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Café Chat - Interview with Ron Strachan, Volunteer & Education Coordinator
“The cost-of-living means more people are coming to us worried and struggling to make ends meet.
It’s important to us that Café Chat is more than just a place to eat, we have some great laughs too. As a volunteer run project, everyone likes to go the extra mile: offering lots of choice, cooking healthy, fresh nutritious meals, and giving people a few hours of company in a warm and enjoyable setting.
We play a bit of music and have a great blether with everyone. It is so much more than just a place to sit and eat, it’s homely and inviting.
People feel more comfortable and open up when in a relaxing atmosphere. We sit with people and take the time to listen to how we can support in other ways.
It has been so heart-warming for me to see the impact volunteers make with Café Chat. For so many of our guests, this is the only time of day they are out of the house and socialising with others. “
2024 Aberdeen Housing Emergency
Yesterday our CEO Donna Hutchison, on behalf of Aberdeen Cyrenians, signed an open letter along with colleagues in our sector, calling upon Aberdeen City Council to declare a housing emergency.
Taking this step has not been something we do lightly.
Read more about why this is necessary, and what we hope to achieve
In memory of Kevin Thorburn
It is with great sadness that Aberdeen Cyrenians can confirm that our dearest colleague, Kevin Thorburn has passed away. Our thoughts are with Kevin’s family and friends at this difficult time.
Read more about the impact he made on people's lives.
World Homelessness Day: Home at the heart of recovery by Jennifer McAughtrie, Head of Services
Having a place to call “Home” is the foundation of recovery. A safe, secure, and stable home is a fundamental need and basic human right. Home is so much more than a roof over your head, it is where you should feel at ease in body and mind. Home is a place to recharge and recuperate. Home is a place you should feel safe. Home gives you stability and the opportunity to grow.
Today is World Homelessness Day, recognising the significance of housing to personal wellbeing, a day to champion vital support, and recognise and listen to the invaluable voices of those with lived experience in responding to the current challenges.
It is also World Mental Health Day, a significant factor in creating homelessness risk for those that suffer from poor mental health and adverse experiences, and in turn a symptom and outcome of homelessness due to the heavy burden of stress, anxiety and the erosion of dignity.
Benefits of Volunteering by Ron Strachan, Volunteering Coordinator
Volunteering has been around for centuries and is recognised as invaluable both to individuals and the community by the Scottish Government.
Jennifer McAughtrie, Head of Services: Open your eyes to the fight for survival happening on your doorstep
Recently The Guardian reported a record number of households in the UK are facing food poverty, with the Independent Food Aid Network stating 90% of food banks are seeing an increase in demand.
The cost-of-living crisis, energy hikes, inflation, food price increases of 16.7% in the past 12 months, and now a dwindling food supply is throwing people into trouble.
Reflecting on 2022: Another Year of Increased Demand in Services
As we say goodbye to another year, which seems to have flown by, I wanted to take some time to reflect on 2022.
The last few years have been extremely challenging for us, but the beginning of 2022 seemed to offer a glimmer of hope as we started to ease out further from the Covid-19 pandemic. However, for some of the most vulnerable people in our community the pandemic is still having an effect, with new variants emerging and the residual impact on our economy and job markets.
Finding out more about Wernham House
I’ve worked for Aberdeen Cyrenians for just over two years and whilst I’d like to think that I know a fair bit about what happens across our organisation day to day in the here and now, we are a 53-year-old organisation with a rich history. It is sometimes easy to forget that in that time, there are many, many Cyrenians who have gone before me.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
So I haven’t lost the plot with the timing of my Christmas message (read on, all will become clear!), but it’s reached that time of year where I walk into the supermarket and get a cold shiver when I see the first of the Christmas goodies on sale. I’m not a total grinch, but for me, it definitely takes me a wee moment more than most to warm up to the reality that Christmas is around the corner.