Inquirer Christmas campaign: Creating the networks of caring that help prevent homelessness
Plus: Your Edinburgh cultural highlights for the week ahead
Welcome to your midweek roundup. You’ll find your usual update on the most important and interesting developments in the Capital over recent days, as well as our pick of Edinburgh’s cultural highlights for the week ahead.
Most importantly to us, we continue our Christmas campaign, in support of the impactful work of the Cyrenians in Edinburgh. The charity is perhaps best known for the support it gives to those who find themselves homeless, but some of its most important work goes into preventing homelessness in the first place.
For today’s long read, we turn our attention to the vital support which Cyrenians offer to, among others, military veterans, the elderly and those battling addiction.
If you can, please consider supporting their important work in the Capital. We have no hesitation in saying that we know, from seeing it first-hand, that any donations will help to change lives in the city.
Your Edinburgh Briefing
PAVEMENT CLEAN-UP: They’ve been as good as their word. Just two weeks ago we exposed the pavement cluttering “pop-up” shops creating unsightly hazards on Princes Street – despite a council pledge to crackdown on what was a growing problem. The council told us enforcement action was imminent, and this week the local authority announced they had seized stock from three businesses for obstructing the footway with racks of stock. A spokesman said: “This confiscation came after repeated warnings. We’ll continue to enforce the rules and make sure our footways are clear and accessible for all.”
OYSTER EXCITEMENT: Oysters relocated to the Firth of Forth from Loch Ryan in south-west Scotland are continuing to thrive in their new home. Divers have confirmed about 88% of the almost 47,000 European flat oysters moved to the Forth since 2023 appear to be surviving. Dr Naomi Kennon, of Heriot-Watt University, which is leading the project, described the results of the latest monitoring as “very exciting”.
15TH PREMIER INN: The city is to get its 14th and 15th Premier Inn hotels after two office conversion schemes were given the go-ahead. Artisan Real Estate have been granted permission to convert an office block on the edge of the New Town into a “sustainable” 102-bedroom hotel for the chain. Work on the site on the corner of Broughton Street and Albany Street (pictured above) is expected to be complete by summer 2027. Meanwhile, Premier Inn’s parent company Whitbread will invest £21m turning an empty office block on Festival Square into a 195-bedroom Premier Inn. The hotel chain already welcomes a million visitors a year to Edinburgh.
DEMOLITIONS BLOCKED: Councillors have rejected fresh plans to demolish the Scottish War Blinded building, in Gillespie Crescent, Bruntsfield, to make way for 131-room student accommodation. The proposals by S Harrison Developments attracted 232 objections and councillors agreed it was a valuable part of the local conservation area. Meanwhile, plans to demolish Westfield Court flats in Gorgie have been put on hold after protesters interrupted a meeting of the council’s housing committee. Housing officials will now investigate whether or not it might be feasible to repair the building instead.
BAGS OF STYLE: One of the biggest names in international fashion French designer Longchamp is to open its first UK store outside London in Edinburgh’s Multrees Walk. It’s famous handbags start from around £100 but top of the range versions can set you back £500-plus. The opening is another coup for the street following the recent arrival of luxury watchmaker Omega.
Pick of the (Cultural) Pops
Hi there, Edinburgh culture vultures, and welcome to your second instalment of Pick of the (Cultural) Pops. The festive season is now upon us, and our chart is looking merrier than a Christmas work do on George Street, writes Will Quinn.
New entrants are making quite a splash this week, taking four of the five available spots. We have one new entry that demands a little travel for most of us; a one-night-only orchestral special; and a massive musical blockbuster climbing into the ranks. Meanwhile, our number one spot is stubbornly held by a local hero.
