Food and Essentials
Home Heating Advice Scotland
Charitable support can be provided to people with no recourse to public funds (and therefore also those with pre-settled status). As long as all of the other eligibility criteria* are met, people who are in Scotland on visas with no recourse to public funds can apply to the Home Heating Support Fund.
*Anyone who is struggling to meet their fuel costs and is self-rationing can apply to the fund. Applicants must have received money or energy advice from an accredited agency ensuring any funding is as effective as possible. Evidence of advice will be required.
CFine
CFINE improves health and wellbeing and the environment, tackles poverty and builds resilience through a range of support and services for and with disadvantaged, vulnerable, low-income individuals, families and communities in North East Scotland.
If you are running low on food and essential items due to financial constraints or other pressures, you can visit the food bank open every weekday from 10am-3pm at 2-4 Poynernook Road, AB11 5RW. See the CFine Emergency Food Page for more details
Food Poverty Action Aberdeen Support Services
Food Poverty Action Aberdeen have released a new guide to Support Services which lists up-to-date services and provision available in Aberdeen for emergency and hot food, financial and advice services, mental health and wellbeing, housing and homelessness and support for families with children. Released: July 2022
Asylum
Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
JCWI work towards a society in which people are able to live safely and are treated with equal dignity and respect, regardless of where they are from or how they came to the UK.
JCWI has an Irregular Migrants HELPLINE
If you are in the UK without status and need legal advice, call their Freephone helpline on 0800 160 1004.
It is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 1pm.
The helpline is confidential and the advice is free.
Migrant Help Asylum Services
How to contact Migrant Help:
Call the free helpline on 0808 8010 503
Use their webchat
You can also use the Service User Portal to complete application forms and can find information resources.
If you are a third party organisation and wish to contact Migrant Help on behalf of an asylum seeker, please include a signed consent form.
Include your details as well, in case we need to contact you for further information.
Scottish Refugee Council helpline
Call the free and confidential helpline for information and advice on refugee and asylum issues.
0808 1967 274
They can provide you with advice about your rights and help you find out more about the services and support available in Scotland.
Please ask for an interpreter if you need one.
The free helpline is open at the following times:
Monday-Friday, from 9am to 5pm. *Please note: our helpline is closed every Wednesday morning for staff training and will reopen at 1pm.
There is also a list of legal representatives in Glasgow and Edinburgh if you scroll down to the bottom of this web page.
Home Office Guide to Rights and Expectations in the UK
This booklet is given to people seeking asylum when they are first accommodated, and includes information on UK culture and services available while in the UK. It is available in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Kurdish, Pashto, Punjabi, Tigrinya and Urdu as well as English.
Mental Health Foundation Scotland
Resources to assist refugees and asylum seekers with their mental health.
This includes advice translated into Pashto (پښتو), Ukrainian (українська), Dari (دری) and Arabic (عربي).
Barnado’s Boloh helpline
A service to support the mental health and wellbeing of adults seeking asylum across the UK.
This project is funded by the Home Office from September 2022 until 31st January 2025.
The Helpline will offer advice, signposting, emotional support and 8 free sessions of therapy by qualified Barnardo’s therapists. These sessions can take place remotely via telephone or online. Barnardo’s has a long history of providing mental health support to children, young people and adults and has a large pool of culturally informed therapists who speak a range of languages. Sessions can take place in your own language at a time that works for you.
Helpline Advisors can also offer practical support such as food vouchers and access to digital devices via partnership with Vodafone.
You will be allocated a dedicated Advisor who will work with you over a series of calls to ensure that you have someone to talk to, and access to all the support that you need.
Calls are confidential and we will not share personal information with the Home Office.
We welcome referrals from professionals via our referral form, as well as direct contact from asylum seekers by telephone, email or online chat.
The Helpline is open Monday – Friday (10am-8pm) and Saturday (10-3pm) via phone 0800 151 2605, webchat and email Boloh.helpline@barnardos.org.uk.
The Chartered Institute of Housing and BME National Housing Rights website has links to information and a Briefing on Hotel evictions (September 2023)
Gender Based Abuse
Aberdeen City Council Domestic Abuse Team
The Domestic Abuse Team is a voluntary service which provides short to medium term support and advice to victims of domestic abuse to help them address the effects the behaviour of their partner/ex-partner has had on them. We can support individuals with safety planning in order to reduce risk as well as practical and emotional support.
You can call us on 0800 030 4713 or email
domesticabuseteam@aberdeencity.gov.uk,
and someone will be in touch to support.
Ending Violence and Abuse Aberdeen
EVAA offers support for women experiencing gender based abuse including physical, emotional, financial or sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, human trafficking and coercive control, and support for women, men and families (or people) experiencing domestic abuse.
