Aberdeen Cyrenians Announces A New Charitable Partnership With The Prax Group And Prax Foundation Roots

Aberdeen Cyrenians, a charity and social care provider tackling homelessness, violence, domestic abuse and other forms of social exclusion in the North-east of Scotland, is delighted to announce Prax Foundation Roots as a charity Partner (Prax Foundation Roots is the charitable foundation of the Prax Group).  Working in close partnership with Aberdeen Cyrenians, this new charitable initiative demonstrates the overall commitment that Prax has to the Aberdeen region, with the Group having acquired an office in the city last year.

Prax Foundation Roots has commenced a monthly funding contribution, along with a monthly food shop and ad-hoc donations of office furniture.  As well as this, we will be offering our staff corporate volunteering placements, which will range from helping in Aberdeen Cyrenians’ warehouse or community kitchen, Café Chat, to renovation projects and fundraising opportunities.

Aberdeen Cyrenians and Prax Foundation Roots also intend to start local School Breakfast Clubs, providing something to eat in the morning for children who might otherwise have to start their school day on an empty stomach.  It is hoped that this initiative will help to boost healthy eating and play a part in increasing attendance and concentration at schools across the region.

Donna Hutchison, Chief Executive Officer, Aberdeen Cyrenians, said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Prax Foundation Roots.  This partnership will allow us to continue providing vital services to the most vulnerable people in our community.  We continue to see the numbers of service users rising across all our services, which can only be supported by the unwavering commitment from our team, and generous donations from corporate donors.  We cannot wait to get started.”  

Sanjeev Kumar Soosaipillai, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at the Prax Group, said: “We have always been committed to our promise of being a good neighbour and supporting the communities that we operate in and helping them to thrive.  With an office located in Aberdeen, we felt strongly that our commitment here should be no different.  Through our charitable foundation, Prax Foundation Roots, I am delighted that we are providing support to Aberdeen Cyrenians, so that we can have a positive direct impact on some of North-east Scotland’s most vulnerable and socially excluded people.”

First started by Aberdeen University students as a soup kitchen, Aberdeen Cyrenians now puts the needs of North-east Scotland’s most vulnerable and socially excluded people first — leading at the frontline of service, care and influence for 50+ years.  From these beginnings, Aberdeen Cyrenians has grown into a cornerstone of Aberdeen, supporting the most vulnerable people in the city facing crisis, trauma, addiction, homelessness, and isolation.  Aberdeen Cyrenians works continuously to shift perceptions and change the outlook on homelessness and vulnerability in society — the reality often differs drastically from the “labels” that people use when thinking of those who need support.  Not accepting the current perception of homelessness is something that underpins Aberdeen Cyrenians’ work and how they communicate, with their approach putting the reality of these situations front and centre.