Bringing hope back to the streets of Edinburgh, one book at a time

How the Capital's library for the homeless is making a remarkable comeback, a year after being made homeless itself

The street to Streetr

A surprise awaits down a hidden close in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, just a stone’s throw from the Scottish Parliament.

Cutting through a modern development set between the Royal Mile and the foot of Arthur’s Seat, you find vibrant and dramatic street art decorating the walls of an otherwise unassuming building.

These colourful murals – featuring a cornucopia of Scottish iconography, a knight on a white horse, a stag, a fox, bluebells, bracken – are the only obvious signs that something unique is going on inside.

This is the new home of Streetreads library, a one-of-a-kind hub offering a beacon of hope for hundreds of the city’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens.

Here, those living rough on the streets, experiencing homelessness or staying in temporary accommodation have access not only to countless books but also to a diverse range of other services and events – everything from literacy and learning groups to peer-led drop-ins, creative workshops and one-to-one support.

Streetreads offers a safe and welcoming place for them to turn up and “just be” - no names needed, to read, to meet people and to access help that can be transformational, and in some cases life-saving.

Streetreads service lead Ricky Kerr

“This place has saved lives,” said Ricky Kerr, service lead for Streetreads. “It can really help tackle some of the barriers and stigma these people face.”

The library, run by homelessness charity Simon Community Scotland, had been based at the Methodist church in Nicholson Square for around four years, catering for up to 200 users each week. But operations were thrown into disarray when the landlord issued an eviction notice and the charity itself became homeless at the start of last year. It was forced to suspend services while a frantic search for new premises got under way.

Challenging times

This went on for a “hard” seven and a half months, a time that was difficult for users and staff alike.

Kerr says: “Withdrawing this vital service was the last thing we wanted to do because there is really nowhere else like this – not just in Edinburgh, but in the world – a library specifically created and designed to support people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

“When we had to move out of our last location and suspend the service it was especially hard on the people we support.

“Some folk’s behaviour regressed, and some people didn’t leave their accommodation, because they no longer had the opportunity for community and connection that Streetread’s library provides.”