“Streetreads is a humble, but brilliant project. It’s helped me a lot… to meet new people, that boosted my confidence. Through books I have improved my knowledge of myself and my skills. Books helped me to focus on something positive during dark moments, inspiring me and giving me new ideas and a different vision of life.” Dan, Streetreads reader
Our Streetreads Library opened in August 2021. We’re based at the City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, 25 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh EH8 9BX
We are a safe place for people experiencing homelessness, a warm place where people can read, relax and access a wide variety of support.
Along with our digital drop in on Thursday, and our Book club on Monday, we also offer a variety of other workshops and events outwith our opening times that people can get involved with. We have had a variety of authors run workshops. including; Sir Ian Rankin, Graeme Armstrong, Jenni Fagan, Anne Pia, Tendai Huchu, Hollie McNish and Michael Pederson. We also take books out to people within the community through our Streetreads outreach Program.
Stories offer a great way to escape the realities of trauma and tough times, a chance to lose yourself in another world, to find solace, adventure and new horizons. They also help us start conversations and build connections vital to recovery from homelessness.
Streetreads at Nicholson Square was accessed over 1,000 times through 2023 and we're now looking to develop our programme of support to help more people in this wonderful peaceful space.
To make this happen we need to raise £100,000 per year.
£2 - helps us to buy tea, coffee and biscuits to welcome people in with a warm drink and snack.
£10 - would allow us to order a specific book that someone we are supporting has requested
£20 - would allow us to order 2 books
£285 - covers the cost of running our library for a day - heating, lighting, support, classes and materials.
£2,000 - would help us run and develop our programme of support for a week
We would love to hear from people, shops or companies who might be interested in sponsoring a day / week/ month of Streetreads Library. This could be by a donation, or you could work towards raising your target.
Streetreads was the idea and project of a remarkable woman called Rachel Cowan, known around Edinburgh as the book wumman #bookwumman. Rachel knows what it’s like to be homeless and its devastating impact. Her desire to change that for others inspired her to use books to bring more than solace but adventure, excitement, daring, mystery, romance and thrills into lives with a darker kind of drama. Rachel and Simon Community Scotland came together in 2018 with a desire to reach further and make more connections.
But Streetreads is more than the books – here are just some of the ways that we connect with people through stories:
- Stories really do connect us so we’ve created spaces to bring in authors and storytellers and to create stories.
- We run classes and events helping people connect with their world, where people can listen, take part and create their own stories.
- We have held digital inclusion classes, creative writing workshops, harm reduction information events, art therapy groups and been visited by barbers and vets.
- We provide reading glasses to those who need them.
- We offer EasyRead books, graphic novels and books in a variety of languages.
- And perhaps most importantly - we are a safe, peaceful and warm place for a chat, or for time to relax and escape.
I’ve been a long-time fan of Streetreads and have seen first-hand the great work they do. Books can transport us anywhere, to times and worlds that excite and stimulate. That’s hugely important, no matter who you are or what your circumstances.” Ian Rankin, author
* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.
