The charity I am fundraising for is the The Rock Trust http://www.rocktrust.org who work in Edinburgh and the Lothian’s with young people between the ages of 16- 25 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The Rock Trust offers a comprehensive range of services designed to prevent homelessness now & in the future. They provide advice about how to get help, family mediation to rebuild broken relationships, specialist supported accommodation, volunteering, education and training. Last year there were around 4,000 people who were declared as Homeless in the Edinburgh area and the charity supported around 400 vulnerable young people.
Why do I care? I’m not homeless? I don’t know anyone who is…. I just don’t think we can turn a blind eye to people in our own locality who need help. It’s easy to say, well that’s someone else’s problem to fix, the Government perhaps. But we can all be part of the solution and that starts with at least awareness.
Homelessness and poverty have always been in my awareness. I probably did have quite a comfortable middle class upbringing in many aspects but I did consider running away from home when I was maybe about 11 as my hormones started to rage and I was utterly confused. I really wasn’t street aware at all and I don’t like to think about what may have happened if I had gone through with the unconsidered plans of a young child.
I have watched and read a Lot about challenges people face around the world and I particularly feel for the plight of vulnerable Street Children. My heart completely breaks for these souls who live in such incredibly dangerous and terrifying situations and the mother energy in me wants to rush to each location and get Every kid off the streets into a safe, loving environment and off the streets. I was in Malaysia 3 weeks before the terrible Tsunami and I wondered after the camera crews and reporters go home, how the people in these natural disaster situations are left to survive and with what exactly? I think also about the huge number of refugees who are fleeing persecution in many places and who are sleeping in makeshift conditions as the nights are getting colder and colder - how on earth can they stay warm and safe. It’s not a reality at this point for me to logistically take care of Everyone and if I start thinking about it all it can be incredibly overwhelming mentally and energetically really draining so instead of being hopeless and giving up I take it to the local level and explore what action I can take on my own doorstep.
Yes, there are many many challenges everywhere, including in Scotland. One of my many jobs a number of years ago was working on social inclusion policy, including the issues of child poverty and working with the homelessness team. Scotland has made Massive steps forward since then and rates of homelessness have decreased but there are Still complex challenges and the diverse problems have not been solved. There still isn’t the social housing stock to provide cover for all those that need it, while I see more and more overpriced “luxury” apartments emerging all over the landscape. In these times of increasing austerity, council budgets are ever decreased and what is the knock on impact on those who rely on these services and the extended impact to Third Sector providers of services as well. There are obviously many other issues in the mix such as abuse and mental health concerns as well as complex relationship and addiction problems.
And then I have also wondered how many times I have actually ignored or been blind to all those that need some help? How many times have I walked past people in the street, sitting there quietly. Sadly, last year there were a minority of dishonest people in the streets trying to scam the public and they actually had drugged kittens with them I wonder if that kind of behaviour may make people sceptical and colour the experience of connecting with people who genuinely are suffering and need some compassion. They are Just people – Whatever they look like or seem to be, they are just other human people and any one of us could Easily find ourselves in a similar position. It might not take much for any of us to find ourselves in uncomfortable and uncharted territory. The other night I talked to a man called Brian, he had been in a relationship for 15 years and two weeks ago it broke down resulting in him ending up on the streets, he was quite quiet and gentle and I was glad that that night at least he had a place in a shelter.
I can survive one night on the pavement, yes it may very well be uncomfortable but I have my mediation practice to see me through the night and I get to go home to a warm bath, a soft bed, a safe space to live, a loving partner, a supportive family, a strong support network and a steady income. This experience reminds me of all I have and I count my blessings so very much. I have a heart Full of Love for Every person out there who thinks they are invisible and forgotten, no you are not forgotten, I stand beside you.
If you would be interested in donating a few pounds for this worthwhile cause, you can do so through this link: https://eyhedinburgh.everydayhero.com/uk/Loki
Will this raise awareness? Will it make any difference? Does that matter? You can’t predict the consequence of your actions, just act from the heart and the rest will unfold and take care of itself.