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The front page of the directory, text in Green a white background, with the stiched Forwad Mid Logo. Midlothian Directory for Disabled People and People with long-term Conditions 2025.
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Midlothian’s nine fully accessible libraries that are strategically placed, therefore, a library is never far away. Midlothian’s Mobile Library brings library services out into our communities. Completely free Membership gives those joining access to the full range of library services, which include:
A comprehensive collection of fiction and non-fiction books. If the book you want isn’t on the shelf at your local branch, free requests mean you can request it from anywhere in Midlothian. We maintain a comprehensive range of books in large print and on audio CDs.
Music CDs and DVDs to keep you entertained, amused, or help you learn.
Membership allows unlimited access to an extensive range of electronic resources. These include e-books and e-audio titles, online comics, and a range of online newspapers and magazines. You can download these from home using your membership card – and as there are no overdue fines for online material, they are collected automatically at the end of a loan.
A broad range of free workshops, activities and events take place every week, from talks given by authors to knitting groups and storytelling sessions amongst much more. Telephone your local library or check Facebook page www.facebook.com/MidlothianLibraries to discover upcoming events.
Midlothian Travel information is obtainable at every library, including bus timetables, bus pass card application forms, and blue badge application forms. Libraries can process bus pass applications for the over 60s and disabled people, if you have lost your card you can report it at your library. At Newbattle Library Blue Badge, forms can be handed in and payment made.
Free use of computers and access to the internet in all branches, including free WiFi for your own device.
Hearing Aid battery collection points in all libraries. Hearing Aid Maintenance Clinic at Dalkeith Library, first Wednesday of every month, 10:30 hrs -11:30 hrs
Information about the local area, including local groups and services.
If you can’t leave your house and visit the library because you have mobility problems the library can make arrangements to get books to you via our book delivery. For more information Email : Library.HQ@midlothian.gov.uk or : 0799 0136 894 to find out how to access the Home Delivery Service.
The redesign of library services in Midlothian will see the relocation of two of Midlothian’s libraries :
1) Dalkeith Library and arts centre will relocate from White Hart Street to Midlothian House, Buccleuch Street during the first phase of the regeneration of Dalkeith Town Centre,
2) Gorebridge Library is suffering from water ingress, It has been decided that Library will relocate and be incorperated into the Gorebrdige leisure centre behind the The Beacon.
* Denotes no toilet facilities are located within these Libraries
Our service provides welfare rights benefit advice through advocacy, oral representation at social security appeals and general income maximisation for residents in Midlothian. It provides internal departments across the Council access to advice advocacy and a referral system to ensure key client groups resident in Midlothian have access to welfare benefit advice.
We can offer advice about how to appeal DWP benefit decisions and can provide oral representation at benefit appeals. We offer an income maximisation service for people receiving a Health and social care service and for older people who have reached their retirement age. Within the team there is a specialist Macmillan Welfare Rights Officer for people diagnosed with cancer their families and carers.
The aim of the service is to reduce poverty and social exclusion in Midlothian,
To work in partnership with Midlothian Financial Inclusion Network. (MFIN) This network helps to promote increased access to accurate advice services and target help to vulnerable groups. The network through its partnership working has been instrumental in securing external funding from the Big Lottery, Scottish Government and other funders to mitigate against the affects of Welfare Reform.
Welfare Rights Team
Education Communities and Economy
Midlothian Council
Fairfield House
8 Lothian Road
Dalkeith
EH22 3ZH
: 0131 270 8922
Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly - or twice a month for some people in Scotland.
You may be able to get Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or need help with your living costs. You could be:
out of work
working (including self-employed or part time)
unable to work, for example because of a health condition
To claim you must:
live in the UK
be aged 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
be under State Pension age
have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments
If you live with a partner, then you will both need to claim for Universal Credit. You must make a joint claim for your household, even if your partner is not eligible. How much you can get will depend on your partner’s income and savings, as well as your own.
Universal Credit payment is made up of a standard allowance and any extra amounts that apply to you, for example if you:
have children
have a disability or health condition which prevents you from working
are a carer for a disabled person
need help paying your rent
If you’re employed, how much Universal Credit you get will depend on your earnings. Your Universal Credit payment will reduce gradually as you earn more - for every £1 you earn your payment reduces by 55p. However you may also be eligible for the Work Allowance (also known as the Earnings Disregard) which means that the first part of any wages are not taken into account. There’s no limit to how many hours you can work.
