Due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the rising costs of running the Home have outpaced the funds we’ve been able to raise, despite the continued generosity and support of our incredible community.
If we do not take immediate and decisive action, there is a genuine risk that the Home will no longer be able to continue in the years ahead. This is not an outcome we can accept, as we know how much the Home means to the many people and pets we support across the country.
As we face these unprecedented challenges, we have had to undertake a restructuring exercise to ensure we can continue to operate effectively and sustainably for the long term.
This means that we have made the difficult and unavoidable decision to become a smaller team as well as make a slight reduction to our opening hours.
We’re so grateful to all our team who have stood by the Home during this tough time, continuing to deliver exceptional care and support to pets and their owners, and thank them for their hard work and dedication to our important mission.
Our mission remains the same, as we project that the need for our services will only increase. We are fully committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect the future of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home and the pets and pet owners we support.
Leading anti-poverty charity, Trussell, launched Football vs Hunger – a campaign aimed at encouraging football clubs and fans to play their part in ending hunger in Scotland at this weekend’s St Johnstone match at McDiarmid Park in Perth.
During the 23/24 SPL and SPFL seasons, 211,609 emergency food parcels were distributed across Scotland – this includes 69,148 parcels provided for children facing hunger across the country. This is enough parcels to put one on every seat in Hampden Park four times over, with thousands of food parcels extra.
Clubs from throughout Scotland, have already joined Trussell’s Football vs Hunger campaign and have signed the Football vs Hunger charter.
This charter involves a number of commitments, including to call out and work to stamp out poverty chanting if it happens in the ground or from when the club’s fans are visiting opposition stadiums.
Hunger in Scotland isn’t a food problem – it’s an income problem. If everyone has enough money to for the essentials, we’ll end hunger for good. We know what needs to change to make this future possible, but we can only get there if everyone plays their part.
The clubs who have signed the charter are also encouraging fans to sign up to Trussell FC on the Trussell website to support the charge to end the need for food banks in Scotland.
Francis Smith, CEO of St Johnstone FC, said:“Football has a proud history of leading the way in shaping a better society, by uniting as one voice.
“Food banks are a lifeline for people facing hardship – but they’re not the solution. All of us at St Johnstone FC believe that everyone should have enough money to afford the essentials and that there shouldn’t be a single person in our community who has to experience hunger.
“Everyone at the club is so proud of how Saints fans already rally to support the local food bank. That’s why we want to encourage you to join football’s fight against hunger, and sign for Trussell FC – the only other team we’ll wholeheartedly encourage you to support.”
Football legend, Jeff Stelling, has thrown his support behind the campaign, saying: “Hunger in the UK was never an issue I expected to become so significant in 2025, but has become one of the most critical concerns in modern Britain.
“It’s just not right that so many people can’t afford to feed their families, and need to turn to food banks.
“That’s why I’m proud to support Football vs Hunger, and join the football community helping to end the need for food banks.”
Lori Hughes, Project manager at Perth and Kinross foodbank, said:“Football is made up of great rivalries, but one thing the football community can agree on is that we need to end hunger in the UK.
“Football vs Hunger is a rallying cry for everyone who loves the game to stand up for the people in their communities who can’t afford the essentials. So whatever colour shirt you wear, sign up to Trussell FC and join the football wide effort to end the need for food banks.”
Ellie Lambert, Head of Activations at Trussell, said:“Football clubs sit at the heart of almost every community in Scotland, that’s why we are delighted that so many clubs are choosing to show their support for our Football vs Hunger campaign.
“With hundreds of thousands of fans believing that there should be no place in a modern Britain for food banks, football can be a powerful voice for positive change.”
As consumers brace themselves for the higher prices kicking in from today across bills including energy, water and broadband, those on the lowest incomes are running out of options, Citizens Advice warns.
Households in the lowest 10% for income already spend around two fifths (41%) of their earnings – after housing – on water, energy, broadband and car insurance bills. This compares to 11% for those on middle incomes, with those in the top 10% for income spending just 5%.
These latest findings come from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), as part of a Citizens Advice led-partnership with IPPR, abrdn Financial Fairness Trust and Policy in Practice looking at social tariffs.
Their research found single-adult households, and particularly those with children, are more likely than other groups to be spending 20% or more of their post-housing income on these bills, leaving them more exposed to price shocks.
If well-targeted social tariffs and bill support schemes were rolled out across water, energy, broadband and car insurance markets, the IPPR found that could save households hundreds of pounds a year.
For example, if social tariffs reduced these essential bills by 25%, for those in the lowest 10% for income, it could bring in savings of around £13 a week or £680 a year. This would be equivalent to a boost of income (after housing costs) of around a tenth for a typical household in this group.
