Bethany Christian Trust seeks to raise £60,000 in one week

All donations go towards the support provision at the Rapid Re-accommodation Welcome Centre, providing people who would otherwise be sleeping rough with 24-hour accommodation, hot food and access to 24/7 wrap around support. Guests also receive individualised support to help them move on to more suitable long-term accommodation.

Bethany Christian Trust are working together with third sector partners, the local authority and the Scottish Government to find shared solutions.

The centre, newly located at ELS House in Gorgie, opened for the 2025-26 winter season on 3rd October, and runs until the end of April 2026.

During the first eight weeks, the centre has already provided accommodation and support for 175 people who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets.

For this week only, from Tuesday 2nd December, donations towards the charity’s Buy a Bed campaign will be generously doubled by the Mackie Foundation and anonymous donors. Every £25 donation helps give someone facing a challenging and cold night on the streets access to a warm bed and hot meal. During the Big Give Christmas Challenge week, this gift has twice the impact, meaning each donation can support twice as many people facing homelessness.

Each gift card purchased will give one person access to:

• A warm, safe, private room with en-suite facilities
• 24-hour care and support from professional, supportive and loving staff
• Three meals a day including a freshly prepared, hot two-course dinner
• A wide range of referral routes to support
• Assistance to move rapidly out of the crisis of homelessness 

Commenting on the Buy a Bed Christmas Gift Card, Alasdair Bennett, chief executive at Bethany Christian Trust, said: “Giving someone the opportunity to escape the cold into safe accommodation and receive a hot meal, with love and support will save lives this Christmas. Your donation will provide our team with the means to help people most in need find a warm and loving place to stay in an emergency this winter, and support to move on to further accommodation.”

Get online and donate to Bethany Christian Trust’s campaign between 2nd December at 12pm and 9th December at 12pm.
 
This winter, the City of Edinburgh Council is again providing the accommodation. Bethany Christian Trust is providing a large professional team to support people in crisis and is raising funds through the Buy a Bed campaign to enable this service.

The Rapid Re-accommodation Welcome Centre is also funded by the voluntary donations of trusts and foundations, individuals, local churches, companies, communities, local and national government, as well as receiving support from the Caring Christmas Trees project.