Delicious, healthy, and handmade food which will help the city’s homeless is to go on sale in the staff café in Aberdeen City Council’s main building from Monday (4 November).
The sandwiches, wraps, and salad boxes from Social Bite are to be sold in the café in Marischal College and all profits are going towards Social Bite’s mission to end homelessness in Scotland.
Social Bite aims to maximise the social benefit by giving away 100% of its profits, employing people from homeless backgrounds, and feeding local homeless people.
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: “We are already helping homeless people and alleviating homelessness through initiatives supported by The Aberdeen City Local Housing Strategy 2018-2023, which was developed with registered social landlords, service providers and statutory bodies in response to a comprehensive assessment of housing need and demand.
“Officers and councillors have also taken part in Social Bite’s Sleep in the Park, so when we were approached to trial the charity’s food in our café in Marischal College, it was an easy decision to make as we support its aims and ideals.
“We hope staff and visitors will enjoy the new choices in the café in Marischal College and will help to support the important work carried out by the charity.”
Social Bite started out with one café in Edinburgh in 2012 and now has cafes in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, and one in three of its employees have previously struggled with homelessness. The charity believes given the right opportunities and the right support, people’s lives can be changed for the better.
Social Bite CEO Jane Bruce said: “We are delighted that Aberdeen City Council has chosen to serve Social Bite’s delicious fresh food in the staff café.
“We are on a mission to make sure everyone in Scotland has a safe place to call home and partnerships like these help us on our way.
“Aberdeen is one of the cities in Scotland benefitting from the Housing First Scotland programme which was set up and part-funded by Social Bite, and so it is great to have another presence in the city alongside our existing café on Union Street.”