RNIB Edinburgh and Lothians is the part of RNIB Scotland, which provides specific local services to people with sight loss who live in Edinburgh, West Lothian, Midlothian and East Lothian. 

Our welfare rights service provides expert advice on welfare benefits, assistance with claiming benefits and representation at appeals and tribunals. If you'd like to find out more or get in touch, please use the following information.

Contact information
Email: lothian.benefits@rnib.org.uk
Phone: 0131 557 1004

Alternatively, for information about the benefits available to those with a registered visual impairment, you can contact the Welfare Rights Team for East Lothian on 0131 653 5230.

You can also contact the Local Citizens Advice Bureau in either Musselburgh or Haddington using the details below.

Contact information

Organisation: Musselburgh Citizens Advice Bureau
Phone: 0131 653 2748 or 0131 653 2544
Fax: 0131 665 1141
Address: 41 High Street, Musselburgh, EH21 7DD

Organisation: Haddington Citizens Advice Bureau
Phone: 01620 824471
Address: 46 Court St, Haddington, EH41 3NP

CAPABILITY provides services directly to around 1000 disabled people at over 25 locations around Scotland, supporting people at every stage of their lives and at home, work and school. Through the schools, early years and childcare services they support not only disabled children at crucial times in their life but their families and carers. They have many services which focus on giving disabled people the opportunity to live independent lives whether that is in their own homes, participating in their local or wider community, or finding employment. For those who would like we can also provide residential and respite services. Alexander Anderson Day Service (AADS) offers a range of activities including those which support people to develop everyday living skills such as cooking and baking; budgeting; or shopping; to more physical activities such as keep-fit. Developing IT skills without the need to attend college: AADS has links with a number of colleges in the area who offer classes within the centre; you can book a time in the Sensory room or with the Aromatherapist or Beauty Therapist. AADS is also the only facility in the area to offer people the opportunity to participate in Soundbeam or access hydrotherapy. Use of the hydrotherapy pool can be supported either by AADS staff or by users own staff/ carers. If support is wanted to access activities outside the centre, AADS have links with a range of agencies and support people which give the opportunity to attend activities such as Pather Art Works, IndepenDANCE, M&Ds bowling, local sport venues and Music Works. Support is also available to allow people to meet friends for dinner or a chat; visit places of local/ national interest; or attend the theatre or concerts. To find out more please visit www.capability-scotland.org.uk or call 0131 337 9876 for more information.

The Disabled Person's Railcard gives you discount of a third off the cost of your train ticket. For information about who is eligible and how to apply, please use the details below.

Contact information
Website: Disabled Person's Railcard
Email: disability@atoc.org
Phone: 0345 605 0525 (7am to 10pm Monday to Sunday)
Minicom/ text: 0345 601 0132

The National Entitlement Card (a free bus pass available if you are over 60 years of age or if you have a disability) also entitles you to reduced train travel rates (if eligible).

You must be a East Lothian resident and travelling from an East Lothian train station.

For further information on the eligibility criteria and for an application form, please call the Transport Concession Team using the following information.

Contact information
Phone: 01620 827974
Address: John Muir House, Haddington, East Lothian

The RNIB offer advice and support on a range of issues on visual impairment. They have an office with a resource centre where you can look at special equipment and aids for daily living in Edinburgh.

For more information and up to date opening times, please contact them using the following details.

Contact information
Email: rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk
Phone: 0131 652 3140
Address: 12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh, EH7 5EA

For RNIB Edinburgh and Lothians, please email: rniblothian@rnib.org.uk

You can also refer yourself for an occupational therapy assessment by contacting the East Lothian Central Access Team on 01875 824309 for a full assessment within your home environment.

At some point in our lives, many of us due to illness, disability or old age will need some form of help with everyday things like getting washed, dressing or cooking a meal. This support is often called social care.

Asking for help is sometimes the hardest thing to do, but East Lothian Council can offer an assessment of needs and help you to identify suitable services and arrange their provision. Contact them on 01875 824309 to make a referral.

If you need help with domestic chores, there are various local care agencies that you can contact. You will be able to find their details online by searching for home help services in East Lothian. Social work no longer provides a home help service to assist with cleaning.

Care and Repair offer a small repairs service for home owners and private tenants aged 60 years or over, or who are disabled and aged 50 or over. The labour involved is free of charge, so all you have to pay for are the materials used.

If you'd like to get in touch, please use the details below.

Contact information
Website: Care and Repair
Phone: 01620 828445

East Lothian Council libraries have magnifying sheets that you can try out. For more information, please visit www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210562/libraries/12318/special_community_services.

The Edinburgh branch of RNIB have a variety of resources that you can view and try out. For more information and opening times, please get in touch using the information below.

Contact information:
Email: rniblothian@rnib.org.uk
Phone: 0131 652 3140
Address: 12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh, EH7 5EA

For general enquiries, please email: rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk.

Being able to use computers, mobile phones and other gadgets for work, leisure and keeping in contact are key tools for blind and partially sighted people.

For more information on how technology can help with your everyday living, please contact RNIB Scotland using the details below.

Contact information
Website: RNIB
Phone: 0131 652 3140

Local libraries across East Lothian also have computers which are fitted with software to assist visually impaired people by enlarging information on the screen, and a large button keyboard.

For more information, please contact your local library directly or visit www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210562/libraries/11907/locations_and_opening_hours.

The National Entitlement Card, a free bus pass, is available if you are over 60 years of age. People aged 5 and over with a physical or sensory impairment may also qualify. For the full eligibility criteria, please visit www.transport.gov.scot/concessionary-travel/60plus-and-disabled/.

The National Entitlement Card entitles you to free, Scotland wide bus travel, as well as reduced train travel rates (if eligible) to East Lothian residents travelling from East Lothian train stations.

For further information on the eligibility criteria and for an application form, please contact the Transport Concession Team  using the information below.

Contact information
Phone: 01620 827974
Address: John Muir House, Haddington, East Lothian

If you would like further information about eye and sight conditions, please contact RNIB Scotland using the details below.

Contact information
Email: rniblothian@rnib.org.uk
Phone: 0131 652 3140
Address: 12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh, EH7 5EA

For general enquiries, please email: rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk

The East Lothian branch have a team of rehabilitation and mobility officers who deal with people with a sensory impairment. They can provide information and practical advice, including mobility training and independent living skills training.

Please contact them on the above numbers to discuss and gain advice on how to access the service.

If you have some vision but you struggle to read regular print, large or giant print may be for you.

The size of a font is described in point size. Regular print is usually 10 or 12 point. Large print is generally 16 to 18 point size. Giant print is anything larger than this.

Your local library is probably the best place to have a look at large print books and check if they are right for you. Some high street book shops also sell large print books that you can browse through.

A range of large print books is available at all of East Lothian Council’s Libraries. There are library branches throughout East Lothian: For information on your nearest library please contact Library & Museum Headquarters using the following information.

Contact information
Email: libraries@eastlothian.gov.uk
Phone: 01620 820600
Address: Dunbar Road, Haddington, EH41 3PJ

There is also a Mobile Library service which serves the whole of rural East Lothian, following a fortnightly timetable. The Mobile Library service can be contacted at Library Headquarters on 01620 060611.

For eBook advice, please visit www.rnib.org.uk/information-everyday-living-reading/ebooks-and-digital. For Newspapers and TV guides, please visit www.rnib.org.uk/services-we-offer-reading-services-magazines-and-newspapers-rnib/big-print-newspaper-and-freeview-tv.