Financial support

Fresh Start community meet and eats 

This is a two-course hot meal provided weekly on Friday afternoons from 12pm to 2pm. There is no referral process, it is for anyone who needs it at 

For more information contact

0131 476 7741 

Fresh Start souper Tuesdays 

Enjoy a bowl of soup and a filled roll and a chat between 11am and 1pm every week. There is no referral process, it is for anyone who needs it at

For more information contact 

0131 476 7741 

Free school meals/ clothing grant/ holiday payments 

Free school meals are universal from Primary one to Primary five. However, families who qualify for free school meals will also be entitled to clothing grants, holiday payments and other supports. 

Your child may be entitled to free school meals/clothing grant if you get any of the following

• Income support 
• Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) 
• Any income-related element of Employment and Support Allowance 
• Child Tax Credit (CTC), but not Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £16,190 
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit) 
• Universal Credit – (if you apply on or after 1st April 2018, your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits) 
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 

You can apply at any time but to ensure your child receives meals for the start of the new session in August apply in June. 

Apply for free school meals and clothing grants.

Holiday and food programme 

If you qualify for Free School Meals/Clothing Grant/Holiday Payments, you may also qualify for Holiday Activity and Food Programme for primary school children. Please contact your children’s primary school for more information and for them to make a recommendation. 

Food banks

If you are struggling to afford food there are food banks across the city. A list of them can be found at the Edinburgh Food Project. A referral to a local food bank can be made for you by your school, social worker, GP or health visitor.

Discover

Discover is a holiday programme for low-income families that provides meals and activities for primary school-aged children and their families. Please ask your school for more information and to make a recommendation.

Breakfast clubs

Free places are available in all Council runs and some private provider breakfast clubs. These can be allocated at the headteacher's discretion.