Cyrenians

To mark Alcohol Awareness Week (November 13-19), Edinburgh homelessness and inclusion charity Cyrenians highlights its work to alleviate the detrimental footprint that the misuse of alcohol leaves across communities. It has been well documented by health and social care professionals, as well as deb

In an open letter in The Herald, written to coincide with Mediation Awareness Week, a number of Scottish charities have stressed the importance of early intervention in reducing the number of people presenting as homeless and have urged the Scottish Government to take note. There are two sides to ev

A new service has been launched that seeks to address a visible problem with rough sleeping in Edinburgh. The Homeless Navigator Project is a new Comic Relief and Essential Edinburgh funded service within Cyrenians that aims to offer an alternative opportunity for people who are experiencing homeles

A group of 24 Scottish charities have come together to urge the UK government to stop the roll-out of the Universal Credit system in Scotland. A major change the benefits system, Universal Credit replaces six existing benefits with one, and is designed to make the benefits process easier. The govern

Cyrenians chief executive Ewan Aitken reflects on new homelessness research from Crisis. The recent report from the excellent Heriot Watt University commissioned by Crisis as part of their 50th year anniversary predicting a 50% plus rise in homelessness is shocking, but it comes as no surprise for m

The prototype of a home which will be built in a new Social Bite village for the homeless in Edinburgh is on show in St Andrews Square during the Edinburgh Festival. The home was designed by architect Jonathan Avery from Tiny House Scotland, which builds environmentally friendly micro-houses designe

Josh Littlejohn outside the new project for Social Bite The houses for Social Bite’s new village are now under construction with members of Edinburgh’s homeless community expected to be onsite before Christmas this year, Social Bite co-founder, Josh Littlejohn MBE, confirmed today.

Businesses in Edinburgh city centre are to help fund police officers and charity workers to address issues of homelessness and begging in the area. Essential Edinburgh, the organisation which runs the city’s central Business Improvement District (BID), said the investment will go towards a multi-a

Cyrenians CEO Ewan Aitken outlines his questions for candidates in the upcoming council elections. The news that we face a snap Westminster election fills me with, at best, mixed emotions. I relish the opportunity to challenge the philosophy which has brought us welfare reforms that are demonstrably

A Scottish charity has launched a new Facebook Messenger “bot” to teach Scots about the real causes of homelessness amongst young people after research found nearly half believe it is through choice or a refusal to accept assistance. The new poll, commissioned by Cyrenians, found 15% of Scots be

Homelessness, housing and anti-poverty groups have called for “real and urgent” action to better tackle and prevent the “human tragedy” of homelessness in Scotland In an open letter to cabinet secretary for communities, social security and equalities, Angela Constance, twelve of Scotland lea

Putting people with lived experience of homelessness at the centre of the solution is key, writes Ewan Aitken as he blogs on Shelter Scotland’s Homelessness Conference. I was very pleased to be asked to chair the Shelter Scotland Homelessness Conference last week. It’s the kind of thing I really

Ewan Aitken Ewan Aitken of homelessness charity Cyrenians blogs ahead of Shelter Scotland’s Homelessness Conference 2017

The Cyrenians charity has launched a new venture in partnership with the St Martin-in-the-Fields charity designed to bring together workers on the frontline of homelessness in Edinburgh. The St Martin’s Frontline Network will provide a space for mutual support, sharing best practice, and engaging

Cyrenians chief executive Ewan Aitken, second from right, congratulates Bert Robberechts, Clement Luciani, King Him Fung and Callum Barclay Students from Edinburgh Napier University have showcased their creative skills at a 24 hour event aimed at tackling homelessness in the city.