The chief executive of Aberdeen Cyrenians says many in the city don’t understand the level of deprivation in the oil and gas capital of Europe as the charity experiences a sharp rise in demand for crisis services.
Donna Hutchison told the P&J the charity sees an average of one person every four minutes during the hours its crisis centre is open at Summer Street.
This provides food, fuel support, clothing and financial advice to those in need.
Many are homeless and want access to shower and laundry facilities. Others are fleeing violence or have mental health struggles.
In 2019, the charity saw around 30 people in any given day.
Now, it can see up to 70.
‘Deprivation’ in Aberdeen
The rising demand may come as a surprise to many in a city long associated with the riches of the oil and gas industry.
But this perception problem is one that makes tackling poverty in the city all more of a challenge.
Ms Hutchison, who took the helm of the organisation in May, said the current level of demand is “not sustainable in any way, shape or form”.
The charity relies on donations or trusts like the National Lottery to fund the Direct Access service at Summer Street.
The “hangover” from the Covid pandemic, along with the cost of living crisis, drives the rise in demand.
Meanwhile, the charity is braced for the impact of political decisions, from the energy profits levy on oil and gas giants to the scrapping of Winter Fuel Payments for millions of pensioners.
Ms Hutchison, who previously worked in the energy sector for 20 years, said part of the “challenge” is exposing the level of poverty locally.
She said: “That’s the challenge. There’s a really good phrase, ‘poverty amidst plenty’.
“The reality is if you live in Westhill, and drive to Dyce, and you’re on the AWPR, you’ll never see it.
“People don’t understand the level of deprivation that we have in Aberdeen.
“That’s also a challenge externally for the city.
“Aberdeen is incredibly resilient, bounces back from downturns, and then sometimes that does us a disservice because there’s that assumption that Aberdeen does that.”
2014 downturn
Ms Hutchison added: “Certainly I know from speaking to the team when they dealt with the downturn in 2014, it was not unusual to see a Porsche sitting outside picking up a food parcel.
“Because you’ve got the house, you’ve got the car, it’s all on lease.
“We speak very much about being two to three pay cheques away from homelessness. That applies to the majority of people.”
The charity’s chief executive wants to see a plan put in place to deal with the “ripple effect” caused by policies such as Labour’s plan to increase and extend the tax on oil and gas firm profits.
“If the energy profits levy comes in, I can’t do anything about that,” she said.
“What I can do is work with the sector and industry partners and membership organisations. Those conversations are going on in the background to say how do we make this as painless as possible.”
She adds: “If this happens, what as a city are we doing? How do we come together? It doesn’t just affect the industry, it affects hospitality, retail, leisure, transportation, logistics. It has a wider ripple effect.”
The Direct Access open-door service at Aberdeen Cyrenians offers a safe and welcoming environment for anyone who may be struggling and in need of a helping hand.
The opening times of the Summer Street are available here, along with the food provision opening hours.
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