Have given some time recently to help the Cyrenians in Edinburgh develop their public profile, and build the capacity to do that amongst their team.  Hope the input was appreciated and yields results.  I've helped in projects for the homeless before, doing Crisis at Christams in the early eighties and always assist the Salvation Army when I can.

I think it's a travesty that anyone is homeless in this day and age and an indictment of a supposedly civilised society.  What I like about the Cyrenians is the work they do to deal with the causes of homelessness.  Make no mistake, official figures vastly under-estimate the scale of the problem - especially amongst young people.   Yep, these guys really can make a difference.  Here's some extracts from what they say about themselves.

Homelessness can and does happen to anyone. It is the most vulnerable, however, who are most at risk - young people coming out of care, those with mental health difficulties, asylum seekers and refugees and those affected by  family breakdowns.

Edinburgh Cyrenian projects make a lasting, significant difference to peoples'  lives - often taking months or years of hard work to help them build a safe,  secure and fulfilling life away from homelessness.

What we do
We create opportunities that weren't there before and we provide practical help and the sort of support that enables people to help themselves. In this way we empower those who are excluded to take control of their lives and to fulfil their potential with outcomes such as better housing, employability, health and well-being.