Latest news with #Littlejohn
Glasgow Times
11-08-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Inside the Glasgow cafe battling the homelessness crisis
Wedged between the Rangers Store and Jessops of Glasgow, the small storefront has become a popular gathering place for the city's young professionals since it opened two years ago. Yet, the queue belies a more concerning truth, that of a growing economic crisis which has left thousands of Glaswegians unable to pay rent or buy groceries. Dozens line up each morning outside the cafe, eager for a hot roll and sausage, a coffee or tea, and a warm smile. A second free meal service is held in the afternoon, this routinely attracting more than one hundred people every day. Netlix star Phil Rosenthal visited Social Bite in Edinburgh last year. (Image: Social Bite) Similar scenes can be observed at Social Bite's cafes in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Social Bite's Managing Director, Mel Swan explains: 'We do a breakfast service and an afternoon service in Glasgow. Everyone is welcome, it is a very inclusive and welcoming environment. 'In the afternoon we have 'Scran', that will be the same food and drinks we serve in the cafe. Folks can get tea or coffee, or a bottle of water, and lunch items like jacket potatoes and sandwiches, as well as fruit and snacks. We have volunteers who help pack everything up.' Founded in Edinburgh by Josh Littlejohn in August 2012, Social Bite began life as a typical coffee shop. That is, until a homeless man named Peter approached Littlejohn for a job, kicking off a decade plus of battling the housing crisis. Littlejohn, who has received an MBE for his work in the sector, previously told The Herald about how he came up with the idea for the cafe, after reading a book by Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus. 'I had just left university and at that time I had never heard of the term social enterprise,' he said. 'There was no cultural reference point for trying to create a business with a social mission, the only purpose of a business was to create profit. "Reading that book lit a fire within me when I learned that idea and felt a real sense of alignment." Today, Swan, who joined Social Bite several years ago, says that more people are using the charity's services than ever before. 'It's been very eye-opening," she notes. 'Some of the services are at their highest usage right now. That's for a variety of reasons. For example, in Glasgow, some of the other free food charitable services have had to close down, so we've seen a lot more people using our service. Our Rose Street store in Edinburgh is quite hit and miss at the moment since the festival is going on. 'Yesterday in Rose Street, 75 people came in for breakfast, and over 100 were served in the afternoon. In Glasgow yesterday, we had a social supper - which is a hot, family style meal, and served 120 people. Social Bite was founded by Josh Littlejohn. Pictured with John Watson. (L). (Image: John Watson) Swan added: 'Everyday you walk past our shops, especially in the afternoon, and you will see a queue before we do the free food service. Those queues have gotten bigger, we have different sorts of people joining. 'We serve hundreds of people a week, and it is a vital service for them. We pride ourselves on making it as inclusive as possible. We're all people and are all trying our best, so we want everyone to feel welcomed, regardless of whether they are paying or not.' But what do the cafe's customers think about the shop's charitable aims? Swan says that many are more than happy to 'pay it forward', purchasing drinks or snacks for cafe workers to give out during the day. She adds: 'We have brilliant coffee. That's a non-negotiable as far as I'm concerned. What makes us unique is the 'pay it forward' concept. Customers can come in and choose to buy a drink or a meal for someone who might be homeless or in a situation where they can't afford to buy their own food, and we will facilitate that for them. 'That happens every single day in all of our coffee shops. People come in; young, old, working, shopping, and every day I'm blown away by the amount of people who want to help. It's always really special around the winter months, when it's darker and colder, and we see someone banging on the door to come in and pay it forward. 'Our customers really like to see it in action. They like to know that is where their donations are going and that's brilliant. There are some people who don't want to see them, and that's something that as a society we're always trying to educate on, but that's the world we live in.' Christmas is a special time for the charity. (Image: Herald Picture Agency) The three shops come alive at the holiday season, Swan says with a smile on her face. 'At Christmas, we do something a bit different, it is a key period for us. Not only because of the need, but around our annual campaign. We still do free meal services Monday to Friday, but we also open our doors on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and we do a sit down Christmas dinner.' Guests are served two courses, including turkey with all the trimmings and sticky toffee pudding, as well as special gifts and Christmas crackers. 'Each coffee shop might serve 400 or 500 people each year. We also support a lot of other charities. There's only so much we can do within the four walls of our coffee shop, but we do send meals to other charities during the holiday season.' READ NEXT: 3 suspects accused of murder of man in Glasgow 20 years ago READ NEXT: Glasgow man stealing from cars spat and told cops he had HIV As our conversation comes to a close, Swan reflects on the ethos behind Social Bite. 'Anyone can do food,' she says. 'You saw that in times of crisis, like Covid, lots of people came together because that's what we do, we want to feed people. 'We know how many meals we give out, we know how many coffees we give out, we've got those numbers, but actually that impact we have on people who use our services is the part that restores faith in why we're here.'
