Advice for Families

Advice for Families

CHAI supports families in the community by offering advice and information on welfare rights, housing and debt to parents of children in Early Years Centres and Edinburgh Schools across the city. Health Visitors in North-West and South-East Edinburgh can also refer families to us.

Advice In Schools

Our Advice In Schools Project offers advice to families with school age children at 16 schools across Edinburgh. The service offers support around:

- Income maximisation
- Benefit applications and representation
- Dealing with debts
- Housing problems
- Support to access employability agencies in Edinburgh

We are still developing this exciting new service and are currently giving advice in the following schools:

- Canal View Primary School
- Castlebrae Community High School
- Castleview Primary School
- Clovenstone Primary School
- Craigintinny Primary School
- Craigour Park Primary School
- Gracemount Primary School
- Leith Academy
- Leith Primary School
- Niddrie Mill Primary School
- Sighthill Primary School
- Wester Hailes High School

To access this service, please contact your child’s school directly, call 0131 442 2100 or email chai@chaedinburgh.org.uk.

Our Maximise! Project

Maximise! is our award-winning family advice and support service, which we deliver in partnership with Children 1st.

The service provides advice, employability and family support to families struggling on a low income or facing difficulties. Currently, this service is offered to families whose children attend Early Years Centres in: Craigmillar, Granton, Greendykes, Fort, Moffat, Calderglen, Hailesland, Gilmerton, Sighthill and Stenhouse.

Support and assistance is offered with the following:

- Income maximisation and benefits advice
- Dealing with debts
- Housing problems
- Family wellbeing support
- Employability advice and support

Maximise! also works in partnership with Home Energy Scotland which means we can easily refer families who are experiencing difficulties with energy bills or those needing help with any energy-related queries.

To enquire about these services, please email maximise@children1st.org.uk or call us on 0131 446 2300 or 0131 442 2100.