Get your parish involved in the Bethany Welcome Centre

Catholic parishes can help the homeless by providing catering teams at the Bethany Welcome Centre in Edinburgh.

It provides a welcoming, safe environment for rough sleepers in the city. Guests receive a hot meal prepared and served by groups from Christian churches from all over Edinburgh, East Lothian and West Lothian.

The number of Catholic parishes providing a catering team has grown over recent years and organisers want to encourage even more parishes to volunteers for session 2021-22.

If you can help

The Welcome Centre will run at the Haymarket Hub Hotel (EH12 5DR) from Monday 4 October to Sunday 1 May. Please email welcomecentre@bethanychristiantrust.com with the below information.

The number of nights you can offer.
Specific dates or nights that you would prefer, including any flexibility.
Availability in the festive period that you would consider (23 Dec to 2 Jan).
Dates that you cannot provide a team

Last session 2020/21

860 individuals stayed at the Welcome Centre.
On average, 29 people who were new to the service stayed each week.
8,403 daily access to the service across the season: an average of 41 people per day.

Find out more at www.bethanychristiantrust.com or call 07919 557 673.

WATCH: The homeless project inspired by St Catharine

A religious sister has highlighted the role of "divine providence" in helping setting up a homeless project in Edinburgh.

Sr Aelred Timmins, a Sister of Mercy who runs St Catherine's Mercy Centre, appeared on BBC Scotland's 'Relfections at the Quay' on Sunday.

Have a look at our excerpt of her chat with Martin Fair, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The full episode is available on the BBC iPlayer - click here.

Find out more about the homeless project at St Catharine's Mercy Centre here.

https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghRCdiocese/videos/2411711265793908/?__xts__[0]=68.ARA3YiNH4d4Kk_ATiYDsoQpzQ9TCGNOJBNzIInDQZKBmYEgrOkLZKAcucU_iCM3oX_-hUS0JrTQ01o1wTuv_YJ98AUDLFmaY1WGYy_bDM1BrrXs0EPGSbAmyCvlD5AL3xRbfPA9ctea___ym6o5lZpjMaGHKreo9RYtVkYK5zfmaqeUSugwJxDVWKeCRMbwoHyVZQ9_zYZVjRcibrNwjDbB2-YJwdf0W0ZKUZEqxvkYipP7Df6jhhzvUCOfCBduI3JWR1PLCBSLt9JpCCzif0BTBVObUEtKxXgn0x6Y2vTMlce1BZ_OM272bfVGLORl1y3kYPJEapCbRaMq6vGFYEnztDdaAY8zuzjo&__tn__=-R