Edinburgh City Mission facts for kids

Edinburgh City Mission is a Christian charity in Scotland, UK. It helps people in need, especially in the city of Edinburgh and nearby areas.

Helping People in Edinburgh

The main goal of Edinburgh City Mission is to share the Christian message through both words and actions. This means they work to help people who are experiencing poverty. They focus on communities in Edinburgh that need the most support.

A Long History of Helping

Edinburgh City Mission started a long time ago, on March 1, 1832. It was founded by a person named David Nasmith. This was only six years after the very first "City Mission" in the world began in Glasgow.

In the past, the Mission did many different kinds of outreach. This included talking to people on the streets and setting up special events. They also worked in poorer parts of the city through special "Mission Halls" and "Drop-In Centres." These places offered help and support.

The Mission also used to run a program called Christian Heritage Edinburgh. This program helped people learn about Scotland's Christian history. Christian Heritage Edinburgh became its own separate charity a few years ago.

How They Help Today

Today, Edinburgh City Mission runs a network of seven Foodbanks. These Foodbanks are based in churches across Edinburgh and the surrounding areas. They give food and other important items to people who are finding it hard to buy basic necessities. The Foodbanks also offer friendly support and can guide people to other helpful services.

More Ways They Support

The Mission has also created other helpful programs. These include "Soul Food" meals, which provide warm food. They also have "Salaam," which offers support to refugees and people seeking asylum. The "Storehouse" is a special centre where food is stored and then given out. There is also a "Clothesbank" that provides clothing.

The Care Van

Edinburgh City Mission helped start the Care Van in 1990. They worked with another charity called Bethany Christian Trust. The Mission still helps manage the Care Van today. Forty churches in Edinburgh provide volunteer teams to run the Care Van almost every evening of the year. Other volunteers also run it for lunch during the week. The Care Van provides meals and support to people who are homeless.

In the summer of 2017, Duncan Cuthill became the new CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Edinburgh City Mission.