Winter wellness: January discounts, support and advice
We've compiled a variety of initiatives to help colleagues enjoy a more relaxed and happy start to the year, including resources to boost wellbeing, exclusive staff discounts to save money, and tips on cheaper and greener travel.
The University has a comprehensive range of mental health services designed to provide support, guidance, and care.
Staff Health and Wellbeing
Our Staff Health and Wellbeing Hub provides information, resources and services available to all University employees.
Staff Health and Wellbeing Hub
Employee Assistance Programme
The Employee Assistance Programme aims to support employees with personal problems and/or work-related problems that may impact their job performance, health, mental and emotional wellbeing. Counselling through MCL Medics is available free of charge to staff, plus any partners or dependents over the age of 18 living under the same roof.
Occupational Health
Our Occupational Health Service provides advice on health-related matters affecting you at work. They offer guidance on health issues affecting work including stress, sickness absence and adjustments in the workplace.
Chaplaincy
The Chaplaincy runs the University Listening Service for staff or students who want to touch base on any concerns or anxieties or are looking for a timely or purposeful conversation. The service is confidential and non-judgemental.
Staff Counselling
This service offers free, short-term, confidential counselling to all staff, providing the opportunity to discuss any problems causing concern or distress either at work or home. Couples counselling is also offered.
Sport & Exercise
Keeping active is not only vital for your physical health but for your mental health too. There are plenty of opportunities to be active at the Pleasance and Easter Bush gyms and the swimming pool at St. Leonard's Land. There are approximately 100 classes on offer at the Pleasance gym ranging from gentle ‘mind & body’ to high-intensity cardio classes, which are free to gym members. Staff memberships start from £25 for 30 days.
The University's Sport & Exercise Clinic, FASIC, offer discounted rates for University of Edinburgh staff. Our team of specialists will work with you to prevent, diagnose, treat and manage your injury, restoring function and performance to ensure you are at your best, every day.
The Sport & Exercise team also offer a wide range of other ways to get active, including free lunchtime 'Feel Good' walks and running groups.
During Semester 2, Sport & Exercise is trialling a new staff-only exercise class offer. The pilot includes three 30 minute lunchtime classes, Body Conditioning on Tuesdays, Stretch & Destress on Wednesdays and Spin on Thursdays. The classes are free for Sport & Exercise gym members or £6 for non-members (payable at reception on arrival). All sessions can be booked up to two weeks in advance online through MyEd.
Our staff perks include competitive health and financial wellbeing benefits and exclusive discounts, designed to enrich both professional and personal lives.
Mylifestyle
Mylifestyle, a reward and benefits portal provided by Edenred, gives you access to retail discounts and to the Cycle to Work Scheme, with a single login. In the Mydiscounts area, you can buy gift cards and e-gift cards at reduced rates, saving approximately 3-10% at various national retailers including Asda, Costa, Currys, John Lewis, Just Eat, Marks & Spencer, Pizza Express, and Primark. Mydiscounts also provides offers and discount codes for travel, leisure and entertainment, as well as for products for your home and garden and technology.
You can also access these discounts on your mobile phone via the 'Edenred Savings' app, which can be downloaded on the App Store or wherever you usually download your apps. You must have already registered on the Mylifestyle portal to access the discounts on the app as you will need your username and password.
Local discounts
You can also access a range of discounts that have been negotiated with local or smaller businesses. These discounts span a range of categories, including: food and drink, health and wellbeing, retail shopping and professional services.
Internal benefits
There are various sports, wellbeing and leisure benefits offered to staff by the University and its subsidiaries.
University of Edinburgh discounts
Financial wellbeing
University employees can access the First Scottish University Credit Union and Salary Finance, which offer more options to manage your financial wellbeing.
There is support available to help you find a more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally conscious way to commute - whether it's public transport, cycling, or catching the train.
Railcards
A Railcard provides a 1/3 discount on train travel. You have to pay the card upfront, starting at around £20 - £30 annually, but the cost of your Railcard will typically have paid for itself after one or two trips. Most Railcards can be purchased online with the option to download as a digital Railcard to your smartphone or device with the Railcard App. In addition to Railcards, ScotRail provide its own product called Club 50 for people over 50 which gives a 20% discount on off-peak and advance tickets, plus other benefits.
