“One of the best places to be” happy memories of life at the Social Bite village in Edinburgh

“Anyone who gets to stay there is very lucky,” M.* told us. “They have a roof over their head, they have food, lots and lots of support. They can have many good times. Social Bite Village is one of the best places to be.”

M. came to live at the Edinburgh village in the autumn of 2021. Originally from Hungary, he’d lived in England before coming to Scotland in the summer of 2021. Because of the kindness he has experienced since, he says “my heart is in Scotland now. Scottish people are nice, they have a good heart, a good soul. They look after other people.”

M. was volunteering at the Cyrenians FareShare food depot when he was put in touch with a support worker to discuss living at the Social Bite Village, which is also run by Cyrenians. He was soon settled in one of the Nest Houses with another resident. Although he was unsure at first about sharing the space, M. and his new housemate became good friends.

Arriving at the Edinburgh village was a learning curve. After staying in a hostel and temporary accommodation, it was another new place for M. to get used to. “You have to respect existing residents and follow the rules.”

The village is much more relaxed than council-run B&Bs, but there are some basic policies to ensure things are fair for all residents. M. acknowledges that these rules also helped him to feel safe after experiencing traumatic incidents earlier in his life.

The extra freedoms and safety of his new environment helped M. form friendships. He enjoyed spending time socialising with other residents. However, after an incident where M.’s conduct breached Village rules, he received a warning. Because his behaviour put his place at risk, he knew he had to change something.

So M. got more involved in the activities offered by Cyrenians’ team and the village volunteers. There was an art group, a music group, a chance to try woodwork. In better weather, there might be a BBQ and everyone would sit around the fire pit on the deck, or maybe go down to the beach. Sometimes the Village residents and volunteers would go on trips to the cinema. Once they went to Comrie Croft.

A volunteer asked M. what he would like to do for his birthday. At his request, everyone was invited to go play pool. “There were a lot of positive experiences. The memories put a smile on my face.”

M.’s time at the Edinburgh village would shape who he would become. The safety, privacy and food provision were a stark contrast to the places he had lived before. When M. was nervous about a dark pathway near the village, Cyrenians contacted the council and it was soon well-lit.

Thanks to the round-the-clock availability of Cyrenians’ team, support is instant. M. knew he could call the village support number, even when he had a panic attack in the middle of the night. “The key workers are the best,” he says.

There’s always something happening in the hub’s kitchen, which is the heart of the community at the Edinburgh village. M. enjoyed the volunteers’ cooking and creating shopping lists with other residents. Anyone can help to prepare food, so M. twice made hearty chicken soup with pasta. “Both times, it was all gone!”

In 2023 M. was able to move on from the village, but he keeps in touch with his former housemate because “they work hard to get good people there.” He explains, “they make it safe and welcoming for everyone.”

Looking back, M. feels nostalgic for life at the village. “I like to go back and say hello to the residents, staff and volunteers. I like to see the gardens I helped to create. The people who live at the Social Bite Village are very lucky.”

“I can only say good things. To say thank you is just a small part of what I feel.”

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of individuals.