Soup kitchen shock over triple tragedy
Deaths of three under-45s on receiving end of help
The people we support consider themselves the forgotten people of Stirling Alasdair Macpherson
Soup kitchen volunteers have vowed to continue to aid vulnerable people in Stirling after learning three people they helped over Christmas had died.
The Stirling Christmas Cheer Project set up a city centre soup kitchen over the festive season to offer food and kindness to anyone in need or vulnerable.
However, the volunteers say they have heard that three of those they met as a result of the effort - all under 45 - have since died.
The news has only strengthened their resolve to continue their efforts, which include signposting people to appropriate help, whether for substance abuse, debt advice, housing or benefits.
Speaking on behalf of the project Alasdair Macpherson, an SNP councillor, said if raising awareness meant one more death was prevented efforts would be worthwhile: “Tragically, we have been told that three of the people we have engaged with since the project commenced have died of drugs overdose. All were under 45.
“In the eyes of some, these people they are just another statistic, but they are someone’s sons and daughters. From speaking to friends of those who have died, there is a tragic history of poverty, years of addiction, hopelessness and vitally lack of support.
“If we are to prevent more drug deaths, urgent and radical intervention is required. Scotland is supposed to a welcoming and caring country - but our attitude to drug deaths must change.”
He said project volunteers had been at the receiving end of unsupportive jibes.
But he had a stark warning to those levelling criticism: “I thought I had seen everything in 14 years as a councillor but the last 36 nights have opened my eyes.
“We had initially intended running the project until January 6, however we feel we now just cannot walk away as we have developed a very good rapport with a number of extremely vulnerable people.
“This is not an easy gig as at times, it can be extremely distressing and intimidating to be in close proximity of someone who has an alcohol or drug illness.
“From the outset, the vast majority of the public have been very supportive of our project.
“But we have also received comments about us of supporting ‘junkies and jakeys’.
“We accept that criticism but none of us should ever be complacent, as there is a real danger that at the end of the pandemic, we are going to see poverty on a scale none of us has ever experienced before. We would say to our critics - there but for the grace of god go I ..... ”
Alasdair said some nights could be very busy, while others only saw a handful of people attend, adding: “The people we support consider themselves as the discarded from society, the forgotten people of Stirling, which is a terrible indictment on us all.
“There are also a number of extremely vulnerable female users of our project who are exposed to exploitation on a daily basis, which is deeply concerning.
“We are now present four nights a week and from February 1 two nights a week. We now have more than 100 volunteers and have been inundated with donations of food and clothing from around Central Scotland. The generosity of people has been truly incredible, and we would like to thank everyone who has given a donation. The King Robert Hotel have kindly given us storage space, which has made a huge difference.”
Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford, MP Alyn Smith and council leader Scott Farmer this week pledged to “reach out” to drugs policy minister Angela Constance and to local NHS and council officials to discuss how to tackle such issues in the Stirling area given the volunteers’ insight.