Winter 2025 Edition Winter 2025 Edition
Publication Date: September 2025
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.
Cost of Living Support
Cost of Living Support Portal
The Scottish Government has launched an online portal to support everyone in Scotland through the cost of living crisis.
Explore the portal here: https://costofliving.campaign.g ov.scot/
Cost of Living Support Portal
North Ayrshire Council also have an online portal with information, support and advice to help with the cost of living crisis.
Visit the website here: https://www.northayrshire.gov.uk/cost-of-living/
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
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
and Community Banking
Community Banking
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
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/
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
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.
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.
T: 01294 588123
W: www.ayrshirechildrensservices.org
Support For Carers
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 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
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
Garnock Valley Community Book Irvine Community Book Kilwinning Community Book
Coast Community Book Three Towns Community Book
Telephone
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
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
T: 0141 8892121
W: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ scotland/housing North Ayrshire Council are able to offer information, advice and support to council tenants and private tenants in North Ayrshire.
To find out more please visit: https://www.northayrshire.gov.uk/housing
Crisis Support
Crisis Support
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 grantCrisis Grants and Community Care Grants. Visit: www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/benefits These grants do not need to be paid back.
01292 267675 (out of
freephone 0800 328 7758)
Domestic Violence Helpline
0808 2000 247
Drink Aware
020 7766 9900
Useful Contacts
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
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
