No one should spend Christmas in crisis
Yet over 1,700 households in Aberdeen will
Donate today to give the gift of hope this Christmas
Create change for someone in crisis
Donate now to help people in our local community
ensures a warm welcome for everyone in need with tea, biscuits and a smile
£12
provides support, food parcels and comfort to someone in crisis
£25
creates dignity and changes lives through social and well-being activities
£60
pays for a day to run one of our vital services offering life-saving support.
£600
Give the gift of hope this winter and support people experiencing crisis
No one should spend Christmas in crisis, yet over 1,700 households in Aberdeen will.
Can you help give the gift of hope?
Other ways you can help make a difference
Lauren’s story
Lauren and her little girl clung to each other on their first night away from home, bundled together on a friend’s sofa. She had escaped her husband’s anger, but they had lost their home and faced an uncertain future.
She longed to give her daughter warmth and safety, and whispered promises that they would start a new life together. But fear followed her like a shadow. Lauren stopped sending her daughter to school, afraid her husband might find them. But she knew that her daughter missed her friends, and homeschooling made it hard to get a job.
Lauren worried each night about what to do next. Most of all, she worried about having to go back.
The difference you make
When Lauren arrived at Aberdeen Cyrenians, she felt anxious and hesitant, but the staff welcomed her with warmth and gentle encouragement. Over a steaming cup of tea, she shared her story. She felt the weight of her fears begin to lift, just a little, as they reassured her that she wasn’t alone in finding a way forward.
With support, Lauren and her daughter received food, warm clothes, and even Christmas treats. Together, they filled out applications for housing, financial support, and a new school. They also worked with her on a restraining order, taking steps to give Lauren a sense of protection she hadn’t felt in years.
As Christmas approached, Lauren and her daughter moved into a small but safe new home. For the first time in a long while, she decorated a little tree, adding the gifts for her daughter that kind strangers had donated. Watching her daughter’s eyes light up with wonder, was the hope that she had been fighting for. This was their first Christmas in a new life.
With ongoing support, Lauren has started to feel a spark of confidence and has been learning new skills for work. “Now, I can finally look forward,” she says. “The help I received has allowed me to dream again. I can enjoy the little things in life, I feel more confident, and I’m making new friends. I am focused on building our future, and making new happy memories.”