Donations to Homelessness Charity Doubled in Big Give

Tuesday November 28 2023

Scottish homelessness charity Bethany Christian Trust is taking part in the 2023 Big Give Christmas Challenge, with donations doubled this week (from today, Tuesday November 28).

All donations go towards providing access to emergency assistance and accommodation at the Rapid Re-accommodation Welcome Centre, a support hub complete with private rooms, tailored care and access to positive move-on options.  

The Centre opened for the 2023-24 winter season on 4^th October, with demand on the service already at record heights against the backdrop of a housing emergency and the rising cost of living placing extra strain on households. During the first 50 nights, the Centre provided accommodation and support for 290 people who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets.  

For this week only, donations towards the charity’s Buy a Bed campaign will be doubled by the Mackie Foundation and an anonymous donor. Every £21 donation helps give someone facing a challenging and cold night on the streets access to a warm bed and hot meal.

Each gift card purchased will give one person access to: 

• A warm, safe, private room with en-suite facilities 
• 24-hour care and support from professional, supportive and loving staff 
• Three meals a day including a freshly prepared, hot two-course dinner 
• A wide range of on-site support services 
• Assistance to move rapidly out of the crisis of homelessness 

Founded by Bethany Christian Trust in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, and supported by the Scottish Government, the Welcome Centre was pioneered in 2020 as an emergency response to the outbreak of Covid-19, providing en-suite rooms as a deliberate move away from congregate shelter provision, and has since helped to establish a new model of tailored support for people rough sleeping.

This winter the City of Edinburgh Council are again covering the cost of the room hire. Bethany are providing the large professional team to support people in crisis and are raising funds through the Buy a Bed campaign to enable this service. The Welcome Centre also relies on around 1,000 volunteers from churches across the Lothians who provide the catering and hot evening meals.

Alasdair Bennett, Chief Executive at Bethany Christian Trust said: “Giving someone the opportunity to escape the cold into safe accommodation and receive a hot meal, with love and support will save lives. Your donation will provide our team with the means to help people most in need find a warm and loving place to stay in an emergency this winter, and support to move on to further accommodation.”

You can donate to the Buy a Bed campaign at www.bethanychristiantrust.com/buy-a-bed. Donations will be doubled between November 28 at 12pm and December 5 at 12pm.

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