Assistance for Residents of the City of Edinburgh affected by Fire
The effects of a fire can be devastating – physically, financially and psychologically. For residents in The City of Edinburgh Council area, there is a dedicated fund that can help you to recover from the impact of a fire.
History of the Fund
The Surplus Fire Fund was created in 1824, when a large sum of money was raised by local people to help the victims of a number of fires in Edinburgh’s High Street. The money that was left over from this was put into what became known as the Surplus Fire Fund (SFF).
The City of Edinburgh Council (Leith Links and Surplus Fire Fund) Act 2014 passed by the Scottish Parliament in March 2014, dissolved the SFF and transferred management of the fund to The Edinburgh & Lothian Trust Fund SCIO.
In January 2015, the SFF was re-named The Edinburgh Fire Fund. The purpose of the Edinburgh Fire Fund, is to relieve the suffering caused through injury or financial loss as a result of a fire.
Who can apply for support from the Edinburgh Fire Fund?
Applications for the fund should only be made and verified by a postholder from a recognised third party e.g. housing officer, support worker, advice worker, social worker etc. Please see the criteria and information outlined below.
Criteria and information
- Residents (individuals and families) of a property where the fire took place must be located within The City of Edinburgh Council administration area.
- The applicant must not have a valid house contents insurance policy for the property affected by the fire. Note: As a general, your ‘contents’ are the items you would take with you if you moved home.
- Applicants must be in receipt of state benefits and/or the whole household income collectively must be less than the living wage. Please see Living Wage Foundation
- Applications will only be accepted for fires that have occurred within the last six months.
- The applicant must provide all the relevant supporting documentation outlined below before an application can be considered.
- The Trust will obtain a Fire Incident Report from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as part of the claim verification process. Note: where there are significant differences between the application and the Fire Incident Report, regarding the nature and extent of loss/damage we will award any grant in accordance with the Fire Incident Report and the Trustees may decide not to make an award.
- Please note this Fund is not designed for crisis funding, in practice it may take several months before the Trustees are able to make a decision.
Documentation required
- Proof of income e.g. benefit award or wage slip
- Proof of tenancy/homeownership e.g. tenancy agreement, title deeds
- Proof of address where the fire took place e.g. utility bill in the name of the applicant
- Doctor/hospital report (for requests for support with counselling/therapy)
- Photos or videos showing the extent of the fire, smoke and water damage to the property and contents
Support provided by the fund
- To replace household items or personal possessions destroyed or damaged in the fire
- Redecoration (and any prior cleaning to remove smoke damage)
- Counselling/therapy needed as a result of trauma resulting from the fire
- Ineligible expenditure is the cost of any structural repairs or work which would should be covered by a Buildings Insurance Policy
How do I apply to The Fire Fund?
In order to apply you will need to create a login to our grant management system or if you already have an account please login.
Please apply using the online form.
Further Information
For further information please contact [email protected]