A Kitchen Conversation on Homelessness with Bethany

We’re delighted that Bethany Christian Trust is able to use our Undercroft kitchen at St Andrew’s and St George’s West to prepare home cooked meals for their guests who are now housed in a hotel only a few minutes away from our city centre church.

Naomi Miller of Bethany Care Shelter speaks to Rev Dr Rosie Magee, Minister of St Andrew’s and St George’s West about the difference this is making to Bethany’s work.

Bethany Christian Trust’s emergency Care Shelter has saved lives in Edinburgh and beyond for more than two decades.  It offers a bed, a hot meal and support to those sleeping on the streets, and a first step to a better life. 

The Care Shelter is usually based at Diadem, a converted church a few miles from the city centre.

Then came COVID-19.

During lockdown councils throughout the UK have stepped up to provide accommodation for everyone sleeping rough. 

And so the Care Shelter moved to a city centre hotel – just a few minutes away from St Andrew’s and St George’s West. 

Hotel accommodation means that each guest has an individual room, to permit social distancing – but unfortunately Bethany catering teams can’t use the hotel kitchen to prepare food.  Volunteers had to cook and prepare food at Diadem and transport it into the city centre for their guests. 

Meanwhile our normally busy Undercroft cafe kitchen lay ready and waiting just a few minutes away.  So it is a privilege to answer an appeal for help from Bethany and to offer the use of our kitchen to Bethany for their fantastic work in our parish and beyond.

Find out more about Bethany and how you can support their work on their website