Sara’s story
Citizens Advice sees the difference social tariffs can make. The charity supported Sara [not her real name], whose disability, medical conditions and her son’s needs make it vital for her to have a phone and internet.
She said: “Citizens Advice gave me advice on benefits, food banks and utility bills – how to cut down on them with social tariffs for water, phone and broadband. I can’t let go of my phone and the internet.
It’s very important because of my illness. I’ve got a special telecom alarm for when I fall, so I need wifi in the house. It helps a lot.”
Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice said: “After years of cost-of-living pressures, households across the country are about to feel the extra shock of rising essential bills. But for those on the lowest incomes, these unavoidable costs are already eating away at their finances, leaving their budgets stretched beyond breaking point.
“Social tariffs could be an effective safety net and put money back in people’s pockets, but the government and providers must work together to make sure nobody struggling to make ends meet misses out.
“We want to see people eligible for bill support automatically enrolled to receive it. This change can’t come soon enough.”
Professor Ashwin Kumar, Director of Research and Policy at IPPR, said: “Essential bills are leaving lowest earners with little room to breathe and causing huge anxieties.
“Well-designed social tariffs and bill support – across water, energy, broadband and insurance markets – could save households hundreds of pounds a year and provide a vital lifeline to some of the most vulnerable people across the country.”
Deven Ghelani, Director of Policy in Practice, said:“Leading utility companies are showing the benefits of data-sharing to support auto-enrolment and streamlined assessments.
“The government can take action today that makes straightforward access to social tariffs and bill support the core and expected response from utility companies to customers facing affordability issues.”
Our Winter’s End Safe and Warm Partnership Conference 2025 in London brought together experts from organisations such as Age Scotland, Citizens Advice, Energy Systems Catapult, Fuel Bank Foundation, National Energy Action and Scope, who are all part of our Safe & Warm partnership network supporting vulnerable people in the communities we serve.
Experts from the energy, advice, government and charity sectors took part in panel sessions and open discussions to share the real world impact of financial cuts on the communities they’re helping and the daily challenges faced by individuals to keep their homes safe and warm, particularly during the colder months.
It was a crucial opportunity for delegates to reflect on the challenges experienced during the winter and share their insight, as well as collaborate on ways to work together in future to support vulnerable communities across SGN’s network areas in southern England and Scotland.
Together, we have so far supported 693,956 households and we expect this number to rise significantly over the coming months.
Held as a hybrid event, the conference had live interviews from key specialists streamed to the online audience, providing an opportunity for all partners to meet and discuss opportunities to collaborate with one another. We’ll be using discussions from the event to inform how we can evolve our partnership network and find new opportunities to plug gaps in support.
Some of the key highlights from attendees included:
Molly Shevlin from Citizens Advice Scotland said they’re seeing people with issues that are complex and multilayered, requiring dedicated support from multiple organisations.
Rachel Boland from Age UK Oxfordshire highlighted a new challenge they’ve seen this winter of pensioners experiencing longer wait times for an outcome on pension credit applications.
Lee Healey from IncomeMax said that although digital exclusion can be a barrier to some vulnerable people obtaining the support and benefits they’re entitled to, many people are keen to use digital solutions to boost their income.
Helen Stockton from National Energy Action highlighted how net zero solutions need to be designed with vulnerable people in mind, with Bridget Newbery from Centre for Sustainable Energy adding that conversations around net zero need to be with people and not to people, and need to be meaningful to people’s everyday lives in order to engage them. She also discussed the need to check people who receive new technologies know how to use them.
Stella Osan from Mencap Croydon spoke out about the rising issue of damp in vulnerable homes, with stories she’s heard of landlords painting over dangerous black mould instead of working with tenants to tackle the problem. Richard DeNiese of Mencap Worthing added that it can often lead to people with autism struggling to make the right short-term decisions of keeping windows open to help remove the mould or to keep them closed in order to keep in the heat.
Maureen McIntosh, Director of Customer Service at SGN, explained how hosting the conference is part of SGN’s work to bring partners together to support vulnerable customers to use energy safely, efficiently and affordably.
She said: “We really appreciate how many people took the time to attend and take part in our Winter’s End partners conference. It highlights the importance of working together as we face the challenges that winter brings to communities across the UK.
The Scottish Government has called on UK Government ministers to urgently deliver a targeted energy bill discount to protect customers in greatest need and drive down high fuel poverty rates.
The final report of the Social Tariff Working Group – comprising energy suppliers, consumer and fuel poverty groups and disabled people’s organisations – published today, recommends targeted energy bill support to address the issue of unaffordable bills, plus a move beyond determining eligibility based on receipt of benefits.
The group concluded that support applied automatically to eligible households, using metrics based on a combination of household income, medical need and rurality would have a positive impact.
