History and development
Edinburgh Cyrenians Trust was formed in 1968 by local people out of concern for the evident problem of homelessness in Scotland's capital city. Although sharing the name "Cyrenian" with other groups in Scotland and the UK, there are no operational links. Edinburgh Cyrenians are not affiliated to any religious creed or organisation.
The name Cyrenian is derived from the Biblical personage Simon of Cyrene, who was "volunteered" from the crowd to share the burden of the Cross with Jesus. The Cyrenian movement of the 1960s encouraged members of local communities to help the homeless. The aims were to combat poverty, isolation and homelessness by setting up shared homes, run as conscious communities, offering a sense of belonging as much as a place to live.
Now we have 40 paid staff but emphasise the use of volunteers as a means of community involvement and social change through active participation. There are currently around 180 regular volunteers. Turnover is in the region of £1.5 million.