The Herald Scotland
11-08-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Social Bite cofee shops feed thousands amid housing crisis
Yet, the queue belies a more concerning truth, that of a growing economic crisis which has left thousands of Glaswegians unable to pay rent or buy groceries. Dozens line up each morning outside the cafe, eager for a hot roll and sausage, a coffee or tea, and a warm smile. A second free meal service is held in the afternoon, this routinely attracting more than one hundred people every day. Netlix star Phil Rosenthal visited Social Bite in Edinburgh last year. (Image: Social Bite) Similar scenes can be observed at Social Bite's cafes in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Social Bite's Managing Director, Mel Swan explains: 'We do a breakfast service and an afternoon service in Glasgow. Everyone is welcome, it is a very inclusive and welcoming environment. 'In the afternoon we have 'Scran', that will be the same food and drinks we serve in the cafe. Folks can get tea or coffee, or a bottle of water, and lunch items like jacket potatoes and sandwiches, as well as fruit and snacks. We have volunteers who help pack everything up.' Founded in Edinburgh by Josh Littlejohn in August 2012, Social Bite began life as a typical coffee shop. That is, until a homeless man named Peter approached Littlejohn for a job, kicking off a decade plus of battling the housing crisis. Littlejohn, who has received an MBE for his work in the sector, previously told The Herald about how he came up with the idea for the cafe, after reading a book by Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus. 'I had just left university and at that time I had never heard of the term social enterprise,' he said. 'There was no cultural reference point for trying to create a business with a social mission, the only purpose of a business was to create profit. "Reading that book lit a fire within me when I learned that idea and felt a real sense of alignment." Today, Swan, who joined Social Bite several years ago, says that more people are using the charity's services than ever before. 'It's been very eye-opening," she notes. 'Some of the services are at their highest usage right now. That's for a variety of reasons. For example, in Glasgow, some of the other free food charitable services have had to close down, so we've seen a lot more people using our service. Our Rose Street store in Edinburgh is quite hit and miss at the moment since the festival is going on. 'Yesterday in Rose Street, 75 people came in for breakfast, and over 100 were served in the afternoon. In Glasgow yesterday, we had a social supper - which is a hot, family style meal, and served 120 people. Social Bite was founded by Josh Littlejohn. Pictured with John Watson. (L). (Image: John Watson) Swan added: 'Everyday you walk past our shops, especially in the afternoon, and you will see a queue before we do the free food service. Those queues have gotten bigger, we have different sorts of people joining. 'We serve hundreds of people a week, and it is a vital service for them. We pride ourselves on making it as inclusive as possible. We're all people and are all trying our best, so we want everyone to feel welcomed, regardless of whether they are paying or not.' But what do the cafe's customers think about the shop's charitable aims? Swan says that many are more than happy to 'pay it forward', purchasing drinks or snacks for cafe workers to give out during the day. She adds: 'We have brilliant coffee. That's a non-negotiable as far as I'm concerned. What makes us unique is the 'pay it forward' concept. Customers can come in and choose to buy a drink or a meal for someone who might be homeless or in a situation where they can't afford to buy their own food, and we will facilitate that for them. 