Why Social Networks? The basic premise is that the lack of positive social networks, that is the personal networks of family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances we each individually have, is literally bad for you health. More specifically a lack of positive social networks:

• puts you at greater risk of homelessness;
• makes the transition out of homelessness even more difficult than it already is;
• often leads to failure to sustain a new tenancy; and
• leads to repeat episodes of homelessness – each more damaging than the last.

There is a substantial body of research supporting this premise and identifying the cost to the individual and to the public purse.

The Scottish Social Networks Forum was created in response to recommendations in the Homelessness Task Force Final Report to raise awareness of the need for positive social networks and to support the development and integration of befriending, mentoring and mediation services for people affected by homelessness or at risk of homelessness and to assisting the local authorities and homelessness projects who are required to develop assessments and provision to support social networks. The correlation of poor social networks and homelessness is direct but positive social networks are the foundation for strong, supportive, sustainable communities and a route to preventing not only homelessness but also isolation and exclusion generally. This has been recognised by Malcolm Chisholm MSP Minister for Communities and indeed it was reflected in his Ministerial Statement on Abolition of Priority Need by 2012.


The isolation, loneliness and vulnerability experienced by individuals with weak social networks is damaging to their health and well being. The lack of strong, positive social networks is particularly damaging to those already socially excluded from society through unemployment, disability, race, experience of being looked after in local authority care, veterans or other institution leavers but can have an adverse affect on any of us. All these factors in turn impact on homelessness.

The Rock Trust was established in 1991 and supports young people in Edinburgh and West Lothian and provides training and development support for other organisations across Scotland and in Europe. The Rock Trust aims to tackle youth homelessness by providing personal and practical support to young homeless people, enabling them to concentrate upon the issues which are excluding them from stability, assisting them to develop the self-confidence and skills they need to live independently. Because of the success of The Rock Trust’s innovative Social Networks project and their track record of successful partnership working they are funded by Communities Scotland to develop the Scottish Social Networks Forum.