Cowdenbeath Area cost of living support information

For useful information, advice, help with benefits, energy bills and food go to our.fife.scot/gethelp

Unable to access information online? Call our Community Support Line 0800 952 0330 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)

To help with the rising cost of living there's a range of support in the local area.

Foodbanks and community cafés

Below is a list of locations and organisations supporting the people of Fife by providing short term access to emergency food and support for people experiencing a crisis.

  • Benarty Food Bank

    BRAG Centre, Main Street, Crosshill, Lochgelly, KY5 8BJ
    Food Bank
    We provide a minimum of three days' nutritionally balanced, tinned and dried food donated by the local community.
    Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 4.00pm to 6.00pm
    Free
    www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/dunfermline/
    info@dunfermline.foodbank.org.uk
    07580 231 286

  • Cardenden Community Fridge

    Bowhill Community Centre, 145 Station Road, Cardenden, KY5 0BW
    Community Fridge/Larder/Pantry
    The fridge is open to anyone who requires the service and runs on a £2 membership system. Members can choose essential grocery items based on need and the number in their household. Volunteers pack chosen items into bags for each member.
    Opening hours: Fridays 2.00pm to 4.00pm. 
    £2

  • Cowdenbeath Food Bank

    Fountain Meeting Rooms, Broad Street, Cowdenbeath, KY4 8JA
    Food Bank
    Referral needed for food parcels. Your local food banks work with referral agencies to issue food vouchers to those in need of emergency food in times of crisis. We provide a minimum of three days' nutritionally balanced, tinned and dried food donated by the local community.
    Opening hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4.00pm to 6.00pm
    Free
    www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/dunfermline/
    info@dunfermline.foodbank.org.uk
    07580 231 286

  • Lo'gelly Lunches

    Town Hall, Bank St, Lochgelly, KY5 9RE
    Community Café
    Community Café - Offering lunch for you to drop in and have a bite to eat, relax and have a chat. Enjoy some homemade soup, sandwiches and home baking with a tea/coffee. Community Larder - offering groceries, toiletries and pre-cooked home meals. Our service operates a delivery and drop-in service. There is also Welfare Support staff available at this time.
    Opening hours: Community Café open every Tuesday 11.00am to 1.00pm Community Larder open every Friday 10.00am to 1.00pm
    Free
    www.facebook.com/Logelly-Lunches-359811728217548/

  • MAX's Community Larder

    Maxwell Centre, 70 Stenhouse Street, Cowdenbeath, KY4 9DD
    Community Fridge/Larder/Pantry
    Groceries, cleaning producet etc available
    Opening hours: Mondays 1.00pm to 2.00pm
    £2 per week

  • Max's Light Bites

    Maxwell Centre, 70 Stenhouse Street, Cowdenbeath, KY4 9DD
    Community Café
    Pop in for free soup or stovies, this is a sit in provison, chat with others, find out about groups and courses, volunteering and welfare support advice available if required.
    Opening hours: Mondays 12.00pm to 1.30pm
    Free

  • Oor Wee Café

    Kelty Community Centre, Main Street, Kelty, KY4 0AQ
    Community Café
    Oor Wee café has 2 provisions running every Tuesday from 11.30am to 1.00pm. A community cafe in one room and a food provision in the other room, The community café is a sit in café where customers get a hot meal, tea/coffee and cake. It works on a pay what you can afford basis (donations) The grocery provision is a provision with take away cooked meals and groceries such as tins, pet food, toiletries etc are on offer to take away. This also works on a pay what you can afford basis. Both are open to anyone that wants to use them. Everyone is welcome.
    Opening hours: Tuesdays 11.30am to 1.30pm
    Donation
    www.facebook.com/OorWeeCafe/
    oorweecafe@yahoo.com
    07563 380 176

  • S.H.I.E.L.D


    Surplus Food
    Surplus Food Waste is a community group that works with supermarkets and retailers to provide much needed surplus food waste to those who need it most. We do this by organising surplus popups in public community areas.
    Opening hours: Information of pop up locations with dates and times available on Facebook page
    Donation
    www.facebook.com/groups/shieldsurplus

  • Salvation Army

    Stenhouse Street, Cowdenbeath, KY4 9DD
    Food Parcels
    Emergency Food Support
    Opening hours: drop in’ facility on a Tuesdays 10.00am to 12.00pm
    Free
    cowdenbeath@salvationarmy.org.uk
    01383 513 384

  • The Clearing

    239 High Street, Cowdenbeath, KY4 9QF
    Food Parcels
    Meal in a bag on a Monday, scheme whereby we measure out the ingredients for a family meal, give everything required, including recipe, advice on nutrition and budgeting and extra food. Opportunity to come and cook the food with help from our cook. Food for Families" on Fridays from 10.00am to 12.00pm at the Clearing when we give fresh food and household supplies to families. Call 07802 414 418 to register for this.
    Opening hours: Telephone 07802 414 418 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10.00am and 12.00pm to arrange a time for collection.
    Free
    www.facebook.com/streetpastorbase
    theclearing@btinternet.com
    07802 414 418

  • The Pantry @BRAG

    Crosshill Community Enterpise Centre, Main Street, Crosshill, KY5 8BJ
    Community Fridge/Larder/Pantry
    Pantry Shop where customers can choose ten items from the shelves or fridges plus help themselves to as much bread, vegetables, nappies and sanitary products that they need. The cost is still £3 for to use the shop and £4 for deliveries.
    Opening hours: Thursdays 1.00pm to 3.00pm
    Please note: Food and other household goods, welfare, employment and business support.
    £3
    www.facebook.com/bragenterprises
    enquiries@brag.co.uk

Warm Welcome/ Community Assistance

Warm Welcome venues will be established in various venues and settings across the area which are designed to offer safe, warm places for people in our communities to spend time, participate in activities and access support.

    Local welfare support & Community job clubs

    Did you know that we have welfare support staff in the Cowdenbeath area who can offer support on a number of different topics such as:

    • Benefit checking
    • Support with accessing employment
    • Support with completing benefit applications
    • Signposting to crisis grants and financial support

    Community job clubs also provide a space where people can get access to a PC to undertake job searches, create and develop CVs and apply for jobs. Our staff will be able to offer advice on most aspects of searching and applying for work.

    Our staff are available at the times below, or you can contact them direct:

    LocationDayTime Contact number
    Maxwell Centre, Cowdenbeath Monday 1pm to 3pm Joanne 07518 299546
    Linzi     07535 650273
    Lochgelly Centre Tuesday 10am to 12pm Edward 07515 290119
    Benarty Community Centre Tuesday 2pm to 4pm Edward 07515 290119
    Bowhill Community Centre Wednesday 1pm to 3pm Edward 07515 290119
    Crossgates Community Centre Wednesday 
    9 Nov, 23 Nov, 7 Dec and 21 Dec     		1:30pm to 3pmJoanne 07518 299546
    Linzi 07535 650273
    Kelty Community Centre Wednesday 10am to 12pm Linzi 07535 650273
    Maxwell Centre, Cowdenbeath Thursday 1pm to 3pm Linzi 07535 650273
    Corrie Centre, Cardenden Friday 10am to 12pm Joanne 07518299546
    Discover local organisations in your area

    on your doorstep - opening doors to Fife's communities

    www.onyourdoorstepfife.org

    Useful support links

    Unable to access information online? Call our Community Support Line 0800 952 0330 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)

    Increase your income

    Support with food

    Support for your home

    Support with heating and utility costs

    Support with your Council Tax and Rent

    Support for your family

    Support with transport costs

    Supporting your health

    Support for businesses