'That happens every single day in all of our coffee shops. People come in; young, old, working, shopping, and every day I'm blown away by the amount of people who want to help. It's always really special around the winter months, when it's darker and colder, and we see someone banging on the door to come in and pay it forward. 'Our customers really like to see it in action. They like to know that is where their donations are going and that's brilliant. There are some people who don't want to see them, and that's something that as a society we're always trying to educate on, but that's the world we live in.' Christmas is a special time for the charity. (Image: Herald Picture Agency) The three shops come alive at the holiday season, Swan says with a smile on her face. 'At Christmas, we do something a bit different, it is a key period for us. Not only because of the need, but around our annual campaign. We still do free meal services Monday to Friday, but we also open our doors on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and we do a sit down Christmas dinner.' Guests are served two courses, including turkey with all the trimmings and sticky toffee pudding, as well as special gifts and Christmas crackers. 'Each coffee shop might serve 400 or 500 people each year. We also support a lot of other charities. There's only so much we can do within the four walls of our coffee shop, but we do send meals to other charities during the holiday season.' Read more: 'I thought I was dying': Social Bite's Josh Littlejohn on mental health challenges Dame Helen Mirren and Will Smith back Social Bite's global charity sleep-out Leonardo DiCaprio highlights plight of homeless in Social Bite restaurant visit As our conversation comes to a close, Swan reflects on the ethos behind Social Bite. 'Anyone can do food,' she says. 'You saw that in times of crisis, like Covid, lots of people came together because that's what we do, we want to feed people. 'We know how many meals we give out, we know how many coffees we give out, we've got those numbers, but actually that impact we have on people who use our services is the part that restores faith in why we're here.'
The Irish Sun
30-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ruesha Littlejohn leaving Shamrock Rovers along with fellow Republic of Ireland star
RUESHA Littlejohn has left Shamrock Rovers after little more than three months. The Hoops have confirmed that the veteran Ireland international and teenage keeper Katie Keane - who is joining Leicester City - have departed. Advertisement 2 Littlejohn joined Rovers following the termination of her London City Lionesses contract 2 Keane has won the Women's FAI Cup in 2023 and the Women's Premier Division in 2024 with Athlone Town Littlejohn, 34, was a The midfielder won her 91st cap for Ireland as a substitute in their A Rovers statement said: 'The club and Ruesha had a mutual agreement in place, allowing her to pursue full-time football opportunities outside of Ireland during the July transfer window.' Whilst Littlejohn has a move lined up, Ireland squad stalwarts Aoife Mannion, Heather Payne, Megan Campbell, Izzy Atkinson and Grace Moloney remain free agents. Advertisement Read more on Irish football Keane joined Rovers at the start of the year. She got her first taste of senior football with Shelbourne and, with Athlone Town, won the FAI Cup in 2023 and League title last season. The 18-year-old has agreed a three-year deal with Leicester which should strengthen her claims to become a member of Carla Ward's squad having won her first senior call-up in 2022. Saipan film trailer splits opinion as Irish football fans voice concern about Roy Keane portrayal
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ardurra Acquires Cultural Resource Management Firm, Janus Research, Inc.
