) / 0131 529 5299 / Closed 25 and 26 December
And 1 and 2 January
Citizens Advice Direct (telephone advice): / 0808 800 9060 /

Council Services at Christmas

All Council offices will be closed on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 December 2014 and Thursday 1 and Friday 2 January 2015

Out of hours social care services

Contactin emergencies on evenings, weekends, and public holidays: 0800 731 6969

Emergency housing

Call if you need emergency housing on an evening, weekend or public holiday: 0800 032 5968

Libraries and museums

All libraries will close at 5pm on Wednesday 24 December and reopen as normal on Saturday 28 December. They will then close at 5pm on Wednesday 31 December and reopen as normal on Saturday 3 January.

All museums will be closed on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 December, and Thursday 1 and Friday 2 January. The only exception is the Scott Monument, which will be open on Thursday 1 January as normal.