Article Source: Social Bite
Last Updated: 20 November 2023 10:52
Kicking off the campaign in Edinburgh, Josh Littlejohn MBE, founder of Social Bite, unveiled the new Nest House design which will feature in two planned new villages – one soon to be announced in South Lanarkshire, and the other in the recently announced Recovery Village in Dundee.
Located in St Andrews Square in Scotland’s capital, the Nest House will give an insight into the plans for the new village in South Lanarkshire, as well as the state-of-the-art Recovery Village in Dundee, both planned to open in early 2025. As part of the charity’s Festival of Kindness campaign, the public are being encouraged to ‘give the gift of home’ and can make a donation to the new Villages which put dignity and support at the core of recovery and people’s journey out of homelessness.
Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness campaign has run nationally every year for the past four years with the aim of providing 300,000 gifts, meals and other essential items to homeless and vulnerable people this Christmas. Donations can be brought to the tree itself located in St Andrew Square in Edinburgh or made online, with a wish list of gifts published that homeless and vulnerable people need most at Christmas.
In addition, five ‘Trees of Kindness’ have been installed in Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and London where donors can bring a physical gift which will all be distributed to homeless and vulnerable people in time for Christmas. Donation stations will launch from Saturday 18th November in St Andrews Square, Edinburgh and Charing Cross station on The Strand, London Friday 17th November (today).
Donations will be able to be made in other major cities this month from:
• 29th November - Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
• 30th November - City Square, Dundee
• 1st December - St. Nicholas Street, Aberdeen
For those who can’t make it along to the Festival of Kindness donation points, contributions can also be made online to the ‘Festival of Kindness’. The charity has published a wish list of items and gifts that vulnerable people and those experiencing homelessness need most at this time of year. These include a warm pair of gloves, a hot water bottle and a torch, good quality socks and toys for children living in temporary accommodation to open on Christmas morning. Donors can also buy a Christmas dinner, a gift, a pack of essential items and overnight emergency accommodation for £28.
With homelessness in Scotland reaching record levels, more children than ever living in temporary accommodation and rhetoric of ‘lifestyle choices’ of those experiencing homelessness making headlines, Social Bite is on an urgent mission to raise funds and donations for those who need it most, and is calling on big-hearted Scots to help them provide essential items and some much needed joy to those who need it most.
Josh Littlejohn MBE, founder of Social Bite, said: “This year we have seen an increase in homelessness in Scotland to record levels. From Covid, to the cost of living crisis, and now unfortunately, misleading commentary from some high-profiled politicians, those experiencing homelessness have been subject to the toughest few years we’ve seen; so once again we are asking the people of Scotland to join us in helping raise critical funds for those that need it most at Christmas. As well as donating towards Christmas dinners and gifts, this year we are also asking the public to give the gift of home by donating towards two new villages.
“The proposed new Villages will be amongst our most important projects to date and that’s why we wanted to give donors the option of helping us create these crucial facilities. We are thrilled to welcome the public to see our prototype house being displayed in St Andrews Square. We believe that everyone, no matter their circumstances should be treated with respect and dignity, which these homes reflect in their design.”
Dobbies has announced its free Grow How session for December, where customers can immerse themselves in the Christmas spirit and learn how to look after Poinsettias through the festive season.
READ MOREAldi Scotland is ensuring its customers don't need to splurge on their décor this festive season, as it announces the return of its freshly cut Nordmann Fir trees starting from just £16.99.
READ MORELocals urged to help families facing sacrifices and shortages this Christmas by donating decorations and treats.
READ MORELoch Lomond Shores is hosting its fantastic FREE Christmas festival December 2nd & 3rd bringing family festive cheer to visitors looking for a great day out to get them in that festive frame of mind!
READ MOREAn impressive series of outdoor artwork created by young people in Alloa has been unveiled along the National Cycle Network.
READ MOREDobbies, the UK's leading garden centre, is announcing a collaboration with grant-giving charity, Cash for Kids, to give children in need a gift this Christmas.
READ MORELGBTQ+ young people across Scotland have lent their voices to a first-of-its-kind social history project that will preserve their experiences, stories and hopes for the future.
READ MOREDobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is kickstarting the holiday season with Santa's Arrival on Thursday 23 November.
READ MORELeading homelessness charity, Social Bite, has unveiled its new 'Nest House' prototype, as part of the launch of its fourth annual Festival of Kindness.
READ MORELate night store opening with night market, exclusive prize draw, family photography & more!
READ MORE'PAWS ON PLASTIC' turns FIVE on 20th November and is asking dog owners to not only pick a couple of pieces of LITTER while walking their dogs, and also post a beautiful photo on their social media.
READ MOREInsane Championship Wrestling (ICW), a revolutionary name in the world of professional wrestling, has announced a bittersweet farewell to its iconic Fight Club brand.
READ MOREA talented roster of nominees has been unveiled for the highly anticipated 2023 Scottish Jazz Awards with the public vote now open.
READ MOREOne Scot will find a voucher for a year's worth of books in one of this year's free Book Week Scotland books, which feature a story from a Glasgow writer,
READ MOREThe Scottish Hospitality Group has launched a new campaign, warning the Scottish Government that there is just five weeks to save the Scottish hospitality industry.
READ MOREGet ready to ring in the holiday season with The Elf Experience at Wonderworld, where memories are made, hearts are warmed, and the spirit of Christmas shines as brightly as Rudolph's nose.
READ MORESeachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) is set to return for a third year, with organisers encouraging Gaelic speakers and learners to make the most of an exclusive funding opportunity.
READ MOREScottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives with reading and writing, has announced that it will gift books to children and families visiting food banks this winter, for the third year.
READ MORESanta and his elves will be bringing festive cheer to youngsters at Archie’s Christmas Workshop in Broughty Ferry with all proceeds supporting a good ‘Claus’.
READ MORETo celebrate the changing season, Rusacks St Andrews launches three new offerings, including new menus, wine and whisky offerings at 18, live music at One Under Bar, and more.
READ MOREThe Reeling, Scotland's newest traditional music festival, is set to return to Rouken Glen Park for its second year in June 2024 with a spectacular line up and even bigger programme of activities!
READ MOREElf all-dayers, Home Alone double bills, and 5 new movies on the line up at itison Drive In Movies returns to Loch Lomond Shores!
READ MOREYoung Scots are being encouraged to send a poem or joke to an older person this festive season, through 'Festive Friends' post-boxes launching in Aldi Scotland stores this week.
READ MOREDobbies is announcing the return of its hugely popular Santa Paws experience, designed for dog lovers across the country where cherished pets can meet Santa Claus at his grotto.
READ MOREEE invites the public to participate in an epic treasure hunt for a chance to win up to £1,000 worth of gaming goodies!
READ MORESpecsavers Scottish Music Awards have revealed the final round of winners ahead of the ceremony taking place at the iconic Barrowland Ballroom this Saturday 4th November.
READ MOREThe world's favourite whisky glass - the Glencairn Glass - is once again delving into the dark side of crime fiction with the launch of its popular annual crime short story competition.
READ MOREOne Scot will find a voucher for a year's worth of books in one of this year's free Book Week Scotland books!
READ MORESterling Home has today launched ticket sales for a free festive event, inviting shoppers into their Dunfermline store to curate the perfect Christmas at home.
READ MORECelebrating ten years of itison Drive-In Movies Christmas at Loch Lomond Shores – and over 200,000 visitors!
READ MORE