You can apply for Universal Credit online at Universal Credit:
You need to create an account. You use it to make a claim. You must complete your claim within 28 days of creating your account or you will have to start again.
If you live with your partner, you will both need to create accounts. You’ll link them together when you claim. You cannot claim by yourself.
If you cannot claim online, you can claim by phone through the Universal Credit helpline.
Phone: : 0800 328 5644
Welsh language: : 0800 328 1744
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 328 5644
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - DWP prefer Starleaf find information at : www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZJc6OKmAUA
Textphone: : 0800 328 1344
Monday to Friday, 08:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Contribution based ESAEmployment and Support Allowance is an allowance for people claiming benefit on the grounds of incapacity and is payable if you have paid or been credited with enough class 1 or class 2 National Insurance contributions in the relevant tax year. ESAEmployment and Support Allowance does not include money for children or qualifying young persons. You would have to claim Universal Credit.
A claim to ESAEmployment and Support Allowance will involve a Work Capability Assessment. There can be 2 parts to this assessment. Initially, you will complete and return form ESA50. This form asks for details of medical professional support you have, medications you are prescribed and how your health affects you on a daily basis. This may be followed by a face to face medical assessment. If you don’t fill in and return the form or take part in the medical assessment, your benefit could be stopped. Everyone must go through the Work Capability Assessment although not everyone will be medically examined.
The Work Capability Assessment will determine whether you have Limited Capability for Work and determine whether you should be placed in the Work Related Activity Group or the Support Group. If placed in the Work Related Activity Group you will be required to take part in work focussed interviews and undertake Work Related Activity. This interview will initially take place in your local jobcentre and will involve a discussion on ways to return to work. This could include volunteering, Permitted Work, C.V. Preparation and Interview Techniques, information on local support or a referral to the Work Programme. If placed in the Support Group you are not required to take part in interviews or undertake Work Related Activity. However, you can voluntarily access support to return to work.
ESAEmployment and Support Allowance is paid at an assessment rate for the first 13 weeks or until after the initial Work Capability Assessment. You will then be moved on to the Main Phase and an additional component may be paid. People who receive the Support Component are not required to have Work-focussed Interviews or undertake Work Related Activity but can volunteer. Special rules apply to terminally ill people (Have a progressive disease and are not expected to live for more than another 6 months.). ESAEmployment and Support Allowance customers will automatically be placed in the Support Group. Terminally ill customers should apply for PIP as soon as possible.
To claim ESA, you can apply online Employment and Support Allowance (ESA):
or you can phone : 0800 055 6688. If you are unable to use the telephone or need additional help to make a claim, contact the Jobcentre to make an appointment. If you have speech or hearing difficulties you can contact us by using textphone : 0800 023 48 88.
ADPAdult Disability Payment has replaced DLA and PIP in Scotland for working age adults. Child Disability Payment is the new payment for under 16 year olds. A claim to Adult Disability Payment should be made before 16th Birthday.)
ADPAdult Disability Payment is a non-means tested and non-taxable cash benefit which people can spend in a way that best suits them. You can get PIP whether you work or not, therefore it can also help people move into and stay in work.
Claims to ADPAdult Disability Payment are started over the phone to gather basic information. You can ask someone to help with the call but you must be present during the call to help answer security questions. A form will then be sent out for more information about how your health condition or disability affects you.
The claim process includes an assessment by a health professional. Most people will have a face to face consultation.
Reviews of an award will be done at appropriate intervals depending on how likely it is for your condition or impairment to change.
There are 2 components to ADPAdult Disability Payment – Daily Living and Mobility needs. Each component can be paid at a standard or enhanced rate.
At April 2025 the weekly rates are:
Standard Rates Living allowance £73.90 Mobility Rate £29.20
Enhanced Rates Living allowance £110.40 Mobility Rate £77.05
Phone number to make a brand-new claim is : 0800 182 2222
If you live in Scotland and already receive DLA or PIP, Social Security Scotland will move you to Adult Disability Payment. It’ll take over your allowance from the DWP when that happens.
Pension Age Disability Payment
Pension Age Disability Payment is replacing Attendance Allowance in Scotland. You do not need to do anything if you already get Attendance Allowance. You cannot get Pension Age Disability Payment and Attendance Allowance at the same time.
