Charities

There are a number of charitable groups associated with St Michael’s. For example, FreshStart is a charity that provides people with the essentials required to start a new life. These essentials cover basic items such as toiletries, bedding and crockery, but also, the teaching of handy skills like cooking and decorating. At St Michael’s, we are fortunate to have two FreshStart representatives within our congregation. If you wish to make a donation, please call 0131 441 1328. Or if you would like to volunteer, please contact Alasdair and Babs Webster, either by email or by phone on 0131 476 7741.

A special thank you during the pandemic.

As a key service provider, the warehouse remains a hub of activity and has been able to distribute over 3,000 Emergency Packs to those in need since the beginning of the pandemic! It has been hard work and a real team effort from everyone at FreshStart, their partner organisations, funders and supporters but getting feedback like below from those who have received the packs reminds us how much of a lifeline they are for people during this challenging time.

90% of people who received the packs said they enabled them to feed themselves and/or their family.
94% of people who received the packs said they helped to ease their financial pressures.
90% of people who received the packs said they helped to ease their stress/worries
62% of people who received the packs said they stopped them from having to borrow money or incur debt to buy items.

FreshStart hope that, when it is safe to do, they will be able to start taking donations of goods again (although this will likely be a bit different to how it’s been done previously in order to comply with health and safety).

St Michael’s runs a Traidcraft stall every Sunday in the lower hall where you can purchase a wide range of goods after the service.
As Christmas approaches, we will shortly have a fantastic range of Advent calendars, candles and cards as well as our very own St Michael’s 2020 calendar.
Please contact Sheila Bremner for further details.

The Indigent Old Men’s Club is St Michael’s longest running charitable group. It meets in the lower hall on Thursday afternoons. The primary aim of the charity is to mitigate those hardships that come with living on low incomes and limited savings. Moreover, the St Michael’s IOM club also creates a space for companionship and quiet enjoyment.