We started in 1990, when it was discovered that homeless young people had been sleeping rough in the graveyard of St. Cuthbert’s Church in Edinburgh. The Council of West End Churches was shocked by this harsh reality, and moved to action. The Council at the time owned a flat occupied by friars. One of them, Brother Basil, set out to publicise the issue of youth homelessness and raise funds. His energy turned an ambition into reality, and in 1991 Rock Trust was formed.

In February 1993, as a direct consequence of that determination to do something, and an anonymous donation of £100,000, a flat was opened for homeless young people, with three more opening later in the year forming the Bedrock supported accommodation service which still operates today.

From local to regional

In 2000, we expanded our core supported accommodation service into West Lothian, and in 2009, we opened the Nightstop service – a franchise arrangement with DePaul, and for many years were one of two charities in Scotland that provided this well needed emergency accommodation scheme. We were also the first in Scotland to take the respected Housing First model and adapt this for young people – creating Housing First 4 Youth. With Almond Housing Association, we began to deliver this service in West Lothian in 2017, where it continues to run, alongside services in Fife and Glasgow.

In 2017 we launched A Way Home Scotland – a coalition of organisations representing a cross-section of society dedicated to ending youth homelessness through influencing and lobbying for systemic change.

Moving closer to our vision

In recent years we have established new services in Perth, Fife and Glasgow, evolving into the leading youth homelessness charity we are today. We deliver services regionally across Scotland, and work with our coalition and partners to influence national change.

Most recently we began a three-year pilot of Upstream Scotland, a pioneering schools-based prevention programme with the potential to turn the tide on Scotland’s youth homelessness crisis.

We are proud of a history rich with collaboration and innovation – sharing and implementing best practice nationally and internationally. We take our next steps with optimism and determination. An end to youth homelessness remains possible, and together we will make it a reality.