Tom Byrom: Who will be their rock in hard times?

Published on Wednesday 6 April 2011 11:20

After 20 years helping the city's homeless with the Rock Trust, Tom Byrom says the challenges are only getting bigger

We are continually reminded in the news of the economic difficulties we are facing and the impact of this on jobs, incomes, families and social services.

While homelessness in Scotland has always been an issue, the inability to pay the rent or mortgage and the increasing pressure on families to ensure everyone is earning and paying their way has the potential to increase the number of households and young people becoming homeless.

In 2009-10, more than 42,000 households were accepted by Scottish local authorities as homeless. This figure, although beginning to stabilise over recent years, has nevertheless increased by 26 per cent since the turn of the century. Of particular concern is the number of children and young people caught up in the homeless system. Currently, there are around 20,000 children living in households affected by homelessness.

It is the lives of children and young people that are arguably most effected - the loss of a stable living environment is often accompanied by disruption to schooling, friendships and other family supports. At a point in life when stability is so important for future successful development, this upheaval often represents a real setback and can significantly dent confidence.

Young people themselves make up the largest group of homeless individuals (16 to 25-year-olds). When one considers their general circumstances, it is little surprise - limited economic means, often no or few qualifications, a lack of family support and limited life experiences.

The Rock Trust is a Lothian-based charity which has been working with young people (14 to 25-year-olds) who are homeless or at risk of homelessness since it was established 20 years ago in the summer of 1991. Initially staffed by volunteers, the charity began to provide practical assistance: a roof, a blanket, some food. There were limited resources available to homeless people in Edinburgh - particularly young people. Many were offered little option but to enter hostels and other services geared for older groups. This often placed them in vulnerable positions or forced them to avoid services altogether.

Over the years, the approaches taken to resolving homelessness issues have changed markedly. Twenty years ago, homelessness was an issue of rooflessness, therefore the solution lay in the provision of housing. Over the years, as understanding of homelessness has developed, so too have the approaches to dealing with it. Increasingly, the emphasis has moved to tackling underlying issues.

The Homelessness Task Force, set up by the then Scottish Executive, set ambitious targets to end homelessness by 2012, and since then much positive work has been done. Today, a growing emphasis has been placed on prevention-based services (for example, early assessment and intervention models like mediation services). By catching things early, both individual and society stand to gain.

The Rock Trust now provides a range of innovative approaches to tackling the issues associated with homelessness - from developing independent living skills and improving health to forming and maintaining positive social networks and developing work-ready skills.

Today, the charity works with around 400 of the most vulnerable young people in the Lothians. It's not always plain sailing, but the work for the majority of the young people is successful and does help to transform lives.

The tough times that we face now and that are still ahead of us will inevitably place further pressure on families and households.

In 1991, the Rock Trust was able to provide services because of the individuals willing to donate their time and resources to help young homeless people.

Twenty years later, this has not changed - the Rock Trust recruits and trains volunteers to provide valuable services within the office base, to mentor young people or even to provide an emergency room for the night.

The willingness of people to help others in times of difficulty is the only constant over the years and it continues during these times of austerity.

&#149 Tom Byrom is business and resource manager at the Rock Trust

Artists post support for fundraising exhibit

This summer marks 20 years of the Rock Trust fighting youth homelessness in the Lothians. To celebrate, the charity is holding an exhibition of small-scale works by big-name artists at the Traverse Theatre. A collection of postcards illustrated by the likes of David Shrigley and John Byrne will be sold by blind auction.

The exhibition and sale is now in its second week and will run until May 7.