Summary notes for Advice Consultation: Session 1

The first Advice Consultation was held on Monday 1^st September which provided an opportunity for Edinburgh Advice Network members to learn about and contribute to the City of Edinburgh Council funding review for income maximisation, welfare and debt advice in the city.

A range of themes were discussed, and some of the main points to come out of this including:

Identity and Branding: While a centralised advice identity in Edinburgh could help reach unmet needs and streamline communication, there are also concerns, particularly from organisations with well established or specialist identities, about a loss of independence, and risks of being perceived as too closely tied to the council, with a risk that choice and trust is eroded.

Collaboration and Referrals: Relationships within the sector are strong and diverse services are valued with organisations across the 3^rd sector and The Advice Shop working well together, sharing information and good practice. There is variation, however relationships with statutory services and the public sector more generally are weaker.

Referral pathways exist across all, however signposting is common which risks people being “lost” in the process. Views are mixed on whether a single referral point would add value with it having the potential to simplify access, but success depending heavily on adequate funding and strong systems.

Funding: The overriding priority is secure, long-term funding (5+ years with uplifts). Stability would support staff retention, reduce redundancies, and allow for training and investment. Smaller organisations fear being excluded if contracts are consolidated, and there is concern about national providers displacing local expertise.

The City of Edinburgh Council will share all the findings from the session in due course, once analysis has been completed, and at that point information on how to provide written feedback and details of the next stage of the process will also be shared. Going forward, there will be a number of further opportunities to contribute throughout the process. 

They will be in touch with the network to update on future sessions and will keep members updated on the availability of budget from April 2026 onwards.

We have added a copy of this summary to the resources section of our website, along with a copy of the slides.