John's Story
After staying with a relative for a couple of weeks, John worried about overstaying his welcome. He moved into a room in an Edinburgh hostel which provides short term accommodation for people in need. John was looking for something to do so began volunteering in the kitchens, cooking meals for their drop-in centre. Here, he met the delivery volunteers from the Good Food team.
"The support provided by Cyrenians cannot be underestimated it drew me back from the precipice and encouraged a return of self belief and esteem. Also as I strengthened I found I was able to assist and support co volunteers in moving forward and casting off some of their own difficulties and inhibitions."
John, FareShare Volunteer
Impressed by the work being done, John joined the Good Food team and worked alongside others who also had experience of homelessness.
The friendship and the feeling that he was part of a team helped John to begin rebuilding his life; he developed an interest in counselling and successfully undertook a training course with a view to starting a career in the social care sector.
Since then, John has set up his own home in a private rented flat he found through the Cyrenians' SmartMove project.
Two years after he arrived in Scotland - with no job, no home, no confidence and no hope - John is now working for a major social care provider, living in his own flat and looking forward to being reunited with his wife and child here in Edinburgh.