”The role of Instant Neighbour in the community is vital. We are involved in alleviating poverty of health, wealth and opportunity through our service.”
Sophy Green, Chief Executive
We are dedicated to improving our community by providing essential services to those who need it the most. Our mission is to combat poverty in health, wealth and opportunity, empowering individuals and families to lead healthier, wealthier and more fulfilling lives. Join us in making a positive impact on our community and support our vital services.
Have you visited our online store yet? When you shop with us, you’re doing so much more than just buying—you’re directly supporting Instant Neighbour’s vital work in the Aberdeen community while also contributing to Scotland’s thriving circular economy. Every purchase helps us fight poverty, reduce waste, and create opportunities—making your shopping a powerful act of change. Choose reuse, choose impact—shop with us today!
Our impact
In this particularly difficult year, we were only able to achieve this because of your donations and ongoing support.
Recycling
11 tonnes recycled compriding textiles, books and bric-a-brac.
Food Bank
10,500 food parcels provided to 2,500 different clients
Giving Tree
13,500 gifts to children across North East of Scotland.
Re-use
80.7 tonnes reused – household, electrical and clothing.
Employability
19 volunteers on training with 540 hours experience.
Furniture Store
We stored belongings of 67 individuals facing homelessness.
About Us
Instant Neighbour has been supporting people in Aberdeen City and Shire for the last 40 years. We support people on low incomes to set up home, by providing access to low-cost reuse furniture, white goods, clothing and bric a brac. As well as our shops, our services include Carpetinc and Joinerinc, professional services that are accessible to everyone to use.
We offer employability experiences through volunteering in our shops, warehouse, in our vans and in our office.
Any profit made from the above go back into the organisation to support our Charitable work, Food bank and Giving Tree.
The Giving Tree
We believe that no child should be without a gift at Christmas. Instant Neighbour’s Giving Tree appeal continues to be supported by many local businesses and the general public, to distribute new toys to children across the City & Shire who otherwise would not receive a gift at Christmas.
Home Services
Donate
Our unique model only works because of your generous donations and ongoing support. Please support us in the following ways.
Donate food or money to buy food to our food bank.
Good condition furniture, household and electrical items.
Donate good condition clothing you no longer need.
Donate funds directly through our Paypal link.
Donate your time by volunteering on of our programmes.
Donate effort by running or other sponsored events.
Food Bank
The foodbank at Instant Neighbour has offered emergency food parcels to people in need since 1984 when the charity launched in the back room of Holburn West Church in Aberdeen.
Today, it operates from our St Machar Drive premises where we have a full-time Community Connector to distribute food parcels and offer welfare advice and signposting to appropriate agencies that can help a wide array of issues that cause people to land themselves in food poverty.
Our shops and locations
Volunteering
Our volunteers play a huge part in everything that we do, quite simply we couldn’t do what we do without you! Whether you have some time on your hands, have recently been made redundant or have never worked, it does not matter, we want to hear from you! We would be delighted to have you on board!
News
We are seeking a new Chair of the Board of Trustees
“Shape the future of Instant Neighbour – become our next Chair.” Instant Neighbour is seeking a new Chair of the Board of Trustees to lead our governance and support our…
Instant Neighbour is proud to stand with the Scotland Demands Better campaign
For over 40 years, we have worked to tackle poverty and inequality in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, supporting people with emergency food, furniture, volunteering opportunities, and wrap-around support. Every day, we…
Rescuing Mattresses, Rebuilding Lives: Instant Neighbour Joins Forces with Stella’s Voice and Aberdeenshire Council
Scotland throws away a shocking 600,000 mattresses every year – yet fewer than 10% are recycled or reused. The heart-breaking truth? Most of these mattresses still have years of life…
