We are proud of our enduring community partnership with Glasgow City Mission, now in its 9^th year, and this season we are also helping Simon Community Scotland via our big Ibrox Sleep Outs in our fight to end homelessness! 

Last year for the first time, Glasgow City Mission ran the Overnight Welcome Centre out of their building in Crimea Street. There is no accommodation at Crimea Street but the Overnight Welcome Centre supports those needing accommodation into an emergency bed in an appropriate location in the city.

The funds raised from this year’s Sleep Outs will enable the Crimea Street Centre to operate through the night, every night, from 1 December to 31 March. Dinner will be served from 6:30pm until 8:00pm, after which the Overnight Welcome Centre team will be on site to help anyone who finds themselves at crisis point.

Trained staff will operate a safe, welcoming space and work closely with the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership out-of-hours service to access emergency accommodation for anyone who needs it.

The funds raised for Simon Community Scotland will support the creation and provision of Crisis Packs for people they are supporting. Each pack could contain essential items such as; toiletries, food vouchers, a winter jacket, hat, scarf, gloves and gas and electricity top ups.

They also provide kettle packs to people who are homeless who are staying in city centre B&B’s or hotels with no kitchen facilities. They roughly cost £6 to make up, so every £6 raised will make a real difference.

The remaining funds will support the Foundation’s life-changing work in the community, including our Christmas initiatives with vulnerable young and old people in the local area and providing assistance for young people with employability and work for important causes such as the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

Supporters have raised an incredible £317,000 for homeless projects over the last eight years, the majority of which has helped Glasgow City Mission deliver crucial and ground-breaking projects addressing the causes and effects of homelessness in our city. We have also supported in the past several important homeless projects with Simon Community Scotland.

In the first ever Sleep Outs, supporters raised £70,000, which kept Glasgow City Mission’s Winter Night Shelter open during the month of March, when it would usually be closed, for the next three years, as well as paying for advocacy services for those forced to use the shelter.

Subsequently, funds raised by the Rangers support paid for 17,000 hot meals for the charity’s Evening Drop-in Service, furnished and decorated up to ten new homes for homeless people as part of the Housing First scheme and supported the charity’s Overnight Welcome Centre throughout Covid and beyond.

About Glasgow City Mission

Glasgow City Mission is the world’s first City Mission and has been helping vulnerable adults and children by fighting against poverty and disadvantage since 1826.

The charity works with adults and children who are often leading chaotic or difficult lives to help them break free from their oppressive situations which may involve homelessness, addiction, poverty, family breakdown, prostitution or emotional issues.

About Simon Community Scotland

The Simon Community support adults and young people who are homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness and have 4 bases in Scotland, including Glasgow and North Lanarkshire. They saw a huge demand for services last year, supporting over 8,000 people and set to assist even more in 2023.