The Power of Paying It Forward

Tell us more about your role, Euan.

My role covers many things! Primarily I lead the free food services in Glasgow, provide one-to-one support for anyone who accesses the service, and help to oversee the volunteering programme. I try to get people that access free food into volunteering – it helps build confidence and skills.

 

Who accesses Social Bite’s free food services?

People who attend the service at Social Bite come from many different situations. It can be from rough sleeping or living in temporary or emergency accommodation. Or it could be they’ve just got their own permanent flat but haven’t got any white goods in place yet.

Some people are at risk of becoming homeless soon. This can be for a variety of reasons but sadly is becoming more common, what with rising living costs, increases in energy prices, and the cost of putting food on the table. Many people are living in food poverty and struggling to see the end of the month, even though they’re housed and employed.

It doesn’t matter what someone’s circumstances are – we don’t ask. Everyone is welcome at Social Bite.

 

What does pay it forward do?

Paying it forward is a huge help with Social Bite’s work. On the surface, it simply allows us to provide hot food and drinks to people who need it. But the food and drink are a tool of engagement, and without it people might not know about the wider services and support we offer.

Attending a free food service helps to build a trusting relationship with support workers. Some people can find that hard if they’ve been through traumatic events, or if they’re suspicious of people in an authoritative role.

 

What difference does it make when customers pay it forward at Social Bite?

When people can’t afford food or their accommodation lacks cooking facilities, a free food service like Social Bite’s daily scran services provides a nutritious, hot meal that someone might be unable to access otherwise.

But it’s more than a meal, really. When someone comes to scran it enables me to build a trusting relationship. I can then go on to support people in various ways – with housing or benefits applications, advocacy, accessing fuel support, volunteering, and referrals to our Jobs First programme if they are ready for employment.

Conversation and inclusion are so important to prevent isolation and loneliness becoming silent killers. It’s a major part of what we do at Social Bite. Paying it forward powers our free food provision, which means we’re able to welcome people with a smile, a hot meal and a simple “how are you today?” It can make someone’s day if they haven’t spoken to anyone or been ignored on the street all day. A simple “how are you?” can save lives.

 

What would you say to someone who’s thinking about paying it forward?

People who pay it forward should know that they’re part of the solution on the road to ending homelessness.

Sometimes, free food helps someone who still needs to wait a couple of days or a week for their next payment to come in. The hot meal and drink provided will help them through those days and not face the hardest decision of buying food or putting themselves in debt. This can stop a cycle of homelessness before it’s even started.

 

Pay it forward now