Emergency food and other resources over the Christmas period

Christmas is meant to be a time of cheer, celebrations, giving and family, but for many people, it only highlights the struggles they are experiencing.

In addition, with many local services closing, or operating on reduced hours over the festive period, it may seem like help can be harder to get.

However, assistance is still available. Many emergency food outlets may be running special Christmas hours, or providing extra provisions to cover periods when they will be closed. To help you see what valuable support is available in your area, we’ve put together a list of resources:

Dundee

• Dundee Community Food Network has out together a comprehensive calendar of all of the services available throughout the festive period and their hours of operation. This ranges from foodbanks and community larders through to cosy cafés and food vans. Click here to view the calendar.

• Dundee Women’s Hub, which supports women impacted by substance use and other disadvantages such as gender-based violence, homelessness, poor mental health, isolation, and trauma, will be open on Christmas Day from 10 am – 1 pm for Christmas brunch and a blether. Drop-in sessions will run on 28 and 29 December from 11 am – 2 pm, and The Hub will be closed Boxing Day, 27 December, and 1, 2 and 3 January.

• The Change Centre in South Ward Road is also running a free Christmas event on Wednesday 20 Dec, which includes hot food and as free Santa’s Grotto. Click here to view the full schedule.

Aberdeen

• Aberdeen City Council has created a comprehensive map and schedule of where you can get emergency food, whether it’s a foodbank or community larder, or hot food facilities for those who are homeless. Click here to view the online resource.

Angus

• Dundee and Angus Foodbank has outlets in Arbroath and Forfar, and has published their opening times on their website. Click here to view.

Fife

• Our Fife also has an online resource outlining the support available, and link to contact each service or find out more. Click here to view.

Perth

• The Trussell Trust has foodbanks in Perth and Blairgowrie. Click here to view more info and opening times.

Edinburgh

• Edinburgh City Council has an online resource outlining the foodbanks, community pantries and other support that are available in the city. Click here to view.

• Voice of Carers Across Lothian (VOCAL) has also published a schedule of festive events, check-ins and groups. Click here to view.

• Social Bite has also published a very extensive list of resources, including emergency food, accommodation, mental health resources and even useful contact numbers. You can view this here.