Acting Climate Action Minister Alasdair Allan said: “High energy prices remain the single greatest driver of fuel poverty in Scotland, and we have taken various steps – within the limits of our devolved powers – aimed at raising household incomes and improving energy efficiency.
“We have reinstated the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners; we have increased funding for Warmer Homes Scotland by £20 million, helping around 1,500 more households save on energy bills; and we have committed a further £20 million for the Scottish Welfare Fund to support the most vulnerable people.
“However, this is not enough to drive down stubbornly high fuel poverty rates and energy prices continue to rise. Targeted bill support is urgently needed to ensure that consumers are protected against high costs at source and can afford all their energy needs.
“We have worked very productively with energy providers and advice groups to come up with a deliverable scheme, and the final report demonstrates clear consensus on the way forward. However, the fundamental levers to make a difference are with the UK Government.
“Existing one-off flat rate rebates are insufficient and are not a long-term solution, and the UK Government must urgently deliver a unit rate discount, with the level of discount proportionate to need. The outputs from our group must act as a foundation and mainstay of a revised strategy, providing a signal of intent and leadership by the UK Government in tackling fuel poverty at source.”
The group considered fuel eligibility, consumer eligibility and data, level and form of support, and funding, as well as feedback from frontline advisers and campaigners.
Its conclusions differ from previous models which would have meant moving customers on to a different tariff, thereby removing them from the competitive market and from other means of saving money.
HOUSEHOLDS FACE MORE MISERY WITH YET ANOTHER ENERGY PRICE HIKE
Energy regulator Ofgem has today [Tuesday 25 February 2025] announced a 6.4% increase of the energy price cap for the period covering April to June 2025.
A recent spike in wholesale prices is the main driver of today’s price rise, accounting for around 78% of the total increase. A small increase in policy costs and associated inflationary pressures make up a further 22%.
The price cap – which sets a maximum rate per unit and standing charge that can be billed to customers for their energy use – will rise by £111 for an average household per year, or around £9.25 a month, over the three-month period of the price cap.
For an average household paying by Direct Debit for dual fuel this equates to £1,849 per year. This is 9.4% (£159) higher than this time last year (£1,690) but £531 (22%) lower than at the height of the energy crisis at the start of 2023, when the Energy Price Guarantee was in place.
Since Ofgem’s last price cap announcement in November 2024, four million customers have moved to a fixed tariff. Now, 11 million people are on a fixed deal and won’t be affected by the change in the price cap. This is the largest movement of customers coming off the price cap and on to a fixed deal since the energy crisis.
Jonathan Brearley, CEO of Ofgem, says: “We know that no price rise is ever welcome, and that the cost of energy remains a huge challenge for many households.
“But our reliance on international gas markets leads to volatile wholesale prices, and continues to drive up bills, which is why it’s more important than ever that we’re driving forward investment in a cleaner, homegrown system.
“Energy debts that began during the energy crisis have reached record levels and without intervention will continue to grow. This puts families under huge stress and increases costs for all customers. We’re developing plans that could give households with unmanageable debt the clean slate they need to move forward.
“We welcome the government’s support for these plans, and their plans to expand the Warm Home Discount, which will also offer financial help to nearly three million more households that need it most.
“If anyone is worried about paying their bills, I would urge them to reach out to their supplier to make sure they’re getting all the help they can. Where possible, switching or fixing tariffs now could also help to bring costs down and provide certainty over coming payments.”
From 1 April, Britain’s standing charges will reduce for most households, but some regional variation remains. As a result, some households will see a small increase in standing charges of up to £20 per year for a typical dual fuel consumer. This is due to changes in network costs – the price paid to transport energy around the country and power Britain’s homes.
Ofgem is also today welcoming the government’s support of its plans to tackle the growing impacts of rising debt in the energy system and create lasting change in the way debt is managed and customers in debt are supported.
The plans could see a Debt Relief Scheme established, which suppliers would use to either write off debt that is so significant it will never be paid back or help pay off debt by ‘debt matching’ customer payments.
The Debt Relief Scheme would form part of a wider package of measures, supported by the Government’s proposed expansion of the WHD, which aims to reduce debt to levels seen before the energy crisis reducing costs to all consumers by £25-30 per year*.
The regulator has also set out ambitions to improve the standard of service from suppliers when supporting customers that are struggling to pay their bills. The proposals would make it easier for consumers to get help from charities and debt support agencies and ensure a consistent approach is taken across the board, to help to limit the risk of unsustainable levels of debt building up in the future once again.
The plans have also received backing from a number of stakeholders, who recognise how important the scheme could be for helping those in severe payment difficulty to get back on track, while also encouraging more onto repayment plans, driving down debt costs for all.
