An Edinburgh youth homeless charity has made an urgent appeal for food and toiletries for young people in their services.
The Rock Trust is a local charity that helps young people affected by family conflict and housing issues.
Posting to social media the organisation wrote: “*URGENT APPEAL*
“We are in desperate need of the below food and toiletries donations for the young people in our services (all un-used and un-opened please):
“Porridge pots and pot noodles.
“Fruit assortment, Individual cereal boxes, Cereal bars, Biscuits
“Hot beverages including tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and UHT milk.
“Toiletries such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner and body lotion.
“If you can help, please deliver any donations to our office in Edinburgh at 55 Albany Street EH1 3QY, between 10am-4pm Monday to Friday.
“Drop us a message if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for supporting us.
“Please share this post within your community to help spread the word - thank you.”
Edinburgh Live spoke to Moreen Watson, the Night Stop coordinator for the Rock Trust:
“We’ve not been getting so many donations recently but young people are still in the same situation, in crisis, homeless, some too young to qualify for Universal Credit.
“We had one young girl stay recently who was in for a week, she was only 16-years-old and asked ‘what will l do?’ as she had no food or money and wasn’t entitled to Universal Credit.
“I took her to Asda and got her the basics so she could make herself some meals but it will only last a couple of days.
“She has no money to get to college but is still trying so hard, there are just so many barriers there.”
“There are a lot of 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds who have left home and come to us.
“Sometimes because of domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse or issues caused by poor mental illness.
“When they come into our care they often don’t even have a bank account so when we find a volunteer for them to stay with we provide basic toiletries.
“It’s nice to give them something they’d like to buy themselves to make them feel at home.
“I usually add a wee bar of chocolate and a notepad and pen so they can write down their plans or how they feel.
“There are 25 flats in West Lothian with 16-25 year olds living independently.
“They need everything, even basic stuff to get them started.
“We look for tins, packets, bread, things for the cupboard, toiletries can be really expensive and it really adds up.”
As well as temporarily housing young people who find themselves homeless there are measures in place to help young people going through turbulent times at home.
The charity educates teachers and provides resources to spot the signs of a young person in need and staff from the Rock Trust work in schools across the city.