Please call 0300 303 0903 option 4 or email evaa@weareac.org to access support.
Advocacy Service Aberdeen
Advocacy Service Aberdeen provides an independent advocacy service for victims of domestic abuse. Clients can self-refer to seek the assistance of a Domestic Abuse Advocate or be referred by a professional they are working with to assist them in relation to specific issues.
ASA is a local charity which provides this free service for people in the city of Aberdeen. This means that they are not part of the NHS, Aberdeen City Council or any other service provider. Their service is free and confidential and all staff and volunteers work to The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance’s (SIAA) Principles and Standards and Code of Practice.
Telephone: 01224 332397
Mobile: 07395885283
E-Mail: kelly@advocacy.org.uk
Grampian Women’s Aid
Grampian Women’s Aid offers a free, confidential and non-judgmental, specialist service to women, children and young people in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire who have experienced domestic abuse.
Email:
info@grampian-womens-aid.com
By telephone: 01224 593381 (Monday – Friday, 09:30-16:00)
You can leave a telephone message at any time. They will only contact you if you say it is okay and safe to do so. Their telephone number is always withheld.
Rape Crisis Grampian
Rape Crisis Grampian offer support & information to anyone over 13 years old who has been raped or sexually abused at any time in their life.
Their phone number is 01224 590932
Abused Men In Scotland
AMIS supports male victims of domestic abuse
We are Scotland’s helpline for male domestic abuse victims. All are welcome to phone or email us.
Need to talk?
03300 949 395
9am – 4pm, Monday to Friday
Shakti Women’s Aid
Although there is no office in the North East, Shakti Women’s Aid have offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow with advisors there who can help apply for the Support for Migrant Victim’s Fund for any location in Scotland. This is a fund for women and men who have a status of NRPF and cannot access the DDVC (Destitute Domestic Violence Concession) route.
Contact: Debarati Bhattacharyya
Email: info@shaktiedinburgh.co.uk
Phone: 0131 475 2399
Scottish Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline. Phone: 0800 027 1234. The site is also translated into Arabic, Chinese, French, Polish, Punjabi, Spanish and Urdu.
Scottish Women’s Aid
Scottish Women’s Rights Centre
The SWRC support women aged 16 and over who have been affected by violence and abuse in Scotland. All their services are free and confidential.
Rights of Women: helping women through the law
Rights of Women is a women’s charity based in London working in a number of ways to help women through the law.
They have asylum and immigration information on their website here.
Families with Children
Action for Children Aberdeen
Home-Start Aberdeen
Home-Start trained volunteers work alongside parents to provide practical and emotional support to families with children aged 0-5 in Aberdeen, including families with NRPF status
Regional Home-Starts
Home-Start trained volunteers work alongside parents to provide practical and emotional support to families with children aged 0-5 in the region, including families with NRPF status
Home-Start Deeside: www.homestartdeeside.org
Home- Start Deveron – www.homestartdeveron.org.uk
Home-Start Garioch – www.homestartgarioch.org.uk
Home-Start Kincardine – www.homestartkincardine.org
Home-Start North East Aberdeenshire – www.home-startnea.org.uk
AberNecessities
AberNecessities provides disadvantaged families with the essential and basic necessities that no child should go without.
They do not work directly with families – a professional from the NHS, Social Care, Education system etc. must apply on their behalf. This webpage leads to information for families on how to get support from AberNecessities by firstly speaking with their healthcare professionals.
Health and Wellbeing
Aberdeen Links Service
The programme aims to improve the links between GP Practice Teams and community services in order to support people to live well and improve their overall health and wellbeing. Link Practitioners aim is to support people connect with their community and overcome life’s challenges.
How am I referred into the Aberdeen Links Service? You must be 16 years old or over and if you ask your GP they can refer you.
Scottish Association for Mental Health
SAMH Information Service
Available: 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
Phone: 0344 800 0550
Email: info@samh.org.uk
Visit: samh.org.uk/info
JustRight Scotland Factsheet 2 EU Citizens and Your Right to NHS Healthcare
NHS Inform
Grampian Regional Equality Council (GREC)
The Casework Service at GREC provides free, confidential support and advice to people in Aberdeen who have suffered inequality or discrimination.
They can provide support, advice, advocacy, and mediation, with language support if you need it. The service is confidential, non-judgmental, and inclusive.
GREC Caseworkers can help you make sense of your rights and options: whether you’ve been the victim of a hate crime; discriminated against at work; are struggling to access the services you need; or are simply feeling isolated and want to become more involved in your community.
Every Thursday there is a Drop-in and Language Cafe at the Arts Centre in Aberdeen and GREC caseworkers also attend. Find information and activities here.
