Advertisement
Social Justice

Social Bite serves up a solution to homelessness with new flagship café

The new outlet in Glasgow will train and employ people with experience of homelessness

There’s a new coffee spot in Glasgow that makes sure you definitely get change with your purchase.

Social Bite is a social enterprise that helps people experiencing homelessness by offering training and employment. Their newest café opened on 27 April in Buchanan Galleries on the city’s busy Sauchiehall Street

Josh Littlejohn MBE, co-founder and executive director of Social Bite said: “We are thrilled to open our new flagship coffee shop in the heart of Glasgow.

“I really see this venture as the new blueprint for our social enterprise business model offering the best-in-class food, coffee and environment for our customers to enjoy, whilst also making a massive difference to people in a situation of homelessness  in the city.”

Since starting as a small sandwich shop in Edinburgh in 2012, Social Bite has become one of the best-known names tackling homelessness in Scotland and beyond. They have hit the headlines in the past hosting fundraising sleep-outs that thousands took part in, as well as welcoming royalty and Hollywood stars like George Clooney through their doors.

All employees in the new café will be trained at the Matthew Algie Coffee School to ensure they produce the perfect blend. And confirmed it tastes extra special when we went along to visit.

Advertisement
Advertisement

The atmosphere of the café is very inclusive and welcoming. The food and pastries looked amazing so I had to try one.

I then ‘paid it forward’, which is a scheme where you can purchase a drink for someone experiencing homelessness.

When you do so, staff give you  a small card to write your name and a note. There is a section of the café where they place these name cards and notes up. The stand was already filled with so many names of people who have paid it forward. It’s £3 for a hot drink £5 for a meal and £10 for two meals.

Social Bite is one of the largest providers of free freshly prepared food to people experiencing homeless in the UK, and the Glasgow outlet will offer people in need a free hot drink and meal at various times throughout the day and alongside paying customers.

They have clearly taken a lot of time to put together the menu. There’s a selection of books available for all ages, it’s perfectly suited for Glaswegians to come by and enjoy a brilliant coffee and some sweet treats. There’s no better way to enjoy a coffee with a pastry in your hand and knowing your helping others with the favour.

Your support changes lives. Find out how you can help us help more people by signing up for a subscription

Advertisement

Change a vendor's life this Christmas

This Christmas, 3.8 million people across the UK will be facing extreme poverty. Thousands of those struggling will turn to selling the Big Issue as a vital source of income - they need your support to earn and lift themselves out of poverty.

Recommended for you

Read All
Winter fuel benefit cuts will send pensioners to hospital, DWP warned: 'It's a political choice'
a view from above of an older person with white hair eating out of a pot
Winter fuel payment

Winter fuel benefit cuts will send pensioners to hospital, DWP warned: 'It's a political choice'

Ghosts star Charlotte Ritchie: 'It's a tragedy people can't afford their essentials'
Charlotte Ritchie at Trussell food bank
Food banks

Ghosts star Charlotte Ritchie: 'It's a tragedy people can't afford their essentials'

Is the cost of living crisis over and will prices in the UK ever come down?
Cost of living crisis

Is the cost of living crisis over and will prices in the UK ever come down?

'This cannot go on': Hundreds of thousands of people turning to food banks for the first time
food bank
Food banks

'This cannot go on': Hundreds of thousands of people turning to food banks for the first time

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue