What Rock Trust does

Rock Trust is Scotland's leading youth homelessness charity, founded in 1991 in Edinburgh and operating as a company limited by guarantee and registered Scottish charity (SC018708). It delivers a comprehensive, youth-specific and trauma-informed service portfolio for young people aged 16-25 affected by or at risk of homelessness across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Glasgow, Perth and Kinross, and Fife. Core programmes include Supported Accommodation (Bedrock), Visiting Housing Support, Housing First for Youth (the first such adaptation in Scotland, launched in West Lothian in 2017), Live and Work (Future Builders), the school-based Upstream Scotland prevention pilot, two purpose-built Youth Housing Hubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow with a mobile 'Hub on Tour' outreach service, art therapy and counselling, and Crisis Advice and Support. All services are free to beneficiaries.

The organization's operating model is fundamentally service-led rather than technology-led. The website and digital infrastructure run on WordPress with Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity, Google Adsense, Mailchimp, Vimeo/YouTube, Stripe for donation processing, and Complianz for cookie consent — standard off-the-shelf tools with no proprietary technology. Service delivery is anchored in qualified youth workers, partnerships with seven local authorities for commissioned accommodation and support, and a growing corporate and trust fundraising base. Sub-brands include Bedrock, Nightstop, Housing First for Youth, Live and Work, Upstream Scotland, the Youth Housing Hubs, and Future Builders.

Rock Trust is funded through a diversified mix: individual one-time and recurring donations, corporate partnerships (Mortgage Haven, Venesky Brown, The Hoxton, ESPC, Weatherbys Bank, Rettie, Safe Deposits Scotland, Baillie Gifford), grants from 20+ named charitable trusts and foundations (Henry Smith Foundation, National Lottery, John Laing Charitable Trust, Gannochy Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, Dulverton Trust, Crerar Trust, and others), legacy giving, local authority contracts, and challenge events including Kiltwalk, Edinburgh Marathon Festival, Firewalk Edinburgh, and Forth Bridge Rail Abseil. Governance is provided by a Board of Trustees led by Chair Nick McGruer, with CEO Kate Polson and a Senior Management Team that includes the Head of Services. The organization launched and convenes the A Way Home Scotland coalition and has active research partnerships with LGBT Youth Scotland, akt, YouthLink Scotland, and Llamau (the latter adapting the Upstream model into Wales).

Name

Rock Trust

Legal name

The Rock Trust

Website

https://rocktrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Rock Trust is Scotland's leading youth homelessness charity, founded in 1991, delivering free trauma-informed housing, prevention, and wellbeing services for young people aged 16-25 across five Scottish regions through hubs, supported accommodation, and school-based programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Homelessness Support Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Youth homelessness services
• Supported accommodation
• Housing first
• Crisis housing support
• Homelessness prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters. The donate page offers preset amounts (£10, £20, £50) as well as custom amounts for one-time or monthly giving.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with businesses including fundraising support, challenge events participation, pro bono skills sharing (law, HR, tech, design), gifts in kind (food, toiletries, gift cards, home packs, furniture), and payroll giving programmes.
3. Trust and Foundation Grants: Funding from charitable foundations and trusts including Henry Smith Foundation, National Lottery, John Laing Charitable Trust, Barratt Redrow Foundation, Gannochy Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, and others.
4. Legacy Giving: Gifts in wills from supporters who remember Rock Trust in their estate planning.
5. Local Authority Contracts: Partnerships with local authorities across Edinburgh, Lothians, Glasgow, Perth and Kinross, and Fife to deliver youth homelessness services including supported accommodation, housing support, and crisis advice.
6. Fundraising Events: Revenue from challenge events including Kiltwalk, Edinburgh Marathon, Firewalk, and Forth Bridge Abseil where participants raise money for the charity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Rock Trust provides free, youth-specific housing and homelessness support services to young people aged 16-25 in Scotland. Its core offerings include supported accommodation (Bedrock), visiting housing support, Housing First for Youth, Live and Work, the Upstream Scotland school-based prevention programme, drop-in Youth Housing Hubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow, health and wellbeing services including art therapy and counselling, and crisis advice and emergency housing support. All services are delivered free of charge and funded through donations, charitable grants, local authority contracts, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Rock Trust is Scotland's leading youth homelessness charity offering a comprehensive suite of youth-specific, trauma-informed services designed to prevent and resolve youth homelessness. The core service portfolio includes: Supported Accommodation (Bedrock) providing transitional housing with wraparound support; Visiting Housing Support for young people in their own homes; Housing First for Youth delivering permanent housing with no conditions; Live and Work combining affordable housing with employment support; Upstream Scotland school-based prevention programme; Edinburgh and Glasgow Youth Housing Hubs offering drop-in services and 1-1 support; Health & Wellbeing services including art therapy and counselling; and Crisis Advice and Support for young people in immediate housing need. Supporting these direct services are policy research publications, volunteer programmes, corporate partnerships, and challenge events (Kiltwalk, Edinburgh Marathon). All services are free for young people aged 16-25 and delivered across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Glasgow, Perth and Kinross, and Fife.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bedrock: Supported accommodation service providing safe, stable housing with built-in support for young people.
• Nightstop
• Housing First for Youth
• Live and Work
• Upstream Scotland
• Youth Housing Hubs
• Future Builders

Products and services

• Supported Accommodation (Bedrock) Safe, stable transitional housing with wraparound support for young people aged 16-25. Single occupancy and shared homes offer a transitional space where young people can build independence at their own pace, supported by a consistent and caring team. Available in Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian, Glasgow, and Perth & Kinross.
• Visiting Housing Support Specialist support for young people living in their own accommodation to secure, sustain and thrive in their homes, tackling practical and personal challenges that can lead to homelessness. Available in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Perth & Kinross and Fife.
• Housing First for Youth Permanent housing with intensive, flexible, personalized support with no conditions or time limits. Based on the principle that housing is a basic human right, providing whatever it takes to help young people build stability, independence and a positive future. Rock Trust was the first charity to deliver this model in Scotland.
• Live and Work Combines affordable housing with tailored support to help young people gain independent living skills and access work, training or education. Available in Perth & Kinross (delivered as Future Builders) and West Lothian.
• Upstream Scotland Pioneering school-based prevention programme that identifies young people at risk of homelessness early through universal screening of whole year groups, assessing four key areas: Housing, Wellbeing, Resilience, and School Life. Currently in its final year of three-year pilot in Perth & Kinross, West Lothian, Edinburgh and Fife.
• Edinburgh Youth Housing Hub A friendly drop-in space in the heart of Edinburgh offering 1-1 support, groupwork opportunities, advice around housing, benefits and employment, wellbeing and food provisions, and access to the Rent Deposit Scheme and Housing Fund. Features purpose-built facilities including a cafe, group space, garden, and private counselling rooms.
• Glasgow Youth Housing Hub A friendly drop-in space located in Govan offering 1-1 support, groupwork opportunities, and activities for 16-25 year olds affected by or at risk of homelessness, including support for unaccompanied young people seeking asylum. Also provides outreach drop-ins throughout the city through 'Hub on Tour'.
• Health & Wellbeing Service 1:1 art therapy, counselling and groupwork to improve mental health and wellbeing of young people affected by homelessness. Young people meet with their therapist for 12 art therapy sessions either in person or online. Available in Edinburgh and Borders.
• Crisis Advice and Support Services identifying young people under 18 with no formal professional supports who are in housing crisis or at risk of homelessness. Working with schools, parents and carers to support young people to return or remain at home where safe, or identify appropriate housing options. Includes staff and pupil training.
• Emergency Housing Advice Immediate help in crisis including housing and benefits advice and access to essential supplies for young people. Available in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, and West Lothian.
• Volunteer Programme Opportunities for volunteers to assist with support services for young people at risk of homelessness, as well as office administration, fundraising, and events. Rock Trust holds the Investing in Volunteers (IiV) Chartermark.
• Corporate Partnerships Partnerships with businesses providing fundraising, volunteering, pro bono support, gifts in kind, and payroll giving options. Current partners include Mortgage Haven, Venesky Brown, The Hoxton, ESPC, Weatherbys Bank, Rettie, and Safe Deposits Scotland.
• Challenge Events Fundraising events including Kiltwalk (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee), Edinburgh Marathon Festival, Firewalk Edinburgh, and Forth Bridge Rail Abseil.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,000+ young people helped per year to avoid or move on from homelessness
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered corporate partner, new partnership, long-term partner, coalition, housing partner, franchise partner, research partner, sector partner, replication partner, programme partner, skills partner, training partner, volunteering partner, venue partner, european network and commissioning partners.

