Project Worker - Streetreads

For people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, Streetreads has provided a lifeline, which has developed beyond a library, becoming a space that fosters community and connection.

About Simon Community Scotland & Streetreads

People are at the heart of who we are and what we do. Day-by-day, person-to-person, we tailor what we offer to what people need. We’re here to provide consistent, friendly and informed support so that people can explore options and take ‘the next step’ towards a positive future. We welcome people with a wide range of skills and experiences – including those who have lived through homelessness.

To make a difference we need to work flexibly, with everyday leadership, humour and a ‘can do’ spirit. We want to make it easy, make it right, and make it happen – not only for the people we support but also for each other. Our #OneTeam ethos is core to who we are, and it means caring for and supporting each other regardless of our role, service or location.

For people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, Streetreads has provided a lifeline. The library provides a safe and welcoming space for people experiencing extreme poverty and deprivation to access literature, resources, educational materials, and human connection. Our aim is to empower and uplift people facing difficult situations by offering them an opportunity for personal growth, learning, and a sense of belonging.

Streetreads is the only physical library in the world that has been set up specifically to support people affected by homelessness. Since opening in 2020, the Library has gone from strength to strength. The space is now open 4 days a week and offers a diverse range of possibilities for people who are often excluded from cultural, artistic, and literary opportunities.

In the past 6 months Streetreads has offered people the chance to participate in:

● An international poetry event

● A city-wide billboard campaign

● A peer-designed Art Exhibition

● Documentary production with a professional cinema screening

● Sports tournaments

● Author events in partnership with Edinburgh Book Festival

● Vocational opportunities aimed at providing pathways out of poverty and destitution

Thanks to incredible support from the community, and partnerships with many Edinburgh bookshops, Streetreads boasts a wonderful and up to date selection of books. People are able to take out new books and resources without having to present any ID or return the books. Streetreads is also a space where we run a number of psychosocial groups, events, and co-production workshops. We’re delighted that people can access this safe and welcoming space to read, relax, and benefit from a wide variety of support.

Job Summary

Over the past 3 years, Streetreads has grown exponentially. We increased from 1 drop-in session per week, to being open 5 days and providing up to 200 supports per week. Through conversations with people we support, and constant evaluation, we have created a multipurpose space that promotes education, community, and inclusiveness while working within the principles of harm reduction and human rights. Our biggest lesson from the last two years is that a library can’t be just a library. Streetreads has developed beyond a library, becoming a space that fosters community and connection.

It provides a safe, inclusive, and welcoming non-transactional space for people to access:

● Educational resources

● Mental health projects for vulnerable groups

● Art and Culture Opportunities

● Digital Literacy skillbuilding

● Community engagement

● Interactive workshops

● Support from a number of partner organisations

● Psychosocial group work

● Hope and purpose

Streetreads works very closely with other Simon Community Scotland projects, one of which is Creating Safer Communities (CSC). CSC aims to address challenges associated with antisocial behaviour, street drinking, substance use, begging and homelessness, by adopting a holistic and community-centric approach. CSC is not only transforming individual lives but reshaping how communities respond to homelessness and street based harm. By focusing on empowerment, connection, physical and mental well-being, and creating opportunities, CSC helps to create a safer, healthier, and more inclusive city, a city where people are supported to move away from crisis and towards stability, and where public spaces are safer and more welcoming for everyone.

Together, Streetreads and CSC have become an important part of the support that Simon Community Scotland provides in Edinburgh. There is often a lot of overlap between the services, and the successful candidate will work both with the CSC team and the Streetreads team.

We want to ensure Streetreads remains a transformative and inclusive space for people affected by homelessness. This will be a multi-faceted role, and a great opportunity for development. As well as providing support, helping to facilitate groups, and keeping the space organised, there will also be an opportunity for the successful candidate to influence the growth of the space through creating new partnerships, managing volunteers, and expanding the library’s programs - such as workshops and activities.

Additionally, the successful candidate will play a key role in gathering feedback, tracking outcomes, and driving the library’s growth by adapting services to emerging needs. By addressing practical barriers, such as literacy or digital skills, we can empower people we support to access resources effectively while maintaining a safe, welcoming environment, free from stigma. Ultimately the successful candidate will help to ensure the library fulfils its mission to provide hope, belonging, and pathways to personal growth for those most in need.

