News | Posted 16 August 2024
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner visits Social Bite Village
On 16th August, Social Bite and our partners Cyrenians welcomed Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to the Social Bite Village.
Accompanied by Josh Littlejohn MBE, founder of Social Bite, Angela Rayner was given a tour of the village in Granton, including a look inside the community hub and one of the Nest Houses. We were delighted to welcome the DPM to the village and share our innovative solutions to ending homelessness with senior decision makers in UK Government.
The Deputy Prime Minister was keen to learn more about our supported community model and the innovative manufacturing process used to build a Social Bite village, which create a welcoming environment for people affected by homelessness.
Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister said:
“The Social Bite Village is an amazing project that is helping people in Edinburgh who are dealing with homelessness, and building a solution to the problems with temporary accommodation. As a Government, we will take action to build more social and affordable housing, give families a better route to a secure home, and get back on track to ending homelessness for good.”
Josh Littlejohn said:
“The housing emergency is one of the most significant issues affecting the UK today, so we were delighted to welcome Angela Rayner to the Social Bite Village to discuss our pioneering approach to ending homelessness. The Deputy Prime Minister was keen to learn more about our supported community model and the innovative manufacturing process behind our Nest Houses, which gives people living in our villages a welcoming space in which to make a fresh start.”
Ewan Aitken, Cyrenians’ Chief Executive said:
“We were pleased to welcome the Deputy Prime Minister to meet with our staff, volunteers and residents and learn more about why it’s crucial that the causes of homelessness are addressed in the response to the housing emergency. At Cyrenians, we offer a relationships-based approach, which meets people where they are and supports them towards where they want to be. We need Government to make systemic changes on welfare, mental health support and the care system, in order to stop so many people from reaching crisis point.”
Run in partnership with fellow homeless charity, Cyrenians, and designed by Ecosystems Technologies, the Social Bite Village is a highly supportive and nurturing living environment for up to 20 people experiencing homelessness to help them towards an independent life. Since launching in 2018, the village has helped break the cycle of homelessness for almost 100 people.
Social Bite is currently fundraising to build two more villages, one in South Lanarkshire, due to open in summer 2025, and another in Dundee, due to open early 2026.
Angela Rayner is shown around a Nest House by Cyrenians Service Manager, Andy Murdoch, and Josh Littlejohn.
The Deputy Prime Minster took time to speak with staff, residents and volunteers about their experiences at the village, including former resident Mary.
Ms Rayner also spoke with Gill Henry, Operations Director at Ecosystems Technologies, about the bespoke design and sustainable construction methods used in the village’s buildings.
Left to right: Josh Littlejohn MBE, Founder, Social Bite; Gill Henry, Operations Director, Ecosystems Technologies; Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister; Andy Murdoch, Services Manager, Cyrenians; Ewan Aitken, CEO, Cyrenians; Mary Ogilvie, former resident of the Social Bite village.