Latest News and Updates
Our new partnership with Prax Foundation Roots
Prax Foundation Roots has commenced a monthly funding contribution, along with a monthly food shop and ad-hoc donations of office furniture. As well as this, the Prax Group will be offering their staff corporate volunteering placements, which will range from helping in our charity’s warehouse or community kitchen Café Chat, to renovation projects and fundraising opportunities.
Aberdeen Cyrenians appoints Donna Hutchison as new CEO
Donna joined the organisation in 2022 as Head of Corporate and Business Services and, with a passion for social justice, has been working closely with key stakeholders to raise awareness of the work the charity has been delivering for more than five decades.
Aberdeen Cyrenians strengthens board with the appointment of Aberdein Considine CFO Julie Thomson
Aberdeen Cyrenians and Deloitte announce new partnership for social impact and successful futures
Aberdeen Cyrenians appoints two new trustees as charity grows to meet unprecedented demand
Among existing trustees, energy industry professional Bruce Bricknell, Rebecca Walker a solicitor with a local Aberdeen firm, energy industry professional Alastair Bisset and Lecturer in Sociology Caroline Hood - expert in investments and finance Lachlan Bursle and communications professional Fiona Lindsay have now been appointed.
Rising need in Aberdeen communities sees Cyrenians opening new support hubs
During the pandemic, Direct Access continued to provide essentials such as food, toiletries and clothing; advocacy, support and information to secure temporary and permanent homes; poverty support including benefits advice, IT access and skills training; as well as social support.
Direct Access will continue to run from Summer Street but will also be run from their premises in Victoria Road, Torry and from new premises in Woodside.
Aberdeen Cyrenians launch new peer support service
Aberdeen Cyrenians helps people to achieve their goals by working alongside them, reducing and overcome barriers that they face and empowering them to build skills and resilience.
Peer support is the process of giving and receiving non-clinical assistance to achieve long-term recovery from severe psychiatric, traumatic or substance use challenges.
Aberdeen Cyrenians reflects on the end of another challenging year
When the pandemic first hit in March 2020, during the first lockdown the charity witnessed an 890% increase in demand for services, clearly exhibiting the disastrous effect the Covid-19 pandemic was having on the local community.
Chris Bennett-Taylor to become Chief Executive of Aberdeen Cyrenians
Aberdeen Cyrenians has announced that its interim Chief Executive, Chris Bennett-Taylor, has been appointed to the role on a permanent basis. Mr Bennett-Taylor was appointed interim Chief Executive in July following the departure of Mike Burns to the national mental health charity, Penumbra, having previously been the organisations Head of Corporate and Business Services.
Aberdeen Cyrenians asks local community to light up Aberdeen in Winter Wonderland Festive Trail
Aberdeen Cyrenians is launching their Winter Wonderland Festive Trail appeal for a second year as the local charity aims to raise vital funds for people facing crisis in the North-East.
The charity is asking people to decorate their homes for the festive season and to sign up to join their Winter Wonderland Festive Trail to light up the city.
Aberdeen Cyrenians unveils its new look!
Starting life as a soup kitchen organised by Aberdeen University students, Aberdeen Cyrenians has spent over 50 years providing a range of support and care services to vulnerable people and those in crisis in the North-East of Scotland.
Last year, as we grew our services in response to the rising demand, we decided to embark on a project to update our identity. We have had significant growth in the past few years, and we have evolved massively as a charity; we wanted a logo that reflected our growth, how we have evolved as well as future ambitions.
Aberdeen Cyrenians launches locally-sourced self-care boxes to give the city a hug
North-East charity Aberdeen Cyrenians has teamed up with local businesses to launch ‘Hug in a Box’, a mental health gift box designed to boost resilience and encourage self-care. All profits from ‘Hug in a Box’ will go towards giving care and support to and anyone experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their home through poverty, crisis, abuse, mental ill-health or addiction in the North-East.
Chris Bennett-Taylor to become interim CEO of Aberdeen Cyrenians as Mike Burns steps down
Announcing the imminent departure of our chief executive, Mike Burns, as he moves takes on the role of CEO of national mental health charity, Penumbra.
Aberdeen Cyrenians announces new Housing First initiative to help people into long-term homes
After leading the most successful Housing First pathfinder programme in Scotland, Aberdeen Cyrenians is today launching their new housing initiative with support from Crisis UK and the Scottish Government. Settled: Homes for All is a new style of letting agency based on private social letting and the housing first principles.
Aberdeen Cyrenians receives donation from Harbour Energy to help North-East Residents facing crisis
Harbour Energy, a recent merger of Chrysaor and Premier Oil, is delivering life-saving change for vulnerable people in the north-east of Scotland thanks to their significant donation to local charity Aberdeen Cyrenians.
