Inspired and supported by Cyrenians Good Food in Tackling Homelessness programme (FareShare), who supply most of our food as well as the most of the food to around fifty agencies in Edinburgh and West Lothian, we began running cooking classes offering not just basic kitchen skills and food education and hygiene, but an opportunity to train and develop volunteers from our client base. We have found that the value of this is not just in imparting skills, but giving people a sense of purpose and value. Graduates have gone on to volunteer in our teams as well as moving into full time education or employment. We plan to roll this out on a far larger scale in a purpose built training kitchen situated within the new building.

We also run a woodwork workshop (GROW, Greyfriars Recycling Of Wood) using old, often antique, church pews and turning them into beautiful pieces of furniture. Bespoke pieces, commissioned by customers and finished to the highest standards of craftsmanship, we have made mirrors, seats, tables and chairs even fireplaces from pine, oak and beech, unique furniture with a social conscience. Staffed by volunteers from within the service user group of The Grassmarket Mission this project has been very successful and like the cooking classes we hope to expand this in a workshop within the new building.

We also run hill walks, have a hairdressing service and hope to develop a gardening project in the near future. The possibilities are endless and we may in the future be in a position to locate small arts and crafts workshops within the building, stained glass, pottery, a dark room for photography, wood carving, furniture restoration and a work team, for hire, to build flat pack furniture for people who struggle to do so themselves are just some of the ideas we have for future projects. Giving men and women who feel they have nothing to contribute the opportunity to gain self-worth and purpose, working together to make a difference for themselves and their community. Putting dignity back into their lives.