MIAMI, June 16, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ardurra Group Inc. (Ardurra) announced today the acquisition of Janus Research, Inc. (Janus), a cultural resource management firm that has served Florida clients for over 40 years. Ardurra, ranked #75 on Engineering News-Record's (ENR) Top 500 list, is known for delivering complex engineering and design services to public and private entities across the United States. Founded in 1979, Janus Research is a cultural resource management firm based in Tampa, Florida. The firm helps protect and preserve important historical and cultural sites through comprehensive assessment, planning, and compliance services. Their 21-person team ensures development projects meet federal and state preservation requirements while balancing progress with cultural stewardship across Florida's diverse communities. The acquisition makes Ardurra a top-three cultural resource management provider in the state of Florida. "Janus Research, Inc. has earned an exceptional reputation over four decades in Florida's cultural resource management market. As we continue building our CRM capabilities, their expertise and long-standing relationships will significantly strengthen what we can offer clients. We're pleased to welcome such a respected team to Ardurra," said Ernesto Aguilar, PE, President and CEO of Ardurra. "Building our reputation for excellence and ethical research as a small firm hasn't been easy, but our team has always maintained the highest professional standards," said Ken Hardin, President of Janus Research. "Ardurra shares our values and approach to quality work. We've collaborated on projects before and have great respect for their colleagues. This partnership allows us to take our commitment to excellence to the next level." Janus Research will continue to operate from Tampa while integrating with Ardurra's existing CRM team. About Ardurra Headquartered in Miami, Ardurra provides complex engineering, consulting, and design services for various end markets, including water, transportation, aviation, and public works across the United States. Ardurra Group Inc. operates as a portfolio company of Littlejohn & Co., LLC. (Littlejohn). Littlejohn is a Greenwich, Connecticut-based investment firm focused on private equity and debt investments, primarily in middle-market companies. With approximately $8.0 billion in regulatory assets under management, the firm seeks to build sustainable success for its portfolio companies through a disciplined approach to engineering change. For more information about Littlejohn, visit For more about Ardurra, visit About Janus Research, Inc. Janus Research, Inc., a cultural resource management company established in 1979. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, the firm helps protect and preserve important historical and cultural sites through comprehensive assessment, planning, and compliance services. Their work ensures development projects meet federal and state preservation requirements while balancing progress with cultural stewardship across Florida's diverse communities. More information is available at View source version on Contacts Media Contact Information Ginny Waters813.327.6042 | gwaters@ Ardurra Group, Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
16-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Ardurra Acquires Cultural Resource Management Firm, Janus Research, Inc.
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ardurra Group Inc. (Ardurra) announced today the acquisition of Janus Research, Inc. (Janus), a cultural resource management firm that has served Florida clients for over 40 years. This partnership strengthens our cultural resource management capabilities and creates new possibilities for both teams to collaborate on larger, more complex projects where CRM expertise is critical. Ardurra, ranked #75 on Engineering News-Record's (ENR) Top 500 list, is known for delivering complex engineering and design services to public and private entities across the United States. Founded in 1979, Janus Research is a cultural resource management firm based in Tampa, Florida. The firm helps protect and preserve important historical and cultural sites through comprehensive assessment, planning, and compliance services. Their 21-person team ensures development projects meet federal and state preservation requirements while balancing progress with cultural stewardship across Florida's diverse communities. The acquisition makes Ardurra a top-three cultural resource management provider in the state of Florida. "Janus Research, Inc. has earned an exceptional reputation over four decades in Florida's cultural resource management market. As we continue building our CRM capabilities, their expertise and long-standing relationships will significantly strengthen what we can offer clients. We're pleased to welcome such a respected team to Ardurra," said Ernesto Aguilar, PE, President and CEO of Ardurra. "Building our reputation for excellence and ethical research as a small firm hasn't been easy, but our team has always maintained the highest professional standards," said Ken Hardin, President of Janus Research. "Ardurra shares our values and approach to quality work. We've collaborated on projects before and have great respect for their colleagues. This partnership allows us to take our commitment to excellence to the next level." Janus Research will continue to operate from Tampa while integrating with Ardurra's existing CRM team. About Ardurra Headquartered in Miami, Ardurra provides complex engineering, consulting, and design services for various end markets, including water, transportation, aviation, and public works across the United States. Ardurra Group Inc. operates as a portfolio company of Littlejohn & Co., LLC. (Littlejohn). Littlejohn is a Greenwich, Connecticut-based investment firm focused on private equity and debt investments, primarily in middle-market companies. With approximately $8.0 billion in regulatory assets under management, the firm seeks to build sustainable success for its portfolio companies through a disciplined approach to engineering change. For more information about Littlejohn, visit For more about Ardurra, visit About Janus Research, Inc. Janus Research, Inc., a cultural resource management company established in 1979. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, the firm helps protect and preserve important historical and cultural sites through comprehensive assessment, planning, and compliance services. Their work ensures development projects meet federal and state preservation requirements while balancing progress with cultural stewardship across Florida's diverse communities. More information is available at
