Get involved this winter to help people in crisis
Poverty in Aberdeen is worsening, and a housing emergency has been declared. Support people in need this winter by donating, volunteering, shopping for gifts in our online store, and by spreading the word.
Give the gift of hope this winter
The cost-of-living crisis is continuing to hit our communities hard. Many people are barely surviving; and those most vulnerable are worst affected.
In 2023-24, we provided 81,830 support appointments (up 21% from the previous year) and provide food to someone an average of every four minutes.
We need your help to support those who are struggling this winter.
Get involved and give hope to people in crisis
Make a donation to support people facing crisis this winter
Help fight hunger this winter by donating food to our Harvest Appeal
Gift a donation in someone’s name and download a printable card
Shop with us to help fight exclusion and give a gift that makes an impact
Bring your colleagues, team or group together to volunteer together
Use the power of social to make change happen
Join our Coffee Club and make lasting change with your small change
Volunteer your time to make a difference
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.
Lauren’s Story
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.”