Latest EAP meeting minutes
The minutes for August's Edinburgh Advice Partnership (EAP) meeting have now been published, with a focus on Winter Preparedness and Energy Support. An update was also shared on DWP escalation routes in Edinburgh.
August EAP meeting
The partnership met on 27th August 2026. Full minutes and meeting documents are available via the EAN resources section under EAP updates.
Winter Preparedness and Energy Support
Home Energy Scotland and Changeworks shared a presentation, providing an overview of current energy affordability challenges, services available to Edinburgh households and preparations for winter.
Key points discussed included:
Continuing pressures linked to rising energy costs, fuel poverty, energy debt and ongoing issues relating to Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) replacements.
Particular energy affordability concerns for households experiencing disability, digital exclusion, language barriers or poor mental health.
Support available from HES, including the Energy Carers who provide tailored support to ensure the HES service is accessible to all. Includes advocacy, casework, home visits and help accessing energy efficiency schemes. Partner organisations can use the Referral Portal to refer clients, or contact partnerships@se.homeenergyscotland.org for more information
The Changeworks Affordable Warmth Team provides a similar service, but with a project based approach, and services are tailored for each funder/client group. Referrals at Affordable Warmth Referral and contact workwithus@changeworks.org.uk for more information
Warm Packs are also available from Changeworks with contents including practical items such as blankets, draught excludes and LED light bulbs as well as energy-saving advice materials.
The importance of maintaining strong referral pathways and a "no wrong door" approach across advice and support services.
The partnership also agreed to improve coordination of winter activity by sharing details of community and outreach events across the city. The presentation slides are available alongside the minutes under EAP updates.
Social Security Scotland: New Text Messaging Service
Social Security Scotland updated on a new text messaging service which will be used to send clients updates about their applications and awards. Members noted the importance of monitoring how the new approach operates in practice and were encouraged to raise any examples where client experiences do not reflect the intended policy. See:
No further documentation on identity verification processes have been shared by Social Security Scotland, but members noted previously published information (dated 2022) obtained through a Freedom of Information request which outlines processes.
View on gov.scot at: FOI reference: 20220030282
DWP Escalation Routes
While the DWP escalation route document is still be updated, information was shared on a change to the escalation contacts in Edinburgh. See the September update in the Resources area of the EAN website under Escalation Routes.
Homelessness Prevention and Unmet Need
The partnership continued discussions on how to better evidence the contribution advice services make to homelessness prevention. Members reflected on the challenge of capturing preventative outcomes through existing case recording systems and agreed to review what data may already be available within their organisations.
Other Updates
Revised Deputy Chair arrangements were agreed, providing a succession planning approach for future EAP leadership.
Emerging experiences of using artificial intelligence within advice services continues to be mixed, whilst agencies are also reporting challenges associated with AI-generated complaints and correspondence
The Council's commissioning process was discussed following publication of the public Q&A document. Members welcomed increased transparency but noted ongoing questions regarding service boundaries, lot structure and future delivery arrangements.
Child Maintenance Training dates have been confirmed, see further information on via EAN at: Free training on Child Maintenance: Confident Conversations
CHAI will begin a weekly drop-in advice session at Gate 55 from 1 September.
Members discussed increasing pressures around interpretation services and welcomed exploration of future training opportunities to support good practice.
Coming Up
The next EAP meeting will take place on 24 September 2026 and is expected to focus on financial inclusion, including input from Financially Included and other speakers.
For more information or to share feedback and help inform discussion on any of the topics covered at the August EAP meeting, contact your organisation's EAP representative (where you have one), or the Edinburgh Advice Network Coordinator at joanne.baldock@capitalcitypartnership.org
For more information or to share feedback and help inform discussion on any of the topics covered in the July EAP meeting, contact your organisations' EAP representative (where you have one), or the Edinburgh Advice Network Coordinator at joanne.baldock@capitalcitypartnership.org.
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