Rock Trust will host a conference bringing together speakers from Scotland and Canada
Youth homeless charity the Rock Trust is marking 25 years of working in Scotland by hosting a conference to share some of the knowledge it has picked up in the last quarter of a century.
Since 1991, the Edinburgh based charity has helped over 15,000 young people affected by homelessness after being launched by three churches whose ministers discovered homeless young people had been sleeping rough in the graveyard of the city’s St. Cuthbert’s Church.
The charity now works with between 400 and 500 young people every year who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, offering more than 50 bed spaces each night as well as mediation and support to plan for a safe and stable future.
Its young tenants learn how to look after themselves and their accommodation and how to interact within their communities. The charity also helps them to learn skills to find employment through practical experience and volunteer placements.
We have helped approximately 15,000 young people since opening in 1991 but there is still more that can be done
The Ending Youth Homelessness conference takes place on Monday, 6 June in Radisson Blu on The Royal Mile, Edinburgh and brings together speakers from Scotland and Canada.
Aimed at senior managers within the third and public sectors in the areas of health, housing, education, criminal justice, employment, migration and youth work it will provide the opportunity to take part in discussions, interactive workshops and network with leaders across the third and public sectors.
The conference will be exploring Housing First – a simple concept which provides housing for homeless people first – and then combine that housing with supportive treatment services in mental and physical health, substance abuse, education, and employment.
The programme is taking Europe by storm and the conference will examine how it can be used to benefit young people in Scotland.
Another focus will be on alternative emergency accommodation that supports young people out of homelessness, such as the community-based Nightstop service.
Key speakers at the event will include: Stephen Gaetz who is director of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and the Homeless Hub; Melanie Redman, executive director of ‘A Way Home: Working Together to End Youth Homelessness in Canada; Marion Gibbs, team leader for homelessness at the Scottish Government; and Beth Watts, research fellow at I-SPHERE, Heriot-Watt University.
Kate Polson, chief executive of the Rock Trust, said: “Our annual conference is a great opportunity to discuss and discover how we can continue to work towards ending youth homelessness.
“It is a particularly special year for the Rock Trust, as it marks 25 years of helping young people in Scotland.
“We have helped approximately 15,000 young people since opening in 1991 but there is still more that can be done.
“We want to bring stakeholders and decision makers together to find solutions to reduce and prevent youth homelessness.
“By working together in partnership, we can support communities, engage local authorities and make a difference in young people’s lives.”
For more information and to book your place, please visit the Rock Trust website.