• Mortgage Havencorporate partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerProperty industry partner fundraising and knowledge sharing to help more young people into homes. Mortgage Haven teams engage in fundraising activities and share industry expertise.
• Venesky Browncorporate partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecruitment company bringing expertise in employment journeys to help young people build better futures through employability support and knowledge sharing.
• The Hoxtonnew partnershipGTM or Marketing PartnerEdinburgh's new Hoxton hotel partnership kicking off to support Rock Trust's work through fundraising and hospitality industry connections.
• ESPCcorporate partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty experts bringing knowledge of property market and passion for the cause to help more young people move on from homelessness through housing support.
• Weatherbys Bankcorporate partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate bank whose teams have tested their endurance in range of fundraising activities including challenge events for Rock Trust's work.
• Rettienew partnershipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty consultancy passionate about creating opportunities for young people to find work and access housing through their partnership with Rock Trust.
• Safe Deposits Scotlandlong-term partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term supporters helping create opportunities for young people to move into stable housing through deposit schemes and property sector expertise.
• A Way Home ScotlandcoalitionStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational coalition of organizations dedicated to ending youth homelessness through influencing and lobbying for systemic change. Rock Trust launched this coalition in 2017.
• Almond Housing Associationhousing partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing association partnership for delivery of Housing First 4 Youth services in West Lothian since 2017.
• Depaulfranchise partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational homeless charity franchise arrangement for Nightstop emergency accommodation service - one of two providers of this service in Scotland.
• LGBT Youth Scotlandresearch partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Pride and Places research project exploring young LGBTQ+ people's housing rights in Scotland, published in 2026.
• aktresearch partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on research exploring LGBTQ+ young people's experiences of homelessness and housing instability.
• YouthLink Scotlandsector partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint policy briefing on youth work's role in tackling homelessness, highlighting how early relationship-based support can reduce risk.
• Llamaureplication partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelsh partner adapting the Upstream Scotland prevention model for use in Wales, building on Rock Trust's pilot in Scotland.
• The Welcoming Associationprogramme partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing monthly sessions for young New Scots aged 16-25 at Edinburgh Youth Housing Hub, offering opportunities to meet others, build friendships, and learn about support services.
• Tinderboxprogramme partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic organization partnership for weekly music group at Edinburgh Youth Housing Hub, providing musical collaboration and co-creation opportunities.
• Origin Coffeeskills partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee company providing barista training workshops at Edinburgh Youth Housing Hub, teaching professional barista skills to young people.
• British Red Crosstraining partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst aid training provider delivering emergency skills training and certification at Edinburgh Youth Housing Hub.
• Freshstartvolunteering partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly group volunteering activity partnership at Edinburgh Youth Housing Hub, providing skills and experience opportunities for young people's CVs.
• Edinburgh Royal Botanicsskills partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly gardening group partnership providing nature and horticulture skills training at the Botanic Gardens for Edinburgh Hub users.
• Edinburgh Open Workshopvenue partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partnership for New Scots group sessions at Edinburgh Open Workshop.
• FEANTSAeuropean networkStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean federation of organisations working with homeless people. Rock Trust's Live and Work model was cited in FEANTSA best practice paper on repurposing vacant spaces into homes.
• Local Authorities (Edinburgh, Lothians, Glasgow, Perth and Kinross, Fife)commissioning partnersChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommissioned partnerships with local authorities across five regions of Scotland to deliver youth homelessness services including supported accommodation, housing support, and crisis services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Crisis UK: National homelessness charity working across all ages with housing, education, and research programmes. Comparable in advocacy and direct services but broader in scope than Rock Trust's youth-specific focus.
• Shelter Scotland: Scotland-focused arm of Shelter, campaigning on housing and homelessness with advice, legal support, and policy work. Overlaps with Rock Trust on housing advice and systemic advocacy.
• YMCA Scotland: Scottish federation providing supported accommodation, training, and youth work across multiple regions. Comparable in operating geographies and supported housing services for young people.
• Simon Community Scotland: Scotland-wide charity providing housing, outreach, and education services for people experiencing homelessness. Comparable service portfolio and pan-Scotland operating footprint.

Direct peers

• Depaul UK: UK-wide homelessness charity with a Nightstop franchise arrangement under which Rock Trust operates its emergency accommodation service in Scotland. Directly comparable youth and adult homelessness service model.
• Centrepoint: UK's leading youth homelessness charity providing accommodation, health, and employability support for 16-25 year olds. Closest direct competitor in target beneficiary age range, funding profile, and service mix.
• Streetwork: Edinburgh-based charity delivering outreach and support to people affected by homelessness and rough sleeping. Comparable geographically and in mission, with overlapping youth services.
• Cyrenians: Scottish homelessness and social inclusion charity providing housing support, prevention, and community-based services across several of the same regions Rock Trust operates in.

Emerging players

• Llamau: Welsh youth homelessness charity currently adapting Rock Trust's Upstream Scotland prevention model for Wales. Highly relevant emerging peer given formal replication partnership.
• EveryYouth: UK-wide coalition and membership organisation supporting youth homelessness charities, including as a Rock Trust funder. Comparable convening and sector-infrastructure role alongside direct services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rocktrust_tweet
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheRockTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rock-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/rocktrust

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rock Trust