Aberdeen Cyrenians steps up as ‘Diversity Champion’ this IDAHOBIT Day
On Monday 17 May, Aberdeen Cyrenians is joining people in more than 132 countries across the globe to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT Day).
StreetVet set to open in Aberdeen
The charity StreetVet will be launching its outreach services to Aberdeen on Tuesday 27th April, working in partnership with Aberdeen Cyrenians to support their clients and their furry friends affected by homelessness.
Nationwide awards £50,000 grant to Aberdeen Cyrenians to support local LGBTQ+ community
Nationwide Building Society in Aberdeen have partnered with Cyrenians as part of our Community Grants Programme, as we believe everyone deserves a place fit to call home.
Local homeless charity welcomes commitment to Housing First from all political parties
Aberdeen Cyrenians, is welcoming the commitment from all Holyrood political parties to support the Housing First approach in their manifestos. As the lead organisation of the local Pathfinder project, the most successful in Scotland with no evictions and 93% sustainment of housing, Housing First plays a vital role in ending homelessness in the north east for those affected by trauma, abuse, addictions and mental ill health.
Aberdeen Cyrenians seeking bravehearts to step forward for their Virtual Lego Walk!
How far will you go to help someone in crisis? Do you have it in you to challenge yourself and step forward?
The Aberdeen Cyrenians Lego walk challenge is not for the faint-hearted. Make change happen right from your own home, step up, and show us you care.
Aberdeen Cyrenians are on the hunt for challenge seekers in 2021!
A new year brings the chance for new opportunities, goals and challenges. If you’re looking for adventure, motivation and the warm fuzzy feeling of making a difference, challenge fundraising could be just what you’re looking for.
North-East Charity continues vital support during lockdown
North-East charity Aberdeen Cyrenians is urging anyone facing crisis to get in touch as the latest lockdown begins in Scotland.
Aberdeen Cyrenians campaign to help people in need of a safe place to call home
North-East charity Aberdeen Cyrenians today launches their Christmas giving campaign, A Safe Place to Call Home, to recognise the important role that “home” has had in keeping people safe during 2020.
Aberdeen Cyrenians new donation point is now open!
The new donation point located in the city centre will allow donations to be quarantined and better organised to get them safely to people in immediate need.
Winter Wonderland Festive Trail launched
Aberdeen Cyrenians are asking people decorating their homes for the festive season to join their Winter Wonderland Festive Trail and light up the city in recognition of “Home” as our safe haven this year.
Aberdeen International Airport donates weekly food packages to Aberdeen Cyrenians
Aberdeen International Airport has supported more than 1,200 of the most vulnerable people in society by making weekly food donations to Aberdeen Cyrenians.
Aberdeen Cyrenians win Key Worker accolade at Aberdeen’s Champion Awards
Aberdeen Cyrenians has been celebrated for its dedication to supporting people during the pandemic and has virtually picked up the Key Worker (Team) accolade at the Aberdeen’s Champion Awards.
World Homeless Day
During Covid-19, home has been our sanctuary for us and our loved ones. For those affected by homelessness, the impact has been devastating.
New care and support service launched
A new service offering care and support in the home as part of the innovative Granite Care Consortium is being launched by Aberdeen Cyrenians.
Top Tips for Furlough Resilience
As furlough comes to an end, many people may have worries about what comes next. Aberdeen Cyrenians supports people facing crisis whether it’s housing, financial, safety or mental health concerns. If you’re worried about the future but don’t know what to do next, here’s our top tips.
Find out more about our Home/Away Challenge
The Home/Away challenge asked teams to work together to travel 555 miles via walking, cycling or running to raise vital funds for Aberdeen Cyrenians to support services supporting those affected by homelessness and crisis.
Aberdeen Cyrenians challenges young people to rethink homelessness
Young people in Aberdeen are being urged to think about where they sleep – as part of a new campaign challenging the stigma and understanding of homelessness.
New service supporting survivors of childhood abuse launches
Aberdeen Cyrenians has joined forces with Penumbra to offer innovative care to survivors of historical abuse in the north-east.
Covid Changes
Aberdeen Cyrenians continues to respond to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click the link below to find out more about our delivery service AC2U: providing emergency supplies to those in crisis, our new freephone support number 0808 1964422, and other service changes.
Volunteering Week 2020
Malcolm started volunteering with Aberdeen Cyrenians in 2014 and has shared a bit about his experience for Volunteers’ Week!
Case Study: Mick
Originally printed in the Evening Express in 2018.
Mick, 72, is aiming to get life back on track with Aberdeen Cyrenians after six years of begging.