A church in the heart of a working class Edinburgh community has shared the harrowing hardship that local residents are facing during the current cost of living crisis.
Liz Henderson, the minister at Richmond Craigmillar Church, says that there are a number of people that use their Fair Share service and church café, from young and old, to individuals and families as well as people of all faiths and nationalities. But the minister, who has worked in the community for 25 years, said that the services they have always run in Craigmillar and Niddrie are now facing unprecedented levels of use.
Before the church would support 20-30 people a week with help for food or basic necessities but now that number is more than 60 with emergency referrals from local schools, doctors and health visitors coming in regularly.
