INFORM North Ayrshire

Winter 2025 Edition Winter 2025 Edition

Your FREE guide to support services and activities in North Ayrshire Publication Date: September 2025

Welcome Welcome to the Winter issue of INFORM North Ayrshire.

We'd like to thank everyone who has read and shared previous editions with their networks, colleagues and clients - we’re always glad to hear that people are finding this directory a useful resource!

If your organisation or community group is currently running a long-term service and/or activity that is not already listed, please email us with a poster/flyer giving all the necessary details and we will include it in future updates of this guide.

27 Vernon Street Saltcoats North Ayrshire KA21 5HE T: 01294 443044 E: info@tact.scot W: www.tact.scot

Cost of Living Support

Cost of Living Support Portal

Cost of Living Support Portal

The Scottish Government has launched an online portal to support everyone in Scotland through the cost of living crisis.

North Ayrshire Council also have an online portal with information, support and advice to help with the cost of living crisis.

Explore the portal here:

Visit the website here:

https://costofliving.campaign.g ov.scot/

https://www.northayrshire.gov.uk/cost-of-living/

Advice Services - Benefits, Debt and Community Banking Debt and poverty drain hope from people's lives.

CAP believe everyone should experience equal dignity, freedom and opportunity.

We can help you make the right choices with your finances including practical budgeting and dealing with debt.

No matter how large or small your problem is, we can help. Our free, expert debt help will support you all the way to becoming debt free.

T: 0800 3280006 (calls are free from mobiles and landlines) E: info@capuk.org W: www.capuk.org

Free money help and advice.

Having difficulty with debt?

We can help.

Our specialist team helps people in North Ayrshire deal with their debt problems.

No matter how big or small your debt problem is, we can recommend practical solutions to suit your situation.

If you need to talk to someone about a debt matter which is affecting your life, call our number or speak to an advisor over web chat.

T: 030 0002 0002 E: enquiries@chap.org.uk W: www.chap.org.uk/money-advice

Advice Services - Benefits, Debt and Community Banking

Advice Services - Benefits, Debt and Community Banking

Advice Services - Benefits, Debt and Community Banking

Advice Services - Benefits, Debt and Community Banking

Advice Services - Benefits, Debt and Community Banking Welfare Advice for Council Tenants The Welfare Reform Advice Team directly delivers welfare rights and a debt advice service to Council tenants across North Ayrshire, with the aim of improving the income and living standards of individual tenants and communities as a whole.

Our service offers free, confidential and impartial advice and assistance on a range of matters including: ► Welfare Benefits ► Assistance with Universal Credit claims ► Rent Arrears ► Housing options advice to assist with on-going housing needs ► Housing Benefit and Council Tax advice ► Personal budgeting advice ► Employability support Support Our support workers conduct pro-active visits to tenants identified as being affected by changes to benefits under Welfare Reform, including: ► Under Occupation charge ► Benefit Cap ► Introduction of Universal Credit ► The transfer of DLA to PIP Contact the Welfare Reform Advice Team Email: welfarereformteam@north-ayrshire.gov.uk Telephone: 0300 999 4606

Advice Services - Benefits, Debt and Community Banking

Energy & Heating

Home Energy Scotland You could get around £5,000 of energy saving home improvements funded by the Scottish Government - including new heating and insulation.

Most eligible households get around £5,000 of support through the Warmer Homes Scotland programme to help them save on their heating bills.

For more information and advice please visit: https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/

How to save money on your energy bills If you're struggling to pay your energy bills, help is available. www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Energy & Heating

GET HELP AND SUPPORT WITH YOUR ENERGY BILLS

If you have meter problems, then Citrus Energy can help with the resetting of pre-payment meters and with any queries relating to how your pre-payment meter works.

Lemon Aid from Citrus Energy can even help you apply for services you may be entitled to such as white goods schemes, discounts on your energy bills, benefits and many other services. So if you are a resident in Ayrshire and want to get the best from your energy supply then call us today on 07973 847 981

To find out more about support available from North Ayrshire Council please visit: www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/cost-of-living

Energy & Heating

For safety information and energy advice on how to keep your home warm this winter, please read the leaflet: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/media/2384040/sfrs-keepwarm-and-well-this-winter-a5-booklet-v10-digital.pdf

Families & Children

Children 1st works to keep children safe, loved and well and together with their families.

Children do well when their families do well, so we work with children and families in their homes, local communities and across Scotland. We offer practical, emotional and financial support to prevent and protect children and their families from harm and to support them to recover from trauma and abuse.

If your family are feeling stressed or anxious Children 1st Parentline can help.

Call Parentline for free on: 08000 282233 or browse our website for advice and support: www.children1st.org.uk/help-for-families/parentline-scotland/

Ayrshire Children's Services ACS support children aged 3 -18yrs who have additional support needs.

Support For Carers

Our support workers will support you and your child to choose activities that they would like to attend and pick new ones to try such as: sports, arts, music, cooking and many more.

We offer specialist information, support advocacy, advice, peer support and respite activities for carers. If you are an unpaid or family carer of almost any age you can access support from our Carer Centre in Irvine.