The regulator continues to encourage customers to look for the best deal to help keep their household bills down and to consider switching to a new supplier or fixing to a tariff with their existing supplier. There are a number of fixed, Direct Debit tariffs tracking below the April price cap level, with savings of around £50 available compared to the upcoming price cap level.
Backbench Labour MP Richard Burgon said: The so-called energy regulator Ofgem says energy bills from April will rise by 6.4%. The Government must step in and impose a real price cap and tax energy profits more to provide extra help to people.
“And to end this rip off, we must bring energy back into public ownership.”
Local Scottish Green MSP Lorna Slater is calling on Edinburgh to bid to be one of the first councils to sign up for the expansion of free school meals for thousands more S1 – S3 pupils.
The Scottish Greens have recently secured money for the expansion of free school meals to thousands of S1-S3 pupils who receive the Scottish Child Payment (SCP), starting with eight council areas in August 2025.
This builds on the ongoing rollout to P6 and P7 pupils who receive SCP and the previous extension to all P4 and P5 pupils, both of which were secured by Green MSPs during past rounds of budget negotiations.
Edinburgh currently has a child poverty rate of 20.4% and around 4,500 of S1-S3 pupils who receive the Scottish Child Payment, a support payment for families on low incomes.
By signing up to be one of the first councils to receive more free meals for pupils, thousands of local children and families will benefit.
Eight councils will be chosen for the initial rollout and the Scottish Greens will be pushing the Scottish Government to extend the project to all 32 council areas as soon as possible.
Lorna Slater the Scottish Greens MSP for Lothian said: “Children can’t learn if they’re hungry. Problems like classroom hunger simply should not exist in a country as wealthy as Scotland.
“As a result of this work by Green MSPs, thousands more pupils in S1-S3 will now get a free school meal. I hope Edinburgh will volunteer to be one of the first areas to provide these lunches.
“The Scottish Greens have always championed free school meals. This high school expansion builds on the work we’ve already done to provide more meals in primary schools.
“No pupils should have to learn on an empty stomach simply because they cannot afford a school lunch. Each and every child in Scotland should have what they need to do well at school, including a free and healthy lunch.”
We are constantly expanding the items we give in our Crisis Packs. Extras like reusable water bottles are an essential part of the kit a young person is expected to have when attending school. Many schools are now no longer able to offer disposable cups for students in need of a drink.
Could you purchase a water bottle for us? We would love to be able to keep adding these to each Crisis Pack requested. One Mum recently reported that her son was drinking water for the very first time because he was so delighted with his special water bottle.
There are a few ways you can help:
Buy a water bottle via our shopping partner Give Today. There are also smaller items that can be purchased. We will ensure every donation gets to a young person in need. Anything purchased will be sent directly to us. https://givetoday.co.uk/edinburghschooluniformbank/
Donate funds and we will purchase water bottles and other items needed for our packs. Every contribution, no matter the size, is appreciated. Donate here: https://edinburghuniform.org/donate/
Reminder that this year we will be serving three community lunches a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 to 2pm, as well as our monthly ‘Pitch to Plate’ multicultural meals with Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society – SABS.
All meals are served out of our new Hibernian Community Hub in the Famous Five Stand at Easter Road Stadium, and have vegetarian and takeaway options.
Please share this news with anyone you think needs to know.
Aldi stores in Edinburgh and the Lothians donated 14,639 meals to those in need over the recent festive period.
The UK’s fourth largest supermarket teamed up with local good causes across the UK to donate a range of fresh and chilled foods from its stores after closing early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Research from Neighbourly, the community giving platform that works with Aldi, found that 78% of the good causes it supports were more concerned about meeting demand this Christmas, compared to the same time last year.
Additionally, 51% felt they would not be able to respond to every request for help due to capacity and funding.
The supermarket has also donated £25,000 to Neighbourly’s GoGive Christmas campaign to further support local charities across UK and Ireland.
Aldi has worked with Neighbourly since 2019 and provides surplus food from all of its UK stores to hundreds of charities across the country throughout the year.
Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “This Christmas we were proud to support so many incredible charities across the UK who provide essential support to those in need.
“The services provided by food banks are more important than ever over the festive period and we’re committed to ensuring those that rely on them have access to a wide range of high-quality foods.”
Steve Butterworth, CEO at Neighbourly, added: “We’re so grateful to have had Aldi’s support for another year.
“Christmas is one of the busiest periods for our charities and the donations from Aldi mean we can help even more people across the country who need that bit of extra support over the festive period.”
Shoppers can donate food to local charities, food banks and community groups via the community donation points in Aldi stores nationwide.
Aldi also works with Company Shop Group, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products, to redistribute surplus food from its Regional Distribution Centres. This year, it provided more than 2,000 free Christmas lunches to Company Shop’s award-winning social enterprise, Community Shop.
We need your help!
2025 MEAL CHANGES