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

East Lothian Community Alarm Telecare Service (ELCATS) is a landline, telephone-based system which you can use to summon help, call assistance, or give you reassurance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The main role of the Community Alarm Telecare Service is to obtain help for an older or disabled person when an emergency arises.

The user has a pendant button that is worn around the neck or on the wrist, which is connected to an alarm receiving centre, where there is always a call operator on duty to respond immediately. The service relies on a network of local contacts and, where possible, they require you to provide them with the names of at least two local key-holders, who can be called upon if required to check on you.

To help you and your key-holder further, the service is supported 24/7 by response staff from East Lothian Emergency Care Service (ECS). The call operator can call them out to assist you and/or your key-holder if required.

The pendant has a range of about 50 meters and will cover the area of the average house and garden.

There is a small charge for this service.

For more information please contact the Community Access Team using the following information.

Contact information:
Organisation: East Lothian Community Alarm Telecare Service
Phone: 01875 824 309
Email: communityaccess@eastlothian.gov.uk
Address: Adult Wellbeing, East Lothian Council, Randall House, Macmerry Business Park, Macmerry, East Lothian EH33 1RW

Associated materials

• East Lothian Community Alarm Telecare Service

East Lothian Community Alarm Telecare Service (ELCATS) is a landline, telephone-based system which you can use to summon help, call assistance, or give you reassurance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The main role of the Community Alarm Telecare Service is to obtain help for an older or disabled person when an emergency arises.

The user has a pendant button that is worn around the neck or on the wrist, which is connected to an alarm receiving centre, where there is always a call operator on duty to respond immediately. The service relies on a network of local contacts and, where possible, they require you to provide them with the names of at least two local key-holders, who can be called upon if required to check on you.

To help you and your key-holder further, the service is supported 24/7 by response staff from East Lothian Emergency Care Service (ECS). The call operator can call them out to assist you and/or your key-holder if required.

The pendant has a range of about 50 meters and will cover the area of the average house and garden.

There is a small charge for this service.

For more information please contact the Community Access Team using the following information.

Contact information
Phone: 01875 824 309
Email: communityaccess@eastlothian.gov.uk
Address: Adult Wellbeing, East Lothian Council, Randall House, Macmerry Business Park, Macmerry, East Lothian EH33 1RW

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.

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.

For information about accessible taxis in East Lothian, please contact some of these wheelchair accessible taxi companies in East Lothian using the details below.

Contact information

Organisation: AC Taxis (Tranent)
Phone: 0131 665 5000

Organisation: Tartan Taxis (Tranent)
Phone: 01875 613171

Organisation: Colin's Cabs (Haddington)
Phone: 01620 825825

Organisation: JT Taxis (Haddington)
Phone: 01620 828 584

Organisation: Torrance Taxis (Dunbar) 
Phone: 01368 862612

Organisation:  Alba Taxis (Prestonpans)
Phone: 01875 815000

Handicabs also provide two options wheelchair accessible travel.

Dial-a-Ride provide a door-to-door transport service for people with limited mobility who are unable to use ordinary buses. In certain circumstances, they can provide transport for people who have limited access to public and/or private transport as well.

Dial-a-Ride is charged on a mileage basis at £3.75 for the first mile, plus 25p per mile up to 10 miles and plus 50p per mile over 10 miles. A return trip costs twice that of the outward one. Group bookings can also be made and any additional passengers pay a £1.50 flat fare when accompanying a full-fare passenger on the same journey.

Dial-a-Ride transport is wheelchair user friendly and the service operates seven days a week including evenings, subject to availability. 

Please not that you need to register with Dial-a-Ride service before you book your first journey.

If you'd like to book a journey with dial-a-ride, please phone on 0131 447 9949.

Dial-a-Bus provides transport from home to local shopping centres for people who cannot manage by ordinary bus. The Service operates at least once a week from most areas in the Lothians and is also wheelchair friendly.

You will have between 1 to 2 hours at the shopping centre and then return home. The driver will take you and your shopping to your door if you need help and you may be able to get assistance with your shopping.

The fare for Dial-a-Bus is £1.25 each way. If you are unable to travel by yourself, you can bring an escort with you who will also travel at £1.25. 

Dial-a-Bus operates Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 5.00pm.

Please note that you need to register with the Dial-a-Bus service before you book your first journey. You also have to book a place on the service for yourself and, if applicable, your escort. 

To get in touch, please phone on 0131 447 1718.

Associated materials

• North Lanarkshire Accessible Taxi Information (187KB)

If you have any continence issues you can either ask your doctor, or another healthcare professional in your GP surgery, to refer you to the Lothian Health Continence Service.

You can request an assessment for yourself or someone you care for by contacting a community nurse or your GP in your local Surgery.

If your are assessed as needing a product solution to help you with your incontinence, Lothian Health can arrange to deliver the products to you free of charge. Delivery drivers operate from clearly marked NHS vehicles, are uniformed and display identification.

You have answered that you don’t go out as often as you used to as you don’t feel as steady or you cannot walk as far as you need to.

For details of services that provide scooters and wheelchairs for rental or purchase, please visit www.all-mobility.co.uk. Alternatively, Glenmore Mobility also have a range of scooters and wheelchairs available, to find out more please visit www.glenmoremobility.com.

The British Red Cross also offer a wheelchair loan service. If you'd like to find out more, please get in touch using the details below.

Contact information
Website: British Red Cross
Phone: 0131 6609 372
Address: 131 High Street, Dalkeith, EH22 1BE

Shopmobility is a free wheelchair service is now available at Fort Kinnaird. If you'd like to use this, please get in touch using the details below.

Contact information
Website: Shopmobility
Phone: 0131 557 4123

You can also check with your local supermarket as they often have scooters available in store, or offer assistance with shopping for those with mobility difficulties.