“An opportunity to make history”: Cyrenians appoint Manager for Social Bite Village

Homelessness and inclusion charity Cyrenians have appointed a Manager for the Social Bite Village. Kathy Hoyle says she is ‘thrilled to be managing such an exciting and innovative project’. Continue reading “An opportunity to make history”: Cyrenians appoint Manager for Social Bite Village

Sit Down for Change: charity art auction supports campaign to end homelessness

 

BoConcept Scotland are proud to host a unique ‘Sit Down for Change’ charity art auction in aid of Social Bite and the Scottish Government’s mission to eradicate homelessness within the next five years. Continue reading Sit Down for Change: charity art auction supports campaign to end homelessness

City council sets up homelessness taskforce

New group aims to end use of B & B accommodation

The city council has created a new homelessness task force to investigate the growing problem in the city. Chaired by the ‘Homelessness Champion’, Councillor Kate Campbell, the task force will review the use of bed and breakfast accommodation and explore alternatives that could better meet the needs of individuals and families, with an aim to end the use of bed and breakfast accommodation. Continue reading City council sets up homelessness taskforce

Social Bite’s Sleep in the Park raises £500,000 in only three weeks

Social Bite’s Sleep in the Park initiative has raised over £500,000 in only three weeks.  The social business is on an ambitious mission to work with others to end homelessness in Scotland within five years (see below), and more than 2,000 people have already pledged to sleep out at the Sleep in the Park event in Princes Street Gardens on December 9th.

Fifteen families have also signed up to offer a spare room and 28 companies are offering job opportunities to homeless people.

Up to ten thousand people are expected to ‘sleep rough’at the event, which has been billed ‘Live Aid for Scottish Homelessness’. Attractions include:

  • Live concert featuring ‘buskers’ Liam GallagherDeacon BlueAmy Macdonald and Frightened Rabbit. all playing rare stripped back acoustic sets.
  • Sir Bob Geldof will be sleeping out and supporting the event
  • Comedy legend John Cleese to tell a bedtime story to top fundraisers

Social Bite has set a fundraising target of £4m and is looking to generate 1,000 employment offers and 1,000 ‘spare room’ supported lodging pledges.

To register to participate, go to sleepinthepark.co.uk

Sleep in the Park_Booklet

 

Cyrenians launch Homeless Navigator Project

Bus photo

The Homeless Navigator Project is a new Comic Relief and Essential Edinburgh funded service within Cyrenians that seeks to address a visible problem with rough sleeping in Edinburgh. The project aims to offer an alternative opportunity for people who are experiencing homelessness and cannot, for whatever reason, make use of the current support services that exist in Edinburgh. Continue reading Cyrenians launch Homeless Navigator Project