Social Bite Scotland: Food, Compassion, Community

What if, by enjoying a sandwich at midday or a a coffee or a breakfast pastry, you could help someone make his or her way out of being homeless?

When you visit Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen in Scotland, you can do this by choosing to eat at Social Bite cafes. There is now a location on The Strand in London, too.

social bite cafe glasgow exterior showing pastry case and counter

They are run by an organization, Social Bite, that is what’s known as a social business.

That means the profits of the business go to a social cause.

Social Bite was begun by Alice Thompson and Josh Littlejohn in 2012 as a sandwich shop in Rose Street in Edinburgh. The social cause idea was sparked when a homeless man named Peter came by the shop and asked for a job. They decided to hire him.

That spark of an idea has gone on to create many initiatives within the focus of ending homelessness in Scotland (and now with a location in England as well).

The business organization goes about this innovation in several ways.

For instance

Social Bite sponsored a fund raiser called Sleep Out in the Park in Edinburgh.

At several of their cafes, before and after public open hours several times a week they offer breakfast rolls to take away and suppers where people who are homeless or on the edge of it can sit in and be served a nutritious meal while being treated with dignity, and access support services too if they choose.

social bite glasgow couch in book corner

About that tasty food that you can enjoy? The sandwiches and other items really are tasty, and freshly prepared. I have been to the former Social Bite location in Saint Vincent Street in Glasgow city center, and to its new place on Sauchiehall Street near Buchanan Galleries.

The Saint Vincent location of Social Bite is no more. The new location, though a bit smaller, is in an area with a great deal of foot traffic. It is welcoming; people regularly stop by for takeaway and to sit in.

social bite glasgow exterior with signs and plants, people inside

As with other Social Bite locations, there’s an emphasis on quality food, and all proceeds go to help those who are unhoused. The outreach and training continue in the new location, too.

That includes, among other things, a Festival of Kindness initiative at the winter holidays the proceeds of which provide gifts and warm clothing.

Social Bite locations open to the unhoused on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and offer a holiday meal and a welcoming atmosphere.

Near Edinburgh, Social Bite has built a village: a group of small homes that provide, as one former resident described it, “a place to rebuild yourself.”

People making the transition from living on the streets to stable accommodation can stay at the village for several months. It is staffed by the Cyrenians, an organization of people experienced in working with the challenges of making such changes.

Social Bite is planning to build two more such villages near other cities in Scotland.

They also support other charities, and contribute to academic research on homelessness.

The cafes are where it all began though and the heart of how it continues on. They offer a way you can help directly, as well: just stop in and enjoy the food and drink and the proceeds will help with all these things,.

On my most recent visit to the Social Bite Glasgow, I enjoyed a fine pot of tea and a quiet place to reflect.

social bite glasgow teapot  on tablewith food counter and workers in background

On a visit to Social Bite’s former location on Saint Vincent Street,
I had a coriander, lime, and coconut chicken salad sub, which was substantial and well priced.

social bite chicken coriander sandwich

Though the new location is smaller, there is still a range of good choices of food for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. There are bottled drinks and juices, tea and coffee. Many pastries are usually on offer as well.

For a small space the menu offers more choice and wider variety than you may at first expect.

social bite glasgow menu poster on wall

Among Social Bite’s initiatives, there are two in which you can join directly: as mentioned earlier, by buying and enjoying their food, and by paying it forward. This is, as signage from the former Glasgow cafe explains, really easy:

social bite glasgow pay it forward sign

All that said, you’ll not know that Social Bite differs from any other city center sandwich and quick lunch and breakfast stop, except that it’s brighter, better designed, and some of the food choices more adventurous than you may find elsewhere.

The prices are good for the area, and the staff has a sense of humor, too.

A sign from in front of former location shows that side of things

social bite glasgow gaun yersel sign

Social Bite Glasgow is a good place to visit, whatever your thoughts about helping homeless folk. It is an interesting business model, too.

You can learn more about what Social Bite is doing and why at their website.

At the former location, there was this sign often obscured by the tables out on the pavement, too.

social bite glasgow I want change sign

The Social Bite organization has been going for almost a dozen years now.

Among other things, they are working on those housing projects, and have given grants to other organizations (after taking recommendations from homeless folk) that serve homeless in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen.

Though such documents are often rather dry, the Social Bite Trustees’ Report, which is linked from their website, makes fact filled as well as hopeful and inspiring reading.

social bite glasgow pastries

If you are inspired by Social Bite, another way you can help within or outwith Scotland is to make a pay it forward donation on line at their site, as well.

Have you been to a Social Bite Cafe? Did you know of or learn about their work while visiting?

Perhaps there are groups such as Social Bite in other places where you travel, or where you live?

Let us know about any of this in the comments.

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