Community One Stop Shop (COSS)

Established in 2002, the Community One Stop Shop (COSS) is situated in the heart of Broomhouse, Edinburgh, an area affected by poverty and deprivation.

Our overall aim is to alleviate the effects of poverty and support people through times of crisis.

What we do...

Advice

Our advice service is mainly delivered on an appointment basis, and through our drop-in on Fridays. We also have additional services including specialist advice for our Black and Ethnic Minority (BME) clients, and Wednesday evening advice appointments which are supported by CHAI (Community Help and Advice Initiative).

Employability

We offer one-to-one employability support to around 25 people per month. This is a tailored service and our employment adviser works with our clients to ensure they get the information and guidance they need.

Food Bank

We operate a self-referral food bank, which means that you do not have to get a referral from a professional in order to get a food parcel. This ensures that we can provide support to people who may not be accessing other services, or who do not have the ability to request a referral. On average, there are 110 visits to the food bank every month.

Outreach

We also deliver our Food Bank and advice services at the Calder’s Community Flat in Edinburgh. The Calder’s is one of the most deprived areas in the city, with over 50% of residents living in poverty.

Ancillary Services

We offer additional services including these C-Card, free sanitary product provision, and Holiday support programmes with local schools.

Opening Hours...

Monday - Thursday: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Wednesday: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Friday: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Saturday/Sunday: Closed