Tuesday 21^st October 2025

Last year, Marie hosted the Faith Leaders Summit at HALO, creating an opportunity for the faith community to come together to discuss the most pressing issues affecting local people and how best to support some of the most vulnerable in society. These conversations led to the design and delivery of a campaign aimed at supporting those over 66 to access the Attendance Allowance HUB, potentially providing up to an additional £108.55 per week to help offset the removal of the winter heating allowance.

In addition, Marie made donations to the EACHA project and St. Joseph’s Church to support their Christmas food provision activities. On Tuesday 21 October 2025, she visited both organisations to catch up on progress and hear about their plans for the upcoming festive season.

Marie met with Fr Stephen McGrattan, Fr Kevin Rennie, and Margaret from St. Joseph’s Church.

The visit provided an opportunity to hear about the current challenges facing the local community as well as the incredible work being carried out by the parish. Encouragingly, the church has seen an increase in engagement from younger people, and its popular community café brings together members of the congregation every Tuesday from 11am to 1pm, offering conversation, company, and tea, coffee and cake.

The church also highlighted how the HALO EV Bus has been a huge support to parishioners, helping them attend church and community trips, reducing travel costs, and increasing participation. In addition, the HALO Pensioner Attendance Allowance Hub has been a great success, with many parishioners now receiving the full allowance they were previously unaware they could claim.

Marie reaffirmed her commitment to supporting St. Joseph’s again this Christmas, including providing free use of the HALO EV Bus for community projects.

Marie also visited Steph McCutcheon and Rev. David Cameron at the new EACHA HQ on John Dickie Street, Kilmarnock.

East Ayrshire Churches Homelessness Action (EACHA) was established in 2005 and provides practical support to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, offering a non-judgemental space for food, friendship and support. Marie was delighted to see first-hand the work taking place at their new hub.

The discussion focused on the challenges faced by service users, including housing, addiction and employability, as well as the urgent need for changes to government policy. Funding pressures across the sector remain a major concern, with new models of public and private sector partnership seen as crucial to ensuring sustainability.

During the visit, Marie donated “Angel & Dove”, an original Gerard Burns painting, to EACHA’s new premises. She also pledged continued support for their Christmas food and lunch provision and discussed a pilot for a new HALO community housing, employment and health model designed to generate income and strengthen EACHA’s future operations.

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“We live in a time when community, hope, care and compassion are required more than ever.” Dr Marie Macklin CBE