CHAI Edinburgh

👋 Hi! My name is Theo and I'm a Case Support Worker within the Financial Welfare and Benefits team at CHAI.

I work alongside our advisers, helping with many of the time-consuming tasks that support client cases, allowing advisers to spend more time with the people who need us. I also specialise in welfare grant applications, helping clients access additional financial support.

One part of my role that is a little different from other Case Support Workers is attending our weekly drop-in clinics alongside advisers at the Salvation Army Wellbeing Centre on Niddry Street and the Edinburgh Support Hub (Streetwork) on Holyrood Road.

These drop-ins provide a welcoming space where people can access support with benefits, grants and financial wellbeing. We see familiar faces who come back regularly, as well as people who discover CHAI for the first time and pop in with a question. Being able to help someone there and then with an issue they've been struggling with for weeks or months is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

These services are funded by the Drug Deaths Task Force, a cause that is particularly important to me. Before joining CHAI, I volunteered with Humanising Healthcare, facilitating conversation cafés between people with lived experience of addiction and recovery and medical students. That experience reinforced how important it is to create safe, respectful and non-judgemental spaces where people feel listened to and supported.

Like the organisations we partner with, that's exactly what we aim to provide through our drop-in services. I feel incredibly privileged to play a small part in helping people access the support they need.

📍 Current drop-in clinics:

Edinburgh Support Hub (Streetwork at Simon Community Scotland)
22 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AF
Tuesday, 1pm–4pm

Salvation Army Wellbeing Centre
25 Niddry Street, Edinburgh EH1 1LG
Monday and Wednesday, 10am–1pm
(Currently postponed until further notice)

If you or someone you know could benefit from advice on benefits, grants or financial wellbeing, call us on 0131 442 2100. Our team is here to provide free, confidential and non-judgemental support.