You can get Attendance Allowance :
You have reached State Pension age,
You have a physical disability a mental disability, or both,
Your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety,
You have needed that help for at least 6 months (unless you might have 6 months or less to live).
Pension Age Disability Payment has 2 rates. You could get: lower rate of £73.90 a week if you need help or supervision either during the day or night. higher rate of £110.40 a week if you need help or supervision both during the day and night or if you’re terminally ill
ContactSCOTLAND-BSL is a Scottish Government service that connects deaf BSL users throughout Scotland through an online BSL interpreting video relay service (VRS) with all of Scotland’s public authorities and voluntary organisations (Third Sector) and now beyond.
VRS for all – from March 2019 ContactSCOTLAND-BSL now provides VRS For All. This now means that Deaf BSL users can contact any service that relies on telephone contact with their service users or customers. This includes public, third and private sectors within Scotland.
With 1 in 6 of the population being deaf, we provide an easy and flexible way of interacting with deaf BSL users who use and access your services. Deaf people can contact you and of course you can contact deaf people.
ContactSCOTLAND-BSL is Scotland wide/cross-service and brought to you by Sign Language Interactions.
You have to register to use the either of the Apps
The Cinema Exhibitors’ Association Card. This is a national card that can be used to verify that the holder is entitled to one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema. Terms and Condition of use apply.
To apply for the card, you will need to meet one or more of the following criteria:
a) Be in receipt of Personal Independence Payment, or Armed Forces Independence Payment.
b) Be a registered blind person.
The card is valid for 1 year from the date of issue.
Application forms are available from cinemas across the UK supporting this card. Also available on the Internet at : www.ceacard.co.uk/apply and apply online
A processing fee of £6.50 is chargeable per card. This is to be sent along with the completed application
If you have any difficulty, please contact Cinema Exhibitors’ Association at the address below:
The Card Network
Network House
St Ives Way
Sandycroft
CH5 2QS
Email: : info@ceacard.co.uk
01244 526 016
Local Cinemas participating in this scheme are;
Cineworld Edinburgh
Fountain Park,
130/3 Dundee Street,
Edinburgh, EH11 1AF
: 0330 333 4444
: www.cineworld.co.uk
Everyman Cinema
St James Quarter,
Edinburgh, EH1 3AD
Everyman Edinburgh has full step-free access to screens 2 to 5, and to both bottom and top bar. Screen 1 has step-free access to downstairs seating but not the upper tier known as ‘circle’.
01233 555642
: www.everymancinema.com/
Pavilion Cinema
Market Street, Galashiels, TD1 3AF
01896 752767
: pavilioncinema.co.uk/
You cannot book online with the CEA Card as we need to view the card to check it’s authenticity
Making a booking online with a CEA card is different for each cinema’s website, Odeon requires you to register before use, Vue please book on accessibility helpline or in cinema.
A Moblie cinema operated by Regal Mobile Cinema can be found in venues across Midlothian such as National Mining Museum Scotland and The Lasswade Centre.
Disability Information Scotland work with disabled people, their families, friends, carers and people who work in the sector.
Disability Information Scotland Vision
Sharing information, enabling change. Disability Information Scotland enable positive change by sharing information on disability when people need it, in a way they want it.
Mission Statement:
We provide reliable, accurate and accessible information throughout Scotland. We develop creative partnerships with other agencies to ensure information is widely distributed, accessible to all and has a positive impact on the lives of disabled people, their families, friends and carers and the people who work with them. We work with people to find out what information they need and how they would like it provided.
Values
Our values inspire and inform all that we do:
Care about people;
Strive to provide a high quality, tailored, person-centred service;
Take a positive approach in all our work;
Subscribe to the social model of disability;
Are open to, and encourage and support, new and interesting ideas and ways of working;
Believe in the importance of building meaningful relationships with everyone we encounter.
The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) is the UK’s leading source of expert advice and information about all types of daily living equipment for older and disabled people and their families and carers.
DLF’s advice and product information allows individuals and relatives to make informed decisions and relevant lifestyle changes – all of which can help an individual remain independent in their home for longer, and provide the carer with peace of mind.
Whether you’re finding certain tasks a bit more difficult as you get older, you have a disability yourself, or you know someone in this situation, DLF can help.
With a huge range of equipment available, sometimes it can be hard to know where to start.
How do you know what is available?