T: 01294 588123 W: www.ayrshirechildrensservices.org

T: 01294 311333 W: www.unity-enterprise.com

Families & Children

Food & Essentials

Helping Local People in Crisis We provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in crisis. We are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. Everyone who visits a foodbank for emergency food needs to have a valid foodbank voucher in order to access the service.

In order to provide the most appropriate help for the circumstances of your situation we work with local agencies. If they feel you are struggling to put food on the table, they will issue you with a foodbank voucher. The local agency can also provide long term support if needed to help address some of the issues behind the reasons for your crisis.

Our foodbank works with a number of different agencies, such as Citizens Advice, children’s centres and health visitors. To find out more about the agencies that hold our vouchers and how you can get help, please contact us.

T: 01294 601312 E: info@northayrshire.foodbank.org.uk W: www.northayrshire.foodbank.org.uk Once you have received a voucher, you can exchange this for three days of emergency food at your nearest foodbank centre.

Food & Essentials Emergency Foodbank Centre Locations

Food & Essentials Emergency Foodbank Centre Locations (contd.)

Food & Essentials

Community Food Larders, Pantries & Shops A Community Larder or Community Pantry scheme provides food for its members, with people picking items themselves in a shop-like environment.

It is a great way to access nutritious food at a low cost.

Members need to register for a small fee. They will then pay around £4.00 each time they use the larder or pantry and for that payment they will be able to choose approximately £15 worth of food.

Community larders, pantries and shops are accessible to anyone living within the local area - you do not need to be in receipt of any state benefits to become a member.

Food & Essentials

Food & Essentials

Food & Essentials

Food & Essentials

Food & Essentials

Food & Essentials

Café Solace is a series of Community Cafés in Irvine and the Garnock Valley, delivered by people in recovery and those who support recovery from addiction, by volunteering and giving back to the local community.

With affordable, nutritious food and access to information, the goal of Café Solace is to help volunteers reduce feelings of isolation in a warm, safe and supportive space. Here, they can gain valuable skills through learning and training while experiencing the far-reaching benefits of advocating community empowerment.

Café Solace Irvine Open on Tuesdays at Fullarton Connexions from 5pm-7pm £2.50 for a 3 course meal, £1 for single course and the team run a pay it forward scheme for anyone in need who can discreetly obtain a voucher covering the cost of a meal.

Café Solace Kilbirnie Open on Fridays at Bridgend Community Centre from 5pm-7pm £2.50 for 3 courses and kids under 12 eat free with an accompanying adult.

Health & Wellbeing

Health & Wellbeing

Health & Wellbeing

Local Community Books Our community books are short resources that include numbers you can call if you’re in crisis or need support in your locality.

Clicking on the links below will open each book in PDF format.

Arran Community Book

Kilwinning Community Book

Garnock Valley Community Book

North Coast Community Book

Irvine Community Book

Three Towns Community Book

www.northayrshire.community/communitysupport/

KA Leisure have a range of programmes to support your health and wellbeing.

You can find out more at:

Exercise Referral – KA Leisure

Befriending Support Arran Listening Ear Telephone support service. T: 01770 6495050

Beith Community Trust - Lend an Ear

Telephone befriending service. T: 01505 595063 E: help@beithtrust.org

CLASPS

Telephone befriending and digital support for older people in North Ayrshire T: 01294 480938 E: jimmy@clasps.org.uk

Health & Wellbeing

Ayrshire Cancer Support provide a range of emotional support and practical help for people affected by cancer in Ayrshire.

All services are free to access and include: • Hospital transport service • Counselling • Complementary therapies • Support groups and workshops • Cancer Nurse appointments • Drop-in Centre • Specialist Children and Young People Service • Specialist Cancer Information To find out more contact:

T: 01563 538008 E: admin@ayrshirecs.org W: www.ayrshirecs.org

Health & Wellbeing

Health & Wellbeing

Health & Wellbeing

Health & Wellbeing

Health & Wellbeing

Please visit: www.chss.org.uk

Housing & Accommodation

Got a housing problem?

We can help you keep your home or find one.

Our advisors offer free, confidential support to people in North Ayrshire struggling with a housing issue or homelessness. Whether you find yourself threatened with eviction because you can’t cope with your mortgage payments, or you want advice handling problems with your landlord to avoid losing your home, you can talk to our specialist team.

T: 030 00020002 E: enquiries@chap.org.uk W: www.chap.org.uk/housing-advice

We offer free help and advice on a range of housing matters such as: • problems with your landlord • help to avoid losing your home • mortgage problems • renting, buying or selling a house

North Ayrshire Council are able to offer information, advice and support to council tenants and private tenants in North Ayrshire.

T: 0141 8892121 W: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ scotland/housing

https://www.northayrshire.gov.uk/housing

To find out more please visit:

Crisis Support

Crisis Support

You are not alone.

Our service provides both emotional and practical support to women and children affected by domestic abuse.

When you contact us, our support workers will listen to you, help you think about your options, and if necessary, arrange somewhere safe for you to stay.

All information you wish to share with us is confidential unless we have any concerns about safety and risk.

