VOCAL’s opening hours
Both our Edinburgh Carers’ Hub and Midlothian Carer Centre will have these opening hours at the end of December and start of January:
- Tuesday 23 Dec: open 9am to 5pm
- Wednesday 24 Dec: open 9am to 1pm
- Thursday 25 – Friday 26 Dec: closed
- Monday 29 – Tuesday 30 Dec: open 9am to 6pm
- Wednesday 31 Dec: open 9am to 1pm
- Thursday 1 – Friday 2 Jan: closed
- Monday 5 Jan onwards: back to normal hours (Mon, Thu, Fri: 9am-6pm. Tue, Wed: 9am-8pm.)
Festive activities at VOCAL
Find time for yourself over the busy festive period and join us for the following activities:
- SMART meeting (for carers of someone who uses alcohol or drugs) | Wed 24 Dec | 11am to 1pm | Edinburgh Carers’ Hub | Free to drop in
- Walk and Talk at Dalkeith Country Park | Mon 29 Dec | 10:30am to 12pm
- Carer cuppa and bingo at our Midlothian Carer Centre | Tue 30 Dec | 10am to 12pm
- Online quiz | Tue 30 Dec | 2pm – 3:30pm
Emergency contacts
Ahead of the festive period, we have collated some useful contact details for out-of-hours services and organisations.
- Midlothian Social Work: 0131 271 3900 / 0800 731 6969 (out of hours/emergency)
- Edinburgh Social Work: 0131 200 2324 / 0800 731 6969 (out of hours/emergency)
- NHS 24: Non-emergencies dial 111 (or contact GP)
- Police Scotland: Non-emergencies dial 101
- For emergencies (ambulance, fire and police): dial 999
- Accident and Emergency Departments (A and E):
- Age 13+: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh: 0131 563 1000
- Age under 13: Royal Hospital for Sick Children: 0131 536 0000
- All ages A and E Department at St. John’s Hospital, Livingston: 01506 532000
- Western General: 0131 537 1000
- Samaritans: 116 123 (free from mobile and landline)
- Breathing Space: 0800 83 85 87
- Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline: 0808 027 1234
- Edinburgh Crisis Centre (mental health): 0808 801 0414
- Emergency Mental Health Assessment Service: 0131 537 6000
- If you smell Gas: 0800 111 999
- Water supply emergencies: 0800 0778 778
- Electricity power cuts: 105
Food banks open over the holidays
- Steps to Hope is offering a free, 3-course Christmas dinner on Monday 22 December at 5pm. It’s at St Cuthbert’s Church, 5 Lothian Road, EH1 2EP.
- Edinburgh Food Project‘s food bank at Clermiston is open on Monday evenings and Tuesday afternoons, including 22-23 December and 29-30 December. It’s at 17-19 Clermiston View, St Andrew’s Church, EH4 7BS.
- Edinburgh Food Project‘s food bank at Prestonfield is open on the afternoon of 24 December. It’s at Priestfield Parish Church, 2 Marchhall Place, EH16 5HW.
- Crisis is providing hot, 3-course meals to their members and service users on 25 and 26 December.
- Social Bite is open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to provide a free Christmas dinner to anyone experiencing homelessness. They are based at 131 Rose Street, EH2 3DT.