Peak fares pilot
Since 2 October 2023, ScotRail services have been running a six-month pilot ending in March 2024, where peak-time fares have been removed. This programme aims to make trains more accessible, available and affordable. For instance, the cost of a journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh during peak hours has been reduced from £28.90 to £14.90.
More information on the peak fares pilot
Free bus travel
In 2022, the Scottish Government introduced free nationwide bus travel for young people aged 5-21 who are residents in Scotland for most of the year, which means 6 months or more. This scheme enables under 22s to travel for free on nearly every bus service in Scotland, with a few exceptions like certain airport buses, city sightseeing buses, and night buses. To access this free travel, you need to apply for a National Entitlement Card or a Young Scot National Entitlement Card, with full instructions available on the website.
If you are aged 60 or over or have a disability, you are entitled to free nationwide bus travel around Scotland through the NEC scheme. If you are applying for an NEC on the grounds of a disability, you will be asked to provide proof of entitlement. A guide to acceptable proof of disability, as well as information about applying, can be found on the website.
Interest-free travel loan
The travel ticket loan scheme lets employees get an interest-free loan for the cost of rail season tickets. This loan is paid back over 10 months directly from your salary, after tax. To apply, you need to fill in an application form from the travel company you use and also a University loan application form.
Interest-free bike loan
The interest-free bike loan scheme offers University employees a way to buy a bicycle and associated safety equipment, like clothing and lights, with a loan up to £500, without any interest charges. Employees repay the loan in 10 equal monthly instalments directly from their salary, after tax. While the scheme doesn't offer savings, it helps spread the cost of a new bike over several months. It's particularly useful for part-time staff who might not qualify for the main Cycle to Work scheme. This interest-free bike loan scheme is different from the University's Cycle to Work scheme.
Cycle to Work scheme
The Cycle to Work scheme is designed to help you save money on a new bike to commute to work and to spread the cost of the bike over monthly tax-free instalments through your employer. The scheme can save you 32-47% on a bike and accessories. The University of Edinburgh scheme is provided through Halfords Cycle2Work. Employees can select bikes and/or accessories from over 1,000 independent bike stores, Halfords and Tredz, providing access to over 98% of bike brands.
Second-hand bikes
There are many places across Edinburgh offering second-hand bikes for sale.
Outside of the University, there are lots of organisations and resources available to provide support and advice.
Citizen's Advice
Citizen’s Advice Edinburgh General advice, including signposting to other helpful organisations available. There are several locations across the city where you can attend in person or arrange a call-back phone option.
Or call: 0131 510 5510
The Red Book
The Red Book is an online directory of organisations in the city. Using the search bar, you can search for a specific type of service in Edinburgh. For example, typing ‘money advice’ brings up a helpful document on the issue, as well as a list of results.
Turn2Us
Turn2Us offers a range of advice regarding what benefits and grants may be available to people, as well as information. Their website features a useful benefits calculator.
The Advice Shop
The Advice Shop can advise on welfare rights, benefits, crisis grants, council tax, debt and money.
Or call: 0131 200 2360
Granton Information Centre
Granton Information Centre has been highly spoken of by End Poverty Edinburgh members as an invaluable service to them. You can seek advice on welfare rights, housing, rent arrears, debt and money.
Or call: 0131 551 2459 / 0131 552 0458
Community Help & Advice Initiative
The Community Help & Advice Initiative can help with welfare rights, debt and housing advice.
Or call: 0131 442 2100
Scottish Welfare Fund
The Scottish Welfare Fund can provide crisis grants to cover the cost of an emergency.
Or call: 0131 529 5299
Department of Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy.
Home Energy Scotland
Home Energy Scotland provides free and impartial energy advice.
Or call: 0808 808 2282
Shelter Scotland
Shelter Scotland can provide free housing advice.
Or call: 0808 800 4444
Social Security Scotland
Social Security Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, they can provide information on benefits, funds and grants, including Child Benefit and tax credits.