‘A lifeline for so many’

In the first of a new series, Neill Shaw learns of the support and hope for people struggling with the cost of living in the depths of winter.

ONE of the joys of working with the Church of Scotland’s Priority Areas (PA) team is connecting with the PA Network – the people who live, work, worship, and serve in the 66 designated parishes across Scotland.

This network gathers weekly online, at the Wee Conversation, sharing successes, challenges, laughter, complaints and prayers. Once a year, we meet in person for the Big Conversation, and I regularly visit PA communities to witness their work and support those serving faithfully.

I have had the privilege of hearing stories from community members in PA parishes about how the Church of Scotland has been supporting them. The cost-of-living crisis is a frequent theme in these conversations. Recently, I spoke with Jack, Mary, William, and Keith.

Jack explained: “I was a motorcycle courier for years, but I had a bad fall and ended up with a broken shoulder. I couldn’t go back to work. I was just sitting around on medication, and I ended up drinking more to deal with the pain. Coming here has got me moving and active again.

“The cost of electricity really gets me. Trying to keep the house warm and feed myself is not easy at this time of year. Winter is particularly tough. I can’t afford to have the heating on all the time, so I stay wrapped up, sometimes in a coat and blankets, even when I’m in the flat.”

“ I can’t afford to have the heating on all the time, so I stay wrapped up, sometimes in a coat and blankets, even when I’m in the flat.

Jack’s local Church of Scotland is open every day, and he says it’s a lifeline. “The church here does its best for people, with food, warmth, and a whole new group of people to spend time with. There’s a sewing group today, yoga tomorrow – all these things help people feel like they belong. The church helped me when I hit a depression. Just having people here to talk to, activities to join, and a warm, welcoming place to be makes a big difference.”

Mary, like Jack, struggles with the cold. Her flat is poorly insulated, and she faces unaffordable bills to keep it warm. “The cost of gas and electricity has gone through the roof. My flat has a balcony, and I can’t afford curtains, so a draught blows through the door. I’m on the ground floor, and when the close door opens, the wind chills my whole flat.”

“I’ve been coming to the church for 18 months. I was in a bad place with my mental health when I first came. I was spending a lot of time alone, isolated, not looking after myself. I was in debt, and with the cost of everything going up, it spiralled out of control.

“I used to spend most of winter in my bedroom, just to have one warm room. It’s easy to fall into isolation, but coming here has helped. My mental health has really improved. Now I come to church on Sundays and during the week. I’ve found love and support here, and I now feel part of a family. This is a brilliant community.

“Since I started coming to church, I pray every morning and night. On Sundays, I feel very connected to God. I love singing in the choir; it’s such an emotional experience. I get goosebumps singing some of the songs.”

The anxiety around winter was echoed by William. “I only stay in the living room. I sleep on the couch with sleeping bags and a quilt. I keep the heating on for just a couple of hours each day to save money.”

“I talked to the energy company, and they put me on a regular direct debit, so I can budget better and don’t have to worry if I’ll have enough each month. My payment comes out on the day I get Universal Credit, so it’s taken care of before anything else.”

William’s groceries come from a mix of stores and foodbanks, including his local church. “I buy basic fresh groceries, and the rest I get from foodbanks. There are a few places around town where I can get food. If I get something I don’t eat, like tinned fish, I take it back to the foodbank so it helps someone else.

“I come here for a meal on the first and third Sundays of the month. They put on a worship service with dinner, and that makes a massive difference – having a place to come, be with people, and get a warm meal.

“The church has given me confidence to reach out socially. They told me I wasn’t allowed in here under the influence of alcohol, so that became a target to get some self-discipline. I’ve made friends here. That’s maybe the biggest thing – people to spend time with.

“I enjoy coming to the worship times, but I’d call myself agnostic: I’m not sure what I believe. They don’t try to shove beliefs down your throat here, and that’s made me a bit softer toward Christianity.”

Keith’s story adds another layer to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. “I had to stop working due to family issues, and I found it really stressful. It was hard to trust anyone, but the people here at the church were welcoming. I first came for food. I had been bouncing around, staying on sofas.

I wouldn’t call myself homeless, as I had friends to stay with, but I was between houses.

“My last flat got flooded from upstairs, and it ended up full of mould with water pouring down the walls. Environmental health condemned it and moved me out. I’ve been at eight addresses in four months. It’s been hell. But coming here makes me feel at ease. It’s a place where people bend over backwards to help.

“Now I’m in a short emergency tenancy, waiting for a long-term place. The flat I’m in has electric heating that works when it wants to. Sockets hang off the walls, there’s dampness, and wallpaper hangs off. It’s cold and difficult to get warm.

“People like me, and homeless people too, come here for a heat, something to eat, to chat, and make friends. It’s warm and safe during the day. This place is a lifeline and the heartbeat of the community.

I come at least three days per week. I help in the garden, come for meals, and meet people. Getting something to eat here and making friends makes a big difference.

“Mentally, it’s been good for me. I’ve never really opened up before, but I feel safe here. It’s also good physically, as I come for warmth, food, and friendship.

I rely on places like this to keep me warm and fed. Without it, I don’t know what I’d do.

“I think I’ve always had faith, but I walked away because I didn’t feel welcome. Here, I am welcomed. They’ve started a Bible class and I’m looking forward to it. I questioned my faith in the past, but it’s good to be back in church and have a chance to think about God again.”

The stories of Jack, Mary, William, and Keith reflect the harsh reality of the cost-ofliving crisis, especially with the cold, winter months ahead. Rising energy, food, and fuel costs are an ongoing battle. For many, simply staying warm or having a hot meal is a challenge. Yet, the local Church of Scotland has provided not only practical help but also emotional and spiritual support.

Whether it’s a warm meal, a safe space, or a caring community, the church has become a lifeline for so many. It’s a place where people like Jack, Mary, William, and Keith can come together, feel they belong, and find the tangible hope the church offers, even in the coldest, darkest and hardest times.

Neill Shaw is a Mission Support Officer with the Faith Action Programme of the Church of Scotland.