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

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

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.

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.

Associated materials

• List of Local Optometrists

The Disabled Living Centre offers free, impartial advice about a wide range of assistive equipment. The service also has an extensive range of catalogues and leaflets relating to daily living activities and equipment, as well as a list of local suppliers.

The OT there can also advise on and demonstrate specific equipment and there may be the opportunity for you to trial equipment.

You don’t need to be referred, you can just contact them directly.

For advice or to arrange an appointment, please use the details below. 

Contact information
Phone: 0131 537 9190
Address: SMART Centre, Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh

Associated materials

• Home Visiting Opticians - East Lothian

Pass IT On's core purpose is to adapt donated computers and give them at little or no cost to people with disabilities. The computers are fully refurbished, tested and are usually no more than 3 years old.

To be eligible, clients can be of any age but must live in the EH (Edinburgh and Lothians) postcode area, as well as have a disability or health condition which makes it difficult for them to use publicly available computers. 

To find out more or get in touch, please visit their website by following the link here.