Key Responsibilities

● Day to day organisation of Streetreads library and activities

● Support and train a team of dedicated volunteers to plan, promote and deliver these activities, projects, and events

● Occasional out of hours support for internal and external events

● Creating and maintaining partnerships with the aim of developing the space and establishing pathways and choices for the people we support

● Maintain and develop the library’s book collection through partnerships with Edinburgh bookshops

● Help design and facilitate workshops and author events

● Help maintain and develop the unique trauma informed space to meet the emerging needs of the people we support and partner agencies

● Help maintain the health and safety protocols and management of the building including building checks

● Collecting data and maintaining accurate records of groups and drop-ins

● Keeping stock of supplies and ordering things in when needed

● Working closely with CSC to facilitate groups

● Helping to facilitate library drop-in sessions

● Creating promotional materials for the library and workshops

● Developing Streetread’s Outreach Provision

● Put people at the heart of what we do; co-production and codesign with supported people

● Other related activities that may arise as the role develops

Our Values

Inclusion & Participation

We include everyone in the services and resources they need, regardless of their circumstances and ensure each person's voice and influence are heard and felt in everything that we do.

Personalised & Creative

Each person we support is an individual with unique circumstances, needs and future potential which requires a uniquely tailored response.

Warmth & Regard

We see beyond a person's current or past circumstances, recognising their inherent value, worth and potential as human beings.

Partnership & Collaboration

We know we need to work positively with others to deliver a truly inclusive and personalised approach, improve our response and add value to the experience of the people we support.

Supportive & Ambitious

We encourage and support ambition, building on strengths to foster hope for the people we support as well as deliver growth and development for staff and volunteers.

Core Competencies

Planning and Organising

• Create and manage personalised support plans for people, prioritising tasks and managing resources effectively to help them achieve their goals.

• Monitor progress against established goals and adjust support plans as needed to ensure the best possible outcomes.

• Maintain accurate and detailed records of your contacts using our Netsuite platform throughout your shift.

Resilience

• Advance despite adversity, responding to challenging and difficult situations with a calm, professional, and composed approach.

• Handle sensitive decisions with compassion and due regard for others, maintaining a positive and proactive attitude.

Motivation

• Act with care and compassion, demonstrating a clear commitment to the role and its importance in empowering individuals to live independently.

• Bring hope through your words and actions, helping to build trust and change public perception of the causes of rough sleeping.

Problem Solving

• Carefully analyse problems, breaking them down into parts to find practical, person-centred solutions.

• Innovate and be creative to find solutions that are a perfect fit for someone, irrespective of their background of the problem they are facing.

• When someone isn't at their best, quickly recognise that there may be an underlying issue and find ways to respond with care.

Teamwork

• Work with colleagues in a supportive and collaborative way, fostering team togetherness and a positive, problem-solving vibe.

• Be a reliable member of the team, participating actively in group meetings and sharing insights to improve our service continuously.

• Foster positive relationships with our partners to ensure our support is coordinated and effective.

Communication & Digital Enablement

• Communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders, including service users, partners, and other colleagues, adapting your communication style to be clear, empathetic, and respectful.

• Encourage the participation and inclusion of the people you support by exploring choices and options with them in an accessible way.

• Embrace and champion digital inclusion, helping clients, staff, and volunteers to connect, understand, and use digital tools safely. You will use our GSuite, Chromebook, and smartphone to facilitate this.

• Play an active role in our social media strategy by helping to create blogs, videos, and posts to change society's misconceptions about homelessness.

Person Specification

Training & Qualification

Essential

• Excellent command of and highly proficient in spoken and written English

• A knowledge and passion for literature and creative arts

• Excellent communication and digital skills

Desirable

• Evidence of building partnerships

• Experience of Fundraising/Sales

• Good digital literacy skills (Canva, GSuite, etc.)

Experience

Essential

• Experience setting up processes and procedures within the workplace

• Building positive networks and connections

• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment which requires quick decision making

• Comfortable delivering events and group activities

Desirable

• Experience in writing project plans and reports

• Experience in data management tasks

• Experience working in a team based in multiple locations

• Experience working with people affected by homelessness

• Experience of managing volunteers

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Good understanding of the impact of significant trauma and an awareness of a trauma-informed approach

• Fully committed to Simon Community Scotland's Mission and Values

• Able to approach your role and tasks with an empathetic and non-judgmental attitude

• Ability to work with people in a way that takes into consideration their personal and cultural beliefs

• Good communication and people skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of promoting events and building an audience

• Community engagement with stakeholders, businesses

• Creating effective partnerships

• Data collection, monitoring and evaluation

• Knowledge of library systems and cataloguing

Personal

Essential

• Be a positive person who leads by example

• Have a willingness to learn and adapt to each situation

Desirable

• Existing relationships with creative arts organisations within Edinburgh

• Demonstrated interest in Edinburgh's book and literature community

Department

Staff

Locations

Edinburgh

Yearly salary

£26,474

Hours per week

37.5

Closing date

24 May, 2026

Contract Duration

12 months fixed term

About Simon Community Scotland

Visit the Simon Community Scotland Website for more information.

Check out our Job Opportunities and Volunteer Opportunities.