Will you manage to catch all five? Or are you just looking for the chart-topper? Let’s count them down…
Coming in at number 5 this week, we have... Christmas at Jupiter Artland (6th — 14th December 2025):
Okay, Jupiter Artland (which I love) dwells on the edge of our fair city, but trust me - it’s worth the short journey by car or bus. For just nine days starting this Saturday, the stunning sculpture park at Jupiter Artland transforms into a festive village. We are talking artisan markets, creative workshops, and a “S’mores Village” (yes, really, that mythical ingredient found within so many baking recipes yet absent from UK shops) set amongst the art. It’s a little more effort to get to than the city centre, but for a Christmas experience that feels genuinely magical rather than commercial, I can’t imagine a better place to be. Booking link: https://www.jupiterartland.org/sessions/christmas-2025/
Sliding into the number 4 slot is... The Scottish Chamber Orchestra: The Nutcracker at the Usher Hall (4th December 2025):
For one night only tonight, the Usher Hall will be filled with the sound of sugar plums and snowflakes. The SCO, led by charismatic conductor Maxim Emelyanychev, is performing Tchaikovsky’s full ballet score. This is a chance to hear the music as the main character delivered by one of the world’s finest chamber orchestras. It’s a sonic Christmas card that will vanish after tonight, so move fast. Booking link: https://www.sco.org.uk/events/the-nutcracker
Prancing into position number 3, it’s... The Snow Queen - Scottish Ballet at the Festival Theatre (Ends 7th December 2025):
Scottish Ballet’s glittering production of The Snow Queen is melting away from Edinburgh on Sunday. It has been dazzling audiences since it opened, bringing the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale to life with snowflakes, circus performers, and a frozen palace. You, like I, may have seen this production once or twice before… but If you haven’t seen it yet, you have less than a week before it packs up its sleigh and heads to Glasgow. Don’t get left out in the cold. Booking link: https://www.capitaltheatres.com/shows/scottish-ballet-the-snow-queen
Shooting into the charts at number 2 is... Mamma Mia! at the Edinburgh Playhouse (Opens 9th December 2025):
My, my, how can you resist it? The West End juggernaut arrives at the top of Leith Walk next Tuesday, bringing some much-needed Greek sunshine to a dark December. This isn’t just a show; it’s a global phenomenon of Spandex and ABBA hits that guarantees you’ll be dancing in the aisles. My wife and I were late entrants to the Mamma Mia! Fandom, but now wild horses couldn’t keep us from opening night. It’s here until January, but the opening week buzz is going to be immense. If you want a night out that is pure, unadulterated joy, this is the one. Booking link: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/mamma-mia/edinburgh-playhouse/
Which means, refusing to budge from the top spot, it’s... Liam Withnail - Big Strong Boy at Monkey Barrel (6th December 2025):
He was number one last week, and he’s number one today. Why? Because this Saturday is the night. Local comedy hero Liam Withnail is filming his 5-star Fringe show, Big Strong Boy, at the Monkey Barrel. This is a high-stakes homecoming for a comic at the absolute top of his game. It’s rare to feel like you are in the room for a “moment” in Edinburgh comedy history, but this Saturday will be one of them. Beg, borrow, or steal a ticket if you can—this is my cultural event of the week. Booking Link: https://booking.monkeybarrelcomedy.com/monkey-barrel-comedy-1/liam-withnail-big-strong-boy-special-recording/
Inquirer Christmas campaign in support of the Cyrenians
Creating the networks of caring that help prevent homelessness
Cyrenians’ work with most vulnerable groups, including veterans, the elderly and those battling addiction
The lives of people who present as homeless are as varied and as unique as any cross-section of society – and their reasons for becoming homeless are often just as complex. In an ideal world, those presentations would be the first step towards a happier future, with social housing readily available as a safe and secure place from which to build.
But, as we know all too well, affordable housing in Edinburgh is desperately thin on the ground and becoming homeless often means the start of a long period of time in temporary accommodation which can be damp, ill-equipped and unsafe.
As we wait for the Scottish Government to make up the shortfall of social housing in Edinburgh, it is increasingly vital that we don’t just respond to the homelessness crisis, we try to prevent it. This means – where possible - helping people overcome the circumstances that funnel them into the homelessness system.
It is true that most of us are only two or three disasters away from becoming homeless ourselves – but the reality is that for many sub-sections of our society that threat is much closer.
Veterans at higher risk
The City of Edinburgh council has the smallest number of people with military experience in Scotland, according to the latest census, but despite that, 70 of the people assessed as homeless last year had military experience. It is also well documented that veterans have disproportionately higher mental health support needs than those who present without military experience.
