The Community Help & Advice Initiative (CHAI) is an Edinburgh based Third Sector Advice Charity that helps and empowers people through the provision of free, confidential, impartial advice services in relation to welfare rights, debt, employability and housing matters. We work holistically to facilitate the needs of our clients with inclusion and equality at the core of our practice. Our aim is to relive poverty, prevent homelessness, encourage employability and increase our clients quality of life.

During these uncertain economic times, more people than ever need our support, with referrals to our Advice services increasing weekly. This has been combined with a decrease in available funding opportunities with some funders having to delay or stop funding. Funding from providers is also short term and competitive which means our services and staff can feel insecure. There also isn’t the same opportunities for Advice Charities to obtain funding from popular or traditional fundraising sources, for example; community fundraising; challenge or running events because the public tend to support health related charities. To help underpin our work we’re asking you to support CHAI. Support will help give us the stability we need during these uncertain times, ensuring a continuity of service for people living with or facing hardship.