How do you know what is right for you?
Where do you go to buy equipment?
How do you know if a supplier is reputable?
DLF provides the answers to all these questions. Our comprehensive database, listing over 10,000 daily living aids, allows you to research and compare relevant products and read unbiased information about equipment before contacting suppliers.
In addition to our equipment and supplier information, we have a wide range of fact sheets to help with everything from choosing a mobility scooter to assisting someone with eating. Written by occupational therapists, they identify easier ways of doing tasks, which equipment might help and when to ask for a professional assessment.
For individuals who are aware of their difficulties but are not sure which equipment may help them, try DLF’s online self-help guide, AskSARA. By selecting a topic and answering a few questions a free personalised report is produced, offering tailored advice on ways to help with daily activities, as well as a comprehensive list of products and suppliers to browse through.
For more information visit:
: www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk/ - a free comprehensive database listing over 10,000 daily living aids from 1,000 suppliers
: asksara.dlf.org.uk – a free online self-help guide providing expert advice and information in a free, personalised report
Need further assistance or advice about daily living aids,
Need further assistance or advice about daily living aids,
Disabled Living Foundation,
Unit 1, 34 Chatfield Road,
Wandsworth,
London,
SW11 3SE
Monday to Friday. 09:00 hrs - 17:00 hrs. : 0207 289 6111.
Calls will be charged at local rate. : info@dlf.org.uk
Edinburgh International Festival’s vision is to provide the deepest experience of the highest quality art for the broadest possible audience.
One of the ways we do this is by working to remove the barriers Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people may experience, which we do through:
Providing a 50% concession off full price tickets, with free tickets for an essential companion. No evidence is required.
Offering a selection of audio described, BSL interpreted, captioned and relaxed performances, across our programme of theatre, dance, music and opera.
Producing an Access Guide with detailed venue access information, and accessible performance listings – available in large print, braille or plain text formats.
Our free Access Pass initiative, where members provide information about access once when registering and these are saved to their account, preventing the need to repeatedly outline access requirements. Accessible seating options, such as aisle seats and seats with additional legroom, are held for exclusively Access Pass members.
We all navigate the world in different ways. Euan’s Guide makes it easier for disabled people to find great places to go. We all want to get out there and enjoy life, and having good quality disabled access information reduces unnecessary hassle, inspires confidence and removes fear of the unknown.
: Euansguide.com is the disabled access review site where disabled people, their family, friends and carers can find and share reviews on the accessibility of venues around the UK and beyond. The site is an invaluable tool for everything from planning a day out, to picking a last-minute place for coffee or lunch.
Euan’s Guide believe in making the world more accessible one review at a time. There are now thousands of disabled access reviews and listing on Euan’s Guide. With good accessibility information being so hard to find, one review is often enough to encourage others to visit. Euan’s Guide is opening the door for more people to find new and exciting places to go. Reviews are also sent to venue owners, and this can be a positive and powerful opportunity for education and change.
The charity was founded in 2013 by Euan MacDonald MBE, a powerchair user and his sister Kiki after Euan was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and a lack of disabled access made everyday experiences stressful. By breaking down the barriers of exclusion with the help of other people in the same situation, Euan’s Guide hopes to give everyone the freedom to explore.
Midlothian Council Community Care Service offers assessments to help people with disabilities to be as independent as possible in daily living tasks at home.
The outcome of the assessment may lead to a recommendation for a major adaptation. Assessments for these are normally provided by Community Care Occupational Therapists. The aim is to support people where, without a major adaptation to their property, the person would be unable to continue to live at home safely or independently.
A major adaptation could be:
Replacing the bath with a walk in shower
A stairlift
A ramp for wheelchair access
Fitting lower work surfaces to make the kitchen more manageable
The recommendation for any adaptation relates to the disabled person’s current and long-term needs and links to the anticipated course of their impairment. The needs of the carers will also be considered.
Decisions about whether to support an adaptation will take into account the benefits to the disabled person’s independence and support to carers over the long term.
Sometimes an adaptation to your home is not feasible and the only way to meet your long term needs would be to move to another property. The Occupational Therapist will assist you to explore all your options.
Funding
Funding for major adaptations depends on the ownership of the home. If the disabled person is an owner occupier, or tenant in private rented property, a Home Improvement Grant may be available towards the cost of an adaptation.
If the person lives in council or housing association property the adaptation will normally be funded by the landlord.