The more support needs go unmet, the likelier it is that relationships will start to fray and the more isolated people become, the longer problems go unaddressed until all too often, eviction or relationship breakdown mean that homelessness becomes inevitable.
Cyrenians, our charity partner this Winter, aims to disrupt that inevitability – and we hope you will help them do that by becoming a monthly donor. Click here for more information.
Safety and therapy
A small plot of land on the outskirts of the city may not feel like the obvious place for veterans to gather, but for several years now Laura Mulcahy, who runs a veteran community garden, Linburn Walled Garden, has been bringing the place back to life.
Targeted at people with a military background – in partnership with Sight Scotland Veterans and Scottish Veterans Wellbeing Alliance - the garden is a safe space for people to come, get stuck into the soil and meet people with similar experiences.
Laura said: “I think the main point of this garden is to create a space where folk can relax and have a bit of fun, particularly those suffering some kind of mental or physical ill health. The world is chaotic and if you’ve got enough already going on in your head, it’s important to have a place where you can take a breather.”
The garden also serves as a place for families to maintain and re-build bonds.
Laura continued: “We work with people at all stages of military life. So at the very beginning, when they’re just kind of coming out, or whilst they’re serving. We often have families coming along too, when they are in active service.
“I think it’s crucial for people to have a space where they feel understood. I am also connected with other military support services so I’m able to signpost people to other charities that may be able to help them too. I think having that network of help acts as a safety net for people who are statistically much more likely to become homeless.”
Healthy network of people
Another demographic of people at greater risk of homelessness, are those in addiction recovery. It is an unhelpful stereotype that all homeless people are in active addiction, but those who are – or are in recovery without enough support - are much more vulnerable to repeat homelessness.
Like those with military experience, that risk shrinks when people have a healthy network around them.
Mick McCarron runs the ERA group, which stands for Edinburgh Recovery Activities. Mick, who has worked for charities for 27 years, set up ERA with his colleague Jemma when he saw the need for a support service which prioritised fun and community building.
He said: “Our aim was to make this group as accessible and as welcoming as possible, whether you are just out of rehab or if you’ve been in recovery for 20 years.
“Many of our community members come out of rehab or a recovery house and have to go back to the area where they were drinking or using. It can be very challenging to stay sober when you go back to your old life. Our aim is to give people a place to come and activities to get them out of their old routine.”
From bowling to fishing trips to the weekly ERA cafe, the service aims to be as friendly and as welcoming a place as possible, where people can – if needed – feel safe enough to open up and ask for help.
“A place for everyone…”
Mick said: “We’re lucky in Cyrenians, because we have access to different kinds of support. We often invite our income maximisation worker, Denise, to come along so people can ask her advice on benefits or tenancy maintenance.”
One community member said: “ERA is a place for everyone and is brilliant for those in recovery. It’s somewhere you can turn to when you really need help, they are there for people needing help in all aspects of life and will try their best for you.”
These services show the importance of community to the Edinburgh residents who are statistically most at risk of homelessness. But there are other groups of people who also cannot be overlooked.
People over the age of 60 may not be who you first think of when you think of homelessness, but many of pension age are also at risk of isolation, deprivation and poor mental health – either because of or as an early marker of housing insecurity.
Pauline Moffat – who oversees Cyrenians ‘Opportunities for Active Lives’ service – remembers one community member, whose life was changed by a community group: “We had one lady who came to us after her partner – who she was caring for for some time – sadly passed away. The group quickly became a central part of her life. When her health recently deteriorated, resulting in a hospital stay, her fellow group members visited her, brought what she needed, and ensured she felt supported and cared for. Thanks to her involvement with the group, she has found a genuine connection and a sense of belonging.”
Whilst this particular person may never have to face homelessness, it is only through the kind of community support that Pauline describes that we can safeguard against it happening in her future.
Because homelessness does not exist in a vacuum. For many people, it is the final destination after years of inadequate state support and a lack of trusted relationships to lean on when times get tough. Charities like Cyrenians understand that at the root of this problem lies disconnection – and that if we are truly to stop homelessness long before it happens, we need to provide the space, time and safety which allows people to build back trust.