“From 2021 to 2022, there was a 600% increase in referrals and people presenting and there was an 82% increase in people looking for essentials like food, clothing or toiletries.”
That’s the stark outlook for Aberdeen Cyrenians who, regrettably, are only getting busier.
Amid rising household bills across the board, which are plunging more people into fuel and food poverty, Head of Corporate and Business Services, Donna Hutchison, explains the severity of the crisis facing thousands of families across the North-east.
“For us, it’s not a good thing if we’re getting busier, but unfortunately, we are.
“We are seeing demand increase and we are seeing complexity of issues increase.
“The figures indicate that we will see that continue through until the end of the year.
“December would normally be our busiest month and, for context, in December 2022 we saw a 10% increase into January 2023 and a further 22% increase from January through to March.”
Numbers have increased further since spring, with 150 families (three or more people), accessing the direct access service in the latest figures shown to us from August this year, many of which have one person in the family in employment.
The direct access service offers walk-in support to anyone requiring it, ranging from food parcels to advice from a member of staff about energy bills.
Overall, there’s been a 36.6% increase from March to August in families requiring the service. Donna says that’s a glimpse into what the future holds for the charity.
“Going by those numbers it’s only getting busier, unfortunately.”
“The best thing that could happen is that we don’t need to exist. But we’ve existed for 55 years, and I don’t think we will be going anywhere in the next 55 years.”
In Aberdeen, it’s estimated that more than 20% of children are in poverty.
While more and more people find themselves relying on charities to survive, the demand is growing at such a rate that some charities are now facing crisis themselves.
“The reality is, Aberdeen is a relatively small city and there are great charities all competing for the same airtime, for the same funding, each that’s worthwhile in its own cause,” added Donna.
“We are already seeing through some channels both locally and nationally that smaller charities are closing.
“We are aware of other foodbanks that are potentially having to close or reduce their services because they can’t cope with the demand and the costs associated with keeping the services going.
“We are aware of other local charities in Aberdeen who have had to put out funding pleas to keep the doors open.
“The continued crisis will see more smaller charities go to the wall and unfortunately it will be people like us who need to pick up that demand because it needs to be serviced and supported somehow.
“Everybody is competing for the same pot of trusts and foundations and the reality is that it’s a lot harder for companies to give money nowadays.
“While corporate volunteering and time is definitely of value, it doesn’t replace the things that need to paid for to keep us going.”
There’s no doubt that the myriad of depressing statistics makes for grim reading.
A total of 870 people accessed the Cyrenians direct access service in August, more than in any other month this year. That number will almost certainly rise as we head into the winter months as families begin to feel the pressure ahead of the Christmas period.
On the frontline, a caring group of staff, like Team Leader Karen Alexander, meet with anyone who needs support daily.
“We are the first point of contact for most service users. People will come to ourselves at the point of crisis or at intervention stage where they know something is going to happen and ask what we can do to help them.
“They will come in, get a cup of tea or coffee and we’ll have a chat with them to find out exactly what it is they’re here for.
“Often it is just contacting energy companies and explaining a little bit about the situation, what can we do to help them, although sometimes you just can’t help.
“In that case we support them as best we can, we give them food parcels, we help them do their laundry, let them shower and such like so they’re maybe not using so much energy.
“For some people it can just be for food provision, for some people it’s energy crisis and they’re off the grid completely and don’t know what to do or where to go.
“Sometimes people will only come to us when they are in a real crisis.”
Set up as a soup kitchen by students from the University of Aberdeen in 1968, the charity has evolved over time.
Now, their Summer Street building provides service users with more than just a hearty meal.
“We can offer fuel bank vouchers and we can offer to contact energy companies and such like for them.
“We also have a clothes store as it could be the simple fact that people have no clothes and winter is coming.
“We offer shower facilities, laundry facilities and food distribution as well. We can also signpost to other places too if we can’t support them.
“We’re also helping people that are coming out of the justice system, helping them get houses and such like before they get out, so there’s a support in place for them too.
“And as people’s mental health is declining, a lot more people are coming in for emotional support. People are isolated so they are coming in just to have a chat with us, for a coffee, just to get them out the house.”
Some 4,983 people accessed the direct access services offered by the Aberdeen Cyrenians between February and August this year.
Of those near-5000 people, 897 were families.
“We’ve seen an increase in families coming, often two-parent families where one is working and one has lost their job, so they’re not meeting the needs of their bills.
“People that have worked in oil and gas and they’ve lost their jobs during CV19, or they’ve been self-employed and they’re trying to rebuild.
“Previously we were busy, but it was a lot of individuals or just two adults. But there is a lot of people coming in with families, with children, needing help.
“It’s getting bad.”
Economic uncertainty isn’t helping the charity either.
Rising demand means the charity needs more support from businesses, more fundraising activities and more donations.
“Funding is a big thing. If we don’t get the funding, we can’t get the staff.
“And we run on donations, but people are feeling the pinch, and people that would be donating to foodbanks are now supporting their own families.”
However, it isn’t all doom and gloom for the charity.
Funding might be a concern for now, but a reliable group of staff and volunteers are able to meet the needs of the thousands of people they see and help on a yearly basis.
“I think social care is always understaffed but our team is sustainable at the moment”, added Karen.
“Get involved. We’ve got a pool of volunteers at the minute and they’re thriving just now because they’re able to help people. If you’re thinking about doing it, come and speak to us.
“It’s challenging, but also it makes you feel like you’re doing something for your community. You’re helping people who don’t know where to turn, and sometimes just a few kind words is what changes their way of thinking.”