The minimum home improvement grant you will get is 80% of the total cost. If you are on certain benefits then a grant could be 100%.
Before an application for a home improvement grant is submitted, an Occupational Therapist from the Community Care Service must be consulted and agree the work, and written documentation obtained identifying the relevant work.
This process is further outlined in the Scheme of Assistance available from Environmental Health and available on the Midlothian Council website. This download has been removed please search : www.midlothian.gov.uk/ for more information
Contact Midlothian Council:
If you would like an appointment to discuss your situation or about a relative or friend, contact us on : 0131 271 3900 during office hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00-5:00 Friday 9:00-3:30 Adults and Community Care (Adult Services)
Fairfield House, 8 Lothian Road, Dalkeith, EH22 3AA : 0131-271-3900 : swccenquiries@midlothian.gov.uk
Housing Options Scotland was established in 1997 to provide a unique public access service to all disabled people throughout Scotland. Housing Options Scotland does not directly provide housing, what Housing Options Scotland does provide is detailed information and advice that will enable you to find the right home for you. Housing Options Scotland’s main aim is to ensure that disabled people have access to suitable housing in the tenure of their choice and recognising that gaining access to owner-occupation remains problematic.
Housing Options Scotland has three main areas of activity. Firstly, we directly assist disabled people by advising them on, and supporting them through, the complex design, financial and legal processes involved in buying or renting a property. Secondly, we provide information, advice and training on housing and disability issues to the public, private and voluntary sectors to improve the service disabled people get. Finally, we raise the awareness of the problems disabled people face in relation to their housing and highlight the solutions and opportunities that exist.
Housing Options Scotland has a dedicated team of volunteers. These volunteers enable Housing Options Scotland as an organisation to learn about the housing problems disabled people face by directly assisting them, and using the knowledge we gain to effect changes in policies and practice.
Inclusion Scotland works to achieve positive changes to policy and practice, so that we disabled people are fully included throughout all Scottish society as equal citizens.
Influencing decision-makers, ensuring that disabled people are involved in developing effective solutions for policy and practice that reflect our expertise by experience and meet our needs and aspirations.
Supporting disabled people to be decision-makers themselves, promoting the equal representation of disabled people as policy-makers and our right to make decisions about our own lives.
Developing capacity, awareness and engagement, of disabled people, disabled people’s organisations, and the organisations and institutions that affect our lives.
If you have a disability make sure you register that disability with your electricity supplier, once on the Priority Service Register and you have a power outage you should call your network operator. Cordless phones will not work as they require power to connect the phone to the land-line. From a mobile phone call your network operator or the emergency number 105.
You can join the SP Energy Network Priority Services Register if:
You are over the age of 60,
Have a special communication need,
Depend on electricity for home or medical care,
Have a child under 5 years of age,
Have chronic illness,
Feel you need a little extra help.
If you register with the Priority Service they will let you know in advance of a planned interruption to your electricity supply and they will keep in touch with regular updates during a power cut and if necessary, can work with external agencies who may be able to assist.
To register for Priority Services Register:
Text PSR to 61999. We will normally contact you within 48 hours.
Everyone in Scotland is represented by eight MSP's: one for their constituency and seven for the larger region in which they live. This allows a choice of MSP for you to contact. Midlothian is also represented by one MP in the UK Government.
The contents of this Directory were correct as of November 2025
Every care has been taken to ensure that the content of this work is accurate at the time of writing. However, no responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any statement in this work can be accepted by the authors
Some contact details change from time to time if you are having difficulty in contacting somewhere please contact Forward Mid : 0131-663-9471 and we will try to find you the new contact details and update our directory. Forward Mid do not accept any responsibility for errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the information.
Alternative copies of this directory may be available on request in large print. The downladable PDF versions can be read aloud with Adobe free : PDF acrobat reader. The individual pages have been checked with the : NVDA screen reader
This online version of the Directory will be updates from time to time, there is a page last updated date at the foot of every page this will indicate when the page you are viewing on this web site was last updated
Many thanks to all the organisation’s for allowing Forward Mid to use their logos
Email Eric.Johnstone@MCA.scot
Midlothian Voluntary Action
4-6 White Hart Street
Dalkeith
Midlothian
EH22 1AE
: 0131-663-9471
Directory Designed by Sheree Muir and Iain Tait : Iain Tait