Festive Support for Students

If you are eligible, do consider joining the priority services register as it gives a range of benefits such as priority status during a power cut. For more information and how to register, Ofgem have an article to help.

If you live in Scotland and experience a loss of gas, electricity or water, the Scottish Government have a webpage with advice and the correct numbers to contact.

If you live near our London campus some of the contact information is different. Go Compare have a helpful article explaining what to do in a gas or electricity emergency. If you have an issue with your water supply, Thames Water has an emergency web page.

For advice on other cold weather safety, the Scottish Government has a helpful webpage that has useful information no matter where you live.

If you live near our London campus, remember, if the temperature is forecast at or below 0 degrees for 7 consecutive days, you should receive additional funds if you are claiming an eligible benefit. This is the Cold Weather Payment and is paid automatically for you. Scotland has a different scheme and it is not contingent on the forecast.

Should you find yourself without somewhere to stay over the holiday period, seek advice immediately from Shelter Scotland or Shelter England, depending on where you live. The main support for a housing crisis is your local council and you can find information on how to contact the correct team on the above Shelter links.

You may find yourself in need of funds due to a housing emergency. In Scotland you can apply via the local council for the Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grant. If you live in England, as well as the council, there may be charities who can help. Shelter England have a page specifically on these types of grants.

As colder weather sets in and everyone is more cautious about heating their homes, local councils and community organisations have reacted by collating information about local hubs. These are spaces where you can perhaps take part in an activity or have a hot drink and a chat. These are welcoming, inclusive places where you can meet others from your community. Below is a list of weblinks to help you find your nearest hub:

Renfrewshire – Winter Connections

Renfrewshire – RAMH Events

Lanarkshire – South Lanarkshire Council Warm Welcome

Lanarkshire – North Lanarkshire Council Community Drop Ins

Glasgow – Glasgow Life have opened many of their spaces try searching near you

Glasgow - Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector has a Festive Directory you can check for information

Dumfries & Galloway - DGLocator Find a service in Dumfries and Galloway (Type “Warm Space” into the search)

London - Help with staying warm (towerhamlets.gov.uk)

London – An overview of warm spaces across the city is available from the Londonist.

Local Facebook pages, community notice boards, local hubs such as libraries or community halls may also have something on or have details of events/spaces.

More general information is available from the Salvation Army, Warm Welcome and Warm Spaces websites. You can search using mapping tools to find a space near you. Don’t be nervous about visiting a new place, it is all about community and getting to know those around you.

If you find yourself in need of emergency food over the holiday period look at the following websites for signposting. You may find some closures but for the most part these organisations will be open at least a few days during the festive period.

Trussel Trust – search by postcode and contact the one closest to you, they also have a link to some helplines.

Dumfries and Galloway – Foodbank Directory, some of these listed may also have hot food provision.

Tower Hamlets – Help with Food webpages has a list of both foodbanks and other types of food provision such as community fridges.

The Womens Environmental Network (WEN) also have a guide to food provision in Tower Hamlets which covers both foodbanks and warm meal provision.

Should you reside in a different area of London, check out the Londonist who have a comprehensive guide across the city.

Through your local foodbank or community space you may also find that there are places serving meals or food more generally. This may range from tea and coffee to a full meal provision service. Some of the links above will help you locate these places (use both our food and warm spaces sections). We have contacted a wide range of partners to try and find some of this information for you. Below is a list of relevant places.

Dumfries and Galloway – search “food” in the locator website.

Tower Hamlets –

Methodist Church Tower Hamlets, 1 Merchant Street, London E3 4LY. Food Cycle runs a takeaway meal service every Friday 7-8pm.

Neighbours in Poplar, St Matthias Community Centre, 113 Poplar High St, Poplar, E14 0AE delivers hot meals to residents.

St John on Bethnal Green, 200 Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA ‘Tuesday Night Bites’ hot meal provided every Tuesday 6-7pm.

Whitechapel Mission, 212 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1BJ - serves breakfast Monday-Sunday 6-11am.

Women’s Inclusive Team, Mayfield House, 202 Cambridge Heath Road, London, E2 9LJ. Hot meal Monday to Friday. All meals are Halal. All new members should fill in an eligibility form if possible. ContactShakila Ali Shakilaa@wit.org.uk 07458 307355

South Lanarkshire -

Hamilton Churches Drop In Centre - 14 Beckford Street, Hamilton (3) Hamilton Churches Drop In Centre | Hamilton | Facebook

01698 891544 Provide a takeaway service every evening

Please also try the Warm Spaces, Salvation Army and Warm Welcome pages above as well as the South Lanarkshire Council Warm Welcome.

Joining local Facebook community groups, following your local food bank on Twitter/Instagram and looking at community notice boards are all really good ways to find this type of information as it becomes available.

As it is such a localised service, many groups and spaces will not update their pages until the very last as they may still be finalising volunteers etc. So, if you can’t see something straight away do keep an eye for updates.

You can also try the ALISS General Services Directory, using your postcode and inputting food into the search criteria.

North Lanarkshire – Much like South Lanarkshire, do check the North Lanarkshire Council Commuinty Drop Ins pages. The more general pages of the Warm Spaces, Salvation Army and Warm Welcome. As well as any local Facebook pages, notice boards or social media of your local food bank (information available via the Trussell Trust link in the relevant section). Some organisations may only update their provision at the last minute so do keep your eye on these localised information hubs to find out what is available near you.

Another general source of information is the ALISS directory of services, simply input your postcode and a key word such as food to find out local listed services.

Glasgow -

Soup Kitchen - Glasgow (emmaus.org.uk)

Cadogan St Kitchen - Thursdays

Urban Roots Food Map - Free hot meals in Glasgow South

Homeless Project Scotland – Homeless Charity - Run a kitchen 3 times per week under the Hielanman’s Umbrella

Social Suppers Sit In | ALISS

The Wayside Club Centre - Home

Warm Welcome | information page (ibroxparishchurch.co.uk)

GCVS Festive Directory also lists Warm Food.

Renfrewshire – Engage Renfrewshire has a resource page with information on a wide range of support based in and around Renfrewshire. This is where you will find their festive information as well as more general support.

Do also keep an eye on the Winter Connections pages as these have lots of information and venues being added on a very regular basis.

Joining local Facebook groups, following organisations such as Renfrewshire Food Bank or local charities and community groups on Facebook/Twitter and Instagram are also helpful ways to find out about this information.