Housing and Homelessness
Aberdeen Cyrenians
Provides a Drop In Service for information, advice and support to those aged 16 and over who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and struggling financially, including those with a status of ‘No recourse to public funds’. Drop-in centres are in the City Centre, Torry and Woodside.
Email: directaccess@weareac.org
Phone: Please call 0300 303 0903 option 3
Shelter Scotland
Shelter Scotland exists to defend the right a safe, secure and affordable home. They strive every day to give people struggling with bad housing or homelessness the help they need, through advice, support and legal services. Shelter Scotland campaign relentlessly to achieve their vision of a safe, secure, affordable home for everyone.
Tel: 0344 515 2296
JustRight Scotland Factsheet 6 EU Citizens and Your Housing Rights
DPHS Aberdeen
Providing a unique housing advice service for people with disabilities.
Tel: 01224 810222
Bethany Christian Trust
Working with individuals and local communities across Scotland to prevent homelessness. Some tenancies are available in Aberdeen
Tel: 0131 561 8930 (Edinburgh)
Turning Point Scotland Aberdeenshire
Turning Point Scotland specialises in supporting people facing the most complex and challenging situations, including those with NRPF status.
In Aberdeenshire, services centre around support with problematic use of alcohol and other drugs, and peer support.
Turning Point Scotland Aberdeen
Turning Point Scotland specialises in supporting people facing the most complex and challenging situations, including those with NRPF status.
In Aberdeen, their Fair Way Scotland Service supports EEA nationals who are experiencing destitution and their Housing Support Services are accessed via referral from the Local Authority.
Immigration Information and Advice
Aberdeen Citizen’s Advice Bureau
Aberdeen CAB provides free, confidential, impartial and independent information on immigration matters
Tel: 01224 569750
Ethnic Minority Law Centre
The EMLC provide advice and representation from initial applications, through appeals and reconsiderations at the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, and Court of Session.
Money and Debt Advice
SMART Money Advice
The SMART money advice project offers free, impartial and confidential money advice for tenants of Grampian, Castlehill and Langstane Housing Associations who are facing financial difficulties. This ranges from managing your money, debt counselling, checking Welfare Benefit entitlement, applying for benefits and providing budgeting advice.
Telephone: 01224 202934
Email: smart@grampianhousing.co.uk
Aberdeen City Council Financial Inclusion Team
Also to contact the FIT Team click here:
https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/benefits-and-advice/contact-us-benefits-and-money-advice
Other organisations
Rape Crisis Grampian
Amina: The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre
Amina is an intersectional organisation that empowers and supports Muslim and BME women to create an inclusive Scotland in which they can contribute fully. Their vision is of an inclusive world where Muslim and Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) women are fulfilling their aspirations.
Helpline and Chat Service
The Helpline is a support service for Muslim and BME women in Scotland. The number is: 0808 801 0301
The Helpline is available Monday to Friday – 10am – 4pm for any Muslim and BME women.
It is free from mobiles and landlines and the number will not appear on your phone bill.
All calls are strictly confidential and non-judgemental; all calls will be taken in a faith- and culturally-sensitive manner.
Civil Legal Assistance Office (CLAO)
Contact CLAO Aberdeen to find out if they can help you with cases relating to:
- Housing and homelessness
- Some types of debt, money and welfare benefits issues where the input of our solicitor casework services can be most effective
- Child Protection and children’s hearings
- Some types of family law – those that involve an element of public law.
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
353 Union Street, Aberdeen AB11 6BT AB153
Fountain of Love Church
Fountain of Love Church also runs a Job Club for people who have the right to work – every Thursday from 12noon to 2pm
Alcohol and Drugs Action
Alcohol & Drugs Action supports those affected by alcohol and/or drugs, their families and friends in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire (Central & South)
Scottish Legal Aid Board
SLAB has a Solicitor Finder tool to search for registered solicitors who may be able to provide advice and represent you. You can only apply for legal aid through a solicitor. They do not provide legal advice.
Please note: solicitors can decide if they are able to take your case or not – even if they are registered for legal aid.
Migrant Rights
Know your rights guide: A guide to help migrants understand their rights and how to assert them
SACRO
Sacro is a Scottish community justice organisation which advocates for more integrated communities that reduce isolation and promote inclusion.
https://www.facebook.com/SacroAberdeen/
Tel: 01224 560550
Email: infoaberdeen@sacro.org.uk
North East Sensory Services
Provides Social Work, Rehabilitation, & Welfare Advice, to people with sensory loss in Aberdeen, Moray and Dundee
Tel: 03452 712345
Victim Support Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Victim Support offer confidential, free support for victims and witnesses of crime, and have appointments available to meet with their support team.