What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 4pm Tuesday 9am - 4pm Wednesday 9am - 4pm Thursday 9am - 4pm Friday 9am - 4pm

Rowan Alba Limited

Anyone can face homelessness. Our services have a place of safety and support, for all kinds of people.

Rowan Alba services help the people who need us most in the community – people of all ages whose lives are in chaos. This could be due to domestic abuse, drug or alcohol dependency or mental health issues. Rowan Alba services support people, move them towards a home of their own – and keep them there for life, if that's what they need. We provide accommodation for those who are homeless or at risk but, more importantly, we provide the support of staff to prevent homelessness, help people stay in their own homes, resolve their problems and find hope for the future. Scotland has a fine social and health care system but there are always people whose lives are so chaotic they will fall through that net. Rowan Alba is there to catch them, and help them find their feet again.

06/10/2026

Read a piece from our CEO Karen Barr in Third Force News with Rowan Alba’s message to the Scottish Parliament. With Scotland’s latest homelessness statistics published, it’s vital we all understand how vulnerable people can often find themselves on the streets of Edinburgh, trapped in a cycle of rough sleeping that puts them at huge risk.
Read the full article here:
https://tfn.scot/opinion/behind-the-homelessness-figures-long-term-rough-sleeping-is-still-a-challenge-for-edinburgh

31/08/2026

L-R: Kirsty Duncan, Rowan Alba Head of Services; Karen Barr, Rowan Alba, CEO;
Kate Campbell MSP; Declan McKiernan, Rowan Alba Registered Manager

Rowan Alba’s CEO Karen Barr, Head of Services Kirsty Duncan, and Registered Manager Declan McKiernan met with , MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent at the Peffermill service. Providing long-term supported accommodation for men under 50 with complex needs, who might otherwise be homeless, Peffermill has been run by Rowan Alba since it was opened in 2022.

Karen Barr, CEO of Rowan Alba said:
“We wrote to new MSPs following the May election and were proud to show Kate Campbell MSP around our Peffermill service, after she contacted us. It’s so important for all politicians, especially those who represent communities in and around Edinburgh, where Rowan Alba operates, to find out first-hand about the challenges facing the people we support.

“By providing stability and the chance to be part of a caring and supportive community, Rowan Alba’s services make a huge difference to people, all of whom are facing support needs due to addictions, and mental health challenges. We’d urge anyone, especially MSPs, MPs and local Councillors to find out how they can advocate for and support organisations like Rowan Alba in the fight against homelessness.”

Kate Campbell MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent, is also part of Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice, Housing and Local Government Committee.

She talked about her Rowan Alba visit:
"It was so lovely to visit Rowan Alba and see their settled accommodation. It was obvious from residents that they are benefiting from a supportive environment which allows them to thrive and overcome the challenges that resulted in them becoming homeless.

“It was great to hear how positive residents feel about being able to get on with living settled lives. It’s a fantastic service, I just wish we had more accommodation like this for all the people who need it."

26/08/2026

We are looking for Trustees committed to making a difference for the people we support in long-term supported accommodation and through our community outreach services, who have been affected by homelessness, addiction, and social isolation.
Join the Rowan Alba Board to help our mission to break the cycle of homelessness by empowering marginalised people to rebuild their lives with dignity, permanence, and compassion, without judgement.
In particular, we are looking for passionate and committed people who have professional experience in the Legal, Communications & Public Relations and Human Resources sectors.
Meeting four times a year, in Edinburgh, we can support you if this is your first time on a Board. You just need to bring your experience and a commitment to our mission to support the people we help to find their safe space and a true sense of belonging in society, where their lifestyle, shaped by previous trauma is accepted.
Applications close on Friday 25th September ⏰
You can get everything you need to apply on our website at:
https://rowanalba.org/careers/

11/06/2026

Free, online conference for frontline staff working with people experiencing homelessness this June – sign up today!
If you work with people experiencing homelessness you are invited to St Martin in the Fields Charity Frontline Network Annual Conference on Tuesday 23rd June 2026.
Now in its eighth year, the Frontline Network Annual Conference aims to showcase a diverse range of speakers and sessions, offering a day of solidarity and inspiration that recognises frontline worker voices and experiences, and celebrates the remarkable work undertaken across our UK-wide sector.
The conference supports frontline workers across the UK by sharing best practice, knowledge and skills. It will share perspectives and approaches from across the four nations.
The conference will take place entirely online, with ten interactive sessions happening throughout the day. Attendees can register for one session or up to four, with one session available in each time slot.
Throughout the day, a range of speakers will share their expertise and experiences on topics relevant to frontline workers supporting people experiencing homelessness, such as trauma informed support for trans and gender diverse people, roadside homelessness and building trust with criminalised and stigmatised communities.
We look forward to welcoming frontline workers from across the sector for a day of connection, learning and inspiration.
Sign up for free today: https://tinyurl.com/frontline2026

26/05/2026

We have a great opportunity available at our Birkentree / Upper Gilmore Place service. The Service Lead will provide clear leadership and vision, inspire and motivate staff to achieve excellence and mentor them as they develop new skills. To effectively manage staff teams to achieve the aims and outcomes of the service and meet key performance indicators.
You can learn all about the role and apply at the link below:
https://goodmoves.org/vacancy/a4sP1000001gu5FIAQ/service-lead

Applications for this role will close on the 8th of June.

15/04/2026

"Since becoming the CEO of this amazing charity three years ago our team has pushed even harder to ensure we reach as many people as possible who are forced to live on the streets and find themselves homeless and in need of community support."
Our CEO Karen Barr reflects on her time thus far at the helm of Rowan Alba in a new opinion piece for TFN
Read the full piece here:
https://tfn.scot/opinion/three-years-on

10/04/2026

We recently met with Councillor Tim Pogson, Convener of the City of Edinburgh Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee. It’s so vital to keep partners like the council up to date with the challenges we face as well as the successes. We will continue to work closely with the Council and highlight the approaches which really work to support homeless people in Edinburgh.

“The role of the third sector is vital in helping resolve the housing emergency facing Edinburgh. Your housing and support services, reaching the most vulnerable, those who are furthest from having their own tenancy and most at risk of sleeping rough, is testament to the invaluable role that organisations such as Rowan Alba play.”

Councillor Tim Pogson, Convener of the City of Edinburgh Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee.

Address

1 Lochrin Square, 92/98 Fountainbridge
Edinburgh
EH39QA

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4pm
Tuesday	9am - 4pm
Wednesday	9am - 4pm
Thursday	9am - 4pm
Friday	9am - 4pm

Telephone

+441312297554

Website

http://www.rowanalba.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Rowan Alba Limited posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organisation to be the top-listed non profit organisation in Edinburgh?