17 Vernon St, Saltcoats, North Ayrshire KA21 5HE

www.nawomensaid.com

Scottish Welfare Fund

This discretionary scheme provides 2 types of grant Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants.

Visit: www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/benefits These grants do not need to be paid back.

Useful Contacts Addiction Helper 0800 014 8024 Alcohol Focus Scotland 0141 572 6700 Alcoholics Anonymous 0800 9177 650 AMINA (The Muslim Women's Resource Centre) 0808 801 0301 ASSIST 0141 276 7710 Anxiety UK 03444 775 774 Age Scotland Helpline Freephone 0800 12 44 222 Alzheimer Scotland 24 Hour Helpline Freephone 0808 808 3000 Beat Eating Disorders 0808 801 0432 Breathing Space Freephone 0800 83 85 87 CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) 0800 58 58 58 CASS Self Injury Helpline 0808 800 8088 Crisis Textline (24/7 support for people in crisis) Text 85258 CHAP 030 0002 0002 Christian Against Poverty 0800 328 0006 Citizen Advice 0800 144 8848 OR 0141 889 2121 Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Freephone 0808 801 0899 Childline Freephone 0800 11 11 (24 hours) Child Protection 01292 267675 (out of hours, freephone 0800 328 7758) Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247 Drink Aware 020 7766 9900 Dental Helpline 01292 616990 (Mon-Fri 8am6pm) NHS 24 on freephone 111 (out of hours) Disability Information Scotland 0300 323 9961 Emergency Social Work Service 0300 343 1505 Ethnic Minorities Law Centre 0141 204 2888 Family Support Directory email at parentclub@gov.scot FRANK 0300 123 6600

Gamblers Anonymous 0370 050 8881 GeMap 0141 773 5850 Glasgow Women's Aid 0141 553 2022 Hourglass 0808 808 8141 Home Fire Safety Visit Freephone 0800 0731 999 Homeless Services 0300 123 0900 (out of hours, freephone 0808 100 3151) Home Energy Scotland 0808 808 2282 Includem East 0808 800 0409 West 0808 800 0408 Know the Score 0800 587 5879 LGBT Helpline Scotland 0800 464 7000 LGBT Youth Scotland 0141 552 7425 Lemon Aid 0800 221 8089 Money Matters 01294 310 456 Macular Society 0300 30 30 111 Mind (mental health) 0300 123 3393 or text SHOUT 85258 Muslim Community Helpline 0208 904 8193 or 0208 908 6715 Muslim Youth Helpline 0808 808 2008 NACOA (National Association for Children of Alcoholics) 0800 358 3456 North Ayrshire Carers Gateway 01294 311 333 North Ayrshire Foodbank 01294 601312 North Ayrshire Women's Aid 01294 602424 (or freephone 0800 0271234 - 24hrs) Narcotics Anonymous 0300 999 1212 National Breastfeeding Helpline 0300 100 0212 National Debtline 0808 808 4000 NHS 24 Helpline 111 No Panic 0300 772 9844 NSPCC 0808 800 5000 18 or under 0800 1111 OCD Action 0300 636 5478

Useful Contacts Parentline Scotland 08000 282233 Positive Action In Housing 0141 353 2220 Premier Lifeline 0300 111 0101 Police Scotland Freephone 101 (nonemergency), freephone 999 (emergency) FX Cut Helpline Freephone 105 (24 hours) Respect 0808 8010 327 Respect Me 0344 800 8600 Rethink Asian Mental Health Helpline 0808 801 0525 RNIB 0303 123 9999 RNID 0808 808 0123 Rough Sleepers 0800 027 7466 Rape Crisis Scotland Freephone 08088 01 03 02 Samaritans Scotland 116123 SANE Mental Health 0300 304 7000 or 07984 967 708 Scottish Welfare Fund 0300 123 0900 Scottish Water Freephone 0800 0778 778

Silverline Freephone 0800 4 70 80 90 Smell Gas? National Gas Helpline 0800 111 999 (24 hours) SSPCA Animal Helpline 03000 999 999 Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs 08080 10 10 11 Social Work 01294 310 300 OR 0800 328 7758 Scottish National Debtline 0808 808 4000 Scottish Refugee Council 0808 196 7274 Scottish Women's Rights Centre 08088 010 789 Self Injury Support 0117 8927 9600

Shelter Scotland 0808 800 4444 Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide 0300 111 5065 The Mix (essential support for under 25s) 020 7009 2500 The Well Cultural Resource Centre 0141 424 4523 Turning Point (PEAR Service) 01294 447 407 Victim Support Scotland Freephone 0800 160 1985 Young Minds for Parents 0808 802 5544

North Ayrshire Community Directory Click here : https://northayrshire.community/services/

IMPORTANT NOTICE Although we try our best to keep this Information in this directory as accurate as possible, there may be some services that no longer operate . We recommend that you always contact them directly before visiting. If you are reading this as a printed version please be aware that the Information may be out of date.

The latest version can always be found here : https://issuu.com/tact-na/docs/inform_north_ayrshire If your organisation would like to be added or removed please e-mail : Info@tact.scot